Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[GatorMama]

We were just there last week, 4th floor. We were club level, got a surprise upgrade. The club was being refurbished so they had 2 rooms at the end of the hall acting as the club and concierge. So I guess some of the rooms on the 4th floor are also considered club level. Maybe because the 6th floor was under construction. I wish we could have seen the club itself, the rooms were less than exciting....lol But it was still nice to have access to the free food and drinks throughout the day.

What are some of the current club lounge refreshment offerings??

 

[DisneyMom111]

What are some of the current club lounge refreshment offerings??

This is the info they gave us when we checked in. We only went for breakfast and late night snack. Breakfast had cereal, juice, oatmeal, pastries, coffee etc. Snacks were cookies, rice crispy treats, cupcakes, chocolate mousse, fruits, things like that.

 

[pepperandchips]

I've never felt so stupid, before trying to plan this vacation. I must be easily confused.

We have a split stay - AKL, standard room, PO FQ Garden View and Boardwalk Inn, Standard view. So I'm looking at touring plans to see the different room views and for instance room 5324 says it's a standard room, yet I see a giraffe in the picture. Am I doing this wrong? Is it that touring plans does not show the regular lodge standard rooms?

If anyone wants to make a suggestion on what I should ask for....I'm traveling with my two teens and my 4 year old. I don't want a quiet area and have to worry about the 4 year old making too much noise and disturbing others looking for quiet.

Your eyes do not deceive you... There are many reasons Disney classifies some of the standard rooms as "standard" rather than those pricey savanna category. We have scored awesome "standard" views with tons of animal viewing in the past. Usually this means there is a fire exit area below your balcony (called a "people pen" here on this board a lot) so the view is classified as sub-standard, even though you have ample wildlife viewing from other vantage points on your balcony. There are other reasons your view might be classified "standard" but it's possible to have a giraffe view from one of the standard rooms!

And don't worry about your 4 year old. It's Disney World, for pete's sake, not a Sandals resort on Grand Cayman. (Says childless 20something, so it's not like I'm making excuses for my own noisy brood!)

 

[sndral]

I've never felt so stupid, before trying to plan this vacation. I must be easily confused.

We have a split stay - AKL, standard room, PO FQ Garden View and Boardwalk Inn, Standard view. So I'm looking at touring plans to see the different room views and for instance room 5324 says it's a standard room, yet I see a giraffe in the picture. Am I doing this wrong? Is it that touring plans does not show the regular lodge standard rooms?

If anyone wants to make a suggestion on what I should ask for....I'm traveling with my two teens and my 4 year old. I don't want a quiet area and have to worry about the 4 year old making too much noise and disturbing others looking for quiet.

Your eyes do not deceive you... There are many reasons Disney classifies some of the standard rooms as "standard" rather than those pricey savanna category. We have scored awesome "standard" views with tons of animal viewing in the past. Usually this means there is a fire exit area below your balcony (called a "people pen" here on this board a lot) so the view is classified as sub-standard, even though you have ample wildlife viewing from other vantage points on your balcony. There are other reasons your view might be classified "standard" but it's possible to have a giraffe view from one of the standard rooms!

And don't worry about your 4 year old. It's Disney World, for pete's sake, not a Sandals resort on Grand Cayman. (Says childless 20something, so it's not like I'm making excuses for my own noisy brood!)

According to a site that tracks DVC villas - 5324 is a 1 br DVC villa on the 5th floor on Kudu trail overlooking Sunset Savanna - if it's standard view I'd assume it's overlooking a people pen.
With a standard view room (non DVC) your room will be on floors 4 and lower.
One of the online check in choices will be Kudu trail and all of those rooms have a savanna view although some are over people pens or overlook just a small part of sunset savanna. I'd probably chose Kudu trail if I had standard view booked and was hoping for a limited savanna view.
Online check in does not offer the other trails as choices - but a couple of Zebra trail rooms have people pen views of Uzima savanna and half of the Ostrich trail rooms overlook a portion of Sunset savanna.
If I wanted to maximize my chance of getting a partial savanna view, I personally wouldn't choose close to lobby in online check in since many standard view rooms close to the lobby are on Giraffe and Ostrich trail and half of those overlook the front/road/parking lot.
Note the online check in choices are based on 12/15, they were different in 12/14, and may have changed once again for 2016.

 

[cassie58]

Hello all...just found this thread. We will be doing our 1st stay at ALK from Aug 2 > Aug 6 then moving over to BLT. Staying in a studio at Jambo, Savannah view. DVC members.

so excited for this as we only normally stay at BLT, but now the kids are older and we can explore easier.

Have dinner set for Sanaa one night. And planned a full day to stay at the resort to explore. Need to find me some Giraffes as they are my daughter's favorite animal.

Are there any DVC studios that overlook giraffe savannas? I would love to request those.

Congrats on your first visit! If your DD loves animals like mine, it will not be your last! We have stayed twice now for a few nts. at the end of our last two trips(surprised kids, especially DD, who wants to be a vet, and has begged to stay there) through renting DVC pts from a friend for a great rate. We stayed in a Savannah view studio, and had a great view of both giraffes and zebras. I would request room 5256, which is on Sunset Savannah on Kudu Trail(also near elevator which was great). I would include both the room number, and Savannah and Trail, so if that room was not available, they can look for another close by for you. We got this room on our first visit and it was amazing! We did not want to leave the room! A lot of giraffe feeders on trees, and no trees to block your view, as well as a watering hole. You could also just make them out at nt., but could hear the "chomping" as they visited the feeders to eat! If I can figure out resizing photos I will post some. You can also look at views on Touring Plans Room Finder. Last visit we requested it late, and did not get it unfortunately(it was Dec. 23rd), and did not have a great view, Room 5427 on Arusha Savannah, Zebra Trail, as many trees in the way and no close trees with feeders or hay drop off spots that bring zebras.(if you get this area, further around the "U" like room 5523 is better view, saw giraffes feeding over there). Admittedly, we were spoiled from our lucky first say's view! If you look at the two views on the Touring Plans site, you will see what I mean. You can put in upper floor, Savannah studio, and then click on different areas, and the rooms that are in your category will be marked, and you can then click on different ones to see the room number and view. If when you arrive they have placed you in a different area, you can always politely remind them of your request, and see if they can accomodate you - doesn't hurt to ask!

If you go out in the center viewing area off the lobby, Arusha Rock, giraffes often come really close there and guides will tell you about them. We spent time there on our last trip, with the not so great view from our room, and saw giraffes eating very close. Again took a zillion pics and video as it was so cool! Also they have a lot of great kids activities if you are spending resort time as you mentioned, and one my DD did was making a giraffe feeder that they will hang on the trees later for them to eat, so your DD might enjoy that. That also had African drumming, cookie decorating at Boma, animal tracking, etc. and the kids can make a bracelet with the trinkets they get for doing each one. Between those, spending time on your balcony seeing animals, and visiting the various viewing areas around the lodge, you will have a full resort day! Enjoy!

 

[glvsav37]

Congrats on your first visit! If your DD loves animals like mine, it will not be your last! We have stayed twice now for a few nts. at the end of our last two trips(surprised kids, especially DD, who wants to be a vet, and has begged to stay there) through renting DVC pts from a friend for a great rate. We stayed in a Savannah view studio, and had a great view of both giraffes and zebras. I would request room 5256, which is on Sunset Savannah on Kudu Trail(also near elevator which was great). I would include both the room number, and Savannah and Trail, so if that room was not available, they can look for another close by for you. We got this room on our first visit and it was amazing! We did not want to leave the room! A lot of giraffe feeders on trees, and no trees to block your view, as well as a watering hole. You could also just make them out at nt., but could hear the "chomping" as they visited the feeders to eat! If I can figure out resizing photos I will post some. You can also look at views on Touring Plans Room Finder. Last visit we requested it late, and did not get it unfortunately(it was Dec. 23rd), and did not have a great view, Room 5427 on Arusha Savannah, Zebra Trail, as many trees in the way and no close trees with feeders or hay drop off spots that bring zebras.(if you get this area, further around the "U" like room 5523 is better view, saw giraffes feeding over there). Admittedly, we were spoiled from our lucky first say's view! If you look at the two views on the Touring Plans site, you will see what I mean. You can put in upper floor, Savannah studio, and then click on different areas, and the rooms that are in your category will be marked, and you can then click on different ones to see the room number and view. If when you arrive they have placed you in a different area, you can always politely remind them of your request, and see if they can accomodate you - doesn't hurt to ask!

If you go out in the center viewing area off the lobby, Arusha Rock, giraffes often come really close there and guides will tell you about them. We spent time there on our last trip, with the not so great view from our room, and saw giraffes eating very close. Again took a zillion pics and video as it was so cool! Also they have a lot of great kids activities if you are spending resort time as you mentioned, and one my DD did was making a giraffe feeder that they will hang on the trees later for them to eat, so your DD might enjoy that. That also had African drumming, cookie decorating at Boma, animal tracking, etc. and the kids can make a bracelet with the trinkets they get for doing each one. Between those, spending time on your balcony seeing animals, and visiting the various viewing areas around the lodge, you will have a full resort day! Enjoy!

Thank you!! this is great Info! I'm really looking forward to this leg of the trip.

 

[kimmar067]

Uhm.....Pics...Puhleeze...

....what's it worth to ya?

 

[kimmar067]

Uhm.....Pics...Puhleeze...

....besides, you can just see it in person.

 

[dizneyluv]

We have a standard Savannah view that has been great.

 

[dizneyluv]

Zebra's from our standard view room. We check out tomorrow and I'll share our room number.

 

[dizneyluv]

Because we spent 10 hours in Magic Kingdom today!

 

[dizneyluv]

Our sunset over Kidani Village. Iam drawn to the balcony and sit out here whenever we are in the room. I can see Kidani's fire pit as I sit here. It has been extremely wonderful.

 

[MainMom]

Our sunset over Kidani Village. Iam drawn to the balcony and sit out here whenever we are in the room. I can see Kidani's fire pit as I sit here. It has been extremely wonderful.

We leave in 9 days. Your pics are making me more excited! Thanks for sharing.

 

[mrsap]

Hi guys, so we jumped ship and are moving over to BC CL. Please remove me from the November list. I had fun chatting with you guys and I hope you all enjoy your trips!!!

 

[dgbg100106]

Hi guys, so we jumped ship and are moving over to BC CL. Please remove me from the November list. I had fun chatting with you guys and I hope you all enjoy your trips!!!

You have been removed. Have a great trip

 

[kreckl]

We have a standard 1BR booked. Would love a pool or partial savanna room, and something close to the lobby. Where can I see a room map/view finder to best plan for requests? Thank you!

 

[KristiK]

We have a standard 1BR booked. Would love a pool or partial savanna room, and something close to the lobby. Where can I see a room map/view finder to best plan for requests? Thank you!

I used Touring Plans to look.

 

[yaya74]

We have a standard Savannah view that has been great.

thats a Standard view room!? thats awesome! does your room have a bunk bed??

 

[sndral]

We have a standard 1BR booked. Would love a pool or partial savanna room, and something close to the lobby. Where can I see a room map/view finder to best plan for requests? Thank you!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ak...-to-construction.1797086/page-2#post-24621179 see post 25
http://www.disboards.com/threads/akv-room-map-value-locations.2910133/ see post 19
DVC news also has a villa locater search function.

 

[kreckl]

Thanks for the links......
Can anybody tell me if the pool is fenced in yet?