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

[amycishere]

I hate to say this but.....that's just not true. I hate to bag on Guest Services, but they get things wrong way too often.

They haven't even BEGUN to convert Kudo trail yet (reports from people on the ground, at DVC MS, and from people working at AKL). The timetables being given by DVC are: early December for the concierge and value units to be complete (ie: Giraffe and Ostrich trail, and rooms around the lobby), late January for the rest (basically Kudo trail). You might figure those things will be "ready" 2 to 4 weeks before they're allowing booking...but not much less than that. There's just no physical way they could be done by the end of August....Kudo trail is just too big.

Now, they could be done with some of the things requiring rooms to be closed down (hvac, electrical and plumbing, etc)....so they're not relocating guests past a certain date, but there WILL be construction going on well past the end of this month.

Ok, thank you very much!

 

[Dusted]

John's Mom- where exactly did you download that music from? I've been craving some jungle tunes, that would be perfect! I took a quick look thru mousavers, but didn't see it.

A link or more details would be awesome.

Anyone else know of other sources?

TIA!

 

[Happyflower]

Convince me the special AKL tours are worth the money!
With the new rate I got conciege and I hear a lot of talk that some get conceige just for the tours, but why? Do I see something different? Tell me about the food! I have two kids 11 and 12, would they prefere one over the other tour?
Anyone have close up of the food offered at conciege? Tell me more, tell me more!
I have been the AKL for dinner at Boma's and Jiko's and loved the lobby, spent some time just relaxing and looking at the animals. But to be there for 7 nights 4 nights standard and 3 night conciege!

What would the possiblity to get upgraded top conciege the whole trip ? lol Okay I know I ask a lot of questions, but I am sooooo excited!

 

[pilferk]

John's Mom- where exactly did you download that music from? I've been craving some jungle tunes, that would be perfect! I took a quick look thru mousavers, but didn't see it.

A link or more details would be awesome.

Anyone else know of other sources?

TIA!

http://www.mousesavers.com/aklmusic.html

It's a GREAT collection!

 

[Dis Ohana]

OK, here's some construction updates.

Sept/Oct of '07...construction will be continuing in earnest, mostly on the 6th floor, and in rooms around the lobby. "Bad" is relative. Ask to be located on Zebra trail somewhere (where all the construction is complete) and any effects on you will be minimal, I'd guess. You'll hear it in the lobby or at the pool..but not, likely, in your rooms.

If you mean Sept/Oct of '08 (and I almost think you must if you're booking this weekend).....well, you'll probably not be effected much at all. The Jambo conversion will LONG since be completed....so the only construction should be the new building (Kidani Village). How much effect that will really have we don't know, but given it's distance from the lodge, etc, I'd expect it to be minimal.

By December: It should be winding down. The new ETA on completion of the ENTIRE project at Jambo (according to the DVC member site) is the end of January '08 (moved up from May of '08). By december, I'd think they'd be working on Kudo trail, pretty much exclusively...so MOST of the rooms in the lodge will be pretty far away from the main construction.

On CL: The AKL club rooms are all on the 4th floor. I think it's VERY worth it, just for the sunrise safari. As for view, it's all a matter of preference. I like both. The lower floors offer more intimate and up close views, the upper floors more expansive and panoramic ones. Neither, IMHO, is "bad".

The only people that will get "construction views" in addition to their savannah views are the ones on the Sunset Savannah side of the building.

Thanks for the update, pilferk! Do you know if in December the CL lounge will still be in the presidential suite? We're also booked for the Sunrise Safari, I haven't seen too much about this lately, but what's the word with the breakfast following the safari? I heard that with the Tusker House renovations that they had to relocate, do you know where they hold it now and if it'll affect us in December?

Thanks!

 

[RachelTori]

Convince me the special AKL tours are worth the money!
With the new rate I got conciege and I hear a lot of talk that some get conceige just for the tours, but why? Do I see something different? Tell me about the food! I have two kids 11 and 12, would they prefere one over the other tour?
Anyone have close up of the food offered at conciege? Tell me more, tell me more!
I have been the AKL for dinner at Boma's and Jiko's and loved the lobby, spent some time just relaxing and looking at the animals. But to be there for 7 nights 4 nights standard and 3 night conciege!

What would the possiblity to get upgraded top conciege the whole trip ? lol Okay I know I ask a lot of questions, but I am sooooo excited!

I can answer part of your question! The Sunrise Safari tour is absolutely, postively one of the most cherished memories we have of WDW. It is #1 on DD13's list of "best things I've ever done/seen at Disney World!" It's Kilimanjaro Safari up close and personal with a Guide who has studied and worked with the animals and can answer just about any question you can think of! And at $55/per adult, it's one of the best bargains at WDW!

The lounge experience is nice (lots of different foods from Boma, including our beloved Zebra Domes!) - and the IPO staff is 2nd to none!

 

[John's Mom]

It has been almost 3 years since we have stayed at the AKL. When we were there, we had a savanna room on the 5th floor (I think). It had a queen, set of bunks and a daybed. We were staying concierge. The room was on Zebra trail overlooking the Arusha savanna. This year I booked a savanna/bunkbed room, but no concierge. I requested Zebra/Arusha again. Will it be this same type room or will it be the Standard queen/bunkbed room without the daybed? Hope I am making myself clear. Thanks for any help.

You will be staying in a standard room (no daybed) on the 4th floor. It's not much smaller than a deluxe room. All the deluxe rooms are being converted to DVC.

 

[ImagineerM]

Hey all! I'm new here to the Jambo thread! I've been reading some, but I was hoping you guys might be able to convince me of what to do.

Right now I have a Woodsview at the WL for our honeymoon in May 2008 but I'm quite tempted by the AKL Pool view. So I was hoping you guys my shed some light on the best option.

Tell me why I should stay at the AKL. I plan to drive most places, except maybe the MK...

Would love ot hear your thoughts and opinions.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[pilferk]

Thanks for the update, pilferk! Do you know if in December the CL lounge will still be in the presidential suite? We're also booked for the Sunrise Safari, I haven't seen too much about this lately, but what's the word with the breakfast following the safari? I heard that with the Tusker House renovations that they had to relocate, do you know where they hold it now and if it'll affect us in December?

Thanks!

I'll ask about the CL lounge, but I seem to 1/2 remember that it should be moved back right AROUND the begining of December (if not earlier, based on the construction schedule). That's also when the concierge DVC units are slated to open, so it makes sense.

I don't know about the breakfast. I remember reading here something about where it was going to go....but I don't remember specifically what. Maybe the Breakfastasaurus location? I just can't remember....

 

[Happyflower]

I can answer part of your question! The Sunrise Safari tour is absolutely, postively one of the most cherished memories we have of WDW. It is #1 on DD13's list of "best things I've ever done/seen at Disney World!" It's Kilimanjaro Safari up close and personal with a Guide who has studied and worked with the animals and can answer just about any question you can think of! And at $55/per adult, it's one of the best bargains at WDW!

Okay, you are starting to convince me! What kind of food did you get afterwards?

The lounge experience is nice (lots of different foods from Boma, including our beloved Zebra Domes!) - and the IPO staff is 2nd to none!

Yum! Love Zebra Domes! Not going to do Weight Watchers this week! ;-) So do they have some kind of beverage at all time of the day? Like water or soda? I will probably buy a refillable mug for the first part of our stay since it isn't conceige, but it sounds like I won' t need it for conceige servive.

 

[Mommaof3]

You will be staying in a standard room (no daybed) on the 4th floor. It's not much smaller than a deluxe room. All the deluxe rooms are being converted to DVC.

This makes sense. I tried today to get a 5 person room for another family to join us and was told nothing was available. I will miss the 5 person rooms. We are a family of 5, but this trip our oldest is not joining us. We will miss AKL as a whole family resort. Thanks for the info.

 

[Dis Ohana]

I'll ask about the CL lounge, but I seem to 1/2 remember that it should be moved back right AROUND the begining of December (if not earlier, based on the construction schedule). That's also when the concierge DVC units are slated to open, so it makes sense.

I don't know about the breakfast. I remember reading here something about where it was going to go....but I don't remember specifically what. Maybe the Breakfastasaurus location? I just can't remember....

Thanks for the CL info. When they first announced the change of location for the Sunrise Safari breakfast, I saw a few posts about it possibly moving to the AKL. I thought that was a very bad idea since most familes would rather spend the day in the park since they were already there. Hopefully they decided against this and went with another location in the park.

 

[RachelTori]

Yum! Love Zebra Domes! Not going to do Weight Watchers this week! ;-) So do they have some kind of beverage at all time of the day? Like water or soda? I will probably buy a refillable mug for the first part of our stay since it isn't conceige, but it sounds like I won' t need it for conceige servive.

Water, soda, lemonade, milk, coffee, tea, beer (not sitting out during the day, but all you have to do is ask!) The staff is wonderful. If there's something you want that you don't see, just ask!

Also, they have a beverage that's called an African Smoothie. It's not super-thick, and I can't remember what's in it, but give it a try -- delicious!

 

[Happyflower]

Do you tip the conciege people too when you eat up there?

yum smoothies and snacks!

I am getting so excited, 4 months away! How will I concentrate on school ? And no I am not a young school kid, but a much older untraditional college student! I can see why parents surprise their kids, they might have trouble paying attention! I am and I haven't even started yet! I wonder if I can add Disney to my philosophy class. If you don't see tinkerbell, does that mean she really does exhist? hmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[RachelTori]

Do you tip the conciege people too when you eat up there?

yum smoothies and snacks!

I am getting so excited, 4 months away! How will I concentrate on school ? And not I am no I am not a young school kid, but a much older untraditional college student! I can see why parents surprise their kids, they might have trouble paying attention! I am and I haven't even started yet! I wonder if I can add Disney to my philosophy class. If you don't see tinkerbell, does that mean she really does exist? hmmmmmmmmmm.

Well, first of all -- Bravo to you for being an 'untraditional college student' (we'll leave 'older' out of it!! )

No, you don't tip the CL staff - they can not accept money. Many guests have brought little gifts for the staff.

Mousekeeping (and turn-down service) does appreciate - and gladly accepts - tips!

 

[time4Mickey]

We are hoping to stay a couple of days at AKL in Dec 2008. I called last week about reservations. We will be splitting our stay with WL(we love it there). We have never stayed at AKL and have 4 children who will be ages
7,6,4, and 2 when we travel. We were told that it would be difficult to get a room for 5 so best to get ajoining rooms but after reading parts of this thread I am thinking I would not be guaranteed that. Our children would not sleep in separate rooms no matter what it would be a nightmare. We are willing to get the 1 bedroom suite but would not be guaranteed a savanna view. Would it be worth it even if we got the pool view?

Also the sunrise safari is $55 for adults does anyone know how much it is for children?

Thanks,
Karen

 

[RachelTori]

We are hoping to stay a couple of days at AKL in Dec 2008. I called last week about reservations. We will be splitting our stay with WL(we love it there). We have never stayed at AKL and have 4 children who will be ages
7,6,4, and 2 when we travel. We were told that it would be difficult to get a room for 5 so best to get ajoining rooms but after reading parts of this thread I am thinking I would not be guaranteed that. Our children would not sleep in separate rooms no matter what it would be a nightmare. We are willing to get the 1 bedroom suite but would not be guaranteed a savanna view. Would it be worth it even if we got the pool view?

Also the sunrise safari is $55 for adults does anyone know how much it is for children?

Thanks,
Karen

$27.50 for ages 3-9.

 

[kimmar067]

....compliments of tinkerbellemom33.....THANKS!

 

[lomillerin]

We are staying club level Oct. 16th-21st.
We are excited!

I hope the construction isn't too bad by the pool...

Any more information on construction?

I am also interested in where the lounge will be located in Oct.

 

[amcjeep4life]

For anyone who is interested, the Sunrise Safari breakfast will be held at Pizzafari during the Tusker rehab. No cold pizza though, I already asked.