The All-New "unofficial" AKL/AKV's Jambo & Kidani FAQ thread.....

[Burnt Toast]

We had a lot of issues trying to get a king bed at akl. They told us less than 10% of rooms have a king and they are a poular request at akl. Additionally a good number of king rooms are handicapped accessible so they are only sometimes open for regular use. They do have plenty of 2 queen bed rooms which is what we ended up with.

If having a King w/ Daybed room is very important to you, then you should stay at a Moderate-level Resort where they are an actual booking category. You cannot book King w/ Daybed rooms at ANY of the Deluxe or Value properties.

... heck, the Polynesian doesn't even HAVE King w/ Daybed rooms AT ALL from what I understand.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Also, just wanted to drop a note about something...

"Connecting" rooms are rooms that have the door in the middle inside the room, so you can walk into the other room without going out into the main hallway. "Adjoining" (or "side-by-side", the new term that is supposed to be used as people didn't know what the difference between "Connecting" and "Adjoining") rooms are rooms that are right next to each other or on the other side of the hallway or even just plain nearby.

At Jambo House, there is like two or so 2 Queen to 2 Queen "Connecting" rooms in the entire building. The rest are either King w/ Daybed to 2 Queen or Queen w/ Bunk Bed to 2 Queen "Connecting" rooms.

At Kidani Village, there is only Deluxe Studio to One-Bedroom "Connecting" rooms... or otherwise known as a Two-Bedroom Lock-Off.

There is no guarantee that you'll get "Connecting" or "Adjoining" rooms as they are requests. However, priority is put on multiple travel-with reservations with more children then adults in the party. That's why if you are traveling with folks on a different reservation, it is ALWAYS better to have their information on-hand and give that to the reservationist that you speak with when booking your reservation to link all your reservations together then wait to let the FD know when you check-in when it might be too late.

Anyways, just wanted to drop that in.

 

[SRUAlmn]

If having a King w/ Daybed room is very important to you, then you should stay at a Moderate-level Resort where they are an actual booking category. You cannot book King w/ Daybed rooms at ANY of the Deluxe or Value properties.

... heck, the Polynesian doesn't even HAVE King w/ Daybed rooms AT ALL from what I understand.

This has always bothered me a little. DH and I are both tall and sharing a queen bed is very uncomfortable for us. I never really understood why almost all (all?) King rooms on property are accessible. Do the bathrooms need to be bigger, therefore making less room in the room for 2 beds and by default they have to make them King? I completely understand someone needing them when we don't really NEED them, but why aren't there options that aren't accessible that would be available to anyone? Maybe a financial thing? You get the extra people charges in rooms with 2 queens.

I also think you should be able to book (not just request) a King room at Deluxes. We almost always stay deluxe and it's annoying that we're paying a little more for a 'nicer' resort and there's no guarantee that we'll have a comfortable sleeping arrangement.

 

[nemofans]

No deluxes have king w/daybeds? On our last trip, I had booked a room w/2 queens at CR. At check in, they upgraded us to club level which had king w/daybed. Did we get king w/daybed b/c that's what they have in club level only? There are none of those anywhere else in resort?

 

[SRUAlmn]

No deluxes have king w/daybeds? On our last trip, I had booked a room w/2 queens at CR. At check in, they upgraded us to club level which had king w/daybed. Did we get king w/daybed b/c that's what they have in club level only? There are none of those anywhere else in resort?

I think that poster meant that you can't BOOK them because there's no upgrade category at the deluxes for a King room. At the deluxes it's merely a request, not a guarantee like it is at the mods and values (because you're paying more for the upgrade.)

 

[candeeapril]

I know that you can't have balloons at Animal Kingdom Lodge. My sister's family will be staying at POP, and I would like to have balloons delivered to them. I've checked Disney Florist, but they seem pricey. Has anyone used another florist before?

 

[disnut1149]

I just changed from POR to AKL. I reserved a standard room and requested close to the elevator. I told the CM that I didn't want a parking lot view. Should I call back to request anything else? What would be a good section to be in that is not Savannah? I'd also like to be close to the bus stop. Thanks!!

 

[jjohnson]

I just changed from POR to AKL. I reserved a standard room and requested close to the elevator. I told the CM that I didn't want a parking lot view. Should I call back to request anything else? What would be a good section to be in that is not Savannah? I'd also like to be close to the bus stop. Thanks!!

I'm pretty sure all standard rooms face the parking lot. On the plus side they are all near the bus stop and elevator.

 

[sjs314]

I just changed from POR to AKL. I reserved a standard room and requested close to the elevator. I told the CM that I didn't want a parking lot view. Should I call back to request anything else? What would be a good section to be in that is not Savannah? I'd also like to be close to the bus stop. Thanks!!

Standard rooms are Parking Lot view as pp mentioned, but close to lobby and elevators, if there are pool view available they go for $10 more a night.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Bunk bed size ??

Calling all AKL experts who have stayed in a bunk bed room before!! Please tell me how much shorter is the bunk bed compare to the queen bed. I am in the process of packing for our trip DS(18) wants me to pack his aero-bed because he doesn't want to have his feet half way outside the bunk. I told him that it should be fine for his 5'9" frame. Do you think he would survive w/o his air mattress?

 

[surfergirl602]

Bunk bed size ??

Calling all AKL experts who have stayed in a bunk bed room before!! Please tell me how much shorter is the bunk bed compare to the queen bed. I am in the process of packing for our trip DS(18) wants me to pack his aero-bed because he doesn't want to have his feet half way outside the bunk. I told him that it should be fine for his 5'9" frame. Do you think he would survive w/o his air mattress?

They are regular twin size beds.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

They are regular twin size beds.

Thanks.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I've read through this entire thread, and it is making me so excited to stay at AKL! I just officially changed our reservations for our Thanksgiving trip from Wilderness lodge to Animal Kingdom Lodge, and I have a question about room requests.

At WL, I had a woods view room, and my only request was a "Lobby Room." Since the Christmas Tree was going to be up, I wanted to be able to look out over the lobby as much as possible.

My question is this: are there "Lobby rooms" at AKL, as well? I spoke to someone at the hotel - I believe it was someone who handles the room assignments - and she told me there are no lobby rooms.

I've been looking at pictures of the lobby, and I wonder where all those doors go if they're not to guest rooms?

I know that both lodges are similar in architecture, so I wanted to confirm with the pros.

Thanks so much!

 

[Burnt Toast]

I just changed from POR to AKL. I reserved a standard room and requested close to the elevator. I told the CM that I didn't want a parking lot view. Should I call back to request anything else? What would be a good section to be in that is not Savannah? I'd also like to be close to the bus stop. Thanks!!

Requests are not to be used to get out of what you actually booked. If you booked a Standard View, expect a parking lot/Porte Cochre/driveway view.

... however Jambo House DOES have some obstructed Pool and Savanna view rooms that are in the Standard View pool of rooms, however those are not asked for by request.

 

[Burnt Toast]

At WL, I had a woods view room, and my only request was a "Lobby Room." Since the Christmas Tree was going to be up, I wanted to be able to look out over the lobby as much as possible.

My question is this: are there "Lobby rooms" at AKL, as well? I spoke to someone at the hotel - I believe it was someone who handles the room assignments - and she told me there are no lobby rooms.

I've been looking at pictures of the lobby, and I wonder where all those doors go if they're not to guest rooms?

I think the CM might have thought you wanted a room that overlooked the lobby, which there is not. There are rooms that you enter into from all around the lobby on the 4th floor, but that's about it (5th floor is DVC and 6th is DVC Club) and there isn't very many rooms there.

Be advised that those rooms don't have the best views of anything (whether Porte Cochre, Savanna or Pool)... in fact the views from those rooms really aren't that great.

 

[Burnt Toast]

This has always bothered me a little. DH and I are both tall and sharing a queen bed is very uncomfortable for us.

You do realize that standard Queen and King beds are the same length and that King beds are only wider, right? Unless "tall" actually meant "wide", I don't know how a Queen or a King would make a difference.

Queen - 60×80 inches (152x203 cm)
King - 76×80 inches (193×203 cm)

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I think the CM might have thought you wanted a room that overlooked the lobby, which there is not. There are rooms that you enter into from all around the lobby on the 4th floor, but that's about it (5th floor is DVC and 6th is DVC Club) and there isn't very many rooms there.

Be advised that those rooms don't have the best views of anything (whether Porte Cochre, Savanna or Pool)... in fact the views from those rooms really aren't that great.

You're right - I felt like the CM and I weren't communicating clearly, but you are talking about exactly the rooms I was looking for. I've booked a pool view room so that we could be somewhat centrally located and avoid the dreaded "parking lot views." If I was going to stick with this request, it sounds like I would request a room that was "4th floor, rooms entered into from the lobby." I would love to come and go through that gorgeous lobby, especially with that incredible Christmas tree!

I'm still undecided... maybe I'll just go with the flow! I think I'd probably be happy with any location!

Thanks so much for your insight, Burnt Toast!

 

[snykymom]

You're right - I felt like the CM and I weren't communicating clearly, but you are talking about exactly the rooms I was looking for. I've booked a pool view room so that we could be somewhat centrally located and avoid the dreaded "parking lot views." If I was going to stick with this request, it sounds like I would request a room that was "4th floor, rooms entered into from the lobby." I would love to come and go through that gorgeous lobby, especially with that incredible Christmas tree!

I'm still undecided... maybe I'll just go with the flow! I think I'd probably be happy with any location!

Thanks so much for your insight, Burnt Toast!

AFAIK, the rooms that enter from the lobby, even on the 4th floor, are not pool view; they're standard view. You can't get both.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

AFAIK, the rooms that enter from the lobby, even on the 4th floor, are not pool view; they're standard view. You can't get both.

That is exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get from the CM's at the lodge - I wanted to know what category I'd have to book to be able to request one of those rooms. Thanks, snkymom!

From what I've heard here, it sounds like I'll be much better off with a room in the Pool View category than trying to get one of the lobby rooms.

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[Leash]

Which room type will get you closer to the lobby (read elevators to the lobby so we can get to and from the room with the shortest walk), standard or pool view? Thanks.