Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[RachelTori]

I'm staying at the villas and can't wait! Is there a thread for just the villas?

You know, I don't think there is an AKV thread. There are plenty of DVC owners/experts here who can answer any of your questions - ask away! You can also try posting in the DVC Resorts forum!


Edited: Thanks to DisDaD7, I stand corrected! There IS an AKV thread!

 

[RachelTori]

What's seems nice about it is that you still have food prepared at Jiko, but it appears it's a prepared menu (meaning you don't get to order off the menu) and you eat family style with the people on the safari. DH and I are both fairly adventurous eaters, so we'd probably like most things that are offered!

sndral gave you some excellent information about the Wanyama! What I would like to add is that doing the dinner family-style, you get to try pretty much everything on Jiko's menu! A chef or assistant chef also comes to the table, explaining each dish and answering any questions you might have!

No guilt about Mom & Dad enjoying a date night without the kids! There are plenty of opportunities for your children to see animals up close - although not while ON the Savannah! Ask CMs at Kidani when they will be doing an animal feeding out by the Kidani Rock Overlook. There are also lots of activities for children where they can earn beads, while interacting with Guides and learning about the animals.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

sndral gave you some excellent information about the Wanyama! What I would like to add is that doing the dinner family-style, you get to try pretty much everything on Jiko's menu! A chef or assistant chef also comes to the table, explaining each dish and answering any questions you might have!

No guilt about Mom & Dad enjoying a date night without the kids! There are plenty of opportunities for your children to see animals up close - although not while ON the Savannah! Ask CMs at Kidani when they will be doing an animal feeding out by the Kidani Rock Overlook. There are also lots of activities for children where they can earn beads, while interacting with Guides and learning about the animals.

Yes! One of the things I thought was cool about the safari was that you probably got to sample lots of different items on the menu - no need to choose just one!

Thanks for the tips about kids activities - I hadn't heard about the part about earning beads?! We will try to find out a schedule for the animal feedings when we arrive. We've built extra resort time into this trip because we heard about how great the kids' activities are! Our last trip we did lunch at Sanaa to check out the resort (hence why we are staying there this trip!) and the kids enjoyed going out to the viewing area and talking to the guides there.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Well, in an unfortunate turn of events, it's already unavailable again

I should have booked it yesterday but I didn't think DH would go for it, and we had a terrible phone connection so I figured I'd check on the babysitting, talk to DH and then call back, but by then the office was closed. So sad! Live and learn! And I know better, too...d'oh!

 

[DizDaD7]

I'm staying at the villas and can't wait! Is there a thread for just the villas?

A lot of info in this thread pertains to the whole complex...Villas or Lodge it's really basically the same thing....Just mainly a booking category...Although The Kidani bldg is all Villas & Jambo just 1 floor dedicated to villas....Either way, you can utilize everything at both resorts...

Here is another link that might have some different/same info for you.. http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-akv-owners-and-lovers-thread-come-and-chat.1815576/

 

[RachelTori]

Well, in an unfortunate turn of events, it's already unavailable again

I should have booked it yesterday but I didn't think DH would go for it, and we had a terrible phone connection so I figured I'd check on the babysitting, talk to DH and then call back, but by then the office was closed. So sad! Live and learn! And I know better, too...d'oh!

Don't give up so easily! Cancellations do happen! You can always keep checking with IPO, if they don't offer a wait-list (I've always been lucky so have never inquired if they would wait-list). I believe there's a 48-hour cancellation on Wanyama so if you haven't been able to get a reservation before your trip, that would be the time to inquire! And make sure the CMs in the Club Lounge know how to reach you quickly. Last minute cancellations do happen! Good luck!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Don't give up so easily! Cancellations do happen! You can always keep checking with IPO, if they don't offer a wait-list (I've always been lucky so have never inquired if they would wait-list). I believe there's a 48-hour cancellation on Wanyama so if you haven't been able to get a reservation before your trip, that would be the time to inquire! And make sure the CMs in the Club Lounge know how to reach you quickly. Last minute cancellations do happen! Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement! Believe me, I do not give up easily! I told the IPO lady that they'd be hearing from me a lot in the next few weeks, lol! Although she said people rarely cancel this - but I agree, people have to cancel things all the time for one reason or another. I had reserved babysitting for two nights that we could do - there's also one other night that might work, so I'm hoping for the best! She didn't mention a wait list, although my husband said the same thing. Maybe I'll ask about it tomorrow. If it doesn't work out, then we have a nice dinner at Jako planned...I'll be sure to post if I score a spot!

 

[smhwalker2011]

Cross posted in Poly thread due to split stay.. but:

Question... having never stayed at a deluxe.. how much larger are the rooms than an All Star resort? We will be there in 16 days for our first ever deluxe split stay at AKL/Poly!

Standard View Room.. fingers crossed for some partial Savanna !

 

[RedStars]

Anyone see the April resort guide yet?

 

[kamcole]

Cross posted in Poly thread due to split stay.. but:

Question... having never stayed at a deluxe.. how much larger are the rooms than an All Star resort? We will be there in 16 days for our first ever deluxe split stay at AKL/Poly!

Standard View Room.. fingers crossed for some partial Savanna !

From what I've read - All star Sports is 260 sq feet. AKL standard rooms are 344 sq feet and it looks like Poly is 404 sq feet. if you google you can see the room layout diagrams - which I find more helpful than the sq feet numbers - but I'm a pretty visual person.

 

[squirrelsquad]

I think I made a big "oopsie" and I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable about AKL/AKV can chime in here and help me out. Basic facts: I rented DVC points for my upcoming trip in Sept/Oct. I rented points for a club level deluxe studio at Jambo House with the impression that all club level studios had savannah views. Apparently, that is not the case? Do some of the rooms have pool views as I have been reading? If so, what, if anything, can I do to try to increase my chances at getting a savannah view room at this point since I can't rebook? This was the one thing my SO requested for out trip and I think I mucked it up.

 

[TeeterTots]

I think I made a big "oopsie" and I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable about AKL/AKV can chime in here and help me out. Basic facts: I rented DVC points for my upcoming trip in Sept/Oct. I rented points for a club level deluxe studio at Jambo House with the impression that all club level studios had savannah views. Apparently, that is not the case? Do some of the rooms have pool views as I have been reading? If so, what, if anything, can I do to try to increase my chances at getting a savannah view room at this point since I can't rebook? This was the one thing my SO requested for out trip and I think I mucked it up.

There are very few dvc club rooms. Yes, some rooms have pool view and some may have a corner Savannah view. You could email IPO or call member service to submit your request. It really depends on configuration. 1 bdrm or 2 which is a 1 with studio. Hope for the best but don't be upset if your request isn't granted. There are many great viewing areas and CL is great. You'll enjoy your stay regardless!

 

[hjvigz72]

Currently in AKV ROFR land and I'm learning so much on this thread! Provided all goes well, we will see all AKV has to offer - can't wait.

 

[hjvigz72]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/08/26/onthelist-zebra-domes-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/

STTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Oh my... must have

 

[DSNY4ever]

Can someone refresh my memory, do the DVC rooms (we will be in a Standard Studio) have a microwave?

 

[sndral]

I think I made a big "oopsie" and I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable about AKL/AKV can chime in here and help me out. Basic facts: I rented DVC points for my upcoming trip in Sept/Oct. I rented points for a club level deluxe studio at Jambo House with the impression that all club level studios had savannah views. Apparently, that is not the case? Do some of the rooms have pool views as I have been reading? If so, what, if anything, can I do to try to increase my chances at getting a savannah view room at this point since I can't rebook? This was the one thing my SO requested for out trip and I think I mucked it up.

We don't stay club as it doesn't seem worth it for us as light to non drinkers and not fans of the pix of the high carb food offerings, but I believe (based on maps, research and photos) that all of the DVC club villas are on the 6th floor - so you would be looking down at the animals from the highest story in Jambo. There are 5 club level two bedroom lock offs which can be split into 1 br.s and studios, thus there are 5 possible studios. Three of them have that 6th floor view of Sunset savanna, the other two have a view of the pool. Whether you get one of the 3 studio villas with a savanna view depends on who is checking out on the day you arrive. The AKV club villas run at 100% occupancy year round, so there's not much wiggle room with view requests.

 

[TeeterTots]

Can someone refresh my memory, do the DVC rooms (we will be in a Standard Studio) have a microwave?

Yes

 

[squirrelsquad]

We don't stay club as it doesn't seem worth it for us as light to non drinkers and not fans of the pix of the high carb food offerings, but I believe (based on maps, research and photos) that all of the DVC club villas are on the 6th floor - so you would be looking down at the animals from the highest story in Jambo. There are 5 club level two bedroom lock offs which can be split into 1 br.s and studios, thus there are 5 possible studios. Three of them have that 6th floor view of Sunset savanna, the other two have a view of the pool. Whether you get one of the 3 studio villas with a savanna view depends on who is checking out on the day you arrive. The AKV club villas run at 100% occupancy year round, so there's not much wiggle room with view requests.

Thank you for such a thorough answer. I will do as a previous poster said and ask IPO for the savannah view, but with only 5 possible rooms, I understand that my request may hold little to no weight. Booking club level with the expectation of savannah view was my mistake, so I will live with it. I just might need to find a way to surprise my SO with something that distracts him from no giraffes outside of our balcony.

 

[Best Aunt]

Even if you are on the savanna side of dvc club level, the view is not good. You are way at the end of the savanna. No animals went down there, so they started putting food there. When I was there, I saw a few antelope-type animals and that was it.

People on the dvc boards say that you can't make a room request (savanna versus pool) for club level. That doesn't mean you can't try - if you are the dvc owner. If you are renting points, you cannot call dvc member services yourself, the owner has to call for you.

Edited: pp, you said you would call IPO. Again, it can't hurt, but I don't think IPO has anything to do with dvc room assignments.

 

[sndral]

... I just might need to find a way to surprise my SO with something that distracts him from no giraffes outside of our balcony.

Well, you could do the Wanyama Safari - you'll have lots of viewing time at eye level with all the giraffes on each of the 3 savannahs that have giraffes Or the night safari (haven't done that one, but plan to.)