JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 3

[kimmar067]

Yes, I believe you will. Unfortunately I am not at home so I don't have my AKV stuff with me (i.e. the drawing that shows the 2 buildings). But it is to the left of Jambo house when you are facing Jambo (i.e. AKL) house from the parking lot. So I would assume that you will be able to see the construction from the rooms that overlook the savannah on the opposite side of the pool. Sorry, I can't remember which savannah that is.

....that'd be the Sunset Savannah....

 

[pilferk]

Thanks for the update. I'm hoping that the building is back to normal by then. Do you know if you can see the new building and savanah from the main building (that the construction would spoil the view) or not?

First, some info, and then some speculation:

You can see the construction across the SUNSET (and only the sunset) savannah. It's pushed a ways out though. Some report they barely notice it, some report it "ruins" the sightlines. I think it depends on perspective.

You WON'T see any construction on the "new" Kidani savannah. That's on the "northern" edge of the Kidani wing and not really visible from anywhere at the main lodge. You might see something on the "blending" of the existing sunset savannah between the two buildings, but most of that takes place closer to the DVC wing, and it's tough to make out from even the sunset savannah side of th elodge

As reported, the construction in the main lodge is slated for completion in January of '08..by the 28th, to be exact, as that's when the last of the DVC units are slated to "open". I'd actually expect CONSTRUCTION to be done a few weeks prior to that, as they have to furnish, carpet, decorate, etc the rooms before they can "open" them. They may even be done with the construction piece, now.

Now, the speculation:

1) The Jambo construction is about 5 months ahead of schedule. They were slated to finish, originally, in May.

2) The original completeion estimated date for Kidani was "Spring 2009"....according to the DVC member FAQ. That date has since been removed.

3) Recently, people booking at AKL have been told to expect SOME POSSIBLE construction noise 24 hours per day, NOT just the "9AM to 5 PM" schedule they'd been touting. And that's concerning stays through the middle of '08.

4) Reports are that sales are outpacing supply for some DVC "use years" (a use year is actually the MONTH your DVC points become available for use) at AKV.

5) Recent constuction pictures of Kidani show that they've made significant progress in vertical construction on at least one section.

From everything we're hearing, it sounds like they're REALLY ramping up construction on Kidani. It would not surprise me in the SLIGHTEST to see the dates for completion "moved up" to be much sooner than originally expected.

I would set myself up to EXPECT there will still be Kidani construction going on in December of '08 (indeed, I'll be there in early December, too..and that's my expectation). But I would also hold out some hope that most of the "heavy" exterior construction on Kidani will be done, and they'll be working on mostly interior stuff....things that you wont' really see or hear from the main lodge.

Something else to consider:

If you have a pool view room....you'll never see the Kidani construction. Ditto on most of the "standard" views, since they almost all of them face the parking lot. IF you have a savannah view room, simply request a room on Zebra trail, or at least overlooking the Arusha Savannah. If either request is satisfied, you'll only see the Kidani construction if you go looking for it...since only the rooms on the "backside" of Kudo and Ostrich trail savannah view rooms face the sunset savannah.

 

[kimmar067]

Little Flower ~
Ya might wanna check out this link:

http://www.*************/resorts_aklodgevillas.htm

 

[Little Flower]

Little Flower ~
Ya might wanna check out this link:

http://www.*************/resorts_aklodgevillas.htm

I think i'm being a bit daft - i can't get this to work

 

[Little Flower]

....would ya settle for delivering 'em to your ROOM??!?!?

[ ]

It's going to be painful waiting that long - i suppose they will be all the better once i eventually get back and have some!!

 

[RachelTori]

I think i'm being a bit daft - i can't get this to work

It's not you -- the address got filtered out. Kimmar......you giving Little Flower a banned link?!!

 

[Little Flower]

First, some info, and then some speculation:

You can see the construction across the SUNSET (and only the sunset) savannah. It's pushed a ways out though. Some report they barely notice it, some report it "ruins" the sightlines. I think it depends on perspective.

You WON'T see any construction on the "new" Kidani savannah. That's on the "northern" edge of the Kidani wing and not really visible from anywhere at the main lodge. You might see something on the "blending" of the existing sunset savannah between the two buildings, but most of that takes place closer to the DVC wing, and it's tough to make out from even the sunset savannah side of th elodge

As reported, the construction in the main lodge is slated for completion in January of '08..by the 28th, to be exact, as that's when the last of the DVC units are slated to "open". I'd actually expect CONSTRUCTION to be done a few weeks prior to that, as they have to furnish, carpet, decorate, etc the rooms before they can "open" them. They may even be done with the construction piece, now.

Now, the speculation:

1) The Jambo construction is about 5 months ahead of schedule. They were slated to finish, originally, in May.

2) The original completeion estimated date for Kidani was "Spring 2009"....according to the DVC member FAQ. That date has since been removed.

3) Recently, people booking at AKL have been told to expect SOME POSSIBLE construction noise 24 hours per day, NOT just the "9AM to 5 PM" schedule they'd been touting. And that's concerning stays through the middle of '08.

4) Reports are that sales are outpacing supply for some DVC "use years" (a use year is actually the MONTH your DVC points become available for use) at AKV.

5) Recent constuction pictures of Kidani show that they've made significant progress in vertical construction on at least one section.

From everything we're hearing, it sounds like they're REALLY ramping up construction on Kidani. It would not surprise me in the SLIGHTEST to see the dates for completion "moved up" to be much sooner than originally expected.

I would set myself up to EXPECT there will still be Kidani construction going on in December of '08 (indeed, I'll be there in early December, too..and that's my expectation). But I would also hold out some hope that most of the "heavy" exterior construction on Kidani will be done, and they'll be working on mostly interior stuff....things that you wont' really see or hear from the main lodge.

Something else to consider:

If you have a pool view room....you'll never see the Kidani construction. Ditto on most of the "standard" views, since they almost all of them face the parking lot. IF you have a savannah view room, simply request a room on Zebra trail, or at least overlooking the Arusha Savannah. If either request is satisfied, you'll only see the Kidani construction if you go looking for it...since only the rooms on the "backside" of Kudo and Ostrich trail savannah view rooms face the sunset savannah.

Thanks for the information.

I know that when we were at AKL back in June we did hear and see construction but were so in love with the resort that it really did not matter. I was worried as i have heard it was not so bad back then so maybe i didn't get the best view of the level of disruption. Having said that i am still going to go back when it is still ongoing - i don't think i would want to stay anywhere else.

The idea of staying on the left hand side of the building is a good one - we were going to try to get Zebra trail (i think!!!) and be near the lift down to the fitness centre!!! Fingers crossed.

 

[CJsMom]

We leave for the airport in 13 hours!!!!


Just wanted to thank everyone for all of the helpful information - it's been wonderful to plan this trip and have this board as a resource. I'll have a few Zebra Domes for you all and post plenty of pictures when we get back!

 

[Flossbolna]

If you have a pool view room....you'll never see the Kidani construction. Ditto on most of the "standard" views, since they almost all of them face the parking lot. IF you have a savannah view room, simply request a room on Zebra trail, or at least overlooking the Arusha Savannah. If either request is satisfied, you'll only see the Kidani construction if you go looking for it...since only the rooms on the "backside" of Kudo and Ostrich trail savannah view rooms face the sunset savannah.

Pilferk, thanks for all this information. However, I am not sure whether your reasoning with the standard views is quite correct at the moment. From the number of recent reports of people having been upgraded from standrad view to savannah view on the sunset savannah view side and also the fact that last year during our trip in February standard view rooms were the first to be sold out and now for the same time frame the only room categories still available are standard and savannah bunk bed. My speculation therefore is that for the duration of the construction those rooms on the sunset savannah that are most affected by the construction are reclassified as standard view. It's just my speculation, but it might make sense.

 

[kimmar067]

I think i'm being a bit daft - i can't get this to work

...hey, I couldn't get it to work, either.....hmmmmmm.....

 

[kimmar067]

We leave for the airport in 13 hours!!!!

....

 

[kimmar067]

...Kimmar......you giving Little Flower a banned link?!!

 

[RachelTori]

Sorry, Kimmar. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I was just having a little fun with you.

 

[The Disney Fanatic]

Does anybody have any Animal Kingdom Lodge construction updates. I will be there in 10 days and was wondering if the construction was a nuisance to anybody that was there recently.

 

[pilferk]

Pilferk, thanks for all this information. However, I am not sure whether your reasoning with the standard views is quite correct at the moment. From the number of recent reports of people having been upgraded from standrad view to savannah view on the sunset savannah view side and also the fact that last year during our trip in February standard view rooms were the first to be sold out and now for the same time frame the only room categories still available are standard and savannah bunk bed. My speculation therefore is that for the duration of the construction those rooms on the sunset savannah that are most affected by the construction are reclassified as standard view. It's just my speculation, but it might make sense.

I'll ask around.

As of about 2 months ago, that wasn't the case. There are a few "standard" view rooms on the back side of Kudo and a few more on the end of ostrich trail. They are classified that way because either their view of the savannah is obstructed or only available if you crane your neck around a corner.

The "people pen" views were, at one time, classified as standard, too...but got changed. It wouldn't SHOCK me if they've reclassified the views during construction, either. But they hadn't last I'd heard.

 

[kimmar067]

Sorry, Kimmar. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I was just having a little fun with you.

...I know.....
[...it'll take ALOT more'n THAT to im-barr-isk ME......]

 

[RachelTori]

...I know.....
[...it'll take ALOT more'n THAT to im-barr-isk ME......]

So I shud try haw-da next time!!

 

[kimmar067]

So I shud try haw-da next time!!

....LOL! You kin try all ya like, 'cept ah won't BE here in two weeks......

 

[RachelTori]

....LOL! You kin try all ya like, 'cept ah won't BE here in two weeks......

I KNOW, I KNOW!!! I saw your post that you booked the airfare! YAY!!!!!! You're REALLY going to Disney World!!!!

 

[kimmar067]

I KNOW, I KNOW!!! I saw your post that you booked the airfare! YAY!!!!!! You're REALLY going to Disney World!!!!

..yes, I really are going to WDW.....

....that means I REALLY gotta git mah **** in gear during the next two weeks....