Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[lorimt]

Hello. We are staying in a 3 bedroom Savannah view Grand Villa next week.

Does anyone know: are they all located in a specific part of Kidani? Or are they located randomly throughout the property?

I'm asking to see if I can map out how far we will be to the lobby and/or Jambo for my mid-70's mom.

Thank you!

Looks like throughout the building. This website will help https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps...-05-31&filters[connect]=&rooms=true&commit=''

 

[ejgonz2]

Looking at a potential trip in later summer 2025. How likely is it to get a 2 br value villa?

 

[Best Aunt]

Looking at a potential trip in later summer 2025. How likely is it to get a 2 br value villa?

Are you an owner, or would you be renting points through an agency, or would you be renting points through a private owner?

I have never tried to book a value villa. I will reply but you may get better info from someone else.

I have heard that the value villas are extremely hard to book. People "walk" the reservations, meaning they make a reservation for a time frame which is earlier than what they want, and they keep modifying it by adding a day to the end and dropping a day at the beginning, until they get what they want. They start this before the 11 month mark.

If I had extra points to rent out, I wouldn't bother doing this for someone. It would take too much time and energy. I would use my points for someone who would want a reservation which is easy for me to book.

Even if you find someone who is willing to take the time and effort to make a reservation for a renter, it probably would have to be someone who has Animal Kingdom Villas as their home resort. By the time 7 months rolls around, when any owner can book, I think the value villas are likely to be gone.

 

[ejgonz2]

Are you an owner, or would you be renting points through an agency, or would you be renting points through a private owner?

I have never tried to book a value villa. I will reply but you may get better info from someone else.

I have heard that the value villas are extremely hard to book. People "walk" the reservations, meaning they make a reservation for a time frame which is earlier than what they want, and they keep modifying it by adding a day to the end and dropping a day at the beginning, until they get what they want. They start this before the 11 month mark.

If I had extra points to rent out, I wouldn't bother doing this for someone. It would take too much time and energy. I would use my points for someone who would want a reservation which is easy for me to book.

Even if you find someone who is willing to take the time and effort to make a reservation for a renter, it probably would have to be someone who has Animal Kingdom Villas as their home resort. By the time 7 months rolls around, when any owner can book, I think the value villas are likely to be gone.

I was planning on renting points through one of the websites. Thanks for the feedback, after reading up on this more I’ve learned the value villas are harder to get than I initially understood.

 

[SpicyMcHaggis]

A 2 BR value will be very difficult to book. The 2BR value is a lockoff, and the value studios and therefore also the value 2BR are probably the most difficult to book room at WDW. They are almost always instantly gone as soon as they become available. 1BR are slightly easier, but still a challenge.

 

[creativeamanda]

Y'all, only 13 days until we stay a week at AKL. I've only gone to AKL to visit and eat at Boma or Mara, but Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, and we were hoping for a quieter resort that wasn't a moderate (otherwise I would have gone for Port Orleans).

 

[RanDIZ]

Y'all, only 13 days until we stay a week at AKL. I've only gone to AKL to visit and eat at Boma or Mara, but Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, and we were hoping for a quieter resort that wasn't a moderate (otherwise I would have gone for Port Orleans).

I can tell you that you’ve come to the right resort. Far enough away from all the noise around MK but close enough to still not make traveling to and from a no go. AKV gets a bad rep for its proximity from everything other than AK Park. Travel times are not bad at all.

Boma is always a must on our trips. Jiko and Sanaa are two other favs that won’t disappoint.

 

[StarCruzer]

Y'all, only 13 days until we stay a week at AKL. I've only gone to AKL to visit and eat at Boma or Mara, but Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, and we were hoping for a quieter resort that wasn't a moderate (otherwise I would have gone for Port Orleans).

AKL is my favorite resort to relax at. Generally pretty quiet. The Mara is one of my favorite resort Quick Service restaurants, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Maybe we just have good luck but we've never seen it crowded there.

Unfortunately I saw this a little late but I always recommend people bring a decent set of binoculars when visiting AKL (even if you don't have a Savannah View). I've even had pretty good success taking photos on my phone through the binocs for some close ups!

 

[OhThePain]

We are very excited we were able to rent points and get a standard view deluxe studio in Jambo for a couple of nights prior to our cruise on the Treasure in May, our first AKL stay since 2019. No better place to spend 2 park free nights.

 

[StarCruzer]

We are very excited we were able to rent points and get a standard view deluxe studio in Jambo for a couple of nights prior to our cruise on the Treasure in May, our first AKL stay since 2019. No better place to spend 2 park free nights.

Same advice--byo binoculars! That way you don't have to wait for a turn on the ones in the common areas. They will also potentially be good for dolphin-spotting on the cruise

 

[yaksack]

We will be there 10/4-10/9. My wife and I are having a resort day Monday. Any suggestions for hotel activities in the AM?

 

[StarCruzer]

We will be there 10/4-10/9. My wife and I are having a resort day Monday. Any suggestions for hotel activities in the AM?

You could ask about lobby art tours, and the Kidani Village Community room opens at 10 am for board games and the like. And obviously, pool, ping pong (outside), and watching the animals on the savannah

Most AKL activities seem to be in the afternoon though.

 

[CarolynFH]

We will be there 10/4-10/9. My wife and I are having a resort day Monday. Any suggestions for hotel activities in the AM?

Find the most recent AKL schedule on this thread and then follow along each month to get a good idea of options: https://www.disboards.com/threads/monthly-resort-recreation-calendars.3871996/

 

[OhThePain]

We will be there 10/4-10/9. My wife and I are having a resort day Monday. Any suggestions for hotel activities in the AM?

Relax by the pool and get a Sanaa ADR for when it opens for lunch, I think the first ADR is at 11:30. They do a little opening ceremony and you are pretty much guaranteed a table by the windows.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We are staying at AKV Jambo in a standard view studio on rented points for May 2025. It’s our first time staying at this resort. My DD18 and I are so excited. It’s a mother daughter trip.

BC was our first choice but with SAB closed we decided not to and option two was AKL. I kind of wanted to do BWV due to location but we’ve stayed there before and I wanted to try something new. I was a bit apprehensive because of all the transportation negativity you read on the boards but we are going for it. We live in an area where public transportation is used so the buses don’t bother us and waiting 15-20 minutes is “normal” for us so we don’t get upset over that either. I also am happy to stay deluxe and take advantage of extra evening hours!

I have a few questions:

I have read that most of the standard view studios at Jambo have either a partial savanna view or a pool view. What can I request to have my best changes of getting a partial savanna view? I’ve read to request Kudo Trail. Is that correct? If we don’t get it we will be fine but it’s worth a try.

Are there cases of water in the gift shop? If not we will just do an amazon order

How is the Jambo pool? Should we make a trip to Kidani to use their pool?

How are the bars/lounges at the resort? We definitely plan on making ADRs for Boma breakfast and dinner and Jiko for dinner. We had Boma breakfast booked last trip but cancelled a few days before. This time we will definitely make it happen.

 

[karen4546]

We are staying at AKV Jambo in a standard view studio on rented points for May 2025. It’s our first time staying at this resort. My DD18 and I are so excited. It’s a mother daughter trip.

BC was our first choice but with SAB closed we decided not to and option two was AKL. I kind of wanted to do BWV due to location but we’ve stayed there before and I wanted to try something new. I was a bit apprehensive because of all the transportation negativity you read on the boards but we are going for it. We live in an area where public transportation is used so the buses don’t bother us and waiting 15-20 minutes is “normal” for us so we don’t get upset over that either. I also am happy to stay deluxe and take advantage of extra evening hours!

I have a few questions:

I have read that most of the standard view studios at Jambo have either a partial savanna view or a pool view. What can I request to have my best changes of getting a partial savanna view? I’ve read to request Kudo Trail. Is that correct? If we don’t get it we will be fine but it’s worth a try.

Are there cases of water in the gift shop? If not we will just do an amazon order

How is the Jambo pool? Should we make a trip to Kidani to use their pool?

How are the bars/lounges at the resort? We definitely plan on making ADRs for Boma breakfast and dinner and Jiko for dinner. We had Boma breakfast booked last trip but cancelled a few days before. This time we will definitely make it happen.

I use touring plans to make a room request. I have never not gotten a partial Savannah view when booking Standard view at Jambo-even when we booked a 2br value, we got a partial Savannah view.

The pool at Jambo house is great.

The bars are great too. My husband loves the bar by the pool because it has the coldest beer in WDW-they even post that on their sign.

Do the Amazon order for water or Walmart unless you are not spending the minimum for free delivery.

Order Sanaa to go and enjoy it at the pool.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

How is the Jambo pool? Should we make a trip to Kidani to use their pool?

Of all your questions, this is the only one I feel I have first-hand knowledge to share! Both pools are really nice. It probably depends what you're looking for. We very much prefer Jambo's pool. We don't have kids with us most trips, and we like the pools for relaxation, sun, and taking it easy for a few hours between parks. The Jambo pool has a really nice deck with chairs and tables. Then just outside of the fence around the pool, there's another deck with more chairs, tables, and choices for seats in the sun or shade. The Mara, our favorite counter service at WDW, is right next to the Jambo pool. The Kidani pool seems a little smaller to us, and a little tighter on the seating. It also seems more fun for kids with a really fun splash pad area. We don't find it as quiet and relaxing as Jambo - but again, we're looking for less hectic and more relaxing! That being said, both pools will have afternoon 'pool parties' with music and fun for the kids, so it's not totally quiet!

Enjoy your trip! Sounds fun and memorable!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I have touring plans and have done requests through them before so I’ll try that too. I’ll also have the person who rented to me put a request.

As for the pool, I don't mind kids but my teenage daughter can find the rowdiness and splashing “annoying” if she’s trying to relax or tan. I think we will stick with Jambo pool. We are also looking forward to seeing the flamingos there.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I have touring plans and have done requests through them before so I’ll try that too. I’ll also have the person who rented to me put a request.

As for the pool, I don't mind kids but my teenage daughter can find the rowdiness and splashing “annoying” if she’s trying to relax or tan. I think we will stick with Jambo pool. We are also looking forward to seeing the flamingos there.

Yes, you can walk to the flamingos. You can also walk around the side of the resort (not far from the flamingos) and see giraffe, antelope, and other animals on the savanna. There's also a hot tub back there, if that's of interest.

 

[mrsap]

Exterior Refurbishment of Savanna Observation Deck at Kidani Village Begins July

To ensure their facilities are maintained to the highest quality standards, the Savanna observation deck at Kidani Village will be closed for refurbishment from July 15-18 and from Oct. 14-16. While the main observation deck is closed, the upper observation decks will still be available to Guests for animal viewing.

Cultural Representative Cast Members will be available inside the resort to continue sharing their knowledge about some of the over 200 hoofed animals and birds who call the Lodge home.