Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[TeamSy]

Has anyone ever stayed in the rooms that are on that main hallway that everyone has to pass to get to the elevators? We stayed at AKL last year and kept having to tell the kids to be quiet there lol. We felt so bad whenever we walked by. Just curious, are those rooms truly as awful as they seem?

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Has anyone ever stayed in the rooms that are on that main hallway that everyone has to pass to get to the elevators? We stayed at AKL last year and kept having to tell the kids to be quiet there lol. We felt so bad whenever we walked by. Just curious, are those rooms truly as awful as they seem?

Are you referring to the "Giraffe Trail" rooms? If so yes we've stayed there and never really heard anything lol.

 

[Araminta18]

Sorry, jumping in totally cold - we have a savanna view booked in November, and it's our first time at AKL! I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the various savannas and everything - is there a good combination of good view + close to the lobby?

 

[IndianaJ]

We had a great stay at Jambo house over July 4th. We did have a Savannah room right off the lobby, but we would have been fine without one too with our park schedule. We were not in the room between morning and10pm. It was a fabulous resort and the family really enjoyed it. We only used the bus 2 x due to having a car the rest of the time. The pool was warm, but nice. Mara was good, and two of us ate at Boma. It was good. One was at work and couldn't join us (college program) and my husband has a very touchy tummy and didn't want to risk it. He sat with us, but under the strict instructions he couldn't have a bite at all. We totally understood and he left soon after we arrived due to not wanting to attract scrutiny.

 

[StarCruzer]

I've given this advice before, but if you have a savanna view room 8 always recommend packing a decent pair of binoculars. We got the Nikon Trailblazer 8x25 off Goodwill's auction site and we bring them with us for the hotel and Animal Kingdom every trip. With some careful finagling we were even able to take photos on our phone through it during our trip

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Sorry, jumping in totally cold - we have a savanna view booked in November, and it's our first time at AKL! I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the various savannas and everything - is there a good combination of good view + close to the lobby?

See if you can get close to lobby, zebra trail

 

[maccagerl]

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.

What is a lockoff?

 

[maccagerl]

What is a lockoff?

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

A Two Bedroom Lock-Off Villa is a One Bedroom Villa with a connecting door to a Deluxe Studio that acts as the second bedroom. The one bedroom side will have a master bedroom with a king size bed and a queen size sleeper sofa or Murphy bed in the living room.

 

[maccagerl]

A Two Bedroom Lock-Off Villa is a One Bedroom Villa with a connecting door to a Deluxe Studio that acts as the second bedroom. The one bedroom side will have a master bedroom with a king size bed and a queen size sleeper sofa or Murphy bed in the living room.

Interesting! Thank you.

 

[maccagerl]

Does anyone know if they are still giving the culinary tours of Jiko and Boma at the AKL?
We went on it before Covid, and it was really fun!

 

[japanese maple]

Hi there!

Can you go to Sanaa (the bar) and get iced coffee to go in the morning? I know they have the breakfast. And what about lunch/afternoon - can you get it then if you want?

thank you!

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

First time staying at AKL and staying deluxe...I have booked a resort view room, but have seen that it is possible to request a "partial savannah view room" in this category. Has anyone had luck with this?

 

[didilovesdisney]

First time staying at AKL and staying deluxe...I have booked a resort view room, but have seen that it is possible to request a "partial savannah view room" in this category. Has anyone had luck with this?

Yes I have. I have stayed 3 times at AKL each time in a standard now resort view room. My first stay I wasn't aware of this option but my 2nd and 3rd stays I requested it and was fortunate to get it both times. Yes my room was over the people pens and the walk to my room each time was a bit long BUT the savannah views were really good. Saw lots of giraffes plus many others. I am sorry but I don't remember which savannah trails they were. But I didn't care. Paying less and getting a good savannah view was great. I do remember my only requests were partial savannah view non connecting room in that order. Hope this helps and good luck. Enjoy your stay.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

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 think the Jambo pool is one of the loveliest on the whole WDW property. The pool at Kidani is also very pleasant.
Victoria Falls, which is the bar at Jambo, always looks beautiful to me, and they have snack-type food most opening hours as well.
Aside from Boma and Jiko, we also enjoy Sanaa at Kidani.

 

[CrystalClear82]

Has anyone ever stayed in the rooms that are on that main hallway that everyone has to pass to get to the elevators? We stayed at AKL last year and kept having to tell the kids to be quiet there lol. We felt so bad whenever we walked by. Just curious, are those rooms truly as awful as they seem?

We had one of those room in May... The first room right off the 5th floor main elevator to the right. The first room is utility room, the second room was ours... It may have been room 5401.... (I dont remember the exact rm. number.)
We found it to be quiet. I was more concerned about the utility room next door than the people, but it was quiet as well. The room worked for us due to its location. We had taken my elderly mother and I knew she wouldnt come and go from the room on her own if it was too far from things.

 

[Newsies]

Checking in for my first stay at DAKL in 5 days! Couldn't be more excited!

Going to buy some souvenirs at the Parks (duh!) over the week I'm there and would like to ship some things home at the end of the week. Do Zawadi Marketplace and/or Johari Treasures offer shipping services?

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Checking in for my first stay at DAKL in 5 days! Couldn't be more excited!

Going to buy some souvenirs at the Parks (duh!) over the week I'm there and would like to ship some things home at the end of the week. Do Zawadi Marketplace and/or Johari Treasures offer shipping services?

Zawadi did the last time we were there in April.

 

[Newsies]

Zawadi did the last time we were there in April.

Thank you so much!

 

[YCFAN]

Does anyone know if AKL carries the ACC Network on the in-room tvs?