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

[pilferk]

Thanks so much for the reply. I did some more hunting after I asked the question and found the room types. I originally thought from the WDW site that all of the villas had animal views....bummer that that's not the case. (I am familiar w/ the "regular" AK room catergories and know that std. rooms there can be a parking lot view....so what the heck do you see from a "value" room...the dumpsters?! )

Thanks again!

OK, here's where it gets confusing...because the villa's are a LITTLE different than the regular hotel categories.:

Savanna view, are, obviously, savanna view.

Standard view are actually POOL view rooms...at least at Jambo House (the existing lodge). Once Kidani Village (the new building) opens, they'll be pool AND parking lot view, but for now...ALL pool view, if memory serves me correctly. LisaS knows better, and I could be forgetting a couple of standards that are parking lot view at the current lodge, but I don't think I am.

Value rooms can be anything: Pool, parking lot, or savanna. Value has more to do with size (they're a bit smaller) of the rooms, than the view of the rooms. Value rooms will ONLY be at Jambo house...none in the new building being built.

 

[aripantaloon]

No question is a dumb question!!! We were just at AKL in January and I didn't take my hairdryer, I used the one there. My hair *was* really long and it's very thick and it dried my hair pretty quickly. It took a little longer than mine at home, but it got the job done and saved my suitcase some room

Great! Thank you! That's one less thing to pack.

 

[Caren]

Does anyone know the status of the one-bedroom suite? Is it still available after all the reshuffling of the concierge rooms?

 

[hayanyujah847]

Here's a thread that talks about standard studios, but if you scroll through it there's two maps that will show you where the values are located and Lisa's will show you how many values there are and where.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1651379&page=2

I'll read up!! Thank you~!

 

[pilferk]

Does anyone know the status of the one-bedroom suite? Is it still available after all the reshuffling of the concierge rooms?

I'm not sure.

I THINK the 1BR that I know of was on the 5th floor, at the end of the Zebra trail. There may have been others at the end of certain trails. But ANYTHING on the 5th floor has been converted over.

Anything NOT on the 5th floor should still be in operation.

 

[Caren]

I'm not sure.

I THINK the 1BR that I know of was on the 5th floor, at the end of the Zebra trail. There may have been others at the end of certain trails. But ANYTHING on the 5th floor has been converted over.

Anything NOT on the 5th floor should still be in operation.

The only ones I know of were on the 5th floor, but Disney still lists one-bedrooms on their Web site. I may have to call to see if I can get a straight answer.

 

[Va-bear]

OK, here's where it gets confusing...because the villa's are a LITTLE different than the regular hotel categories.:

Savanna view, are, obviously, savanna view.

Standard view are actually POOL view rooms...at least at Jambo House (the existing lodge). Once Kidani Village (the new building) opens, they'll be pool AND parking lot view, but for now...ALL pool view, if memory serves me correctly. LisaS knows better, and I could be forgetting a couple of standards that are parking lot view at the current lodge, but I don't think I am.

Value rooms can be anything: Pool, parking lot, or savanna. Value has more to do with size (they're a bit smaller) of the rooms, than the view of the rooms. Value rooms will ONLY be at Jambo house...none in the new building being built.

Wow, yeah, that is a bit confusing, so extra thanks for explaining it all!

I did it today and it IS official we are headed to AK (Savannah view!!) this August. This thread has been a big help already and now you will all get sick of me!!

 

[Caren]

I just called CRO and suffered through 10 minutes of button pushing and information gathering to discover that, no, they do not still have the 1-bedroom suite. They have a 2-bedroom suite and a 1-bedroom villa which has one less bed than the one-bedroom suite used to have. And, of course, they don't have the deluxe rooms with the daybeds anymore, either. I really want to stay at Animal Kingdom lodge, but we need three sleeping surfaces and they no longer seem to have anything reasonably priced that fits the bill.

 

[danielmorgan03]

We booked the AKL Club Level because it was marginally more expensive than the Poly. ($200) We have already spoken with Don and booked the Sunrise Safari and he is going to book an Illuminations cruise for us when the window opens up!

FYI

I heard that the animals were going to be moved from the Sunset Savanna around Jan 2009 for a couple of months.

 

[ems_mom]

Does anyone know where the Sunrise Sarari Breakfast is currently being held? I read it was at Tusker House but since that's now a character BF is it held someplace else?

 

[FairyDust2008]

I am booked at the AKL and have an ADR booked for CRT for our 1st morning to the MK park. We will be driving our own vehicle but...................would like to really use the Disney transportation bus system at AKL. It is around an 8 a.m. ADR for CRT for breakfast. How early do the busses run to accomodate people with early ADR's? Do you see it being a problem getting to our ADR? Thanks!

 

[FairyDust2008]

Does anyone know where the Sunrise Sarari Breakfast is currently being held? I read it was at Tusker House but since that's now a character BF is it held someplace else?

I would like to know this also. I'll be speaking with concierge so if I find out, I'll post and let you know

 

[RachelTori]

Does anyone know where the Sunrise Sarari Breakfast is currently being held? I read it was at Tusker House but since that's now a character BF is it held someplace else?

It's at Pizzafari - and gets rave reviews!

I am booked at the AKL and have an ADR booked for CRT for our 1st morning to the MK park. We will be driving our own vehicle but...................would like to really use the Disney transportation bus system at AKL. It is around an 8 a.m. ADR for CRT for breakfast. How early do the busses run to accomodate people with early ADR's? Do you see it being a problem getting to our ADR? Thanks!

Don't remember the time for sure, but yes the buses run early enough to get you to your early ADR. We usually get to the bus stop by 7am - to make sure we don't miss it! You might want to ask this question on the Transportation Board - someone there will know for sure!

 

[FairyDust2008]

THANKS

 

[pilferk]

I just called CRO and suffered through 10 minutes of button pushing and information gathering to discover that, no, they do not still have the 1-bedroom suite. They have a 2-bedroom suite and a 1-bedroom villa which has one less bed than the one-bedroom suite used to have. And, of course, they don't have the deluxe rooms with the daybeds anymore, either. I really want to stay at Animal Kingdom lodge, but we need three sleeping surfaces and they no longer seem to have anything reasonably priced that fits the bill.

The 1 BR villas DO sleep 5, with 3 "sleeping surfaces".

1 King bed in the Master Bedroom.

1 Pull out queen sofa in the Living Room.

1 pull out single/twin chair in the Living Room.

 

[Caren]

The 1 BR villas DO sleep 5, with 3 "sleeping surfaces".

1 King bed in the Master Bedroom.

1 Pull out queen sofa in the Living Room.

1 pull out single/twin chair in the Living Room.

Not according to the castmember I spoke with.

I like Animal Kingdom Lodge a lot, but right now I'm leaning toward the Polynesian because it has largish rooms with daybeds.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

We booked the AKL Club Level because it was marginally more expensive than the Poly. ($200) We have already spoken with Don and booked the Sunrise Safari and he is going to book an Illuminations cruise for us when the window opens up!

FYI

I heard that the animals were going to be moved from the Sunset Savanna around Jan 2009 for a couple of months.

Is the Illuminations cruise the one you can get with the premium and platinum dining packages? I did read that you can get one and it is either for one or the other. I am a bit confused on all of that still.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I would like to know this also. I'll be speaking with concierge so if I find out, I'll post and let you know

How early can one call concierge if at club level? Did you have them book your ADR's or do you still do all that yourself?

 

[danielmorgan03]

How early can one call concierge if at club level? Did you have them book your ADR's or do you still do all that yourself?

I booked the ADRs myself, but they can and will do it for you. You can call or email them anytime. They were very helpful. As to the cruise we booked deluxe dining only and are paying oop. I do believe that you have the choice of cruise with the platinum package. Good Luck!

Don was wonderful and I always heard from they by phone same day and within 10-24 hrs email.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Does anybody know how early the buses arrive to go to Animal Kingdom? We are doing the Wild by Design Tour and need to be there by 8:15 AM.

Also, how early does Boma typically let people in? I know that they state breakfast is typically served beginning at 7:30 AM, but do they ever let you in 5 minutes earlier?