Hi all - back from AKL and wanted to share my thoughts. Goal was to enjoy the balcony overlooking the savanna in the mornings with my coffee, use the pool, and head to parks in the late afternoon/evening. Disclaimer – this is meant to share my specific experience in the hopes it might help others so I understand that YMMV
! I really did have a great trip, and I tried to go into it with low expectations because nothing is guaranteed, but it’s tough when you’re paying that much for a room to see animals and you don’t really see any. Also, I’m longwinded so settle in
The category I booked was “Queen + Bunk Beds – Savanna View” as it was the only savanna view available with the Passholder discount. Used Touring Plans Room Request Fax Service to request room: Jambo; Flr 3; NW-facing room. Example 3507, 3505, 3509, 3503, 3511 - was assigned room 3505 overlooking Arusha Savanna! It was such a hard decision deciding which Savanna to choose, but wanted to see zebras so ultimately went with Arusha as I had read that was the only savanna with them. I was very excited!
Room was a decent size, was clean upon arrival and kept that way by housekeeping. I had Privacy sign on door in the mornings when most rooms around me were being cleaned so before I left room for the parks in the afternoon I made a quick call to housekeeping to let them know I was leaving and asking them to service the room and it was always taken care of. Bed was totally uncomfortable and made a loud creaking noise whenever I got up. Bring a nightlight because I ran into that darn bunk bed all the time in the middle of the night. Room had a coffee maker with the Cuisinart pods but I got coffee from the Mara as it was a short elevator ride away – so convenient! Loved the location of the room as it was close to pool and also on same level as the lobby.
While the location and decor was excellent, I did not have good luck viewing animals on the savanna at all. I was typically on my balcony from 7am – 10am every morning and there were never any animals outside my room. There sometimes were 2 giraffes, 2 zebra and 2 other deer type animals on the savanna but WAY on the other side closer to the Kudu Trail rooms so I really couldn’t see them due to distance and being blocked by trees. I could see kinda giraffe legs, but not heads
One morning they seemed to be huddled over at the end of the Zebra Trail rooms so I decided to go investigate what was over there. From the outside stairwell at the end of the hall I found all the animals! All pacing by the fence seemingly waiting for a keeper to come. Up rolled a golf cart, opened a fence and away went the animals. I understand that you aren’t guaranteed to see animals, and that they have to be fed and looked over and taken care of, but if I’m being honest it was disappointing. Maybe they are out at different times of day? Or again, just my bad luck, but AKL likely won’t get me to pay for a savanna view again, unless I want to watch the pond being drained, cleaned and refilled every morning *newsflash – not worth the money
.
Bus transportation was also not great (more bad luck?). Never waited LESS than 15 minutes for a bus from AKL (to AK, Disney Springs, Epcot, MK) and the wait back on Saturday night from AK to AKL was at least 45 minutes – which I understand can happen, but it is very frustrating when you see 2 buses each come and go for Pop Century, Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs and none for AKL. I had the Uber app pulled up and the next AKL bus showed up.
All was not lost though! AKL has an amazing pool, pool bar and Victoria Falls Lounge that I enjoyed quite a bit. Plus the quick service breakfast at Sanaa was delicious (still no animals out over there either). The breakfast was not listed anywhere on any of the Jambo house materials so I walked the 10 minutes over to Kidani to check it out and there is a sign at the top of the stairs in the lobby headed down to Sanaa. I think I sat right next to
@ariane37 but didn’t want to interrupt her breakfast, especially not being sure
. Another note, the lifeguards closed the pool at 10pm every night (I thought I had read they were open 24 hours?).
A major highlight was seeing Joe Rohde in the Victoria Falls lounge late on Saturday night (I needed a drink after the bus fiasco from AK). I thought about walking up and telling him how great Pandora was (I had been there that night), but he was with a big group and I’m not the type to interrupt. A pretty cool memory to have even seen him on that day though.
I still love AKL and might even stay there again (in one of those rooms near the stairwell at the end of the Zebra Trail maybe!). It’s a beautiful resort and was a nice respite after the craziness of the parks.