Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[DisDad4Life]

We recently returned from another wonderful stay at AKL. We chose a standard club level room for the first time and the only option I selected was Close to Lobby. We ended up on the Zebra Trail just a few doors down from the lobby. This wasn't the best savanna view we've had but still not bad! The best part of this location was it was a short walk to the elevators for the club level, pool, Mara and cut down on the walk to the buses.

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

I just asked over in CL about the views for AKL standard CL rooms. I've read that some CL have pool views while others have savannah views but the CM who did our rezzie said all have savannah views and would be either 4th or 6th floors. Did this change recently away from pool views or is that still possible?

Thanks for any help. We've never stayed in AKL before.

Liz

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Yeppers, What she said....

....especially if you don't get into the parking lot at certain times of the evening!

....no, no....definitely Jambo House. If you aren't in the parking lot by a certain time in the evening, it is virtually PACKED!

Ok folks I really don't mind the hike except for unloading and loading the car with gear. And I am fortunate that I am staying CL so I get my purchases sent straight to my room upon purchase....

However does AKL have valet parking?

 

[sndral]

I just asked over in CL about the views for AKL standard CL rooms. I've read that some CL have pool views while others have savannah views but the CM who did our rezzie said all have savannah views and would be either 4th or 6th floors. Did this change recently away from pool views or is that still possible?

Thanks for any help. We've never stayed in AKL before.

Liz

I am no expert on CL (or AKL, for that matter) but the confusion seems to be because AKL is the only deluxe resort with club for DVC members staying in villas as well the normal club for cash reservation rooms (like all the deluxe resorts have.) Adding to the confusion is that when Jambo first opened those 6th floor rooms where the club rooms, then they redid them and made them into DVC villas, so what was accurate 10 years ago is no longer correct.
A concierge cash room reservation should place you on the 4th floor with a view of Arusha savanna (from all that I have read.)
A DVC points reservation will place you on the 6th floor and some of these villas do not have a savanna view. Note that these DVC point reservations for the club villas are very very hard to come by and anyone lucky enough to get one probably knows what they snagged.

 

[Splashboat]

TinkerBellLiz, as sndral stated, you will only be on the 6th floor if you are staying on DVC points. This is the floor where you might not get a savannah view. If you are staying on a cash reservation you will not have this concern.

 

[kimmar067]

Ok folks I really don't mind the hike except for unloading and loading the car with gear. And I am fortunate that I am staying CL so I get my purchases sent straight to my room upon purchase....

However does AKL have valet parking?

....all deluxes do....

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

I am no expert on CL (or AKL, for that matter) but the confusion seems to be because AKL is the only deluxe resort with club for DVC members staying in villas as well the normal club for cash reservation rooms (like all the deluxe resorts have.) Adding to the confusion is that when Jambo first opened those 6th floor rooms where the club rooms, then they redid them and made them into DVC villas, so what was accurate 10 years ago is no longer correct.
A concierge cash room reservation should place you on the 4th floor with a view of Arusha savanna (from all that I have read.)
A DVC points reservation will place you on the 6th floor and some of these villas do not have a savanna view. Note that these DVC point reservations for the club villas are very very hard to come by and anyone lucky enough to get one probably knows what they snagged.

TinkerBellLiz, as sndral stated, you will only be on the 6th floor if you are staying on DVC points. This is the floor where you might not get a savannah view. If you are staying on a cash reservation you will not have this concern.

Thank you both for your explanations. I didn't even think about DVC in the lodge! I'm even more excited about the stay now.

Liz

 

[mamommy]

I apologize for asking. I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I can't find a way to search the thread. Did that option disappear with the new upgrade? Anyway - I have a standard view room booked (in 2 weeks!!). I would like to request bunk beds. Is this even an option? What else should I request for a decent room? Is the best way to make the request still to call and have it added to the reservation?

Thanks,
Elizabeth

 

[punkin413]

....no, no....definitely Jambo House. If you aren't in the parking lot by a certain time in the evening, it is virtually PACKED!

Like what time are you referring to roughly? We are driving from Georgia and will most likely get there around 5pm-6pm to check in. I just don't want to not get parking on that first day since we may just park our car and not move it for a few days!

 

[ah10is]

Are all the rooms on Kudu trail some sort of Savannah view? In looking at the map of the resort that is what it looks like but just wanted to check. Thanks

 

[kimmar067]

Like what time are you referring to roughly? We are driving from Georgia and will most likely get there around 5pm-6pm to check in. I just don't want to not get parking on that first day since we may just park our car and not move it for a few days!

....that should be okay....we've found that after 7ish it starts to get filled up...

 

[kimmar067]

Are all the rooms on Kudu trail some sort of Savannah view? In looking at the map of the resort that is what it looks like but just wanted to check. Thanks

 

[kimmar067]

...I just don't want to not get parking on that first day since we may just park our car and not move it for a few days!

...a-men to that....if we drive to WDW, that car doesn't move until we are going home!

 

[kimmar067]

Like what time are you referring to roughly? We are driving from Georgia and will most likely get there around 5pm-6pm to check in. I just don't want to not get parking on that first day since we may just park our car and not move it for a few days!

....what you COULD do is, after you remove all your belongings from your vehicle [under the porte cochere] park your car, even if it is in a not-so-near space. You can always move it to a much closer location in the morning....

 

[DizDaD7]

Blagh...I hate Not having my vehicle not so close....I'm not looking forward to this in August..For As you stated prior Kim, once the car is parked it stays parked..Except for our AK day.. We have ADR's for Boma ( Of course ) & it's just easier to do w/out the hassles of hopping on & off buses numerous times..We also get free valet service to with our PAP's or TiW. My luck is I'll have a great spot (at BWV) prior to that day, & will have to give it up, & not get it back...LOL..

 

[kimmar067]

....YOU need the exercise anyhoo......

 

[DizDaD7]

Blagh, blagh blagh, Speak for yuh-selff...

 

[kimmar067]

.....whatever...

 

[punkin413]

....that should be okay....we've found that after 7ish it starts to get filled up...

...a-men to that....if we drive to WDW, that car doesn't move until we are going home!

....what you COULD do is, after you remove all your belongings from your vehicle [under the porte cochere] park your car, even if it is in a not-so-near space. You can always move it to a much closer location in the morning....

Awesome, thanks! We tend to use our car like 2-3 times during our trips when we're fed up with the bus system for whatever reason. We don't have to be to AK the next morning until like 10:15 (Tusker House breakfast at 10:40) so we'll have plenty of time to move if we if we need to!

 

[kimmar067]