Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[Best Aunt]

Is there a list of free activities anywhere for the resort?

Click on ACTIVITIES

http://www.themouseforless.com/walt-disney-world/resort-hotels/faq/animal-kingdom-lodge/

 

[Best Aunt]

Can someone help me out on understanding how DVC rooms differ from all other rooms? Or is there no difference? We will likely be renting DVC points and booking a standard studio (sadly, the savannah views are all gone).

If you are renting points (rather than booking a DVC room through Disney), some of the rules are different.
The reservation will be made by a DVC member, not by you.
You will be given the reservation number and can enter it into MDE so that you can make FP+.
But you will not be able to contact DVC Member Services yourself. The member has to do that.
You can use the Magical Express and get the dining plan, but the DVC member has to arrange those.
You will not get free dining, so don't hold out hope for that.
You will get Magic Bands.
You will not get daily Mousekeeping. If your stay is less than 8 nights, you will get Trash & Towel service on the 4th day. If your stay is 8 nights or longer, you get a full cleaning on the 4th day and Trash & Towel service on the 8th day. Trash & Towel service is just that - they take out the trash, bring clean towels; they do not do a regular cleaning of the room.

 

[missingdisneymore]

We'll be staying at AKL-Jambo in Nov-1st time! Kids are ecstatic as this has been their dream resort for years!!!!
Question for all of you AKL pros-which savannah should we request to overlook? I would like to be somewhat close to amenities but truly the AKL experience is more important to us this trip! TIA everyone!

 

[dgbg100106]

We've just gotten our confirmation for AKL for our trip next June! We're renting DVC and staying 6/2 - 6/12/16! Our first stay at AKL. We have standard view, but I'm sure we'll be perfectly happy going to the hallway overlooks. We're so excited!!

We have 8 days park hopper & WP&M tickets. How is transportation to the water parks? Do buses also go to the mini golf? We're driving so we have the option of our own car, but don't normally use it.

Is there a list of free activities anywhere for the resort?

June

Brooke789, 2nd - 12th, AKL

 

[brooke789]

Do people in AKL generally decorate their doors? If so, what do you use? Vinyl decals or magnets? We'll be in Jambo House if it makes a difference!

 

[Best Aunt]

Do people in AKL generally decorate their doors? If so, what do you use? Vinyl decals or magnets? We'll be in Jambo House if it makes a difference!

That's sort of a controversial issue. Some people will tell you that they decorate their doors. Other people will tell you that at the deluxe resorts, decorating the doors is frowned upon because Disney puts a lot into the decor; your own personal decorations will spoil the decor for others.

Resorts like Jambo House, for which the room doors open into a hallway inside the building, do not have doors to which magnets will stick.

Jambo House doors have a huge decorative shield. There wouldn't be much room for decorating.

 

[carissa1970]

Kidani has the same shields.

 

[brooke789]

That's why I asked! Thanks!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Hello! I'm posting this here and in the CL thread. I called IPO inquiring about special treats for the room (like how the CR can do a chocolate monorail/slipper) and was given some options like a dried fruit/nut platter, a fruit/cheese platter, 3 "large" zebra domes (this intrigues me), or champagne + flutes. I know they have iron horse but that is brut, I prefer sweeter champagnes, does anyone know what the second option is? I didn't quite catch it. It was $70.

Does anyone have pictures of any of these things? Thanks!

 

[dizzycrazy]

Just returned on the 30th from our 10 night stay at Jambo. I took advantage of the bounce back offer and after several changes I've decided to return to my favorite resort! We are booked at AKL July 24-Aug 2 for an anniversary celebration.

we will be here on the same dates! cant wait!

 

[PrincessHeather92]

I'm so excited! Today we upgraded our trip from POR to AKL! This will be our first time at AKL and we are coming for chirstmas, dec. 12-18!

Ive been doing some research and it seems that people in the past who have booked standard view have a lot of times been upgraded for free to Savanna view upon checking in? Has anyone here had that experience? We booked standard view because the view honestly isnt a big deal to us, but it would be neat if their was the possibility of a surprise upgrade.

 

[dansdad]

I'm so excited! Today we upgraded our trip from POR to AKL! This will be our first time at AKL and we are coming for chirstmas, dec. 12-18!

Ive been doing some research and it seems that people in the past who have booked standard view have a lot of times been upgraded for free to Savanna view upon checking in? Has anyone here had that experience? We booked standard view because the view honestly isnt a big deal to us, but it would be neat if their was the possibility of a surprise upgrade.

It's rare, but it does happen. Go into it expecting a standard view and then you'll be pleasantly surprised if you get some pixie dust.

 

[dolphingirl47]

It is not necessarily an upgrade. A few years ago, some rooms that previously were classified as savannah view, but were facing one of the people pens were reclassified as a standard room as the view is not totally unobstructed. We had one of those in the past and absolutely loved it.

Here are some photos of the view from one of those rooms:







This was a DVC studio and the room number was 5238, but the same if true of the hotel rooms in that area.

Corinna

 

[QVCshopper]

I'm so excited! Today we upgraded our trip from POR to AKL! This will be our first time at AKL and we are coming for chirstmas, dec. 12-18!

Ive been doing some research and it seems that people in the past who have booked standard view have a lot of times been upgraded for free to Savanna view upon checking in? Has anyone here had that experience? We booked standard view because the view honestly isnt a big deal to us, but it would be neat if their was the possibility of a surprise upgrade.

We checked in yesterday at AKL. We did a standard view through Orbitz, which was cheaper than booking through Disney with a code. Everything is great! We were upgraded to a bunk bed room with an obstructed view of the Savannah. The kids love the bunk beds, and I've seen lots of animals and birds from our room. Sure beats a parking lot! Our room (2230) is also over a pen area on the Kudu Trail, but I like the location a lot because it's close to the outlook, lobby, and pool. Quiet, too!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Going on Monday!!! AHHH! So ready, so excited!!!

 

[dgbg100106]

I'm so excited! Today we upgraded our trip from POR to AKL! This will be our first time at AKL and we are coming for chirstmas, dec. 12-18!

Ive been doing some research and it seems that people in the past who have booked standard view have a lot of times been upgraded for free to Savanna view upon checking in? Has anyone here had that experience? We booked standard view because the view honestly isnt a big deal to us, but it would be neat if their was the possibility of a surprise upgrade.

December

RobynPrincess, Nov 26th – 9th, AKL

Disneyfirsttimer10, 5th -12th, Jambo

Sndral, 2nd – 5th, Kidani

Sndral, 5th – 10th, Jambo House

Aladora, 9th -16th, AKV

KanataDad, 10th -12th, AKL

Traceylee, 11th – 19th, AKL

PrincessHeather92, 12th - 18th, AKL

Stephaniesnyder, 12th – 18th, AKL

Lovinallthingsdisney, 13th – 23rd, AKL

Nuts4Dale, 20th – 27th, Jambo House

Chrisc88, 24th – 27th, AKL

 

[Nicole786]

Just booked our September trip at AKL! This will be our 5th time staying here we absolutely love it! We booked a Standard view and requested the people pen view, I hope it works out. For those wondering, here are photos from our standard view/people pen view from the balcony. It was terrific, I hope we get lucky again!

 

[brooke789]

How is the Simba's Clubhouse? We're thinking we might go eat at Boma one night (and take the 2 year old with us) and send the 2 5 year olds to Simba's clubhouse. They wouldn't eat anything at Boma (except whatever random kid things they have) so considering them having their own night out! We'd probably only do 2 hours for us to go eat.

 

[KNJWDW]

I'm so excited! Today we upgraded our trip from POR to AKL! This will be our first time at AKL and we are coming for chirstmas, dec. 12-18!

Ive been doing some research and it seems that people in the past who have booked standard view have a lot of times been upgraded for free to Savanna view upon checking in? Has anyone here had that experience? We booked standard view because the view honestly isnt a big deal to us, but it would be neat if their was the possibility of a surprise upgrade.

Just happened to us. We were there a couple weeks ago and had booked a standard view. We were given a room on the Kudu trail that had a great view of the animals. There was some kind of building/pen area and giraffes, zebras, gazelles, ostrich, and more would come over daily. I think we saw more animals this trip, compared to a savanna view room we actually reserved a few years ago.

Enjoy your trip!

Amy

 

[Suruat68]

I just booked a surprise trip at AKL for my family! We're staying 9/11 - 9/13. It'll be our first time staying on Disney property. DH and I will have just had our 9year anniversary, plus his birthday is on the 12th so I figured I'd use this as an excuse to celebrate; keeping this a secret from him and my boys is sooooooo hard!

I've read through this thread and have a question I haven't seen asked yet. Our check out is on a Sunday. Will we still be able to use the pools for the rest of the day after we check out? We are not CL, just a cash reservation. Thanks!!