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

[Donald is #1]

I've booked a pool view room. Is it possible to get queen bed with bunks? or will that cost extra? I used a cast member discount and that wasn't one of the options.

Thanks,
Tisha

I believe that the bunk bed rooms are a separate booking category now. Last spring, the savannah view bunk bed rooms were about $15/day higher than the non-bunkbed rooms.

 

[LBKMAMA]

Can you get bunk beds as part of a standard room request?

My mom listed connecting rooms as one request and I'd like to have the other request be bunk beds in at least one of the rooms.

I just realized that AKL is not like the other Deluxes - it is only 4 to a room?
That is why my mom must have had to put one of my kids in her room - not a problem but connecting is essestial. Bunks would be awesome!

 

[CJsMom]

Can you get bunk beds as part of a standard room request?

My mom listed connecting rooms as one request and I'd like to have the other request be bunk beds in at least one of the rooms.

I just realized that AKL is not like the other Deluxes - it is only 4 to a room?
That is why my mom must have had to put one of my kids in her room - not a problem but connecting is essestial. Bunks would be awesome!

Bunk beds used to be a room request but not anymore - you have to pay extra for them. I'm pretty sure they are not available in standard view rooms. I've only seen them listed in pool view and savannah view rooms.

 

[Flossbolna]

Can you get bunk beds as part of a standard room request?

My mom listed connecting rooms as one request and I'd like to have the other request be bunk beds in at least one of the rooms.

I just realized that AKL is not like the other Deluxes - it is only 4 to a room?
That is why my mom must have had to put one of my kids in her room - not a problem but connecting is essestial. Bunks would be awesome!

Just wanted to let you know that connecting rooms are not guaranteed, unless you have so many kids in your reservation that they would have to stay on their own in a room. But even then, I have heard stories of people having problems (rarely though). It is only a request. However, if they cannot accomodate you when you check in, you can always ask to assigned different rooms the next day if one becomes available (best to ask politely for this immediately at check in if you are told that your rooms are not connecting)

 

[blueeyesrnc]

I booked a studio savanna view at AKV from 7/2-7/13. I wanted to request a studio with the best view of the animals. Any suggestions? 2nd time to the world but first time to stay on property. I'm so excited!!! I guess dreams really can come true.

 

[Flossbolna]

I booked a studio savanna view at AKV from 7/2-7/13. I wanted to request a studio with the best view of the animals. Any suggestions? 2nd time to the world but first time to stay on property. I'm so excited!!! I guess dreams really can come true.

The question which Savanna is the the "best" is a bit up to personal taste. Have a look at this map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/aklmap.htm

As you can see, there are three savannas: to the left is Sunset savanna. This one overlooks the construction of Kidani village, the DVC expansion of the resort, so I would recommend to avoid this.

Then there is the middle of the "U", this is Arusha savanna. It is generally considered to be the prettiest as it has the least access roads and "people pens". But it has the Arusha rock outlook in the middle and depending on how close you ar to the lobby, you might see quite a bit of the outlook.

To the right of the "U", above the pool there is Uzima Svanna. Some people prefer this as it has a more private feel to it.

I would suggest to recommend Zebra trail (the right wing of the "U") as this would also get you close to the pool and the counter service restaurant Mara. If you want to stay close to the lobby, you should also request that, those wings can be quite a long way after a full day at the parks.

Hope this helps!

 

[yaksack]

I booked 2 BR villa. What are the diffs between that and concierge level rooms?

 

[blueeyesrnc]

Thanks Floss for all the great info. I will do as you suggest and request the zebra trail. I love this thread and esp. your wonderful contributions. You are a wealth of information.
Thanks again,
Blu

 

[Flossbolna]

Thanks Floss for all the great info. I will do as you suggest and request the zebra trail. I love this thread and esp. your wonderful contributions. You are a wealth of information.
Thanks again,
Blu

Thanks!

 

[Dawn68PA]

We will be staying in "Jambo" in November. Has anyone stayed there and seen lots of Giraffes? I think the giraffes are at this section. This is one of the key things we wanted for our special trip. We are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in September, my 40th birthday in October, I wanted giraffes out my window in November

 

[Donald is #1]

We will be staying in "Jambo" in November. Has anyone stayed there and seen lots of Giraffes? I think the giraffes are at this section. This is one of the key things we wanted for our special trip. We are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in September, my 40th birthday in October, I wanted giraffes out my window in November

I stayed at AKL (i.e. same building as AKV Jambo House) on the Arusha Savanna last May and I saw at least 3-4 giraffees on that Savannah from my room.

Here is a picture of 1 of them.

Another picture of 3.

 

[blueeyesrnc]

Does anyone know if there are any special safaris for guests at the AKL but not on concierge level? If there are, how much and how do you book one?

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I am confused about the whole AKL / AKV thing . Now, from what I understand, AKL has no rooms for a family of 5 . AKV does, in the form of a 1BR villa or larger. Now, correct me if I am wrong here, AKV is a part of DVC? That being said, you can currently book these via WDW web and WDTC. Will there come a point when the AKV is sold out, meaning all the DVC points are sold, and you will no longer be able to book these via WDW website or phone reservations? Or, am I getting this wrong and some of the villas are being set aside for families of 5 or more who do not belong to DVC?

I also noticed a post where someone said that the views of all 1BR villas are bad at the moment due to the ongoing construction. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I would like to book a 1BR in August and it will be our first time at AKL/AKV. I don't mind the idea that construction is going on, but if a Savannah View room is truely "bad", I'd rather not book it.

Thanks

 

[MegRN]

I am the person who has the 1 bedroom suite. I tried to upgrade to a different room and they said the resort was completely sold out. This was not true because if you wanted to get just a room there were some available. So, the room and package was sold out. My choice right now is to go to a 2br at BC or keep my AKL room. Many have suggested to talk to the staff at the front desk. Of course, this makes me nervous waiting until my arrival day. I have heard about people being moved to different rooms because of noise. All I know is I paid twice the price as a room with a view and I am determined not to look at ugly construction. We paid to see the animals not the construction workers. I will let you know how it goes in 2 weeks.

 

[Flossbolna]

I am confused about the whole AKL / AKV thing . Now, from what I understand, AKL has no rooms for a family of 5 . AKV does, in the form of a 1BR villa or larger. Now, correct me if I am wrong here, AKV is a part of DVC? That being said, you can currently book these via WDW web and WDTC. Will there come a point when the AKV is sold out, meaning all the DVC points are sold, and you will no longer be able to book these via WDW website or phone reservations? Or, am I getting this wrong and some of the villas are being set aside for families of 5 or more who do not belong to DVC?

I also noticed a post where someone said that the views of all 1BR villas are bad at the moment due to the ongoing construction. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I would like to book a 1BR in August and it will be our first time at AKL/AKV. I don't mind the idea that construction is going on, but if a Savannah View room is truely "bad", I'd rather not book it.

Thanks

I'll try to help, but I am not a real expert on AKV, you might want to check out this thread as well: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=752192

It is a chatty thread, but there are a number of very knowledgeable people around.

But let's try to unconfuse you a bit.

1. AKV has two buildings:
Jambo house, which is the building of the Animal KIngdom Lodge. It's 5th and 6th floors were recently remodeled to become studioas, 1-bedrooms etc. So this one building now has AKL on floors 1-4 and AKV on floors 5-6.
Besides that they are building a new building, Kidani village which will only have AKV accommodation.

2. AKL used to have rooms that accommodated 5, but those were on the floors that are now AKV. So, you are right, AKL has no rooms for 5. AKV can accommodate 5 as you have noted in a 1-bedroom suite. But there are value 1-bedroom villas and normal ones and only the normal ones can accommodate 5.

3. AKV is part of DVC, that's right. But this does not mean, that you can only stay there if you are a DVC member. Disney "purchases" availability from the DVC to offer it to paying guests. I think there are a few very popular room choices at DVC resorts that are not offered to the general public, I think I have heard that this might apply to the Concierge Suites at AKV, but I am not sure. You can book all DVC resorts on the website. There they are called "Deluxe Villa Resorts".

4. Besides booking through Disney there is thee option of renting points from a DVC member. For this check out the DVC section of the DISboards.

5. If you look at this map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/DAKLMap.pdf you will see that there are three savanna areas at AKL, one to the left of the "U", one in the middle of it and one to the right, above the pool area. Only the one to the left (it's called Sunset Savanna) is affected by the construction of Kidani Village. This means that only villas looking out over this savanna will see the construction. So, if you book a normal savanna view suite, I would assume that you have good chances that you will not be overlooking the construction site. It might be different for a value studio or 1-bedroom. Those are located in the Ostrich Trail and Giraffe Trail (the two tiny stumps under the U). You could have any view there: savanna, pool or parking lot. If I understand this correctly in this category you can't book the one or the other view, so if you are "lucky" to get a savanna view it will also be a iew of the construction site. But this should only be a request, so no guarantees on where your room will be.

6. I am sorry, but I don't understand how a 1-bedroom always has to have a view of the construction site, even though the previous posters says that it is the case... MegRN, perhaps you can explain?

Ok, now you are probably even more confused than before!!

 

[dgaston]

We were lucky enough to stay in a 2 br on the Uzima Savanna 1/1 to 1/4/08. This was during the cold snap, but we did see giraffes from our balcony. We were in rooms 5469 and 5471. I was very happy as my only other stay at AKL in room 1030 netted me a view of a Disney boulder planted with impatiens and a sliver of pool.

 

[yaksack]

Donald is #1...

Did you see a wide variety of animals from the Jambo House? My seven year DD is looking forward to see lots of animals.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I'll try to help, but I am not a real expert on AKV, you might want to check out this thread as well: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=752192

Ok, now you are probably even more confused than before!!

Thank you for the information. I think that does answer a few of the questions that I have. I think I may just give AKV a try this summer. I really want to stay there. Thanks again .

 

[pilferk]

I am confused about the whole AKL / AKV thing . Now, from what I understand, AKL has no rooms for a family of 5 . AKV does, in the form of a 1BR villa or larger. Now, correct me if I am wrong here, AKV is a part of DVC? That being said, you can currently book these via WDW web and WDTC. Will there come a point when the AKV is sold out, meaning all the DVC points are sold, and you will no longer be able to book these via WDW website or phone reservations? Or, am I getting this wrong and some of the villas are being set aside for families of 5 or more who do not belong to DVC?

I also noticed a post where someone said that the views of all 1BR villas are bad at the moment due to the ongoing construction. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I would like to book a 1BR in August and it will be our first time at AKL/AKV. I don't mind the idea that construction is going on, but if a Savannah View room is truely "bad", I'd rather not book it.

Thanks

1) There will always be a portion of the rooms available to book via CRO. While the majority of the rooms ARE reserved for DVC use, two things will ensure there are rooms for non-DVC members to book. First, DVC members can "trade out" points for other things (cruises, other hotel or timeshares, etc) and CRO "books" those rooms to recoup the cost of the trades. Second, Disney retains a certain number of "points" so they can book a certain number of those rooms for non-DVC members.

2) We were in 5525, a 1BR villa about 3/4 of the way down Zebra trail, with a view of the Arusha savannah about a week and a half ago. It CERTAINLY was not a bad view, at all. Like all Disney hotel rooms, though, even the views in a specific category vary in how good they are.

 

[pilferk]

6. I am sorry, but I don't understand how a 1-bedroom always has to have a view of the construction site, even though the previous posters says that it is the case... MegRN, perhaps you can explain?

Maybe we're talking about different things here:

There ARE a few 1BR SUITES (not DVC Villas) at AKL. I'm not exactly sure of their location, but perhaps they DO all overlook (or most of them overlook) the Sunset Savannah. Maybe that's what the OP is talking about.

But not ALL DVC 1BR Villas overlook that savannah. 1BR villas are ALL 1/2 of a 2BR lockoff villa...without the "connecting" door opened up into the studio piece. I don't think there is any such thing as a dedicated 1BR villa...

NOT all 1BR Villas overlook the sunset savannah. In fact, a relatiely small % of them do, along the back side of Kudo trail and the back side of ostrich trail (most of which are value 1BR's, to further confuse you, or slightly smaller 1BR villas).