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

[fluidimagery]

I'm sure this is a question that has been answered before but I'm wondering how the savannah's are working during the construction.

We can't wait to go but are concerned we're going to get gipped on the view we paid for. We're leaving this Sunday for our trip and have a 2 bedroom suite that we booked the first possible day we could 11 months ago.

After reading the notice disney sent out it sounds like the people affected were notified 30 days prior to arrival. I'm not sure how this notification reached the customers but we never received anything regarding any changes. So can I assume we're one of the lucky ones and are on a different savannah?

Thanks!

 

[ang38]

The trick with the remotes is to find exactly where to aim them. We had the same trouble in all 4 resorts we stayed at in May. I then studied the tv's, found the little sensor, cleaned it and then made sure I aimed the remote directly at the sensor. It was a pita but it worked!

I posted this as a separate thread, then realized it should really be here on this thread.

These may also be the channels at other WDW resorts, but they're definitely the channels at AKL. Not knowing what channel was what drove me nuts, so I made a partial list. Important channels listed in bold type. Sorry I don't have all the channels, but here are most of them:

2 NBC
3 ABC Family
4 ABC News Now
5 Headline News (HLN)
6 CBS
7 Lifetime
8 Lifetime Real Women
9 ABC
10 ESPN
11 ESPN Classic
12 ESPN2
13 ESPN News
14 Radio Disney
15 Disney XD (currently Toon Disney--they're changing their name shortly)
16 Disney Channel
17 What's On (the scrolling guide to all the channels)
18 Disney Top Attractions (I'm pretty sure that's what's on this channel--sorry if I have the name wrong)
19 WDW Today (park times and info)
20 AKL Information (maybe this is the channel where every resort has their specific info?)
21 AKV - DVC information
22 Your Next Disney Vacation
23 Company Clips
24 WMFE-24 (PBS)
25 ?
26 Fox 35 (local)
27 local channel 27
28 Independent (?)
29 Independent (?)
30 ION
31 Independent (?)
32 Good Life (45)
33 Disney conventions
34 Soap
35 BET
37 Weather
38 CNBC
39 MSNBC
40 CNN
41 Golf
42 NBC (local affiliate)
43 CBS (local affiliate)
44 ABC (local affiliate)
45 CNN
46 CNN Headline News
49 ESPNU
53-54-55-56 Spanish-language channels
57 German-language channel
58 ESPN Deportes
59 TV Japan
60 CCTV 9 (China)


I missed a lot of the channels, but at least there's something here to get you started.

As other people have noted, the remote controls for the TVs at AKL don't work very well, especially to directly access a 2-digit channel. We asked for new batteries for our remote, thinking this was the problem, however, it wasn't.

A person doesn't go to WDW to watch TV, but there are times when one does have it on, especially to check the weather, park hours, or catch up on sports scores, the news, etc.

Perhaps someone else will be able to complete and/or add to this list.

 

[Marc A.]

The last two times we have visited WDW we stayed at the Poly and the CR....both had swim vests for children to rent for your stay...
Does the AKL/AKV's have them as well????
Hoping so
thanks

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

I called MS about the same thing a couple days ago, I was told that if for some reason the Savannah is not open they will refund the difference between the Savannah view room and the standard view. Now this was in regards to Kidani b/c we are staying in May. I am positive that Disney would of let you know prior to this if you were not going to get your Savannah view. But a simple phone call to the resort may answer all your questions.

Have a wonderful time

I'm sure this is a question that has been answered before but I'm wondering how the savannah's are working during the construction.

We can't wait to go but are concerned we're going to get gipped on the view we paid for. We're leaving this Sunday for our trip and have a 2 bedroom suite that we booked the first possible day we could 11 months ago.

After reading the notice disney sent out it sounds like the people affected were notified 30 days prior to arrival. I'm not sure how this notification reached the customers but we never received anything regarding any changes. So can I assume we're one of the lucky ones and are on a different savannah?

Thanks!

 

[joelp]

Quick question: I keep reading the farthest rooms are quite a hike from the lobby and pool area -- how long a hike are we talking about??? Thanks!

In the morning, when heading out to the parks, maybe 300 yards ...

At night, when coming back - about 3 miles!!

The Pool View rooms are very close to the lobby and restuarants ...

 

[joelp]

The last two times we have visited WDW we stayed at the Poly and the CR....both had swim vests for children to rent for your stay...
Does the AKL/AKV's have them as well????
Hoping so
thanks

Yea - they have them ... but with the zero-entry pool, you may want to try not using them and build up the kid's courage and familiarity with the water a bit...

Of course, once they see the slide ...

 

[Marc A.]

thanks for the quick answer

 

[Marc A.]

thanks for the quick answer

 

[jlieblaw]

I spoke with DVC member services today and was told that if you booked a savannah view villa you will receive notice from disney at the 30 day mark if the savannah view is not going to be available and the extra points you used for it will be refunded. The ones that get the savannah view are the ones that were booked first so it'll depend on when the reservation was made. I'm hoping to keep our savannah view but since my father in law is using his points, I'm sure he'll be happy if it costs him less points.

 

[Marc A.]

well our 30 day mark has passed a few weeks ago so hopefully we are safe with a good savannah view room

 

[of the seas]

Can anyone tell me if the rooms in the lobby are standard views?

Also, can you get to The Mara through the lobby? Thanks.

 

[Iott Family]

Can anyone tell me if the rooms in the lobby are standard views?

Also, can you get to The Mara through the lobby? Thanks.

You get to the Mara by going out of the building and walking by the pool area. I can say for us that getting to Mara was a jaunt. Were were on the 2nd floor at the end of the hall so we had to walk down our hall, take elevator to 3rd floor/lobby,walk thru lobby, take elevator by the market place down to 1st floor and out past boma and jiko thru the double doors and around the pool walk way to get to Mara. I dont think this was laid out very well, personally. Its a beautiful resort, though!

 

[lissiesmum]

Is there one floor better than another for Savannah views? Allears used to have a lot to say about the different Savannahs and floors and what is good to request, but it seems to have disappeared....I thought I remember that the 4th floor was the best view...is this correct? the lowest floor you didn't get as expansive as a view, and the highest floor was a little too far up???

 

[Donald is #1]

Is there one floor better than another for Savannah views? Allears used to have a lot to say about the different Savannahs and floors and what is good to request, but it seems to have disappeared....I thought I remember that the 4th floor was the best view...is this correct? the lowest floor you didn't get as expansive as a view, and the highest floor was a little too far up???

I have been on floors 2, 5, & 6. Of the three, I preferred the second floor. Yes, it isn't as expansive but I like being closer to the animals.

 

[mmmears]

Is there one floor better than another for Savannah views? Allears used to have a lot to say about the different Savannahs and floors and what is good to request, but it seems to have disappeared....I thought I remember that the 4th floor was the best view...is this correct? the lowest floor you didn't get as expansive as a view, and the highest floor was a little too far up???

I remember reading alot about that as well. I remember reading that some people preferred the 2nd floor for its proximity to the animals, and some preferred the 4th floor for the expansive view that you mentioned. The new CL rooms are on the 4th floor (it's supposed to be great) but there are also regular savanna view rooms on that floor. Sounds like it's personal preference, really.

 

[lissiesmum]

thanks for the different thoughts I think I may just leave it up to chance...the only request I will probably make at check in is to not be too far down the hall

 

[Iott Family]

I remember reading alot about that as well. I remember reading that some people preferred the 2nd floor for its proximity to the animals, and some preferred the 4th floor for the expansive view that you mentioned. The new CL rooms are on the 4th floor (it's supposed to be great) but there are also regular savanna view rooms on that floor. Sounds like it's personal preference, really.

We were on the 2nd floor and I have some really great pictures of the animals. I dont fel that being on floor 2 vs a higher floor that we missed anything. I really feel like we might have gotten a better view, actually, as we were so close. One morning there were birds right at our feet and one rainy afternoon a giraffe took quite an interest in our balcony area. I swear he/she was looking right at us and for the better part of an hour. The angole cattle are the best, we got some really good laughs. Those poor beasts had horns that were huge and when they walked you could see the weight of carrying such a burden. One guy had a bigger horn on one side from the other and he walked sideways....LOL!

 

[momatater]

We were on the 2nd floor and I have some really great pictures of the animals. I dont fel that being on floor 2 vs a higher floor that we missed anything. I really feel like we might have gotten a better view, actually, as we were so close. One morning there were birds right at our feet and one rainy afternoon a giraffe took quite an interest in our balcony area. I swear he/she was looking right at us and for the better part of an hour. The angole cattle are the best, we got some really good laughs. Those poor beasts had horns that were huge and when they walked you could see the weight of carrying such a burden. One guy had a bigger horn on one side from the other and he walked sideways....LOL!

That poor guy your talking about is named "little Bubba". He got that named when he was born there and well, obviously, he grew up, but the name stayed the same. We learned on the early morning breakfast safari (for CL level guests), that he walks with his head tilted to one side because he used to have an inner ear problem. That's all been fixed now by the great vets that take care of them, but he is so used to walking that way, that he has never corrected himself. Just thought I'd share that info. We actually asked our guide because we were concerned.

 

[Iott Family]

That poor guy your talking about is named "little Bubba". He got that named when he was born there and well, obviously, he grew up, but the name stayed the same. We learned on the early morning breakfast safari (for CL level guests), that he walks with his head tilted to one side because he used to have an inner ear problem. That's all been fixed now by the great vets that take care of them, but he is so used to walking that way, that he has never corrected himself. Just thought I'd share that info. We actually asked our guide because we were concerned.

And we just thought that it was because his horn was bigger on that one side!!!
Im glad his health issue was fixed! We really got a kick out of him and the others!

 

[RachelTori]

And we just thought that it was because his horn was bigger on that one side!!!
Im glad his health issue was fixed! We really got a kick out of him and the others!

We love the ankole cattle too! Thankfully, their horns are not as heavy as they look. They're like honeycombs on the inside. I know it has something to do with regulating their body temperature in hot weather, but I don't remember the specifics. (sometimes you learn so much information on those safaris, that you forget much of it.)