Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[dgbg100106]

Please add us to the list we just booked AKV - Jambo Value Studio Jan 21-27, 2018. We are Disneyland annual passholders but this will be my husband's first trip to Disney World and my first trip since 2004 (during hurricane Charlie)! I barely remember Animal Kingdom and have never been inside this hotel but I have a feeling both are going to be my husband's favorites. Very excited!

January

TeeterTots, 5th - 8th, AKL

Gillep, 3rd - 10th, AKL

The Lucky Bug, 21st - 27th, AKV

 

[dgbg100106]

Hello all,

We are coming from the uk to stay at AKL from 19th August to 2nd September. We had previously stayed at SSR but found it a bit soulless so decided to stay at POR this time. After reading pages and pages of info about CBR on a uk forum it seemed like everyone was getting a free transfer to POR/POFQ so what was going to be a quiet resort would be quite busy. We decided to see if we could afford to move to AKL which was our preferred resort originally but we just couldn't seem to get the numbers to work. As we booked a 14 night stay with Disney tickets we got free qsdp and upgraded to the full ddp and also paid for a river view. I called Wdwtc and explained our situation and said that we are not asking for any fee upgrades but how much would it be to change our booking to AKL. The cast member was lovely and came back with a price we could afford (even thought when I priced it up a couple of months ago it was way too much) so we are now staying at AKL. Sooooo excited We visited for a meal at boma and fell in love with the resort.

I do have a couple of questions as I have spent a year researching POR but don't know so much about AKL

1) Is it hard to get a sunlounger by the main pool in the afternoons?
2) are there separate bus queues for each park or is it a free for all?
3) we have only booked a standard view room - if we get a truly awful view is it cheeky to go back and ask for something a bit better (within the same category of course).

Thank you and did I mention we were excited??!!!

August

OThopeful35, 1st - 12th, AKL

Izzylovesmickey, 3rd - 6th, AKL

JodyLynC, 8th - 10th, AKL

Arden01, 16th - 23rd, AKL

DizDaD7, 19th - 22nd, VGF

Choppygirl, 19th - Sep 2nd, AKL

 

[dgbg100106]

Staying at Jambo House Pool View, Sept 13-17th, requesting Giraffe Trail. I read on the boards a long time ago that there was a "secret door" that took you directly to the bus area from Giraffe. However, when we stayed their in 2015 I didn't see any door. They mentioned you had to have your room key to open it (so prior to magic bands). Does this exist and if so, where is it? Or did someone make the whole thing up???

September

Rhody Red, 5th - 15th, AKL

Wdw4rfam, 10th - 18th, Kidani

Rlk0875, 13th - 17th, Jambo House

 

[CanadianAli]

Whohoo...you can add us to the list! We just booked AKV-Kidani for May 15-22, 2017 in a 1 BDRM Villa. Can't wait!

 

[dgbg100106]

Whohoo...you can add us to the list! We just booked AKV-Kidani for May 15-22, 2017 in a 1 BDRM Villa. Can't wait!

May

Xlsm, Apr 30th - 6th, AKL

Mindeola, 1st - 4th, AKL

Traceylee, 6th - 14th, AKL

Katriscari, 6th - 16th, AKL

CanadianAli, 15th - 22nd, Kidani

Got15, 18th - 23rd, AKL CL

Ml sumner, 20th - 25th, AKL

PoohNFriends, 28th - Jun 3rd, AKL

Rlduvall, 29th - Jun 5th, AKV

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Add me to the March list as we just booked a last minute trip to Disney!! I have never done a spur of the moment trip so this is a new experience!! Staying at Jambo House Villas for three nights March 8-11!! It's our first stay at this resort and I am so excited!!

 

[rlk0875]

The door really does exist! I've used it many times!

Do I have to know the secret handshake to find out where it is? I only remember seeing people's rooms/balconies while walking to the buses. Where does it end up inside the resort?

 

[NatureBoyChris]

Can you add us as well? First time staying at AKL. I'm renting DVC points from another member of the DIS. My kids and I are going from June 9th through the 15th.

 

[rcraw45425]

March

Buteraa, 14th - 19th, AKL

Rcraw45425, 17th - 20th, AKL

Sparkyco, 17th - 25th, AKL CL

Dwheaton, 18th - 24th, AKL

June

Mlunsford, May 28th - 3rd, AKV

Capang, 6th - 14th, AKL

Rcraw45425, 9th - 12th AKL

Kamikazecat, 22nd - Jul 6th, Jambo House

Tanyali26, 28th - Jul 3rd, AKL

thank you!!!

 

[DizDaD7]

Do I have to know the secret handshake to find out where it is? I only remember seeing people's rooms/balconies while walking to the buses. Where does it end up inside the resort?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/DAKLMap.pdf
We stayed in a DVC Value Studio back in 2013. We were in the first Pod/section in the Giraffe Trail. (Refer to Map) I don't remember the room #, but we were the 2nd door in from the right side of the 1st bldg. Just barely over JIKO(5th floor). So as you walk to the right, in between the 1st Pod & 2nd Pod of rooms, there's a wall of windows, which you can look out of. toards the pool...On the street side of this area is the elevators, stairs. If you take these down to the 2nd floor ( I believe ) Come out of the elevator and walk to towards the stairs & then out the exit. On the Map if you see where the AED symbol (near the elevators) this is where that will be. It's a significant amount of time & (wasted walking) that you would save, rather than going all the way to the lobby & then outside, & all the way back down towards the bus. When returning from the parks, you can enter back through there & up to the room. This is also the stairwell/elevator that we used to get to the pool. Just take that to the gr. floor. And also to lobby level which was 3.

No this savings that you'll encounter is only really beneficial if you're on the Giraffe Trail....If you're on the Ostrich Trail, you'll have to make your way to the Lobby anyhow, or just past it.
HTH

 

[RachelTori]

Do I have to know the secret handshake to find out where it is? I only remember seeing people's rooms/balconies while walking to the buses. Where does it end up inside the resort?

No handshake I'm aware of!! Giraffe Trail has 2 pods. The "secret" door is in between the pods. If you're outside, walking up from the bus stop, look for a door about mid-way. You should be able to scan your Magic Band and open the door!

 

[rlk0875]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/DAKLMap.pdf
We stayed in a DVC Value Studio back in 2013. We were in the first Pod/section in the Giraffe Trail. (Refer to Map) I don't remember the room #, but we were the 2nd door in from the right side of the 1st bldg. Just barely over JIKO(5th floor). So as you walk to the right, in between the 1st Pod & 2nd Pod of rooms, there's a wall of windows, which you can look out of. toards the pool...On the street side of this area is the elevators, stairs. If you take these down to the 2nd floor ( I believe ) Come out of the elevator and walk to towards the stairs & then out the exit. On the Map if you see where the AED symbol (near the elevators) this is where that will be. It's a significant amount of time & (wasted walking) that you would save, rather than going all the way to the lobby & then outside, & all the way back down towards the bus. When returning from the parks, you can enter back through there & up to the room. This is also the stairwell/elevator that we used to get to the pool. Just take that to the gr. floor. And also to lobby level which was 3.

No this savings that you'll encounter is only really beneficial if you're on the Giraffe Trail....If you're on the Ostrich Trail, you'll have to make your way to the Lobby anyhow, or just past it.
HTH

This is very helpful. Thanks! We were in room 3018 last time, so first room in the second pod. I really wish I had asked this before our last trip, it would have saved a lot of time! But now we know!

 

[rlk0875]

No handshake I'm aware of!! Giraffe Trail has 2 pods. The "secret" door is in between the pods. If you're outside, walking up from the bus stop, look for a door about mid-way. You should be able to scan your Magic Band and open the door!

Thank you so much for the info! Hope to save a lot of time and walking on our next trip!

 

[kreckl]

Why did I look at this thread? We have no plans to return for a year and a half and I want to go now!

 

[momtwoboys]

hoping for a studio in Giraffe trail !

 

[dgbg100106]

Add me to the March list as we just booked a last minute trip to Disney!! I have never done a spur of the moment trip so this is a new experience!! Staying at Jambo House Villas for three nights March 8-11!! It's our first stay at this resort and I am so excited!!

your welcome.

March

Tinkerbelle739, 8th - 11th, AKL

Buteraa, 14th - 19th, AKL

Rcraw45425, 17th - 20th, AKL

Sparkyco, 17th - 25th, AKL CL

Dwheaton, 18th - 24th, AKL

 

[dgbg100106]

Can you add us as well? First time staying at AKL. I'm renting DVC points from another member of the DIS. My kids and I are going from June 9th through the 15th.

Your welcome, thanks for asking.

June

Mlunsford, May 28th - 3rd, AKV

Capang, 6th - 14th, AKL

Rcraw45425, 9th - 12th AKL

NatureBoyChris, 9th - 15th, AKL

Shellyb84, 21st - 24th, AKL

Kamikazecat, 22nd - Jul 6th, Jambo House

Tanyali26, 28th - Jul 3rd, AKL

 

[dgbg100106]

thank you!!!

Your welcome

 

[RachelTori]

hoping for a studio in Giraffe trail !

If you're referring to a DVC villa, you would have to book a "Value studio" to get Giraffe Trail (those are all on the 5th floor). They do book up quickly, usually at the 11-month window.

I don't know about the regular resort rooms on Giraffe Trail. I've never stayed in one.

 

[momtwoboys]

If you're referring to a DVC villa, you would have to book a "Value studio" to get Giraffe Trail (those are all on the 5th floor). They do book up quickly, usually at the 11-month window.

I don't know about the regular resort rooms on Giraffe Trail. I've never stayed in one.

yup we booked dvc value studio! 41 days cant wait!