Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[DisDad4Life]

Hi all! This is my first post on this thread but have been enjoying all the chatter here about AKL. We'll be back for our 8th AKL stay in just 7 days!!! Staying Club Level for the first time for something different. Very excited!!!

 

[TristiK]

For a quick break we sometimes DO NOT travel back to our hotel , we use to visit another CLOSER resort : ie we stop for some cookies at Beach and Yacht Club if we are visiting Epcot ( also The Land makes for a cooling stop) or we hop onto the monorail and relax at The Poly or visit the Wilderness Lodge when we are tired of the MK crowds ...
In the past visits we often planned a nice restaurant stop for our midday meal ; it could be seen as a waste of time, but you can sit down, rest in the AC and QUIETLY have some food before heading out in the park for more fun...
Not sure if this would be enough of a break for your 4yo ...

Oh, good idea! It's been so long since I was there I'm forgetting about all the other stuff to do. I loved the boardwalk as a kid. And maybe I'm worrying over nothing, we went quite a bit when I was young and we stayed off property - so we were there all day. I managed to make it through a full day as a 4 year old so hopefully it will be a non issue!

 

[kimmar067]

Hi all! This is my first post on this thread but have been enjoying all the chatter here about AKL. We'll be back for our 8th AKL stay in just 7 days!!! Staying Club Level for the first time for something different. Very excited!!!

....that's awesome! You are going to absolutely LOVE it!

 

[kimmar067]

....we went quite a bit when I was young and we stayed off property - so we were there all day. I managed to make it through a full day as a 4 year old so hopefully it will be a non issue!

....and that's the good thing about staying on-site....there is more freedom to come-and-go, vs. parking your own vehicle in an expansive random parking lot....

 

[taythecray]

Well I read through about half of the pages so far and still catching up but I wanted to join in on the chatter This will be my family's FIRST Disney trip and we are choosing to rent DVC points for AKL (there are 9 of us and it was the cheapest on-site option) We will need a two-bedroom of course and I have been getting conflicting information about Jambo house. Some sites say they can only hold 8 while other sites say they can hold 9. If they can hold 9, which would you recommend, Jambo or Kidani? 7 adults and 2 "disney" adults (10 & 14) Thanks and sorry if this was answered somewhere in the pages already :/

 

[sndral]

Well I read through about half of the pages so far and still catching up but I wanted to join in on the chatter This will be my family's FIRST Disney trip and we are choosing to rent DVC points for AKL (there are 9 of us and it was the cheapest on-site option) We will need a two-bedroom of course and I have been getting conflicting information about Jambo house. Some sites say they can only hold 8 while other sites say they can hold 9. If they can hold 9, which would you recommend, Jambo or Kidani? 7 adults and 2 "disney" adults (10 & 14) Thanks and sorry if this was answered somewhere in the pages already :/

Actually the smaller value 2 br villas (on Giraffe and Ostrich trail - the front 2 hallways at Jambo) only sleep 8, there are very few of the value villas.
The rest of the 2 br villas at Jambo and all of the 2 br villas at Kidani sleep 9.
Jambo has a majestic lobby, the CS, Boma and Jiko. The standard view villas overlook the pool or partial savanna view. All except the club villas are on the 5th floor. The 2 br.s have 2 baths.
Kidani has a smaller lobby and the TS restaurant Sanaa. There's CS at the pool and a fun children's water play area at the pool. The villas are on all floors (it's all villas) the standard view villas overlook the front, parking is underneath. The 2 br.s have 3 bathrooms and are slightly larger than the 2 br.s at Jambo.

 

[disney2014plan]

For a party of 11, renting a 2BR = 1BR villa works out at less than the 3 BR Grand villas. If one were to do this, what are the chances of getting the 2 suites at least close together? Is there a mixture of 1 and 2 BR suites on each floor?

 

[loves to dive]

Getting ready for my first stay at AKL in May, I've visited and walked around the resort but never stayed there. Only there for two nights, Sun and Monday and have ressies somewhere else that won't allow me to do the wine tasting. I'm really interested in trying out some African wines so my question is: does anyone know if the lounge offers a wine flight? Or possibly one of the restaurants? Also, anyone know how far the walk is from the lodge to the villas? I've read the bus stops first at the villas and since I'm an early morning riser I'm thinking a nice walk over there to catch the bus might be nice.

 

[VeronicaBride]

We have changed our dates. We were originally going in Sept but now we are doing a split stay in Nov. We are doing Beach Club from Nov 13-18 and AKL Arusha view from Nov 18-22. We are super excited.

 

[Best Aunt]

For a party of 11, renting a 2BR = 1BR villa works out at less than the 3 BR Grand villas. If one were to do this, what are the chances of getting the 2 suites at least close together? Is there a mixture of 1 and 2 BR suites on each floor?

For Jambo House, here's a map which shows you which rooms are which on the 5th floor. A 2-bedroom at Jambo is actually a one bedroom and a studio lock-off with connecting doors. (A dedicated studio does not connect to a one-bedroom.) So you look for one-bedrooms which are next to studio lock-offs and those are the two-bedrooms.
http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5.php

This is an interactive map which you can use for Kidani Village.
http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-villas

 

[taythecray]

Awesome thanks for all the information! Now we just have to decide which one to choose. I'm just excited my mom actually agreed to this (originally she was looking at off-site options) Kidani's extra bathroom would be nice but Jambo in general seems to be more extravagant. Now I'm just waiting for our DVC person to email me back!

 

[Jbausch]

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2015



If you have any updates please let me know...



2015



March

Jeniie, Feb 25th – 10th, AKL Jambo

Carolyn Louise, 2nd - 6th, AKL

Srauchbauer, 4th – 9th, AKL



April

Amandaw, 3rd – 11th, AKL

stobaugh6, 11th – 19th, AKL

Franandaj, 13th – 20th, VWL

Franandaj, 20th – 24th, DCL

AspenLL, 29th – May 6th, AKL



May

AspenLL, Apr 29th – 6th, AKL

Mickeymedic, 1st – 4th, AKL Expedition Everest Challenge

Moon Dreamer, 3rd – 8th, AKL

MammerJammer, 3rd – 9th, AKL

ah10is, 4th – 11th, AKL

DgBg100106, 5th -8th, BCV (Flower and Garden)

ThisIsJason, 5th – 11th, Kidani

Dolphingirl47, 11th – 14th, BCV

The Sunrise Student, 14th – 25th, AKL CL

JaxMummy, 15th – 23rd, AKL

Disneyfirsttimer10, 16th -20th BLT

Disneyfirsttimer10, 20th-24th, AKV Kidani

Josh704, 23rd – 30th, AKL

Sinderelly, 30th – Jun 6th, Kidani



June

Sinderelly, May 30th – 6th, Kidani

ChgoMusicGirl, 8th – 13th, Jambo House

think-like-tink, 15th – 25th, AKL

Susiec, 15th – 27th, AKL – DH 50th Bday



July

Denamac, 20th -26th, Jambo CL

Octoberbaby, 23rd – Aug 2nd, Jambo House



August

Octoberbaby, Oct 23rd – 2nd, Jambo House

anjalee6, 3rd -10th, AKL CL

MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 3rd – 13th, AKL

ColinCodyMom, 10th – 14th, AKL

Ebonyeyes, 10th – 21st, AKV Kidani

DizDaD7, 15th – 18th, VB

Pandv_2000, 15th-29th, AKl CL

DizDaD7, 18th – 26th, BWV

NatalieMT, 24th – Sep 1st, AKL

DizDaD7, 26th – 28th, HH



September

VeronicaBride, 11th – 18th, AKL

Sailored, 15th – 22nd, AKL

punkin413, 26th – Oct 3rd, AKL



October

punkin413, Sep 26th – 3rd, AKL

CatManDoo, 1st – 7th, Jambo House

dizneegirl71, 17th – 24th, Kidani

LJSquishy, 21st – 30th, AKL



November

shameless3, 17th – 20th, AKL

YoCoLifSavr, 21st – 28th, Jambo House

JenniferLea



December

Disneyfirsttimer10, 5th -12th , Jambo

Sndral, 5th – 13th, Jambo House

Lovinallthingsdisney, 14th – 22nd, AKL

Nuts4Dale, 20th – 27th, Jambo House

Could you please add my family to the list?
We are staying November 25 to 28.

Thank you!!!

 

[ah10is]

Does any one know if you can buy Almond milk in the Zawadi Marketplace at AKL?

 

[jrandall]

This may be such a basic question but I have heard the buses take awhile. Since we are driving should we just plan to drive to the parks or us there any other creative ways to get around?

 

[babyberger]

This may be such a basic question but I have heard the buses take awhile. Since we are driving should we just plan to drive to the parks or us there any other creative ways to get around?

To be honest we don't feel that the buses take that much longer even though we know AKL is the farthest away. We found that we don't save much time driving to the parks because then we have to park and take a tram to the entrance or for MK park at TTC and have to take the monorail or ferry. We also like the option of being able to go to another park or DTD and not worrying about moving our car.

 

[dgbg100106]

We have changed our dates. We were originally going in Sept but now we are doing a split stay in Nov. We are doing Beach Club from Nov 13-18 and AKL Arusha view from Nov 18-22. We are super excited.

November

PNO4TE, Oct 30th – 3rd, Coronado Springs

VeronicaBride, 13th – 18th, BCV

shameless3, 17th – 20th, AKL

VeronicaBride, 18th -22nd, AKL

1buckeyegirl, 21st – 24th, AKL CL

YoCoLifSavr, 21st – 28th, Jambo House

1buckeyegirl, 24th Disney Magic

JenniferLea

 

[disney2014plan]

For Jambo House, here's a map which shows you which rooms are which on the 5th floor. A 2-bedroom at Jambo is actually a one bedroom and a studio lock-off with connecting doors. (A dedicated studio does not connect to a one-bedroom.) So you look for one-bedrooms which are next to studio lock-offs and those are the two-bedrooms.
http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5.php

This is an interactive map which you can use for Kidani Village.
http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-villas

Thank you Best Aunt, that's really helpful.

 

[dgbg100106]

Could you please add my family to the list?
We are staying November 25 to 28.

Thank you!!!

November

PNO4TE, Oct 30th – 3rd, Coronado Springs

VeronicaBride, 13th – 18th, BCV

shameless3, 17th – 20th, AKL

VeronicaBride, 18th -22nd, AKL

1buckeyegirl, 21st – 24th, AKL CL

YoCoLifSavr, 21st – 28th, Jambo House

1buckeyegirl, 24th Disney Magic

Jbausch, 25th – 28th, AKL

JenniferLea

 

[ahoward]

Oops we are missing from the list. We are staying in a grand villa May 30 - June 3 then switching to off site. Super excited. Please add us to the list.

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2015



If you have any updates please let me know...



2015



March

Jeniie, Feb 25th – 10th, AKL Jambo

Carolyn Louise, 2nd - 6th, AKL

Srauchbauer, 4th – 9th, AKL



April

Amandaw, 3rd – 11th, AKL

stobaugh6, 11th – 19th, AKL

Franandaj, 13th – 20th, VWL

Franandaj, 20th – 24th, DCL

AspenLL, 29th – May 6th, AKL



May

AspenLL, Apr 29th – 6th, AKL

Mickeymedic, 1st – 4th, AKL Expedition Everest Challenge

Moon Dreamer, 3rd – 8th, AKL

MammerJammer, 3rd – 9th, AKL

ah10is, 4th – 11th, AKL

DgBg100106, 5th -8th, BCV (Flower and Garden)

ThisIsJason, 5th – 11th, Kidani

Dolphingirl47, 11th – 14th, BCV

The Sunrise Student, 14th – 25th, AKL CL

JaxMummy, 15th – 23rd, AKL

Disneyfirsttimer10, 16th -20th BLT

Disneyfirsttimer10, 20th-24th, AKV Kidani

Josh704, 23rd – 30th, AKL

Sinderelly, 30th – Jun 6th, Kidani



June

Sinderelly, May 30th – 6th, Kidani

ChgoMusicGirl, 8th – 13th, Jambo House

think-like-tink, 15th – 25th, AKL

Susiec, 15th – 27th, AKL – DH 50th Bday



July

Denamac, 20th -26th, Jambo CL

Octoberbaby, 23rd – Aug 2nd, Jambo House



August

Octoberbaby, Oct 23rd – 2nd, Jambo House

anjalee6, 3rd -10th, AKL CL

MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 3rd – 13th, AKL

ColinCodyMom, 10th – 14th, AKL

Ebonyeyes, 10th – 21st, AKV Kidani

DizDaD7, 15th – 18th, VB

Pandv_2000, 15th-29th, AKl CL

DizDaD7, 18th – 26th, BWV

NatalieMT, 24th – Sep 1st, AKL

DizDaD7, 26th – 28th, HH



September

VeronicaBride, 11th – 18th, AKL

Sailored, 15th – 22nd, AKL

punkin413, 26th – Oct 3rd, AKL



October

punkin413, Sep 26th – 3rd, AKL

CatManDoo, 1st – 7th, Jambo House

dizneegirl71, 17th – 24th, Kidani

LJSquishy, 21st – 30th, AKL



November

shameless3, 17th – 20th, AKL

YoCoLifSavr, 21st – 28th, Jambo House

JenniferLea



December

Disneyfirsttimer10, 5th -12th , Jambo

Sndral, 5th – 13th, Jambo House

Lovinallthingsdisney, 14th – 22nd, AKL

Nuts4Dale, 20th – 27th, Jambo House

 

[jrandall]

Thanks! I was wondering about the time spent parking too. I am thinking either way may work.