Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[disneygrandma]

We have reservations for Club level in June. If they don't have Club services (food/drinks), do we still stay in those rooms? And if so, will they reduce the # of points? Also, do the Club 1 bedrooms have a sleep chair in them? Or just the sofa bed? Thanks!

 

[HiStitch626]

I cannot answer the points question, but perhaps member services could help. All the regular 1 bedroom villas have a sleeper chair. Only the values do not.

 

[cfw213]

Hello! I have a reservation for Jambo House May 8-15. We go to Disney annually but I admittedly haven't been keeping up with all of the COVID changes. I read back about 10 pages but didn't see the answer to these:

1) Is there any dining at all at Jambo? Any quick service?
2) Is the Uzima Springs pool open?

 

[Eeyore daily]

Hello! I have a reservation for Jambo House May 8-15. We go to Disney annually but I admittedly haven't been keeping up with all of the COVID changes. I read back about 10 pages but didn't see the answer to these:

1) Is there any dining at all at Jambo? Any quick service?
2) Is the Uzima Springs pool open?

1. No, there is no dining
2. Yes

 

[cfw213]

Great thank you @Eeyore daily!

 

[Debbie Jean]

1. No, there is no dining
2. Yes

To reinforce this. There is nothing open at Jambo except the pool and pool bar. The store and all restaurants are closed. The only rooms currently occupied are DVC units on the 5th floor. Someone here said they found the resort “tomb like”. I found it peaceful and restorative lol

Kidani, which is entirely DVC, is open, though food options have always been more limited there compared to Jambo. You can also get food or grocery delivery, etc.

Just make sure you have a plan!

 

[Eeyore daily]

I thought the lack of people at Jambo House was so peaceful! Especially with all the African versions of Christmas carols. Also, the elevators are very fast for the lack of people which can't be said at other resorts like the Riviera.

 

[cfw213]

Thanks! We just booked so our only options are AKL Jambo or Kidani or SSR. We stayed at SSR last time and didn't love the internal bus system, so we'll just to make do with lack of food options! We will get some groceries delivered for sure and just use UberEats if we need to.

 

[stitchfan18]

We'll be there in a couple weeks, and have a resort day planned. I'm hoping it's warm enough that afternoon to swim. Is the entire pool area at Kidani Village open? My kids would love the kids water play area, but since we'll be at Jambo, I don't want to trek over to Kidani to swim if it's just the pool open. Are the playground areas open? We'll probably end up at Disney Springs for dinner, but I'm wondering what options we have to entertain the kids right now around the resort?

 

[Runnsally]

With more hotels opening up, any thoughts/rumors/guesses on a Jambo non-dvc opening date?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

With more hotels opening up, any thoughts/rumors/guesses on a Jambo non-dvc opening date?

I'm more optimistic than some of the posts I see around here, but the realist in me understands we need to see a lot more demand to return before that happens. In rough numbers, there are 2,100 deluxe rooms open right now, 2,800 still closed. BC will bring back 576, WL 430, and Poly 479. That leaves BWI at 372 and AKL at a whopping 970 (all numbers are approximate). That's a lot of rooms to fill in order to justify reopening.

I personally think that leisure travel is going to eventually experience a rapid snapback at some point (pent up demand, etc), but my crystal ball is broken as to when. :-(

 

[Leight19]

With more hotels opening up, any thoughts/rumors/guesses on a Jambo non-dvc opening date?

I have no insight to add to opening but one added question is what will be impact of shutdown on the resort long term? AKL has consistently been top tier for resort dining but with such prolonged closure how many of the chefs will remain on when reopens? I’ve been hoping they at least bring back one of Mara or Jiko to add more options and keep the talent on but so far nothing to bring optimism.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

We are renting DVC points for 3 nights at AKV/Jambo in a value studio in early January 2021. Will there be housekeeping provided at all during a 3 night stay? I see that the kitchens come with paper plates, etc.; if there's no housekeeping, should I bring our own plates, mugs, utensils, coffee, etc? Also towels and tp? We are flying Southwest so packing extra "stuff" isn't an issue- I just need to know what to bring!

For 3 nights the only housekeeping you will receive is daily trash removal. If you want daily housekeeping you can pay for it ($30/day for a studio). They no longer charge for fresh towels but you do have to ask for them. Refills on coffee, paper plates, utensils and tp are free. Previously, there were a few glasses and mugs in the studios but have heard reports of those being switched out for paper cups. You will have dish soap and a sponge in the studio, we bring a bottle brush to wash our refillable mugs and coffee cups. I would avoid washing plates in the studio kitchenette sink as it is very small, just use the paper plates they provide.

 

[msrika]

Are there any cast members on the Jambo side at all? Mom who will be traveling alone with a 5yo and wondering if we should be concerned for safety or if I’m just being paranoid.

 

[HiStitch626]

Yes, there are cast members on the Jambo side. As the pool is open there are both lifeguards and cast members that do the poolside games. There are housekeeping cast members to take care of the fifth floor. And although it may not be obvious, there will be people available to assist at the front desk if needed. There are also managers on property.

 

[leebee]

I am considering doing a grocery order for delivery to Jambo, but... will there be anyone at Bell Services to receive/hold the order? It's just breakfast stuff, so maybe I'll bring it from home, but I'd love to get a quart of half-and-half for the coffee, some yogurt, and a bottle of wine. There are only 2 of us so it won't break the bank to buy these things onsite, but we'd rather have breakfast in the room than schlep over to Kidani each morning. Is there a market open at Kidani where we could buy dairy products and wine?

 

[Eeyore daily]

Yes there is bell service. And I know the market at Kidani is open but I didn’t check it out. Someone posted prior that it had milk products, creamer, and alcohol.

also if it’s just the two of you, the DVC rooms give 8 pods of creamer which should be enough for a short stay without having to buy any.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Just so you realize the store at Kidani is tiny and there is very little selection.

I had a bag of refrigerated groceries transferred from Boardwalk to Jambo last month. No issues, everything stayed cold. If you need CMs they are there... Disney wouldn’t let you stay at a resort otherwise.

I wouldn’t hesitate to do a grocery delivery.

 

[msrika]

Just so you realize the store at Kidani is tiny and there is very little selection.

I had a bag of refrigerated groceries transferred from Boardwalk to Jambo last month. No issues, everything stayed cold. If you need CMs they are there... Disney wouldn’t let you stay at a resort otherwise.

I wouldn’t hesitate to do a grocery delivery.

Are they still doing across resort delivery of luggage and other goods? We're doing a Jambo and Copper Creek split stay and it would be nice if they could transfer the luggage.

 

[marx]

At Jambo now.

Beginning Wednesday the pool bar will be open daily for the duration of the holidays (CM couldn't give me exact date).

Mug refills and limited food options available at pool bar.

Currently the pool has no one in it! Weather is nice, sunny and 71.

In August, we were asked to move the seat back forward when we left (for disinfection). CMs not saying this now. We noticed a few guests leave and chairs were not disinfected.