Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

Is the Mara like Gasparilla Grill, where the entrance is only from the outside? I've been watching videos on Youtube to try and get my bearings around the resort (when we visited in December to see the decorations we only walked straight through the lobby to have pictures made with the tree, and then walked out back to the fire pit and savanna viewing area, we didn't go anywhere near the pool or even Boma/Jiko), and I can't find any showing someone walking INTO the Mara, they just magically appear inside, LOL!

If luck is on my side and I get a room in the area I've requested (zebra trail, near elevator), should I just be able to go down the elevator to the ground floor, walk out a door and around the corner to the Mara? Or do I have to go through the lobby and down the pathway? I know where everything is located by looking at maps, but am just not sure on the logistics.

Thank you!
 
Please add us to the list - June 11-14, savanna view, our first stay at AKL! Have visited many times, happy to finally cross this resort off our bucket list! Any recommendations for room location? Thanks!
 
Does anyone know if there is still a caricature artist in the lobby? And if so, what days/times? TIA!

There was one there in January, but I don't know the schedule.

I saw one when we were there in November. I am not sure the hours, but he would not be there when we left in the morning and he was there when we were going back to our room at night around 6-8pm.
Thank you both!
 
Please add us to the list - June 11-14, savanna view, our first stay at AKL! Have visited many times, happy to finally cross this resort off our bucket list! Any recommendations for room location? Thanks!
June

Mlunsford, May 28th - 3rd, AKV

Capang, 6th - 14th, AKL

Rcraw45425, 9th - 12th AKL

NatureBoyChris, 9th - 15th, AKL

Cluelyss, 11th - 14th, AKL

Shellyb84, 21st - 24th, AKL

Kamikazecat, 22nd - Jul 6th, Jambo House

Tanyali26, 28th - Jul 3rd, AKL
 

Is the Mara like Gasparilla Grill, where the entrance is only from the outside? I've been watching videos on Youtube to try and get my bearings around the resort (when we visited in December to see the decorations we only walked straight through the lobby to have pictures made with the tree, and then walked out back to the fire pit and savanna viewing area, we didn't go anywhere near the pool or even Boma/Jiko), and I can't find any showing someone walking INTO the Mara, they just magically appear inside, LOL!

If luck is on my side and I get a room in the area I've requested (zebra trail, near elevator), should I just be able to go down the elevator to the ground floor, walk out a door and around the corner to the Mara? Or do I have to go through the lobby and down the pathway? I know where everything is located by looking at maps, but am just not sure on the logistics.

Thank you!

Yes the entrance to The Mara is outside. For instance if you take the elevators that are directly off the lobby/giraffe trail all the way down to the first floor and go out the door that is between Jiko/Boma just go down the trail on the left and it will lead directly to The Mara. Note: you can get to it from the other elevators too this is just an example.
 
Yes the entrance to The Mara is outside. For instance if you take the elevators that are directly off the lobby/giraffe trail all the way down to the first floor and go out the door that is between Jiko/Boma just go down the trail on the left and it will lead directly to The Mara. Note: you can get to it from the other elevators too this is just an example.

Thank you!
 
Is the Mara like Gasparilla Grill, where the entrance is only from the outside? I've been watching videos on Youtube to try and get my bearings around the resort (when we visited in December to see the decorations we only walked straight through the lobby to have pictures made with the tree, and then walked out back to the fire pit and savanna viewing area, we didn't go anywhere near the pool or even Boma/Jiko), and I can't find any showing someone walking INTO the Mara, they just magically appear inside, LOL!

If luck is on my side and I get a room in the area I've requested (zebra trail, near elevator), should I just be able to go down the elevator to the ground floor, walk out a door and around the corner to the Mara? Or do I have to go through the lobby and down the pathway? I know where everything is located by looking at maps, but am just not sure on the logistics.

Thank you!
Yes. If you come down the elevators on Zebra side, you'll be near the laundry & also Simbas Clubhouse...It's just a short walk over to the Mara...It'll be outside, but if I remember you should be covered.

Yes the entrance to The Mara is outside. For instance if you take the elevators that are directly off the lobby/giraffe trail all the way down to the first floor and go out the door that is between Jiko/Boma just go down the trail on the left and it will lead directly to The Mara. Note: you can get to it from the other elevators too this is just an example.

Walking through the JIKO/Boma doors would only be if she was in one of the rooms just off the lobby, or on the Ostrich trail I'm guessing.
 
Is the Mara like Gasparilla Grill, where the entrance is only from the outside? I've been watching videos on Youtube to try and get my bearings around the resort (when we visited in December to see the decorations we only walked straight through the lobby to have pictures made with the tree, and then walked out back to the fire pit and savanna viewing area, we didn't go anywhere near the pool or even Boma/Jiko), and I can't find any showing someone walking INTO the Mara, they just magically appear inside, LOL!

If luck is on my side and I get a room in the area I've requested (zebra trail, near elevator), should I just be able to go down the elevator to the ground floor, walk out a door and around the corner to the Mara? Or do I have to go through the lobby and down the pathway? I know where everything is located by looking at maps, but am just not sure on the logistics.

Thank you!
The Zebra trail elevators will let you out right by the pool and it's a short walk (like 20 - 30 feet) to Mara's entry. I know because I seem to end up on Zebra trail a lot :)
I'm secretly hoping for Kudu trail and Sunset savanna view this Dec. just for a change, even tho' it's a tad more walking IMO.
 
Yes. If you come down the elevators on Zebra side, you'll be near the laundry & also Simbas Clubhouse...It's just a short walk over to the Mara...It'll be outside, but if I remember you should be covered.



Walking through the JIKO/Boma doors would only be if she was in one of the rooms just off the lobby, or on the Ostrich trail I'm guessing.

The Zebra trail elevators will let you out right by the pool and it's a short walk (like 20 - 30 feet) to Mara's entry. I know because I seem to end up on Zebra trail a lot :)
I'm secretly hoping for Kudu trail and Sunset savanna view this Dec. just for a change, even tho' it's a tad more walking IMO.

Thank you both! It's always a nice feeling to realize that I can actually read a map, lol!!

Crossing my fingers my request comes through, but even if it doesn't, I now know how to get to the Mara no matter where I end up.
I'm ready to get this trip going!! 54 days left!
 
Hi Ho folks! Well it seems we have a slight hiccup in our plans for our upcoming trip. My DBF is changing jobs and we are having to cut our trip in half. We had planned to rent a car since we were heading to Clearwater for a few days after Disney but now we are just Disney. I went to adjust the rental car for 5 less days and the price jumped $175!! You read that right, less days and more money. :headache: Now I am looking at forgoing the car and just using DME and resort transportation....which I haven't done in at least 10 years. :scared: I'm impatient. There. I said it. We have several signature dining reservations and I do not fancy having to bus to a park and then to a resort. It was suggested that we could just taxi it to the resorts. My questions is what is the average price for a round trip from AKL to say, BW or Grand Flo? I'm not giving up the dead horse that is our rental car but I'm also trying to see if this option would be friendlier on our budget. Cheers! :love1:
 
Hi Ho folks! Well it seems we have a slight hiccup in our plans for our upcoming trip. My DBF is changing jobs and we are having to cut our trip in half. We had planned to rent a car since we were heading to Clearwater for a few days after Disney but now we are just Disney. I went to adjust the rental car for 5 less days and the price jumped $175!! You read that right, less days and more money. :headache: Now I am looking at forgoing the car and just using DME and resort transportation....which I haven't done in at least 10 years. :scared: I'm impatient. There. I said it. We have several signature dining reservations and I do not fancy having to bus to a park and then to a resort. It was suggested that we could just taxi it to the resorts. My questions is what is the average price for a round trip from AKL to say, BW or Grand Flo? I'm not giving up the dead horse that is our rental car but I'm also trying to see if this option would be friendlier on our budget. Cheers! :love1:
We have been in the same situation before and we kept the reservation and just turned it in early, and we were charged the full price but it was less than the modified price.
 
I have a 2BR Savanna view at Jambo and was wondering which savannah would have the best viewing (especially giraffes)...Sunset or Arusha?
 
Hi Ho folks! Well it seems we have a slight hiccup in our plans for our upcoming trip. My DBF is changing jobs and we are having to cut our trip in half. We had planned to rent a car since we were heading to Clearwater for a few days after Disney but now we are just Disney. I went to adjust the rental car for 5 less days and the price jumped $175!! You read that right, less days and more money. :headache: Now I am looking at forgoing the car and just using DME and resort transportation....which I haven't done in at least 10 years. :scared: I'm impatient. There. I said it. We have several signature dining reservations and I do not fancy having to bus to a park and then to a resort. It was suggested that we could just taxi it to the resorts. My questions is what is the average price for a round trip from AKL to say, BW or Grand Flo? I'm not giving up the dead horse that is our rental car but I'm also trying to see if this option would be friendlier on our budget. Cheers! :love1:

You can use Uber or Lyft. If you download the app, they usually will give you a discount for first time rides. I know Uber's website gives you an estimated fare. I don't think you can use Uber or Lyft from MCO, but you can use them around the WDW property.
 
Hi Ho folks! Well it seems we have a slight hiccup in our plans for our upcoming trip. My DBF is changing jobs and we are having to cut our trip in half. We had planned to rent a car since we were heading to Clearwater for a few days after Disney but now we are just Disney. I went to adjust the rental car for 5 less days and the price jumped $175!! You read that right, less days and more money. :headache: Now I am looking at forgoing the car and just using DME and resort transportation....which I haven't done in at least 10 years. :scared: I'm impatient. There. I said it. We have several signature dining reservations and I do not fancy having to bus to a park and then to a resort. It was suggested that we could just taxi it to the resorts. My questions is what is the average price for a round trip from AKL to say, BW or Grand Flo? I'm not giving up the dead horse that is our rental car but I'm also trying to see if this option would be friendlier on our budget. Cheers! :love1:


Ditch the car. Use those dollars elsewhere. Take the DME and use the resort buses or Uber. I've seen many people report paying nothing over 10.00 on property.
From AKL to BW would probably be about 4.00.
 
I have a 2BR Savanna view at Jambo and was wondering which savannah would have the best viewing (especially giraffes)...Sunset or Arusha?

It's been over a year, but when were there, I felt like Sunset had the most animals. They could migrate though, but Sunset had many giraffes, zebras and other animals. We went over to Kidani to get a good view of them!
 
We will be there 8/23-8/29 standard room. We booked BOMA for breakfast, can I expect American food? My kids and I aren't too adventurous when it comes to our food
 
We will be there 8/23-8/29 standard room. We booked BOMA for breakfast, can I expect American food? My kids and I aren't too adventurous when it comes to our food

You should find plenty of American friendly fare at the breakfast buffet. The African dishes are delicious, though.
 
....they did, a few years back, but the recent info that I was able to obtain was that, no, there is no late check-out available. However, the policy could have changed again [of which I am not aware] and it might be offered again. I suggest checking with AKL directly....good luck - hope that helps! :thumbsup2
I was here Dec 9-15 th and i called and got late checkout..
 












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