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

[lovesdumbo]

We've booked AKL club level for January and can't wait for our first stay there! The last six trips to WDW, we've stayed in the Epcot resort area, so I'm excited to try something different!


Can anyone comment on the recent evening "hot" offerings in the club level? We stayed BWI club last month, so I kind of have an idea of what the cold items will be, I'm just wondering what to expect for the the two hot apps?

Here are some photos from Jan 2010. You'll love AKL CL! Are all 4 of you going? The rooms are smaller than BWI standard CL rooms.

Love the coffee machine! Love the Tusker beer! Love the view from the CL lounge of the resort.

 

[TK Brown]

My mom and my wife just discovered that there is a "spa" at AKL. I had no idea there was one there. (Let's face it, im a guy and wasnt really looking for one to start with!! )Anyone that has been, can you tell me about it? Prices, what they offer, how you liked it. They are both loving the idea of coming back to the AKL one night to get a massage.

 

[John's Mom]

My mom and my wife just discovered that there is a "spa" at AKL. I had no idea there was one there. (Let's face it, im a guy and wasnt really looking for one to start with!! )Anyone that has been, can you tell me about it? Prices, what they offer, how you liked it. They are both loving the idea of coming back to the AKL one night to get a massage.

It's not really a spa. It's a fitness center.

"Zahanati massage and fitness center is located near the Uzima Springs pool. It offers massage services and a full collection of cardio and cybex weight-training equipment. Men's and women's locker rooms, steam rooms, shower facilities, and saunas are available.

Zahanati is open from 6am to 9pm, and is available to all resort guests aged 14 and up (NOTE: guests aged 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult). Personal training appointments are available in the facility or in-room."

I had an aromatherapy facial and massage years ago, which I really enjoyed. I don't remember the cost.

I hope someone finds more info for you.

Kathy

 

[mmmears]

I need to mail a long-overdue thank you note to a particular IPO CM at AKL -- does anyone know how to get it directly to him (postal address, etc)?

Also, can someone point me to the email address at WDW to compliment CMs?

He really went above and beyond for us (more than once) and I need to do something in return!

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[GoofyTraci]

Sorry to ask this if it has already been asked but...Does anyone have a room service menu? I am wanting to see what the offerings are. Would love a bottle of champage but dont want to order from garden grocer for one bottle.

Thanks for the info.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Sorry to ask this if it has already been asked but...Does anyone have a room service menu? I am wanting to see what the offerings are. Would love a bottle of champage but dont want to order from garden grocer for one bottle.

Thanks for the info.

Here is the link to the June menu:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_aklin.htm


Moet and Chandon is listed

 

[GoofyTraci]

Here is the link to the June menu:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_aklin.htm


Moet and Chandon is listed

thank u sooo much. they info was so appreciated!

 

[WDWKOOK]

thank u sooo much. they info was so appreciated!

You're welcome and happy anniversary! Make sure you have that celebration noted in your reservation

 

[mommy2mrb]

Can I join in on the fun!!!
just changed our ressie's to include 3 nights at AKL
arriving 3/29 staying at POP until 4/6 and then moving in to AKL 4/6 - 4/9, 2011!!!

requested a savannah view! looking forward to exploring and learning about all of the animals and doing all of the activities....this was always a dream stay that my DD has wanted to do, I am so blessed to be able to finally make her dream come true, we are going to be celebrating her 11th bday while we are there too! in the past the most days we had were 5, this trip 11!! will be able to go at a slower pace and enjoy more options!!!

I do have a question - has anyone done the sunset safari w/dinner at Jiko's? is it worth the extra money?

I am slowly getting through all the posts, would appreciate your input!

TIA, so looking forward to our stay at AKL!!!

 

[Kathy Z]

We have the Sunset/Wanyama Safari with dinner at Jiko scheduled for Dec. 17th. I'll include it in my trip report after we return. Due to Christmas I probably won't write that until early January. You can book it 180 days before the date of the Safari by calling the AKL Itinerary Planning Office at 407-938-4755. They answer from 9:00 am until I forget when in the pm. It requires a credit card hold but you can cancel without penalty with at least a 48 hour notice.

 

[mommy2mrb]

We have the Sunset/Wanyama Safari with dinner at Jiko scheduled for Dec. 17th. I'll include it in my trip report after we return. Due to Christmas I probably won't write that until early January. You can book it 180 days before the date of the Safari by calling the AKL Itinerary Planning Office at 407-938-4755. They answer from 9:00 am until I forget when in the pm. It requires a credit card hold but you can cancel without penalty with at least a 48 hour notice.

Thanks KathyZ look forward to hearing your report....enjoy being at the world during the holidays, that's another dream of ours to spend Christmas with Mickey!

 

[CoffeeCup]

DH and I did the Sunset Safari in June, and we thought it was well worth the cost for a one-time experience. We were taken through all of the safari areas at Jambo and Kadani and had a very close view of the animals. We enjoyed the information about the individual animals, their personality, their habits, how they are cared for, etc. There weren't any children on our safari, but kids who have a real interest in animals probably would enjoy it. If your 11-year-old just likes to see animals, but doesn't want to learn a lot of information about them, she may get bored. I don't know your DD, obviously, but I would be very sure she was going to love it before I would spend that much money for her to go on the safari. The meal at Jiko was fantastic, but, again, think about whether or not your DD will enjoy a long meal with unusual food. The meal is served family style, and you don't select your food from the menu. We had soup, a selection of appetizers, portions of 3 different entrees, and an individual dessert sampler for person. A different wine was served with each course. The chef came to our table and talked about the food we were being served, and we had a tour of the restaurant before being seated. We loved the safari, even though it was raining during part of it, but we don't have children. There are so many great free and inexpensive activities at the resort, that I'd need to think a long time about spending the money for a child to participate. At the same time, it is a very special experience, and I'd take a child who really wanted to do it and who understood that it was more of an adult experience and wasn't a thrill ride and a kid's meal. Regardless of whether or not you take the safari, you will love AKL. We're DVC members there, and we don't ever plan to stay anywhere else when we are at DW.

 

[mommy2mrb]

thanks coffeecup, my DD loves learning about the animals and the safari at Animal kingdom park is a FAV!! of her's. She's good about trying new foods and does very well in "adult" situations and loves going to fancy restaurants to eat!
just so we know how long was the total tour and dinner?
thanks again for your input!

 

[Jimbo59]

What are the best free or inexpensive activities at AKL?

We are two adults traveling without kids in January 2011.

 

[Golf4food]

Regarding the DVD library to watch in room: what sort of movies are available? Complete Disney collection? Any non-Disney movies?

 

[lovesdumbo]

Regarding the DVD library to watch in room: what sort of movies are available? Complete Disney collection? Any non-Disney movies?

I think they were mostly (all?) Disney movies but there were some more adult titles like Pirates & National Treasure. I can only remember one we got-Underdog. We got another one but I can't remember what it was other than that DD wasn't that interested in it.

 

[thumper*]

thanks coffeecup, my DD loves learning about the animals and the safari at Animal kingdom park is a FAV!! of her's. She's good about trying new foods and does very well in "adult" situations and loves going to fancy restaurants to eat!
just so we know how long was the total tour and dinner?
thanks again for your input!

Just got back and did the tour 9-13. It lasted 3 hours aprox 1 1/2 hr on Safari and 1/ 1/2 hr at Jiko. We absolutley loved it and am sure your DD will too. The safari has room for 12 ppl but we were fortunate and only had 5. 1 was an older teen who enjoyed it as well as the exotic foods at Jiko. Everybody tried everything and no one hated anything. They will substitute a non alcoholic beverage for her instead of wine.

 

[thumper*]

Just got back from the best vacation of my life.

Stayed at AKL Jambo house with a savannah view. We loved it so much that we called conceirege and worked out staying two more nt's instead of transfering to CBR.
I believe a savannah room is well worth the $. We were only yards away from the wild life and it seems there was always something around our balcony. We actually saw so many animals so frequently that by the end of the week we knew several of their behaviors/habits. We saw a male Waterbuck and a Red river hog ram eachother in the head ( the Buck won). We saw an Ankole cattle get his horns stuck in a tree. The East African Crowned crane was nuts and the Guinefowl were hilarious to watch.
Our room # was 4573 and was on the Zebra trail/Arusha Savannah. We were towards the end of the hallway and it was a walk but we loved the privacy and the view from our area was amazing. We were right in front of a watering hole.The animals had to walk past our area every morning on their way to the feed barns. We had great viewing between 7-8:30am and then again about 3 pm they would come around to the watering hole. Some animals would even sleep right in that area. Dh loved the Red River Hogs rooting around in the dort and I loved the giraffes and zebras.
They put food out for the animals in public display areas many times throughout the day. I saw the public viewing areas from around the resort but will say that a balcony view can't be beat.

Transportation between Kidani & Jambo house..............they now have large golf cart/tram to shuttle guest back and forth just ask at the desk.

Staff were super friendly and we had so much Pixie dust it was amazing.
Conceirege and several valet parking attendents refused DH's tips.

Jiko was so amazing that not only did we eat there after our sunset safari but we went back again on our last nt. The hostess' all signed an anniversary card for us. Chef Joshua came out to talk to us again (he was our chef the nt of the safari), and Mickey Mouse called during our dinner to wish us a happy anniversary. We also received a free desert.

Follow my TR link in my signature for more info. Feel free to PM me with specific ?'s.

Marley the male giraffe as seen from our balcony.

pics from safari
this is Wednesday the Tuppell's Griffon Vulture, her and her mates Morticia and Fester are named after the Adam family characters

this is Eve and Marley the only 2 giraffes on the Arusha savahanna

 

[PNO4TE]

Just got back from the best vacation of my life.
this is Wednesday the Tuppell's Griffon Vulture, her and her mates Morticia and Fester are named after the Adam family characters

I am glad you had a wonderful trip. And this photo is just amazing!

 

[nemofans]

How great they drive you betw the 2 resorts in a tram! Didn't know that!