First Time At AKL

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Hello All - hubby and I planned a last minute trip in late October yesterday. The best Passholder rate was at AKL. We go to WDW several times a year and always stay at BWV or Yacht Club. I know nothing about AKL, just visited once at Christmas when we went to see all the different resort trees and once when we ate at Jiko. I have skimmed the information thread but it is long and I did not see any resort photo links. Can someone guide me to where I might find photos of the resort and rooms?

Which restaurants offer animal viewing around early dinner time? (5ish)

We have booked a standard room. Anything I should know? Is there an outside sink area? Any requests I should make? Should I do online check in or call? Or nothing at all?

Can you tell me about the pool area? I have heard great things.

Any info from AKL pros would be wonderful - thank you!!!

 

[Sarahslay]

I just stayed at AKL for the first time in June, just like you it was the best AP discount rate I could get, and even with standard view it was awesome. I did a touring plans room request and ended up 1 room over from the room requested, room 4552 on the Zebra trail. I saw animals every time I looked out of my room, especially a mother and her young giraffe (often right near my room at night, scared me the first time I went to close the curtains at night and there was a little giraffe looking right at me lol). I didn't eat at any of the restaurants besides the Mara, which is really super easy to get to from the zebra trail side, but I know Sannaa (sp?) over in Kadani villiage has animal viewing. You can see animals everywhere though just walking to your room, there are windows along the hallway between room areas and you can catch many animals outside roaming around, and there are a lot of night viewing areas where you can just sit and take it all in.
In the bathroom there are two outside sinks (I'm assuming you aren't staying in the DVC rooms), just like most of the deluxe resorts. I did do online check-in, made it super easy and I never had to go to the front desk for anything, if you want to do a room request though you can either call or do a fax, I didn't do that since I had the touring plans request. If you make a request try and either request a room number area, a certain trail, or tell them you would like a partial savannah view.

 

[lizerbug]

Try Trip Advisor for pics.

 

[maryj11]

We stayed there this June. I loved it. We had a pool view room in Giraffe Trail. Great location and close to everything. Boma was our favorite restaurant. We had breakfast and dinner there. We also ate at Sanaa but didn't care for it. We did online request with touring plans and had it added onto our resort reservation. We did not get what we requested. We did ask at check in about our request and they moved us to where we wanted. The pool is great we really enjoyed it . There are places right near the pool where you can view the animals and an area with flamingos. All the details in and around resort is amazing.
The best place to find out all about AKL is to look for videos on YouTube. There is some good ones on there.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

I just stayed at AKL for the first time in June, just like you it was the best AP discount rate I could get, and even with standard view it was awesome. I did a touring plans room request and ended up 1 room over from the room requested, room 4552 on the Zebra trail. I saw animals every time I looked out of my room, especially a mother and her young giraffe (often right near my room at night, scared me the first time I went to close the curtains at night and there was a little giraffe looking right at me lol). I didn't eat at any of the restaurants besides the Mara, which is really super easy to get to from the zebra trail side, but I know Sannaa (sp?) over in Kadani villiage has animal viewing. You can see animals everywhere though just walking to your room, there are windows along the hallway between room areas and you can catch many animals outside roaming around, and there are a lot of night viewing areas where you can just sit and take it all in.
In the bathroom there are two outside sinks (I'm assuming you aren't staying in the DVC rooms), just like most of the deluxe resorts. I did do online check-in, made it super easy and I never had to go to the front desk for anything, if you want to do a room request though you can either call or do a fax, I didn't do that since I had the touring plans request. If you make a request try and either request a room number area, a certain trail, or tell them you would like a partial savannah view.

Thank you for all this info! Can I ask what Touring Plans is?

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

We stayed there this June. I loved it. We had a pool view room in Giraffe Trail. Great location and close to everything. Boma was our favorite restaurant. We had breakfast and dinner there. We also ate at Sanaa but didn't care for it. We did online request with touring plans and had it added onto our resort reservation. We did not get what we requested. We did ask at check in about our request and they moved us to where we wanted. The pool is great we really enjoyed it all the details in and around resort is amazing.
The best place to find out all about AKL is to look for videos on YouTube. There is some good ones on there.

Thanks for the YouTube idea - definitely will check that out. Can I ask what you didn’t like about Sanaa and what you did like about Boma?

 

[maryj11]

Thank you for all this info! Can I ask what Touring Plans is?

It is a website that has information about all the Disney resorts, restaurants, and parks. They have a crowd calendar and a way to personalize your plans. It cost about 12.00 a year . I cant remember the exact amount . You can look at certain things without paying.

 

[maryj11]

Thanks for the YouTube idea - definitely will check that out. Can I ask what you didn’t like about Sanaa and what you did like about Boma?

The food is not what we liked at Sanaa. We did like the bread service. Boma has such a large selection of good food.

 

[sndral]

If you want a partial savanna view w/ a standard view room booking request Kudu trail, all of the standard view rooms on that hallway front a savanna.
None of the restaurants at AKL Jambo (the main building which your room will be in) have views of the savannas. Jiko is the signature restaurant and gets very good reviews. Boma is a buffet which serves breakfast and dinner, it too gets great reviews although for conservative palettes some of the offerings may be too exotic. Mara is the quick service restaurant and offers more than what’s available at YC/BW. Victoria Falls is the lively bar.
A 10 minute walk or quick internal shuttle bus ride away is the DVC villa building Kidani where the table service restaurant Sanaa is located. Sanaa has floor to ceiling windows that look out on the largest Savanna - Sunset savanna. Sanaa offers food w/ an Indian/African twist here’s a link to the dinner menu https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-villas-kidani/sanaa/menus/dinner/ I like the food there, but it’s too exotic for many.
You can use the pools at both Jambo and Kidani and both pools have pool bars/quick service offerings which are adequate but no Hurricane Hanna’s.
Be prepared for a more laid back feel to your vacation than you are used to when you stay at the YC/BW. Do take the time to watch the animals and chat with the CMs stationed at the overlooks, maybe participate in some of the daily activities. The savanna overlooks are located as follows:
Jambo House Arusha savanna: at the Arusha rock overlook out the back of the lobby where the firepit is located.
Jambo House Uzima savanna: by the pool to the back left
Jambo House Sunset savanna: room next to the check in counter
Kidani Sunset savanna: out the back of Kidani’s lobby (much better view of Sunset savanna than at Jambo)
Kidani Pembe savanna: by the Kidani pool, note Pembe is a very small savanna.
There are also places to sit to watch the animals along the hallways (called trails) at Jambo as well as some outside seating along the hallways.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

If you want a partial savanna view w/ a standard view room booking request Kudu trail, all of the standard view rooms on that hallway front a savanna.
None of the restaurants at AKL Jambo (the main building which your room will be in) have views of the savannas. Jiko is the signature restaurant and gets very good reviews. Boma is a buffet which serves breakfast and dinner, it too gets great reviews although for conservative palettes some of the offerings may be too exotic. Mara is the quick service restaurant and offers more than what’s available at YC/BW. Victoria Falls is the lively bar.
A 10 minute walk or quick internal shuttle bus ride away is the DVC villa building Kidani where the table service restaurant Sanaa is located. Sanaa has floor to ceiling windows that look out on the largest Savanna - Sunset savanna. Sanaa offers food w/ an Indian/African twist here’s a link to the dinner menu https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-villas-kidani/sanaa/menus/dinner/ I like the food there, but it’s too exotic for many.
You can use the pools at both Jambo and Kidani and both pools have pool bars/quick service offerings which are adequate but no Hurricane Hanna’s.
Be prepared for a more laid back feel to your vacation than you are used to when you stay at the YC/BW. Do take the time to watch the animals and chat with the CMs stationed at the overlooks, maybe participate in some of the daily activities. The savanna overlooks are located as follows:
Jambo House Arusha savanna: at the Arusha rock overlook out the back of the lobby where the firepit is located.
Jambo House Uzima savanna: by the pool to the back left
Jambo House Sunset savanna: room next to the check in counter
Kidani Sunset savanna: out the back of Kidani’s lobby (much better view of Sunset savanna than at Jambo)
Kidani Pembe savanna: by the Kidani pool, note Pembe is a very small savanna.
There are also places to sit to watch the animals along the hallways (called trails) at Jambo as well as some outside seating along the hallways.

Thank you for the great info! How would I go about requesting Kudu trail? Phone call to the resort before check in?

 

[gillep]

Thank you for the great info! How would I go about requesting Kudu trail? Phone call to the resort before check in?

You can call Disney reservations at any time and have them add your request.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Check on doing the Wanyama Safari. It's a bit costly, but you have appetizers and beverages at Jiko, do a safari in a truck on the AKL savannas and finish up with a family style dinner at Jiko with the rest of your tour mates. It's a very pleasant three or four hours.

 

[Mollygirl21]

Are there specific animals on each of the savannas? For instance, we want to be sure to see zebras, do we want a view of a specific savanna?

 

[Pluto0914]

Hello All - hubby and I planned a last minute trip in late October yesterday. The best Passholder rate was at AKL. We go to WDW several times a year and always stay at BWV or Yacht Club. I know nothing about AKL, just visited once at Christmas when we went to see all the different resort trees and once when we ate at Jiko. I have skimmed the information thread but it is long and I did not see any resort photo links. Can someone guide me to where I might find photos of the resort and rooms?

Which restaurants offer animal viewing around early dinner time? (5ish)

We have booked a standard room. Anything I should know? Is there an outside sink area? Any requests I should make? Should I do online check in or call? Or nothing at all?

Can you tell me about the pool area? I have heard great things.

Any info from AKL pros would be wonderful - thank you!!!

Watch YouTube resort tours. There at a lot of good ones out there that show the rooms, lobby, pool...that sort of thing

We stayed there a few years ago and loved it! You have so much fun!!

 

[KenHutch]

We were there last June and I booked standard (as I always do). In the online check-in I asked for anything with a view. What they gave us was would have been a savanna view except for the people pen below us. It was incredible we watched an infant giraffe play tag with its mother for 15 minutes one evening. As long as your there check out Boma and possibly Jiko for a meal. Its 2 credits but I think Jiko is the best restaurant on property. And Boma any place that has all you can east Zebra Domes must be considered.

 

[sndral]

Are there specific animals on each of the savannas? For instance, we want to be sure to see zebras, do we want a view of a specific savanna?

Yes, the different savannas have different animals. However, the 3 bigger savannas (Sunset, Arusha, and Uzima) all have giraffes and usually at least a pair of zebras. AK/AKL was part of the breeding program for the endangered Grants Mt. zebras and there has been a small herd of that species on Sunset savanna - assuming things haven’t changed, there should be several zebras on Sunset savanna which half the rooms on Kudu trail and half on Ostrich trail front. That said, the animals move around on their savanna, so although there may be a specific species on the savanna your room fronts doesn’t mean you’ll happen to be looking at your savanna when that species wanders by.

 

[t_catt11]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite resort, I think that you will love it. I don't recall animal viewing from the restaurants, but there are common areas with viewing, as well as rooms (obviously).

The theming here is so superb - decorations, music, CM costumes, and so on.

My family has gotten quite large, and we love long stays, so I cannot afford AKL right now... but we always make it a point to visit at some point on the trip.

Do not overlook the Mara - the food court for AKL. It has some really unique, tasty offerings!