Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[2013Frozen]

Thank you for the Zebra trail information. Is the trail information with the online check in? . Am I able to request double queen beds with online check in as well? Thanks to everyone ..

 

[tydad]

We just got back last week and we stayed in room 3424 in zebra trail. Very short walk to the lobby,and pool view with 2 queens. Very nice and quiet room

 

[Regan117]

We also got a letter yesterday regarding the refurb at AKL (we are staying CL April 29-May 6). I sent IPO an e-mail and got this as a reply:

"The refurbishment is what is called a "soft goods rehab" for rooms on the 5th and 6th floor. The Kilimanjaro Club Lounge will be relocated during this process temporarily however it will not be closed. This type of refurbishment is mostly cosmetic and necessary from time to time in order for us to maintain our high level of service.
In the past when we have had this level of refurbishment the Lounge was relocated to the Presidential Suite on the 5th floor. That is most likely going to be the case in this situation however this far out we are unable to know for certain just know that we will not be closing the Lounge just using a temporary space instead."

I looked up the Presidential Suite (which at one time was the most expensive room on property) and I have to say... wow. That is a heck of a room. I wonder what they do to make it more lounge-y. Plus, the Kilimanjaro Lounge misses not having a view of any savannah where as the PS has a really BIG balcony. It almost makes me hope that the PS is being used when we are there.

I am staying in that Presidential Suite next year! It's PHENOMENAL. It'll be nice to scope it out if the club lounge is in there, since I will be staying club level at AKL the end of this month.

 

[gorkt]

Hi folks,

I am looking to rent points for a nine night 1 bedroom stay in November and I am looking seriously at AKL this time around. However, the room categories are a bit confusing so bear with me.

1) Value rooms - I understand that these might be in short supply, but I am having a hard time figuring out what this catagory means. I get that they are smaller and only sleep 4. But from what I understand the view is random, correct? You could get a parking lot view or a Savannah view, right? Are all value rooms in Jambo house?

2) Standard/Savannah rooms - are these all in Kidani village or are there some normal sized non-value rooms in Jambo house?

I guess what I am asking here is whether there is a guarantee of getting a Jambo house room without reserving a value room. Our family puts a lot of premium on quick access to restaurants and bus stops. My ultimate preference would be a guaranteed Savannah room in Jambo house, but I would be okay without the view as well to save money. What room request should I ask for if I want a guarantee of Jambo house? And if Jambo turns out not to be available, how big of a pain is it to get to Jambo house from Kidani?

 

[Lvsdisney]

Hi folks,

I am looking to rent points for a nine night 1 bedroom stay in November and I am looking seriously at AKL this time around. However, the room categories are a bit confusing so bear with me.

1) Value rooms - I understand that these might be in short supply, but I am having a hard time figuring out what this catagory means. I get that they are smaller and only sleep 4. But from what I understand the view is random, correct? You could get a parking lot view or a Savannah view, right? Are all value rooms in Jambo house?

2) Standard/Savannah rooms - are these all in Kidani village or are there some normal sized non-value rooms in Jambo house?

I guess what I am asking here is whether there is a guarantee of getting a Jambo house room without reserving a value room. Our family puts a lot of premium on quick access to restaurants and bus stops. My ultimate preference would be a guaranteed Savannah room in Jambo house, but I would be okay without the view as well to save money. What room request should I ask for if I want a guarantee of Jambo house? And if Jambo turns out not to be available, how big of a pain is it to get to Jambo house from Kidani?

1) This is a great photo showing the rooms in jambo house. Not official, but I believe it's pretty accurate. This will give you an idea of the value room views. (photo credit Micah008 at *********** dot com)
2) Jambo has standard and savannah view rooms as well. If you're getting a studio, there is not a lot of difference, but the 1 bedrooms in Kidani have an extra bathroom (I think....)

I booked our standard studio in Jambo about 6 months out. I know if I added a night to the reservation, I would have had to move to Kidani.

 

[sndral]

Hi folks,

I am looking to rent points for a nine night 1 bedroom stay in November and I am looking seriously at AKL this time around. However, the room categories are a bit confusing so bear with me.

1) Value rooms - I understand that these might be in short supply, but I am having a hard time figuring out what this catagory means. I get that they are smaller and only sleep 4. But from what I understand the view is random, correct? You could get a parking lot view or a Savannah view, right? Are all value rooms in Jambo house?

2) Standard/Savannah rooms - are these all in Kidani village or are there some normal sized non-value rooms in Jambo house?

I guess what I am asking here is whether there is a guarantee of getting a Jambo house room without reserving a value room. Our family puts a lot of premium on quick access to restaurants and bus stops. My ultimate preference would be a guaranteed Savannah room in Jambo house, but I would be okay without the view as well to save money. What room request should I ask for if I want a guarantee of Jambo house? And if Jambo turns out not to be available, how big of a pain is it to get to Jambo house from Kidani?

DVC @ AKL (aka AKV) has a lot of room categories, to summarize:

Jambo house DVC villas are on the 5th and 6th floors, your options are CL, value, standard or savannah view -
CL - located on the 6th floor of Jambo, a couple have limited savannah view, only club villas in DVC toughest to get.
Value - located on Giraffe and Ostrich trail which are the front 2 hallways of Jambo. 5th floor, limited sunset savannah view, pool view, or view out the front of Jambo. Cannot choose which view, it's luck of the draw. Lower occupancy limits because they are slighter smaller. Very popular because there are very few of them and they are great value for points required.
Standard view - located on Zebra or Kudu trail, on the 5th floor of Jambo. Zebra trail will be pool view or maybe the occasional limited savannah view. Kudu trail will be limited savannah view.
Savannah view - also located on Zebra or Kudu trail on the 5th floor of Jambo. Zebra trail will have Arusha or Uzima savannah views. Kudu trail will have Arusha or Sunset savannah views.

Kidani Village is all DVC thus villas can be on any floor. There are 2 options -
Standard - parking/road, non savannah view or limited savannah view.
Savannah - faces Sunset savannah or the smaller Pembe savannah.

Since there are fewer DVC villas at Jambo than at Kidani, Jambo standard and savannah view book faster than Kidani standard and savannah view even though they cost the same point wise.

It's about a 10 minute walk between the buildings, there's also a van running between the buildings or park busses stop at Kidani then Jambo and DTD (aka DS) stop Jambo then Kidani. Jambo has Mara (QS) Boma (TS buffet) Victoria Falls (bar) and Jiko (signature.) Kidani has Sanaa (TS.) Both have pool bars/Food. Kidani villas are larger and have the extra bathroom in 1 br. villas. Jambo has a much larger gift store and grander lobby.

Hope this helps

Whether you choose a Jambo or Kidani 1 br. villa be sure to bring bath bombs (or buy them @ Basin White @ the GF or Disney Springs) for the huge spa tub.

 

[mcallisk]

Hi all!

We are so excited for our trip at the end of the month. The weather projections look excellent! Fingers crossed. Does anyone have access to the recreation calendar for January? We are headed in on 1/27 and have earmarked that day to enjoy the resort and I'd like to knock out a rough plan for the day. Thanks guys!

 

[kimmar067]

Thank you for the Zebra trail information. Is the trail information with the online check in? . Am I able to request double queen beds with online check in as well? Thanks to everyone ..

....I cannot answer that....I've never checked in on-line....

 

[kimmar067]

I am staying in that Presidential Suite next year! It's PHENOMENAL. It'll be nice to scope it out if the club lounge is in there, since I will be staying club level at AKL the end of this month.

....when we'd done CL, we were 3 doors down from the Presidential Suite. The door was open and Mousekeeping was in there cleaning. I politely asked if I could just peruse the place and they said that it wasn't a problem...Holy cannoli! What a room!

 

[kimmar067]

Hi folks,

I am looking to rent points for a nine night 1 bedroom stay in November and I am looking seriously at AKL this time around. However, the room categories are a bit confusing so bear with me.

1) Value rooms - I understand that these might be in short supply, but I am having a hard time figuring out what this catagory means. I get that they are smaller and only sleep 4. But from what I understand the view is random, correct? You could get a parking lot view or a Savannah view, right?

....the DVC room/breakdowns are a bit different than the 'regular' rooms that you'd be staying in....in 2014, my brother [who is a DVC owner] stayed in a value studio room which was located in Giraffe Trail overlooking the pool. If I remember correctly, it was on the 5th floor and was 'over' where Jiko is located (or perhaps a little bit beyond)...

 

[kimmar067]

....if Jambo turns out not to be available, how big of a pain is it to get to Jambo house from Kidani?

....it's really not bad at all....a few-minute ride via bus, or a 10-15 minute walk, depending upon how fast you walk....

 

[DizDaD7]

....when we'd done CL, we were 3 doors down from the Presidential Suite. The door was open and Mousekeeping was in there cleaning. I politely asked if I could just peruse the place and they said that it wasn't a problem...Holy cannoli! What a room!

Cannoli's......What they don't have Zebra Domes N.E.MORE ???

 

[kimmar067]

....let me know when I'm s'posed to laugh...

 

[DizDaD7]

....the DVC room/breakdowns are a bit different than the 'regular' rooms that you'd be staying in....in 2014, my brother [who is a DVC owner] stayed in a value studio room which was located in Giraffe Trail overlooking the pool. If I remember correctly, it was on the 5th floor and was 'over' where Jiko is located (or perhaps a little bit beyond)...

Yep All DVC in Jambo are 5th & 6th floor. I think my room was # 5014...Perfect location.

 

[DINKsAtDisney]

I have an AKL Mystery! I'm looking to book in September but am seeing the below *Disc message on Arusha views. (I checked other earlier months and it's showing up the same.) Do we think specific Arusha savannah views have been discontinued unless you do CL?

 

[DizDaD7]

I have an AKL Mystery! I'm looking to book in September but am seeing the below *Disc message on Arusha views. (I checked other earlier months and it's showing up the same.) Do we think specific Arusha savannah views have been discontinued unless you do CL?

hmmm wierd..I don't think so....

 

[BigMommaMouse]

I have an AKL Mystery! I'm looking to book in September but am seeing the below *Disc message on Arusha views. (I checked other earlier months and it's showing up the same.) Do we think specific Arusha savannah views have been discontinued unless you do CL?

I looked on the Disney UK site as we are coming in October and were going to upgrade to Arusha View after staying in a room over there last year.
However they have been removed. You can pick a Savanna view but not Arusha.

 

[DINKsAtDisney]

I looked on the Disney UK site as we are coming in October and were going to upgrade to Arusha View after staying in a room over there last year.
However they have been removed. You can pick a Savanna view but not Arusha.

Interesting!! I'm going to call today and see what the deal is. Maybe then I'll actually just book club if it's guaranteed.

Before I do, though... Has anyone stayed in both Arusha view and other savannah view rooms? Is Arusha truly superior? Details welcome!

 

[Regan117]

I have an AKL Mystery! I'm looking to book in September but am seeing the below *Disc message on Arusha views. (I checked other earlier months and it's showing up the same.) Do we think specific Arusha savannah views have been discontinued unless you do CL?

I was told it was discontinued. Not sure what that means, but that's what I was told. Maybe all savannah rooms are going to be lumped together as one category, or the arusha rooms are going to be club level only. I'd be interested in the answer to this, since we stay at AKL frequently.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

Interesting!! I'm going to call today and see what the deal is. Maybe then I'll actually just book club if it's guaranteed.

Before I do, though... Has anyone stayed in both Arusha view and other savannah view rooms? Is Arusha truly superior? Details welcome!

Our first time was last year and it was amazing! We were up at such crazy hours and every time we run to look out at the animals. Arusha was so beautiful. A Giraffe once was walking around the savanna eating the food off the truck as the keeper was trying to put the food out. They were trying everything to out smart the Giraffe but couldn't. I love the memory. We have been going to Disney for 12 years, we love Disney. I never expected to fall in love with a Hotel.