Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[melissa723]

I don’t do online room requests since they are so generic & I don’t want them replacing my phoned in verbal requests.

We usually stay at Jambo, but we're staying at Kidani for the first time in October. We've booked a standard view, so I'm not really concerned with what we're seeing outside of our patio this time, but I really want to request a room closer to the lobby. I've already did my online check-in, but after reading this, should I call and then just take away my online requests? I also have a fax request set up through Touring Plans, but I don't want to put all of my faith into just that.

 

[dancemom1]

We will be at AKL May of 2020!! (First time ever @ a Disney resort! Woohoo!!)

 

[ThinkBelieveDream&Dare]

We will be at AKL May of 2020!! (First time ever @ a Disney resort! Woohoo!!)

Oh my gosh @dancemom1 Huge Congratulations; you'll be blown away from the moment you walk into the foyer, it's sooo beautiful! And when you hear your first "Welcome Home" your excitement will build and keep on building. Have a wonderful holiday.
Be sure to tell the cast member at the desk that it's your first ever stay and if anyone in your party is celebrating anything whilst you're there, mention that too and they will give you pins. Who knows, maybe you'll get some extra pixie dust sprinkled throughout your stay

 

[anguyen]

We just came back from our trip! I used touring plans to request a room with partial savannah view (we booked a standard room) but did not get it. I guess maybe the renovations limited the # of rooms available. We ended up on the Zebra trail 4th floor with a pool view which was fine because we were out all day anyways. I don't think our room was renovated though because there was a big crack in our sink but can't really tell since we have never stayed at AKL before. The room just seemed really dark. Our flight didn't arrive until 6 pm and I got an email saying that our room wasn't ready yet. That surprised me since check in time is at 3 pm. By the time we arrived at AKL, our room was ready but the toilet was not flushing well. We had to request someone to come fix it and it was around midnight by the time the engineer person could come. Not the greatest experience..and then the next day we had a message on our phone saying that they got our room change request and that we have to contact them to move our stuff. We never ask for that! Not sure if maybe the engineer person requested it for us but our toilet was fine by then and we were too lazy to move to another room so we never called them back.

The shuttles were easy to use and we had a nice dinner at Sanaa the first night. The pool was great. We were only able to go once and I wish we had more time to use the pool but we were trying to squeeze too much in each day. I also used the laundry room the night before we checked out. The one closest to our hotel room was not working though. I had to call the number in the laundry room to make a service request since the machines are not maintained by Disney. but I think that is strange that no cast member stops by to check and make sure things are working. I ended up having to use the laundry room on the Kudu trail which was quite a trek (but at least it was working).

Check out was easy. We left our bags at the resort and picked them up at the end of the day and the valet staff got us a taxi super quickly. But I never got my final invoice from Disney Resort emailed to me so I had to submit a request online last night for it... I tried to see the charges in the Disney App but since our trip ended, nothing shows up in the App anymore.

We did have a good time at the parks but the resort experience was not as great as I had expected. I guess I will fill out the survey and let them know of our experience.

 

[sunset7132]

It is possible noone actually has new information on this a quite difficult to find. How close are they to completeing room renovations at AKL? Thanks. We have a King Standard booked for early November and wondering how likely it might be to get a renovated room. Thanks all!

same here

 

[sndral]

We just came back from our trip! I used touring plans to request a room with partial savannah view (we booked a standard room) but did not get it. I guess maybe the renovations limited the # of rooms available. We ended up on the Zebra trail 4th floor with a pool view which was fine because we were out all day anyways. I don't think our room was renovated though because there was a big crack in our sink but can't really tell since we have never stayed at AKL before. The room just seemed really dark. Our flight didn't arrive until 6 pm and I got an email saying that our room wasn't ready yet. That surprised me since check in time is at 3 pm. By the time we arrived at AKL, our room was ready but the toilet was not flushing well. We had to request someone to come fix it and it was around midnight by the time the engineer person could come. Not the greatest experience..

A pool view on Zebra trail is an upgrade from a standard view I believe since pool view is more expensive than standard. Personally I’d be happy I didn’t end up with one of the standard view rooms that overlook the front/road/parking lot. It is the risk you take to save $$$ v. booking a savanna view. I suspect 90% of the people who book standard view at AKL hope to get a partial savanna view & unfortunately some people will be disappointed.
Let’s hope your room was yet to be renovated! Did you go to the front desk to report the toilet issue? If you called then it probably added time for the call center to contact the resort and then for the resort to get maintenance there, that or maintenance was busy that night. In any event, not the best start.
Regarding the email you got when you landed at 6 pm, when I take my phone off airplane mode I usually get a text from much earlier in the day with my villa number, 2 years ago I had been texted 3 different villa numbers when I took the phone off airplane mode. Most likely your room not ready text came in much earlier while you were in transit and the email loaded once your phone was in cell range again.

 

[anguyen]

A pool view on Zebra trail is an upgrade from a standard view I believe since pool view is more expensive than standard. Personally I’d be happy I didn’t end up with one of the standard view rooms that overlook the front/road/parking lot. It is the risk you take to save $$$ v. booking a savanna view. I suspect 90% of the people who book standard view at AKL hope to get a partial savanna view & unfortunately some people will be disappointed.
Let’s hope your room was yet to be renovated! Did you go to the front desk to report the toilet issue? If you called then it probably added time for the call center to contact the resort and then for the resort to get maintenance there, that or maintenance was busy that night. In any event, not the best start.
Regarding the email you got when you landed at 6 pm, when I take my phone off airplane mode I usually get a text from much earlier in the day with my villa number, 2 years ago I had been texted 3 different villa numbers when I took the phone off airplane mode. Most likely your room not ready text came in much earlier while you were in transit and the email loaded once your phone was in cell range again.

You made some good points! I feel better about the room we got now. Thank you!

 

[Taylormade0503]

Hey everyone. I’m new to the threads and have not been to Disney in 12 years, so this might be a “everyone knows the answer to that” question. Would somebody please clarify the possibility of getting a “partial savanna view” room with a standard view room. How would I go about requesting one of these rooms? Thank you all!

 

[rangerxenos]

Hi all,

I have a standard room booked for mid-November and when looking at the online check-in options for room requests, I have a grand total of 4! Upper, Lower, Highest and Near Lobby. Are there any nice little tricks in combining my two choices to get a better chance of a Savannah view?

This will be my 3rd stay at AKL, and I’ve been 50/50 in terms of Savannah views.

I always fax my request 5 days before my arrival, I don't do Online check-in.

 

[melissa723]

I had asked the question a few days ago about calling in my request at Kidani, instead of doing online check-in, but I still haven't gotten answer. I have a fax set up through Touring Plans, but it didn't seem to help on our trip in July at BCV, so I don't want to put all of my faith in that again. If I call, do I just tell the first CM that answers what I want (just want a room closer to the lobby as the view isn't important to us this time), and should I remove my online check-in requests as well?

 

[dgbg100106]

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2019 & 2020
If you have any updates please let me know…
2019
August
8/14 - 8/23 eeyore29 - AKL Jambo
8/19 - 8/24 stace1214 - AKL
8/22 - 8/30 Jennie2003 - AKL
8/22 - 9/3 donnaf516 - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 wendyone - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 meggers628 - AKL
8/25 - 9/1 Princess Michele - AKL
September
8/30 - 9/2 e_yerger AKL Jambo
9/2 - 9/7 DanielleRhymesWithBelle - AKL
9/2 - 9/10 sethschroeder AKL
9/3 - 9/10 Micharlotte AKL
9/3 - 9/17 Welsh_Dragon AKL
9/5 - 9/10 TinkerBelle_325 AKL CL
9/6 - 9/15 SealedSeven - AKL
9/7 - 9/13 Jennasis - AKL
9/7 - 9/14 TangledHairDon'tCare AKV Jambo
9/9 - 9/19 BabyFu18 - AKL
9/14 - 9/16 ShayBells - AKL
9/22 - 10/2 SaraJR - AKL Disneymoon
9/23 - 9/28 DGBG100106 - Aulani
October
10/1 - 10/10 wifey - AKL
10/4 - 10/6 CarolinaBlue99 - AKL
10/20 - 10/26 Ali Carlson - AKL
10/26 - 11/1 melana - AKL-Jambo
10/27 - 10/30 P'colaBeachBum - AKL
November
10/31 - 11/7 Kc0912 - AKL
11/7 - 11/10 DisneyDiana - Kidani
11/7 - 11/16 Rowlf the Dog - AKL
11/12 - 11/17 minie_meese - AKL Jambo
11/16 - 11/18 RADOPT - AKL CL
11/16 - 11/24 rubysparkles - AKL
11/20 - 11/26 carlythecat - AKL
11/23 - 11/28 Shelleyfs - AKV
11/24 - 12/1 Jon84 - AKL
11/25 - 11/29 SarahC97 - AKL
December
11/30 - 12/14 - Ashleylvsgoofy - AKL
11/30 - 12/10 crazycatstacy - AKL
12/1 TammyLynn33 - AKL Jambo
12/3 - 12/6 Disneyhanna - AKL
12/4 - 12/12 rangerxenos - AKL
12/5 - 12/8 MemphisVanessa - AKL CL
12/5 - 12/12 ZOOMAMA - AKL
12/7 - 12/14 NMPensFan - AKL
12/8 - 12/24 Scoobie - AKL Kidani
12/21 - 12/26 TinkerBelle_325 AKL CL
12/21 - 12/28 jcthompson2AKL
12/26 - 12/30 elsbit - AKL CL
2020
January
12/29 - 1/4 ChanellF - AKL Jambo
1/8 - 1/13 lahobbs4 - AKV-Jambo
1/8-1/15 gillep - ALK CL (DVC)
1/17 - 1/18 ThinkBelieveDream&Dare - AKL
1/25 - 1/27 KimBean - AKL
1/25 - 2/2 maranara - AKL
February
2/4 - 2/12 Mollygirl21 - AKV
2/14 - 2/20 MadMadamMim1 - Kidani
March
April
4/14 - 4/25 cincystamper - AKL Jambo
May
June
6/60-06/12 malissa90 - AKL
6/28 - 7/4 DisneyDiana - AKV
July
August

 

[kimmar067]

...as usual Brandi, great job!

 

[dgbg100106]

...as usual Brandi, great job!

Thanks Dear...

 

[ThinkBelieveDream&Dare]

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2019 & 2020
If you have any updates please let me know…
2019
August
8/14 - 8/23 eeyore29 - AKL Jambo
8/19 - 8/24 stace1214 - AKL
8/22 - 8/30 Jennie2003 - AKL
8/22 - 9/3 donnaf516 - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 wendyone - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 meggers628 - AKL
8/25 - 9/1 Princess Michele - AKL
September
8/30 - 9/2 e_yerger AKL Jambo
9/2 - 9/7 DanielleRhymesWithBelle - AKL
9/2 - 9/10 sethschroeder AKL
9/3 - 9/10 Micharlotte AKL
9/3 - 9/17 Welsh_Dragon AKL
9/5 - 9/10 TinkerBelle_325 AKL CL
9/6 - 9/15 SealedSeven - AKL
9/7 - 9/13 Jennasis - AKL
9/7 - 9/14 TangledHairDon'tCare AKV Jambo
9/9 - 9/19 BabyFu18 - AKL
9/14 - 9/16 ShayBells - AKL
9/22 - 10/2 SaraJR - AKL Disneymoon
9/23 - 9/28 DGBG100106 - Aulani
October
10/1 - 10/10 wifey - AKL
10/4 - 10/6 CarolinaBlue99 - AKL
10/20 - 10/26 Ali Carlson - AKL
10/26 - 11/1 melana - AKL-Jambo
10/27 - 10/30 P'colaBeachBum - AKL
November
10/31 - 11/7 Kc0912 - AKL
11/7 - 11/10 DisneyDiana - Kidani
11/7 - 11/16 Rowlf the Dog - AKL
11/12 - 11/17 minie_meese - AKL Jambo
11/16 - 11/18 RADOPT - AKL CL
11/16 - 11/24 rubysparkles - AKL
11/20 - 11/26 carlythecat - AKL
11/23 - 11/28 Shelleyfs - AKV
11/24 - 12/1 Jon84 - AKL
11/25 - 11/29 SarahC97 - AKL
December
11/30 - 12/14 - Ashleylvsgoofy - AKL
11/30 - 12/10 crazycatstacy - AKL
12/1 TammyLynn33 - AKL Jambo
12/3 - 12/6 Disneyhanna - AKL
12/4 - 12/12 rangerxenos - AKL
12/5 - 12/8 MemphisVanessa - AKL CL
12/5 - 12/12 ZOOMAMA - AKL
12/7 - 12/14 NMPensFan - AKL
12/8 - 12/24 Scoobie - AKL Kidani
12/21 - 12/26 TinkerBelle_325 AKL CL
12/21 - 12/28 jcthompson2AKL
12/26 - 12/30 elsbit - AKL CL
2020
January
12/29 - 1/4 ChanellF - AKL Jambo
1/8 - 1/13 lahobbs4 - AKV-Jambo
1/8-1/15 gillep - ALK CL (DVC)
1/17 - 1/18 ThinkBelieveDream&Dare - AKL
1/25 - 1/27 KimBean - AKL
1/25 - 2/2 maranara - AKL
February
2/4 - 2/12 Mollygirl21 - AKV
2/14 - 2/20 MadMadamMim1 - Kidani
March
April
4/14 - 4/25 cincystamper - AKL Jambo
May
June
6/60-06/12 malissa90 - AKL
6/28 - 7/4 DisneyDiana - AKV
July
August

Thank you for adding ours @dgbg100106 it must be hard work keeping up with every reservation

 

[acellison]

Do the rooms in Jambo House have a Keurig in them?

 

[dgbg100106]

Thank you for adding ours @dgbg100106 it must be hard work keeping up with every reservation

It can... but I enjoy most days!

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Do the rooms in Jambo House have a Keurig in them?

Only in the refurbished rooms.

 

[MarkinNM]

Ok folks, will be there this Sunday, FINALLY!!!!

So I am curious as to what trail or room location is your favorite? Will be in Jambo with a savanna view, first time AKL'er here, thoughts?

 

[ThinkBelieveDream&Dare]

Ok folks, will be there this Sunday, FINALLY!!!!

So I am curious as to what trail or room location is your favorite? Will be in Jambo with a savanna view, first time AKL'er here, thoughts?

We've stayed at the Lodge twice:
First time was in December 2017 we were in room 3555 on the 3rd floor Uzima Savanna it was a great view with a good variety of animals
In January this year we were given room 2362 on 2nd floor with a Sunset Savannah which was almost at eye level with the animals. It was amazing; we felt that we could almost reach out and touch the giraffes from our balcony and one had her teeny calf with her too - sheer bliss, we could have watched all day long lol
Have a wonderful holiday @MarkinNM Hope you get one of the refurbed rooms and minimal construction noise..

edited to correct some info _ sorry for confusion.

 

[ThinkBelieveDream&Dare]

Oooh and I forgot to say...….. @MarkinNM