Resort Thread Jambo! Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

[Doingitagain]

Does anyone know what the going rate is for a liter bottle of water from the marketplace? My wife and I are trying to decide if we should stock up on a couple of bottles to bring with us on our DCL cruise or pre-purchase the 16 oz bottles for our room.

I think DCL only has cans, not plastic water bottles.

 

[mastermind307]

We have never stayed at AKL before. This is where my daughter chose to stay for her high school graduation trip. We have rented points to stay in a safari view studio. She really wants to see giraffes. Can giraffes be seen on on the safaris? I know we can't be guaranteed what animals will be out, but I didn't know if there was one safari we should request over another.
Can we even request which safari we'd like to overlook? Online check in only has options for near lobby or near elevator. Do either of these matter than much?
We haven't been to Disney since 2018 and I've been out of the loop for quite some time. I finally decided it was time to get my plans in order.

 

[jmasgat]

We have never stayed at AKL before. This is where my daughter chose to stay for her high school graduation trip. We have rented points to stay in a safari view studio. She really wants to see giraffes. Can giraffes be seen on on the safaris? I know we can't be guaranteed what animals will be out, but I didn't know if there was one safari we should request over another.
Can we even request which safari we'd like to overlook? Online check in only has options for near lobby or near elevator. Do either of these matter than much?
We haven't been to Disney since 2018 and I've been out of the loop for quite some time. I finally decided it was time to get my plans in order.

Yes, giraffes will be out on the Savannas. You didn't mention if you are staying at Jambo House (which is the hotel and DVC building) or Kidani (which is DVC only), but they are out there at both. You can add a room request to your reservation by calling--and just so it's clear if you ask, the view is a "Savanna" view (not safari--that's the ride at AK).

I have stayed in rooms at the hotel and a DVC value studio and was lucky to have views of animals. Both were views of the Sunset Savanna. I think a lot of people prefer Arusha, but the animals do move around. You might consider looking at a site like Touring Plans to check out room views,

 

[Best Aunt]

We have never stayed at AKL before. This is where my daughter chose to stay for her high school graduation trip. We have rented points to stay in a safari view studio. She really wants to see giraffes. Can giraffes be seen on on the safaris? I know we can't be guaranteed what animals will be out, but I didn't know if there was one safari we should request over another.
Can we even request which safari we'd like to overlook? Online check in only has options for near lobby or near elevator. Do either of these matter than much?
We haven't been to Disney since 2018 and I've been out of the loop for quite some time. I finally decided it was time to get my plans in order.

Yes, giraffes will be out on the Savannas. You didn't mention if you are staying at Jambo House (which is the hotel and DVC building) or Kidani (which is DVC only), but they are out there at both. You can add a room request to your reservation by calling--and just so it's clear if you ask, the view is a "Savanna" view (not safari--that's the ride at AK).

I have stayed in rooms at the hotel and a DVC value studio and was lucky to have views of animals. Both were views of the Sunset Savanna. I think a lot of people prefer Arusha, but the animals do move around. You might consider looking at a site like Touring Plans to check out room views,

This is a map which shows the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge:
https://allears.net/wp-content/uploads/archive/acc/ResortMaps/animal-kingdom-lodge-map.pdf

As PP said, you need to know if your reservation is for Jambo House or Kidani Village. That part is not a request; it's like booking at different hotels.

If you want to be able to see giraffes when you look out the window, you need to know which savannas have giraffes. IIRC, the Pembe savanna does not have giraffes.

Giraffes are kept in the barns when the weather gets too cold. If this is a high school graduation trip, then I'm guessing cold weather will not be a problem.

If you rented points, then you cannot make a room request yourself by calling. The Member who made the reservation would need to contact DVC to make the request for you.

If you have a Touring Plans paid subscription, I believe you can use their service to make a room request even though you rented points.

 

[mastermind307]

Yes, giraffes will be out on the Savannas. You didn't mention if you are staying at Jambo House (which is the hotel and DVC building) or Kidani (which is DVC only), but they are out there at both. You can add a room request to your reservation by calling--and just so it's clear if you ask, the view is a "Savanna" view (not safari--that's the ride at AK).

I have stayed in rooms at the hotel and a DVC value studio and was lucky to have views of animals. Both were views of the Sunset Savanna. I think a lot of people prefer Arusha, but the animals do move around. You might consider looking at a site like Touring Plans to check out room views,

This is a map which shows the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge:
https://allears.net/wp-content/uploads/archive/acc/ResortMaps/animal-kingdom-lodge-map.pdf

As PP said, you need to know if your reservation is for Jambo House or Kidani Village. That part is not a request; it's like booking at different hotels.

If you want to be able to see giraffes when you look out the window, you need to know which savannas have giraffes. IIRC, the Pembe savanna does not have giraffes.

Giraffes are kept in the barns when the weather gets too cold. If this is a high school graduation trip, then I'm guessing cold weather will not be a problem.

If you rented points, then you cannot make a room request yourself by calling. The Member who made the reservation would need to contact DVC to make the request for you.

If you have a Touring Plans paid subscription, I believe you can use their service to make a room request even though you rented points.

Ah yes, we have a Savanna view, I wasn't thinking correctly when I said safari. We are staying at Jambo and I know we will be on the 5th floor. I do have a touring plans subscription and just looked and I can add a room request.
Looks like my choices will be Sunset Savanna, Arusha Savanna, or Uzima Savanna. Does anybody know what animals you can see on these savannas?

 

[Skippyboo]

It’s lot of the same animals on the Savannah portion of the safari ride- Giraffe, Zebra, Angola cattle, various antelopes, Wildebeest

 

[Doingitagain]

Ah yes, we have a Savanna view, I wasn't thinking correctly when I said safari. We are staying at Jambo and I know we will be on the 5th floor. I do have a touring plans subscription and just looked and I can add a room request.
Looks like my choices will be Sunset Savanna, Arusha Savanna, or Uzima Savanna. Does anybody know what animals you can see on these savannas?

Search Internet and you will get some good results using

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Animals by Savannah​

 

[summerlvr]

Ah yes, we have a Savanna view, I wasn't thinking correctly when I said safari. We are staying at Jambo and I know we will be on the 5th floor. I do have a touring plans subscription and just looked and I can add a room request.
Looks like my choices will be Sunset Savanna, Arusha Savanna, or Uzima Savanna. Does anybody know what animals you can see on these savannas?

I have had partial savanna view rooms overlooking Uzima and have always seen giraffes. Hopefully others will chime in with what animals can be seen on the other savannas.

 

[pwdebbie]

Is there a resort thread for Kidani? I haven't been able to spot it.

 

[dansdad]

Is there a resort thread for Kidani? I haven't been able to spot it.

Yes, since Kidani is 100% DVC it is located over on the DVC board.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-akv-owners-and-lovers-thread-come-and-chat.1815576/

 

[OhThePain]

Ah yes, we have a Savanna view, I wasn't thinking correctly when I said safari. We are staying at Jambo and I know we will be on the 5th floor. I do have a touring plans subscription and just looked and I can add a room request.
Looks like my choices will be Sunset Savanna, Arusha Savanna, or Uzima Savanna. Does anybody know what animals you can see on these savannas?

Any answer to which animals on which savannah is only a best guess scenario. The animals may be moved around the savannahs for any number of reasons. If there is a specific animal you want to see that isn't in the savannah you are overlooking from your room, there are plenty of spots you can view different savannahs from. It's not just your balcony.

As a nice extra, I suggest trying to get reservations for the Starlight Safari, which leaves out of Kidani (it books up fast). You are taken out onto the savannahs of the resorts and are given a night vision scope and get close to the animals. It's a really nice and fun experience that gets you out onto the savannahs.

 

[mastermind307]

Any answer to which animals on which savannah is only a best guess scenario. The animals may be moved around the savannahs for any number of reasons. If there is a specific animal you want to see that isn't in the savannah you are overlooking from your room, there are plenty of spots you can view different savannahs from. It's not just your balcony.

As a nice extra, I suggest trying to get reservations for the Starlight Safari, which leaves out of Kidani (it books up fast). You are taken out onto the savannahs of the resorts and are given a night vision scope and get close to the animals. It's a really nice and fun experience that gets you out onto the savannahs.

How do I get reservations for the starlight safari?

 

[dansdad]

How do I get reservations for the starlight safari?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/

 

[BarbLynnM]

Bee aware: We just got back from our week’s stay at AKL, and loved the resort, but had a slight problem with our room.

We had room 4256 Kudu Trail; the room itself was ok, but we had an issue with bees building a nest in the poles in front of our balcony. On the few evenings I was in the room, I was chased off the balcony by bees who figured I was trespassing on their property.

We notified concierge about the issue and they explained that they will probably move the bee hive to an area where they won’t be in issue to guests. She also said they have had several issues with bee hives this year. I don’t know if they’ll get around to it any time soon, but if someone has an allergy like my guy, it’s best to check if getting this room (this is early April 2025).

 

[elvispursley]

Just booked a resort view for Sep 4-12 (am also hanging onto a POFQ in case family comes and
Don’t want to stay at AKL). What would be the best way to request one of the obstructed savanna view rooms? And is there a better chance on one Savannah vs another or just Lisa è it generic? Or are we destined to look at the parking lot We stayed here years ago and were given an obstructed savanna when we checked in ar the front desk and asked if there were any savanna view rooms we could upgrade to (this was way back in the day when your chances were more favorable than today).

 

[jmasgat]

Just booked a resort view for Sep 4-12 (am also hanging onto a POFQ in case family comes and
Don’t want to stay at AKL). What would be the best way to request one of the obstructed savanna view rooms? And is there a better chance on one Savannah vs another or just Lisa è it generic? Or are we destined to look at the parking lot We stayed here years ago and were given an obstructed savanna when we checked in ar the front desk and asked if there were any savanna view rooms we could upgrade to (this was way back in the day when your chances were more favorable than today).

I would request something along Kudu Trail. If you look at Touring Plans, you can see how many rooms are supposedly classified as "resort view" and while that section may not have the most resort view rooms, it's more likely you'd have the view. Zebra Trail would be next.

https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps...=&filters[ug]=&commit_str=Show+Matching+Rooms

 

[elvispursley]

I would request something along Kudu Trail. If you look at Touring Plans, you can see how many rooms are supposedly classified as "resort view" and while that section may not have the most resort view rooms, it's more likely you'd have the view. Zebra Trail would be next.

https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge?date=04/14/2025&filters[rack_rate]=any&filters[view]=713&filters[lobby_distance]=any&filters[transportation_distance]=any&filters[floors]=any&filters[sound]=any&filters[accessibility]=any&filters[connect]=&filters[ug]=&commit_str=Show+Matching+Rooms

Thank you!!

 

[summerlvr]

Just booked a resort view for Sep 4-12 (am also hanging onto a POFQ in case family comes and
Don’t want to stay at AKL). What would be the best way to request one of the obstructed savanna view rooms? And is there a better chance on one Savannah vs another or just Lisa è it generic? Or are we destined to look at the parking lot We stayed here years ago and were given an obstructed savanna when we checked in ar the front desk and asked if there were any savanna view rooms we could upgrade to (this was way back in the day when your chances were more favorable than today).

I have always requested and gotten Zebra Trail. If you end up in a room at the far end of Kudu Trail, you are going to have a very long walk to the buses, the pool and the restaurants.

 

[elvispursley]

Ooh—good to know!! Years ago we were at the end of ostrich (I think) and I remember there being a bit of a walk.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Ok how do I turn the thermostat off. I know how to “break” it to lower the temps but I want to be able to turn the whole thing off so the fan just doesn’t blow. Thanks