Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[SABeasley98]

Not real sure why you would get a pin code for a value studio villa at AKL. I'm not sure those have ever been available for cash rentals, as they stay booked solid, generally at the 11 month mark, year round for DVC members.

Standard view rooms are larger than value view rooms, btw.

Thanks for your reply. When I log in with my PIN code, most of the villas are unavailable but it showed availability and discounted rate for a value studio villa & 1 bedroom villa at Jambo as well as a deluxe studio at Kidani.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Thanks for your reply. When I log in with my PIN code, most of the villas are unavailable but it showed availability and discounted rate for a value studio villa & 1 bedroom villa at Jambo as well as a deluxe studio at Kidani.

What dates are you looking at?

 

[SABeasley98]

What dates are you looking at?

Originally looking at just the night of 11/19/16 but now 11/18/16-11/20/16.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Originally looking at just the night of 11/19/16 but now 11/18/16-11/20/16.

DVC website shows zero availability for any of those dates in value studio villas. I'd be shocked if they were actually available through a cash reservation.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I just now booked and cancelled a dummy date for one night just to see if there are any new online check-in options. And there was. The two that I really took note of were pool view, and get this, garden view. First of all I thought that a pool view wasn't a request, but a bookable option only. And garden view? What is up with that?

 

[wilkeliza]

DVC website shows zero availability for any of those dates in value studio villas. I'd be shocked if they were actually available through a cash reservation.

DVC and cash reservations are 2 different pools so just because there is 0 availability through DVC doesn't mean there is 0 on cash. From my understanding it means that AKL owners have traded points for things like DCL or other bookings and thus these rooms are now open for cash bookings. It is harder to see the direct correlation at most DVC properties since they are not fixed date times shares. If they don't sell for cash by a certain date I believe they are then used to fill wait list requests.

 

[msk]

I just changed our adult only stay from All Star Movies to a pool view at AKL and am so excited! It is something I have always wanted to do and after this summer I'm going for gold on the bucket list items. I have never stayed at AKL before so... We are eating breakfast at Boma and dinner at Sanna. What other activities should I try include in my one day stay? We will be transferring to POFQ for the rest of our stay. Thanks!

 

[SABeasley98]

DVC website shows zero availability for any of those dates in value studio villas. I'd be shocked if they were actually available through a cash reservation.

 

[wonderlandwego]

Hi! Just booked our first ever stay at AKL! We are planning on doing one full resort day, and take advantage of all the activities that are offered. Does anyone have recommendations for must dos?

 

[DisBuckMan]

DVC and cash reservations are 2 different pools so just because there is 0 availability through DVC doesn't mean there is 0 on cash. From my understanding it means that AKL owners have traded points for things like DCL or other bookings and thus these rooms are now open for cash bookings. It is harder to see the direct correlation at most DVC properties since they are not fixed date times shares. If they don't sell for cash by a certain date I believe they are then used to fill wait list requests.

Yes, I'm aware of all of that. However, I'm still having difficulty reconciling cash availability for 2 straight nights at one of the hardest categories to book in the entire DVC inventory, during the busiest DVC "season".

 

[dgthree]

Does anyone have any photos of the Jambo House villas after their soft goods refurb? Specifically, the value studios?

Here's a photo of the sofabed in a value studio.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ducknrun/28654502201/in/dateposted-public/
I spent 6 nights there last week. It was actually pretty comfortable.

 

[DJFan88]

Yes. A case of water is $6.99.

Just want to add that these are 12 oz.

 

[DJFan88]

Can anyone tell me the pool hours at Jambo? TY

9 am to 11 pm

 

[pepperandchips]

Not real sure why you would get a pin code for a value studio villa at AKL. I'm not sure those have ever been available for cash rentals, as they stay booked solid, generally at the 11 month mark, year round for DVC members.

Standard view rooms are larger than value view rooms, btw.

We paid cash for a value studio June 24-26. I was also surprised to find that category available. I don't know how Disney/DVD allots the points they own (through ROFR or foreclosure or for whatever reason) but I wonder if it has anything to do with the recent refurb? Perhaps they didn't release those rooms for DVC members to book at 11/7 months in case the refresh wasn't complete and thus these primo DVC reservations ended up in the cash pot?

 

[sndral]

Can someone help me figure out the difference between a standard room with standard view at the lodge vs. a value studio villa with standard view at jambo house. The price with my PIN code is about the same so I'm not sure which one to choose. Does one have more space or better views in general? Or are there other differences? Thanks in advance!

The value villas are all located on the 5th floor of Jambo on either Ostrich or Giraffe trail ( the 2 short 'wings' of the resort closest to the street/parking lot/front of resort.) they are slighter smaller than the regular villas and have one real bed and a hidabed sofa. Standard view rooms could be located on any floor except the 5th & 6th (which are all DVC villas) and on any trail. Standard rooms have 2 real beds, no sofa. Both categories can have parking lot, limited savanna not sure about pool view. One thing I noticed when I had a cash reservation for a 1 br. villa for 10 nights a couple of years ago housekeeping failed to clean the villa several times - I assumed it was because people staying on points don't get daily housekeeping - but since I was paying cash to Disney I should have, but didn't.
If it were me I'd probably opt for the room just because if you don't like your room there's a lot of places they can move you, whereas there are very few value villas thus you're pretty much stuck w/ what they assign you. Also the villas are less likely to be available for early check in, if that matters to you.

 

[SABeasley98]

The value villas are all located on the 5th floor of Jambo on either Ostrich or Giraffe trail ( the 2 short 'wings' of the resort closest to the street/parking lot/front of resort.) they are slighter smaller than the regular villas and have one real bed and a hidabed sofa. Standard view rooms could be located on any floor except the 5th & 6th (which are all DVC villas) and on any trail. Standard rooms have 2 real beds, no sofa. Both categories can have parking lot, limited savanna not sure about pool view. One thing I noticed when I had a cash reservation for a 1 br. villa for 10 nights a couple of years ago housekeeping failed to clean the villa several times - I assumed it was because people staying on points don't get daily housekeeping - but since I was paying cash to Disney I should have, but didn't.
If it were me I'd probably opt for the room just because if you don't like your room there's a lot of places they can move you, whereas there are very few value villas thus you're pretty much stuck w/ what they assign you. Also the villas are less likely to be available for early check in, if that matters to you.

Thank you! I really appreciate this helpful info!

 

[pepperandchips]

Thank you! I really appreciate this helpful info!

My two cents: have stayed in standard view hotel room, Kidani village, and Jambo DVC value studio and have to say that for two adults we liked the Jambo value studio best. Our room was much closer to the elevator and lobby in the value studio while still having a great savanna view. I did request a room with "any partial savanna view" and our room was ready before we got to Orlando. (It was agony at work when I got the text). We liked having just one bed and more floor space in the DVC villa (we used the sleeper sofa as a big suitcase stand). The room did not feel too snug for just the two of us, and we had a fantastic housekeeper. HOWEVER in the interest of full disclosure I doubt I would disagree with any room at all at AKL and I would just pick what's cheapest

 

[kayteekt]

Yes, I'm aware of all of that. However, I'm still having difficulty reconciling cash availability for 2 straight nights at one of the hardest categories to book in the entire DVC inventory, during the busiest DVC "season".

We have rented points several times for stays, most recently on our upcoming trip this fall at kidani. I was talking with the points broker we used about this. We were trying to secure a 2 bdrm and there was availability for certain nights on disneys site vs dvc. She told me that Disney does not release all dvc rooms for dvc rental (think she said it was somewhere in the dvc contract when someone buys in). They are 2 separate pools and do not coordinate whatsoever. So it is very possible and basically always available to rent dvc villas thru Disney (until their avail is full).

On a side note we got a really good AP discount on poly studio last minute (within a month) for an anniversary trip this june...we chose std view but lake view was available also. Now, i can guarantee you if you tried to book those same dates or any dates in that vicinity there would be nothing.

Personally, i think it's very rude to do that to DVC members who've spent so much and pay high annual dues.

Hope this gives some insight.

 

[wmoon]

We are just back from a 15 night stay in Jambo House. It was great. We had a standard room and I requested the Kudu trail which is what we got, we had a lovely view accross the sunset savannah.
We used buses only for our whole trip and only had 2 occassions where our wait was more than 15 minutes. The times board was working all the time except for our first day. There was always space on the buses going to the parks and even returning after close of parks the service was fine with buses arriving pretty quickly to clear any queues. I was impressed with the quick journey to AK, Epcot and HS were pretty close as well. MK and Disney Springs took longer but were still only about 20 minutes or so at the most.
We had lovely dinners at Sanaa and Boma. I was not as impressed with breakfast at Boma, but it was a tired morning so it may have just been us. Mara was very nice for counter service food, I have to say though Zebra Domes were not for me.
We also did the starlight Safari at Kidani which was good, my ds really enjoyed it. All the CMs we encountered were lovely. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

 

[Disneymom1126]

72 days till we check in for our first stay at Kidani!!!

We have a 1-bedroom, savannah view and can do online check-in soon, and I know we will select near lobby and sunset savannah...I'm having trouble deciding between upper floor and lower floor. DD likes being on the top floor when we've stayed on property other places so that leads me toward upper floor as a preference, but I've also read here that you're more "up close and personal" with the animals on the lower floors. What do you see as the pros and cons of the two choices? Thanks!!!