Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[bluecastle]

When you ask, do you ask at check in? Or do you ask the day you are checking out?

Last trip, right before shut down, I asked the night before. Stopped at the desk before going up to our CC studio at WL. We had a 10:15 ADR at Whispering Canyon and I didn’t want to rush back to the room to pack. We got a noon check out time. I doubt they would do anything later and I also doubt they would do it for a 1 or 2BR villa. It takes a long time to turn over villas. It’s not just cleaning, it’s restocking everything, including all kitchen items.

 

[Sabine W.]

We had the most amazing stay at AKL March 26-April 3. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we are all desperate to go back! Got a standard view room with a partial savannah view that we were all in love with.

CMs told us that the Kidani pool should reopen April 11. If you're going in the meantime and are worried about pool crowding, don't be--the pool was amazing and not crowded at all.

Love this resort SO much.

 

[wdw4rfam]

We had the most amazing stay at AKL March 26-April 3. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we are all desperate to go back! Got a standard view room with a partial savannah view that we were all in love with.

CMs told us that the Kidani pool should reopen April 11. If you're going in the meantime and are worried about pool crowding, don't be--the pool was amazing and not crowded at all.

Love this resort SO much.

You just seriously made my day. We are staying there starting on 23erd and we’re so disappointed. My kids love the splash area there. We love it so much better than pool at Jambo. I hope that info is true.

 

[Smugpugmug]

We had the most amazing stay at AKL March 26-April 3. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we are all desperate to go back! Got a standard view room with a partial savannah view that we were all in love with.

CMs told us that the Kidani pool should reopen April 11. If you're going in the meantime and are worried about pool crowding, don't be--the pool was amazing and not crowded at all.

Love this resort SO much.

I'm so glad that you had a great time! I'm staying at AKL for the first time in May and I'm happy to hear that people really enjoy this resort. Also great news about the pool, my group loves pool breaks so it would be a heartbreaker if it was closed.

Question for you (and anyone else that has been there recently), how was the bus situation? How long did you have to wait for one?

 

[Leight19]

I have a bit of random question. I have an upcoming stay in May where first time I’ll have car. I was thinking to drive offsite to some restaurants that look really close but directions send me 25min in giant loop. It looks like should be 4 min drive but ignores “black lake rd”. Is this not an open road we could take? Is it true we have to go this far out of way for such a short distance as crow flies (pic attached)?

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have a bit of random question. I have an upcoming stay in May where first time I’ll have car. I was thinking to drive offsite to some restaurants that look really close but directions send me 25min in giant loop. It looks like should be 4 min drive but ignores “black lake rd”. Is this not an open road we could take? Is it true we have to go this far out of way for such a short distance as crow flies (pic attached)?View attachment 661171

Odd that it sends you that way! We use Black Lake Rd often - all those great restaurants within a 5 minute drive is actually one of the reasons why we love staying at AKL! It's very easy to get to from AKL, and a busy road (ie - you won't be the only one turning there usually).

 

[suemom2kay]

Thank you for the additional replies!

When I suggested this to my sister, she said that her and my b-i-l stayed at the Yacht and Beach Club in 2020 and her sons had to pay for parking when they came over, but they were allowed pool access because their names were on the reservation, however their sons girlfriends were not allowed pool access.

I guess with things in a near-constant state of flux, we won't know for sure until we get there.

I did change my reservation from 2 guests to 4 guests for lunch at Sanaa on the day they would be coming over, but I'm not sure how they would prove they were on the reservation without me linking them in MDE.

Your nephews had to pay for parking because your sister added them to the reservation.

Stormalong Bay rarely (like never) allows outside guests.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I have a bit of random question. I have an upcoming stay in May where first time I’ll have car. I was thinking to drive offsite to some restaurants that look really close but directions send me 25min in giant loop. It looks like should be 4 min drive but ignores “black lake rd”. Is this not an open road we could take? Is it true we have to go this far out of way for such a short distance as crow flies (pic attached)?View attachment 661171

Thank you for asking this!!! We will have a car for the first time and I am seeing the same thing. A lot of the directions I'm looking at seem to take us on a run around.

 

[redboat45]

We usually use Waze for directions. It seems to know all of the short cuts.

 

[flyswatter]

Odd that it sends you that way! We use Black Lake Rd often - all those great restaurants within a 5 minute drive is actually one of the reasons why we love staying at AKL! It's very easy to get to from AKL, and a busy road (ie - you won't be the only one turning there usually).

I believe you are thinking of Sherberth Rd. Black Lake Rd isn't well paved and there was a gate blocking it last I went by it. At least where they are referencing. Sherberth Rd -> Black Lake Rd is the only way around.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I believe you are thinking of Sherberth Rd. Black Lake Rd isn't well paved and there was a gate blocking it last I went by it. At least where they are referencing. Sherberth Rd -> Black Lake Rd is the only way around.

We were on Black Lake about a month ago to pick up ChickFilA (to skip 530), and we stayed at the Magic Village Yards last fall - their entrance sits on it. Is it now under construction? With the constant construction there, it's hard to keep up.

It's also how we get to Chuys and the liquor store

 

[Ninjagrrl]

We were on Black Lake about a month ago to pick up ChickFilA (to skip 530), and we stayed at the Magic Village Yards last fall - their entrance sits on it. Is it now under construction? With the constant construction there, it's hard to keep up.

It's also how we get to Chuys and the liquor store

I think you're thinking of the wrong part of black lake... See photo below.

I'm 99% certain this road is owned by WDW, and probably isn't for guest use. Looks like it houses an employee parking area.

 

[kevneerg]

Hi, could someone please post the April activities calendar? Thank you

 

[mrsap]

Hi, could someone please post the April activities calendar? Thank you

You can find it HERE!

 

[KayKayJS]

Hi!! What is the best way to request a specifc room or area?

We have standard view for one night in April (weekend staycation) and would love to have some view of any animal for my 2 year old, I see on touring plans that there are rooms that do (Jambo House - Kudu Trail (Building 3)
- do you send an email to guest services or just ask at checkin? I don't see an option on online check in.

 

[LiveLikeJack&Sally]

Hello! Also would like to know this as we are booked for a Standard room in August. While I know we aren’t guaranteed to see any animals from our room, would like to know if/how there is a way to request an area that typically has better views for a Standard room? Thanks!

Hi!! What is the best way to request a specifc room or area?

We have standard view for one night in April (weekend staycation) and would love to have some view of any animal for my 2 year old, I see on touring plans that there are rooms that do (Jambo House - Kudu Trail (Building 3)
- do you send an email to guest services or just ask at checkin? I don't see an option on online check in.

 

[rangerxenos]

I am SO happy right now, I just switched over to Jambo from Coronado GDT for my trip in a couple of weeks, Standard room finally became available with my AP Discount for my dates. Been checking every day. I still would ultimately love to stay at GDT, but AKL is my favorite resort.

Fingers crossed for some pixie dust again, we requested a Standard with a partial savannah view at the end of last year and ended up with a beautiful view, we were almost direclty across from Sanaa.

 

[rangerxenos]

Hello! Also would like to know this as we are booked for a Standard room in August. While I know we aren’t guaranteed to see any animals from our room, would like to know if/how there is a way to request an area that typically has better views for a Standard room? Thanks!

Check out Touring Plans, they have a room finder that's great, it shows you the different views from different areas of the resort based on what you booked. If you're a member, they will put a request in for you. IMO TP is well worth the cost of joining, there is a lot of great information there, and you can use the Lines app. when at the parks.

I've lucked out, out of 5 stays that were all booked Standard, we've ended up with a partial savannah view 4 out of the 5 times.

 

[c0reyann]

Check out Touring Plans, they have a room finder that's great, it shows you the different views from different areas of the resort based on what you booked. If you're a member, they will put a request in for you. IMO TP is well worth the cost of joining, there is a lot of great information there, and you can use the Lines app. when at the parks.

I've lucked out, out of 5 stays that were all booked Standard, we've ended up with a partial savannah view 4 out of the 5 times.

This is exactly how we got our partial savannah room as well. TP is definitely worth the cost!

 

[LiveLikeJack&Sally]

Check out Touring Plans, they have a room finder that's great, it shows you the different views from different areas of the resort based on what you booked. If you're a member, they will put a request in for you. IMO TP is well worth the cost of joining, there is a lot of great information there, and you can use the Lines app. when at the parks.

I've lucked out, out of 5 stays that were all booked Standard, we've ended up with a partial savannah view 4 out of the 5 times.

Thanks! I will look into TP.