Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[Simba's Mom]

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?

Actually Sanaa has a QS-type breakfast (I don't remember the most current hours-it used to end at 10:00, but I think it goes later now). You can get "grab and go" and/or order hot food (eggs, french toast, etc.). When I was there, you ordered in the Sanaa lounge, then sat in the restaurant and they brought your hot food to you. The restaurant was only about 1/4th full, so I had no trouble getting a window table and lingering afterwards for a little extra animal-watching.

 

[japanese maple]

We are staying here first week of December! What is the holiday music like at the resort? At first I was disappointed when I learned we won't be hearing the normal resort music, but I'm thinking the holiday music will still be pretty cool/same feel?

 

[mrsap]

We are staying here first week of December! What is the holiday music like at the resort? At first I was disappointed when I learned we won't be hearing the normal resort music, but I'm thinking the holiday music will still be pretty cool/same feel?

Yes, there’s a Christmas loop as well. Same type of songs. Enjoy!

ETA: if you do a search online, you should be able to find some. YouTube or Spotify are a good place to check.

 

[japanese maple]

Hi!

I just read that Jambo and Kidani only share a bus during morning hours and maybe closing - is this true?
If so, do they each have their own bus stop at the parks? Or does one show up and then the other?

We will be in Jambo but if a Kidani bus pulls up first, we can jump on that and walk over to Jambo, we like to walk.

 

[CarolynFH]

Hi!

I just read that Jambo and Kidani only share a bus during morning hours and maybe closing - is this true?
If so, do they each have their own bus stop at the parks? Or does one show up and then the other?

We will be in Jambo but if a Kidani bus pulls up first, we can jump on that and walk over to Jambo, we like to walk.

They'll share the same bus stop. IIRC, they share during the day, when it's not so busy, and have separate buses in the morning when many guests are traveling to the parks. I'm not sure about closing.

 

[japanese maple]

They'll share the same bus stop. IIRC, they share during the day, when it's not so busy, and have separate buses in the morning when many guests are traveling to the parks. I'm not sure about closing.

Oh I got it backwards! Thank you for the correction.

 

[preemiemama]

Oh I got it backwards! Thank you for the correction.

Agreed. We were at Jambo last week. Separate buses were in the morning only. The rest of the day, including closing, the bus stopped at both Kidani and Jambo. The buses all stop at Kidani first then Jambo, except the Springs bus which goes to Jambo then Kidani. This is for pick up and drop off.

I will also tell you that our experience with the evening hours for Deluxe resorts had some bus issues. The MK night we waited in a bus queue that filled up the regular waiting area and an area that was basically the same size outside of that. They sent some extra buses to help out and it finally cleared, but we didn't get back to the resort until after 1 am, and we had been in line by around 11:45. That was a VERY long day... Epcot was better, but still very full. The supervisor on duty that night must've made some calls because once the line started to build, we began to see a few buses in a row arrive just for AKL. That line was able to clear more quickly.

 

[OhThePain]

Is there any word if they plan on bringing back the Wanyama Safari, Sense of Africa or Dine with an Animal Specialist or if there are any plans to bring in something new? We were big fans of the Wanyama (did it twice) and we have also done the Starlight Safari and Sunrise Safari and were wondering if there were any rumblings on bringing these experiences back.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Is there any word if they plan on bringing back the Wanyama Safari, Sense of Africa or Dine with an Animal Specialist or if there are any plans to bring in something new? We were big fans of the Wanyama (did it twice) and we have also done the Starlight Safari and Sunrise Safari and were wondering if there were any rumblings on bringing these experiences back.

Starlight safari has been back for awhile now https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/

 

[OhThePain]

Starlight safari has been back for awhile now https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/

Yup, which is why I left that one out and asked if there were plans to bring back Wanyama, Sense or Dine or plans for something new. Starlight was totally worth doing if anyone is curious about it.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is there any word if they plan on bringing back the Wanyama Safari, Sense of Africa or Dine with an Animal Specialist or if there are any plans to bring in something new? We were big fans of the Wanyama (did it twice) and we have also done the Starlight Safari and Sunrise Safari and were wondering if there were any rumblings on bringing these experiences back.

I'm so glad that someone else also misses the Dine with an Animal Specialist. I asked about it when I was at Sanaa this past February, whether it was gone for good. They said that it hadn't come back yet, but that they expected it would. So do I, and before next January. I did that 3 times, and loved it. I enjoyed the Wanyama Safari, but not as much.

 

[Momloveshockey]

Hello. We are staying at a different resort. Is it possible to go to AKL and eat at the quick service and see some of the animals too?

 

[erionm]

Hello. We are staying at a different resort. Is it possible to go to AKL and eat at the quick service and see some of the animals too?

Yes. We've driven and parked at the resort without issue. You can also take a bus from any theme park or Disney Springs to AKL.

 

[krauh]

Hello. We are staying at a different resort. Is it possible to go to AKL and eat at the quick service and see some of the animals too?

Yes absolutely! There is also a ton of African art throughout the hotel that is beautiful and interesting, and make sure you check out the flamingoes!

 

[FSU Girl]

Hello. We are staying at a different resort. Is it possible to go to AKL and eat at the quick service and see some of the animals too?

Many times they’ll turn cars away if they aren’t staying there and don’t have a dining reservation. It would be easier to take Disney transportation instead to not chance it

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Yup, which is why I left that one out and asked if there were plans to bring back Wanyama, Sense or Dine or plans for something new. Starlight was totally worth doing if anyone is curious about it.

View attachment 879844

I'm sorry, I misread your post this morning, wasn't awake enough yet!

Would you be willing to talk about the Starlight Safari you did? I've been wanting to do one for awhile now.

 

[mastermind307]

My daughter has chosen to go to Disney for her high school graduation trip. We will be visiting in June 2025. She wants to stay at AKL. Which is better Jambo or Kidani? She is requesting a safari view room. Do any of the safaris have giraffes?

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

My daughter has chosen to go to Disney for her high school graduation trip. We will be visiting in June 2025. She wants to stay at AKL. Which is better Jambo or Kidani? She is requesting a safari view room. Do any of the safaris have giraffes?

It would be a savannah view room and both resorts are lovely. The difference is that Kidani is all DVC resort while Jambo is hotel and also has some hotel rooms that were converted to DVC rooms. The Sunset, Arusha, and Uzima savannahs all have giraffe (Sunset has Reticulated Giraffe, and at least one of the other savannah (can't remember which) has Masai giraffe. Pembe Savannah at Kidani does not have giraffe, it does have their relative Okapi. Sunset savannah at kidani that links to jambo does though.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My daughter has chosen to go to Disney for her high school graduation trip. We will be visiting in June 2025. She wants to stay at AKL. Which is better Jambo or Kidani? She is requesting a safari view room. Do any of the safaris have giraffes?

DD18 and I are going in May 2025. We decided to rent points at AKV and chose Jambo for the pool and dining options.

 

[preemiemama]

My daughter has chosen to go to Disney for her high school graduation trip. We will be visiting in June 2025. She wants to stay at AKL. Which is better Jambo or Kidani? She is requesting a safari view room. Do any of the safaris have giraffes?

We were there a couple weeks ago and stayed at Jambo. We had a 2 BR standard view on Kudu Trail, room 5349. We could see the savannah that faces Kidani from our balcony. It had giraffes. We could also see the other savannah in the hallway as we walked to/from the room- or stood on the bridge that crosses over the lobby- and saw giraffes there as well.