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

[dgbg100106]

oops

 

[dmccarty]

I have a quick question that I'm sure is a snap to answer... I've tried searching the thread for it, but the search tool for INSIDE threads isn't nearly as effective as the forum search tools.

So I apologize in advance because I'm sure all you experts have heard this a million times before.

Is it possible to walk to AKL from AK??

We're having a late breakfast at Boma for my dad's birthday but AK has EMH hours that morning so DH, DD & I would like to go to AK first, then meet the rest of the fam at AKL for breakfast. It would be so nice to be able to just walk there rather than deal with transportation. So is it possible? Will we have problems catching a bus to AKL from AK so early in the morning (i.e. I can't imagine many people wanting to LEAVE the park and go to their resort in the morning).

TIA!

No path and it would be to far to walk anyway.

Just take the bus to AKL. The buses seem to run pretty quickly from AK to AKL/AKV in the morning. It is about a five minute trip. Just remember the bus stops first at AKV then goes to AKL.

Is the ADR at Boma late in the morning? Even with an 8:00 EMH AK opening you will not have much time to spend at AK before having to leave to get to AKL.

Later,
Dan

 

[mommy2mrb]

In 24 hours we will be at the airport
in 14 days checking into AKL after our 8 days at the POP!

thanks for all the help I received here in our planning! can't wait for our AKL stay!

 

[nemofans]

Is there an age restriction for the sunrise safari? I see a price for ages 3-9, but does that mean 2 & under are free or not allowed?

 

[Nermel9]

I would worry less about the view and more about being higher than ground level. There are rooms literally ON THE SIDEWALK where thousands of people tromp back and forth from the bus stops. I always figured they didn't really put people in those rooms, then I saw pool towels on the patio during one of our stays. The one time we had standard view we were on the 4th floor overlooking the taxis. The view wasn't good, but it also wasn't noisy.

I'm actually worried about having a room on a lower level floor, because of the noise issue, but I don't know how to ask for a higher level room! Do I just request a higher level floor room? Is there a better way to word it? I'll be staying in a pool view room, so I would love a room as far up as I can go!

 

[John's Mom]

I'm actually worried about having a room on a lower level floor, because of the noise issue, but I don't know how to ask for a higher level room! Do I just request a higher level floor room? Is there a better way to word it? I'll be staying in a pool view room, so I would love a room as far up as I can go!

The 4th Floor would be the highest floor you could request. Previous posters have stated that when their glass doors were closed they could hear no noise from the pool.

 

[nemofans]

We had a 3rd floor pool view room & we didn't have any noise issues.

 

[Nermel9]

The 4th Floor would be the highest floor you could request. Previous posters have stated that when their glass doors were closed they could hear no noise from the pool.

We had a 3rd floor pool view room & we didn't have any noise issues.

Thanks! Maybe I will request a 3rd or 4th floor room! It's not the end of the world if I don't get it, but it would be nice!

 

[Suzanne74]

Can anyone tell me if Kidani has full-sized cribs. I know they have the pack-n-plays but it says cribs available on my reservation. Are they the metal cribs that are slightly bigger than pack-n-plays or are they truly a full-size crib?

And yes, I know there is a possibility they might not have one available but I am still curious before I decide if I am going to rent a crib or not.

I will have a just turned 2 year old and not sure what to do with her

Thanks - love this thread!

 

[hematite153]

Can anyone tell me if Kidani has full-sized cribs. I know they have the pack-n-plays but it says cribs available on my reservation. Are they the metal cribs that are slightly bigger than pack-n-plays or are they truly a full-size crib?

I've never heard of anything larger than a pack-n-play other than from people who rented from off-site.

 

[Suzanne74]

I've never heard of anything larger than a pack-n-play other than from people who rented from off-site.

It depends on the resort but they all offer other cribs other than the pack n play. It is just limited availablity. From what I keep reading some offer full and others offer semi full. Just not sure which for Kadani.

 

[princessreilly]

Hello everyone. I just switched our September trip from Port riverside to AK savannah view since my ds 5 is such an animal lover. I have been here once in 2005 when dd was 3, but wasn't able to enjoy much that the resort had to offer. We tried to do the night vision thing, but wasn't able to for some reason. We didn't even go down to the pool. What suggestions that the resort has to offer do you recommend? I'm only on page 20 of this thread and hope to get through the rest, but slowly. I read somewhere you could paint ostrich eggs or is that just at Easter? How do I get set up to do things like night vision? And what do you order at the restaurants?

Thanks!

 

[mommy2mrb]

just back last night from our wonderful trip to the world...first 8 nights at POP century and last 3 at AKL...

it was wonderful, we were at Jambo house Arusha Savanna on Zebra Trail room 4577, we were directly across from the watering hole and was a wonderful spot!

each morning a mama and baby Giraffe were out along with 2 zebras and many other animals...loved having my coffee each morning on our balcony!

did the wanyama safari with dinner at Jiko, another fun adventure, one of the giraffe's came right up to our vehicle!

had dinner at Boma one night, for a buffet it was quite good and had a wonderful waiter Steve! did lunch at Mara and ate by the pool one day!

loved all the resort had to offer, all the artwork was beautiful and learning about the animals was a lot of fun for us both!

 

[joelp]

Hello everyone. I just switched our September trip from Port riverside to AK savannah view since my ds 5 is such an animal lover. I have been here once in 2005 when dd was 3, but wasn't able to enjoy much that the resort had to offer. We tried to do the night vision thing, but wasn't able to for some reason. We didn't even go down to the pool. What suggestions that the resort has to offer do you recommend? I'm only on page 20 of this thread and hope to get through the rest, but slowly. I read somewhere you could paint ostrich eggs or is that just at Easter? How do I get set up to do things like night vision? And what do you order at the restaurants?

Thanks!

There's some kind of activity just about every hour of the day - so my recommendation (assuming you can "spare" the time from the parks) is to plan on spending a morning, afternoon, and evening at the AKL. Check out the activity guide you will get when checking in, and see what your kids will want to do (in addition to the pool! - and don't forget, you can also use the facilities at Kidani ...)

Some things we've done (when my DD was 5) include the "Flamingo Activity", "Animal Tracking", "Medallion Rubbing", African Games and Crafts, "Music of the Savanna", "Widlife Games", African Folktales, and Night Vision Viewing ... and the pool ...

I've only eaten a Boma (which is a buffet) - but they rotate four different "menus" during the week - so you may want to plan on eating there twice ... and just start grazing ...

Enjoy!!

 

[princessreilly]

Thanks Sorry for the double post

 

[princessreilly]

There's some kind of activity just about every hour of the day - so my recommendation (assuming you can "spare" the time from the parks) is to plan on spending a morning, afternoon, and evening at the AKL. Check out the activity guide you will get when checking in, and see what your kids will want to do (in addition to the pool! - and don't forget, you can also use the facilities at Kidani ...)

Some things we've done (when my DD was 5) include the "Flamingo Activity", "Animal Tracking", "Medallion Rubbing", African Games and Crafts, "Music of the Savanna", "Widlife Games", African Folktales, and Night Vision Viewing ... and the pool ...

I've only eaten a Boma (which is a buffet) - but they rotate four different "menus" during the week - so you may want to plan on eating there twice ... and just start grazing ...

Enjoy!!

Thank you so much for your response! It's good to know we can also use Kidani. Is it a short walk? We usually like to spend our evenings in the parks, so I reserve dining every night. Other than the night vision, which of the activities that you've done were most worth doing? On the flamingo activity do you actually get to feed the flamingos? And what exactly is animal tracking? Thanks for your help

 

[Invisable89]

I'm really sorry if this has already been asked, there's just too many pages to go through!

Is Samawati Springs Pool (Kidani Village) accessible to non-DVC members? Or can you only use the main AKL pool? (Can't remember what it's called!)

 

[PNO4TE]

I'm really sorry if this has already been asked, there's just too many pages to go through!

Is Samawati Springs Pool (Kidani Village) accessible to non-DVC members? Or can you only use the main AKL pool? (Can't remember what it's called!)

Both pools are available for use by guests staying at both the AKL resorts.

 

[joelp]

Thank you so much for your response! It's good to know we can also use Kidani. Is it a short walk?

It's a 5-10 minute walk from Jambo House to Kidani.

We usually like to spend our evenings in the parks, so I reserve dining every night.

Other than the night vision, which of the activities that you've done were most worth doing?

The night vision viewing was actually the "least enthralling" activity - not too many critters were out, they were just laying around, and thus hard to see ...

On the flamingo activity do you actually get to feed the flamingos?

No - the kids do not feed the flamingos - it's a little educational activity that shows kids how flamingos (and some other critters) catch and eat their food.

And what exactly is animal tracking?

It's held on the Arusha Rock - two CMs attach a radio tracking collar to a stuffed Mickey, they hide it at various places, and then kids take turns trying to find it use the radio detection finder. Fun time ...

Thanks for your help

It's worth trying any activity that looks interesting ...

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Does anyone know if the Maji Pool Bar at Kidani accepts the dining plan?