Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[dreamseeker9]

Jambo to all! I upgraded my standard view to a savanna view but will only stay 3 instead of 4 nights at AKL, 9/17-20/2016. I am so excited, this will be my first AKL stay! I decided to try POR for my arrival evening and take the boat to Disney Springs, then transfer to AKL the following day. My parents will join me at the Contemporary for 2 nights after AKL, but while I am at AKL solo, I'm going to make the most of it! I've already booked the night safari and also the Wanyama Safari on 2 separate days, and this way I can eat dinner at Jiko as part of the Wanyama Safari package. I also made a breakfast ADR at Boma on the morning that I'll leave the AKL and switch to the Contemporary. I also booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour at MK. I've never done a park tour, and this one sounds excellent!

My other must-do's at AKL include taking advantage of being close to AK and spending at least one evening at AK, experiencing all the night shows and attractions open at night; checking out the Mara for at least one meal; swimming at one or both pools; walking around and absorbing the resort. I may eat at Sanaa before the nighttime safari - I've eaten there twice and loved it both times.

Are there any other must-do's you recommend for AKL? I wish I could do the Wednesday afternoon Jiko wine tasting, but I can't fit it in this trip, so I'll have to come back and do it another time!

 

[dizneyluv]

We are less than an hour out from AKL! Got our room location text about 2pm and it's a great location according to the map. We shall see very soon! Very excited!

 

[BanditsMommy]

So excited! Booked our second stay at AKL for 9/18 - 9/25! I can't wait to be back!

 

[nicolebridget22]

We'll be there 9/24 - 10/8 and couldn't be more excited!

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Yes, at least for Jambo House they are
Upper Floor
Near Lobby
Near Elevator
Kudu Trail
Lower Floor
Ground Floor (is this even a thing at Jambo house?)

I wonder why that the Kuda Trail is the only trail that is offered?

 

[scrapquitler]

Are there any other must-do's you recommend for AKL? I wish I could do the Wednesday afternoon Jiko wine tasting, but I can't fit it in this trip, so I'll have to come back and do it another time!

There is are two separate (FREE!) cultural tours of the restaurants at AKL that are definitely worth going to! One is over at Kidani, and you tour Sanaa and get samples of the bread service. The other is at Jambo house, and you tour both Boma and Jiko. At Boma we sampled a soup and zebra domes and at Jiko we sampled bread service, but it was somewhat different than the one at Sanaa. We enjoyed talking to the ladies who gave the tour very much.

We also had a great time talking to the gentlemen out on Arusha Rock at Jambo about their countries and all the different animals on the Savanna. There was also a bonfire with (free) marshmallow roast in the early evening. And a story teller as well.

And we spent hours just sitting on our balcony watching the animals.

 

[TeeterTots]

I wonder why that the Kuda Trail is the only trail that is offered?

It's on the Arusha Savannah and I believe it's because the animals are most active.

 

[dgbg100106]

Jambo to all! I upgraded my standard view to a savanna view but will only stay 3 instead of 4 nights at AKL, 9/17-20/2016. I am so excited, this will be my first AKL stay! I decided to try POR for my arrival evening and take the boat to Disney Springs, then transfer to AKL the following day. My parents will join me at the Contemporary for 2 nights after AKL, but while I am at AKL solo, I'm going to make the most of it! I've already booked the night safari and also the Wanyama Safari on 2 separate days, and this way I can eat dinner at Jiko as part of the Wanyama Safari package. I also made a breakfast ADR at Boma on the morning that I'll leave the AKL and switch to the Contemporary. I also booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour at MK. I've never done a park tour, and this one sounds excellent!

My other must-do's at AKL include taking advantage of being close to AK and spending at least one evening at AK, experiencing all the night shows and attractions open at night; checking out the Mara for at least one meal; swimming at one or both pools; walking around and absorbing the resort. I may eat at Sanaa before the nighttime safari - I've eaten there twice and loved it both times.

Are there any other must-do's you recommend for AKL? I wish I could do the Wednesday afternoon Jiko wine tasting, but I can't fit it in this trip, so I'll have to come back and do it another time!

September

Grooovertoo, Aug 31st - 10th, Jambo House

Laneybelle, 1st - 5th, AKL

Dreamseeker9, 17th - 20th, AKL

berryinDC, 19th - 23rd, AKL

Brnrss34, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL

YoYoAurora, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL CL

RachelTori, 24th - Oct 1st, GF and BWI

 

[dgbg100106]

So excited! Booked our second stay at AKL for 9/18 - 9/25! I can't wait to be back!

September

Grooovertoo, Aug 31st - 10th, Jambo House

Laneybelle, 1st - 5th, AKL

Dreamseeker9, 17th - 20th, AKL

BanditsMommy, 18th - 25th, AKL

berryinDC, 19th - 23rd, AKL

Brnrss34, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL

YoYoAurora, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL CL

RachelTori, 24th - Oct 1st, GF and BWI

 

[dgbg100106]

We'll be there 9/24 - 10/8 and couldn't be more excited!

September

Grooovertoo, Aug 31st - 10th, Jambo House

Laneybelle, 1st - 5th, AKL

Dreamseeker9, 17th - 20th, AKL

BanditsMommy, 18th - 25th, AKL

berryinDC, 19th - 23rd, AKL

Brnrss34, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL

YoYoAurora, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL CL

RachelTori, 24th - Oct 1st, GF and BWI

Nicolebridget22, 24th - 8th, AKL

 

[publix subs]

I will be at Jambo 9/15-9/19. Easily our favorite resort!

 

[dgbg100106]

I will be at Jambo 9/15-9/19. Easily our favorite resort!

September

Grooovertoo, Aug 31st - 10th, Jambo House

Laneybelle, 1st - 5th, AKL

Publix subs, 15th - 19th, AKL

Dreamseeker9, 17th - 20th, AKL

BanditsMommy, 18th - 25th, AKL

berryinDC, 19th - 23rd, AKL

Brnrss34, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL

YoYoAurora, 24th - Oct 1st, AKL CL

RachelTori, 24th - Oct 1st, GF and BWI

Nicolebridget22, 24th - 8th, AKL

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

We had Kidani 7637 - Standard, but we ended up with Partial Savannah. We had a great view of the okapi (we saw two, seemed to be a mom & baby) as well as some funny birds.

Here's the little okapi, near the balcony.

I have no complaints at all about the location of the room. The walk seemed to take FOREVER at night, but in reality it was only about three minutes from the lobby. Transportation was basically right outside, and all the buses stop at Kidani first. Coming from Kidani, we never had to stand. I can only remember one ride during which anyone at all had to stand, actually.

I just love AKL, but my next trip will be at the Poly. I'll miss it.

 

[dizneyluv]

We are having a great time! AKL is jaw dropping beautiful! Posting our view!

 

[Mme. Leota]

Jambo, y'all! We have booked a standard view club level one-bedroom suite for our stay September 17-24. I'm super excited as this is our first stay at AKL and our first club level stay! Can anyone tell me where our room will likely be located? The Disney IPO folks either can't or won't answer my questions about the locations of the one-bedroom suites and what our view will likely be. If it's going to be parking lot, we might switch to two savannah view standard rooms instead. Thanks in advance!

 

[TeeterTots]

Jambo, y'all! We have booked a standard view club level one-bedroom suite for our stay September 17-24. I'm super excited as this is our first stay at AKL and our first club level stay! Can anyone tell me where our room will likely be located? The Disney IPO folks either can't or won't answer my questions about the locations of the one-bedroom suites and what our view will likely be. If it's going to be parking lot, we might switch to two savannah view standard rooms instead. Thanks in advance!

The dvc club level rooms are all on the 6th floor adjacent to the club lounge. You'll either have a pool/rooftop view or a partial Savannah. No guarantee which. It's luck of the draw. Enjoy! We love AKL club level

 

[Mme. Leota]

The dvc club level rooms are all on the 6th floor adjacent to the club lounge. You'll either have a pool/rooftop view or a partial Savannah. No guarantee which. It's luck of the draw. Enjoy! We love AKL club level

Thank you for your quick reply! However, I don't believe we have a 1 bedroom villa. We have a one bedroom suite. I think that is different, isn't it? Maybe not?

 

[TeeterTots]

Thank you for your quick reply! However, I don't believe we have a 1 bedroom villa. We have a one bedroom suite. I think that is different, isn't it? Maybe not?

I apologize! If it's not dvc, then I believe club level rooms are the 4th floor, but not certain. There is a chance it could be parking lot view but I think I've read they are mostly pool views. I also believe as long as there is availability and you haven't enter the room, you can change the room at check-in, if it is parking lot. I hope this helps. If I'm wrong, there are many people on here to be quick to correct me

 

[BayouQueen]

Jambo, y'all! We have booked a standard view club level one-bedroom suite for our stay September 17-24. I'm super excited as this is our first stay at AKL and our first club level stay! Can anyone tell me where our room will likely be located? The Disney IPO folks either can't or won't answer my questions about the locations of the one-bedroom suites and what our view will likely be. If it's going to be parking lot, we might switch to two savannah view standard rooms instead. Thanks in advance!

We are going in September, with four adults, and I spent a lot of time agonizing over what arrangement to choose. First I booked the one-bedroom standard view suite that you are talking about. (Savannah views one-bedroom suites are sold out.) I subscribe to Touring Plans, so I was able to see locations of these suites. Not sure how to describe, but they just were kind of remote and not appealing to me. One was on the ground floor, with people walking around outside, so no privacy for the balcony. Then in my fishing around, I finally came up with a review posted on Trip Advisor by a couple who booked the suite because they just needed more room to move. They were disappointed overall with their experience, regretted their choice of accommodation. That decided me to switch, like you said, to the savannah view rooms instead, which everybody seem to love.

Anyhow, not sure how much this helps, but just wanted to share my own research. Have a great time, whatever you decide!

 

[wzwild]

I just booked a pool view room for the third week in July! I'm so excited!!! I've wanted to stay at AKL for awhile and with the summer room deals, the price was awesome! I can't wait!