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

[tinkamom]

Hello everyone! I read earlier in this thread that there would be construction noise 24 hrs/day at AKL. Did anyone find this to be true?

My family and I are planning on staying there 4/29-5/6 and I've been looking forward to a quiet and relaxing vacation! Final payment is due tomorrow. Should I consider trying to change resorts?

 

[pilferk]

Hello everyone! I read earlier in this thread that there would be construction noise 24 hrs/day at AKL. Did anyone find this to be true?

My family and I are planning on staying there 4/29-5/6 and I've been looking forward to a quiet and relaxing vacation! Final payment is due tomorrow. Should I consider trying to change resorts?

ESPECIALLY now that the construction on the main lodge (Jambo) is complete, construction noise reports have pretty much evaporated.

All the construction, now, is across the sunset savannah from Jambo on the new DVC Building (Kidani Village). I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Donald is #1]

Stupid question but I keep reading conflicting information... is the Sunrise Safari offered Thursdays and Sundays or Thursdays and Saturdays? I checked in the first post in this thread but I also saw that some of the other info was dated so I wasn't sure if it was up-to-date. Thanks!

It is Thursdays and Sundays. I have it booked for the Sunday of my up-coming trip in May.

 

[JoanneNC]

Just wanted to give my recent experience

We were in room 4417 with Club Level Access. Found the room to be accomodating for my party size but definitely smaller then used to (Marriott/Hilton suites) -

CL was great - we arrived at 10am - given our stuff and happily went to MK. Received a call from Jack around 12:00 that our room was ready and the #..
Overall we found the busing to be great - our longest wait was oddly when we traveled to the AK....

We had a great mousekeeper... Found every cast member helpful.
Turn Down service was a treat for my eldest. He commented - they left us candy - they must love us It was also nice having the trash emptied - its the little things...
We had already known about the smoking section and the trick to go through the gift shop and I think that was good marketing
The animals were nice to see but being on the Zebra trail - I would have preferred to see giraffes.
No construction noise at all

Oh and DS celebrated his 6th birthday and CL made sure that there was a birthday cake in our room complete with candles and matches...

It was a very enjoyable pleasant stay.
I think the $$ is too high but I am sure that is with many of the rooms..
If we return - we want more room space and explore other properties.

Edited to add: Sunrise Safari was enjoyable and the breakfast was at Pizzafari and was EXECELLENT

 

[Dannielle_1]

Just booked my reservation for AKL in May. First time staying there - we are soooo excited. We've been there for dinner several times and always enjoyed the atmosphere and are looking forward to being able to enjoy it our whole vacation.

Anyway, I have a couple of odd questions. I'm trying to get a feel for the way the resort is set up in relation to the floors and the lobby.

1 - I know the main lobby is on the 3rd Floor. Are any of the other floors (and the guest rooms) accessable to the lobby by "open" staircases? It's not that I don't do elevators, I'd just rather take a themed staircase up or down to get to a room. (I'm thinking about the staircase that leads down to Boma & Jiko - anything like that to get to guest rooms?)

2 - What floor is the suspension bridge over the lobby?

3 - What floor is the Sunset Safari Lounge?

4 - The rooms that are around/overlook the lobby, what are they classified as? I saw that some were villas, are all of them? Are they concierge/club level?

5 - Are there viewing locations on all levels on all the trails?

6 - Are Jiko, Boma, & Mara considered 1st floor? From what I remember, there where no hallways to guest rooms off of these places.

I'm trying to figure out what is important to me so I can put a couple of requests on my reservation. Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

1 - I know the main lobby is on the 3rd Floor. Are any of the other floors (and the guest rooms) accessable to the lobby by "open" staircases? It's not that I don't do elevators, I'd just rather take a themed staircase up or down to get to a room. (I'm thinking about the staircase that leads down to Boma & Jiko - anything like that to get to guest rooms?)

The rooms on the 2nd floor can be accessed from the stairways at the end of the lobby. THese are the staircases that you use from the lobby to go to the animal viewing area behind the lobby.

6 - Are Jiko, Boma, & Mara considered 1st floor? From what I remember, there where no hallways to guest rooms off of these places.

Yes, they are on the 1st floor.


Have an awesome trip! I will also be there in May.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Just wanted to give my recent experience

We were in room 4417 with Club Level Access. Found the room to be accomodating for my party size but definitely smaller then used to (Marriott/Hilton suites) -

CL was great - we arrived at 10am - given our stuff and happily went to MK. Received a call from Jack around 12:00 that our room was ready and the #..
Overall we found the busing to be great - our longest wait was oddly when we traveled to the AK....

We had a great mousekeeper... Found every cast member helpful.
Turn Down service was a treat for my eldest. He commented - they left us candy - they must love us It was also nice having the trash emptied - its the little things...
We had already known about the smoking section and the trick to go through the gift shop and I think that was good marketing
The animals were nice to see but being on the Zebra trail - I would have preferred to see giraffes.
No construction noise at all

Oh and DS celebrated his 6th birthday and CL made sure that there was a birthday cake in our room complete with candles and matches...

It was a very enjoyable pleasant stay.
I think the $$ is too high but I am sure that is with many of the rooms..
If we return - we want more room space and explore other properties.

Edited to add: Sunrise Safari was enjoyable and the breakfast was at Pizzafari and was EXECELLENT

Thank you for sharing. It just made me more excited and I have FOREVER to wait still.

 

[DianeV]

OK a couple questions please..

we are staying in a value studio through DVC (renting points)

What is not in those rooms versus the standard studio to make up for the size?

I am reading those will be on the 5th floor and can either be pool, parking lot or sunset savannah view. If I request sunset savannah view it will be to the left of the checkin area which is the opposite side of the pool and Mara?

Is there a good chance of getting a sunset savannah view if we request it? What is the ratio of those rooms compared to the others?

I am trying to look at that map that was posted with the highlighted colors but I cant get the link to work.

thanks!

 

[RachelTori]

OK a couple questions please..

we are staying in a value studio through DVC (renting points)

What is not in those rooms versus the standard studio to make up for the size?

I am reading those will be on the 5th floor and can either be pool, parking lot or sunset savannah view. If I request sunset savannah view it will be to the left of the checkin area which is the opposite side of the pool and Mara?

Is there a good chance of getting a sunset savannah view if we request it? What is the ratio of those rooms compared to the others?

I am trying to look at that map that was posted with the highlighted colors but I cant get the link to work.

thanks!

See if this link will work for you:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=23769769&postcount=456

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Anybody have an email address for the lodge? I need to find out about the bus situation for Wild by Design. We were told to be there by 8:15, but the park doesn't open until 9 AM.

Also, anybody have advice on requesting certain views? I have a savannah villa booked for April, but was going to send a request over as we have never stayed at AKLV before.

 

[RachelTori]

Anybody have an email address for the lodge? I need to find out about the bus situation for Wild by Design. We were told to be there by 8:15, but the park doesn't open until 9 AM.

Also, anybody have advice on requesting certain views? I have a savannah villa booked for April, but was going to send a request over as we have never stayed at AKLV before.

You won't have any trouble getting to the tour on time. The buses start running very early - specifically to get guests to their early ADR's & tours on time.

By all means, make a request. What's important to you? Many of us request Zebra Trail. You might request "zebra trail; close to lobby" if that's what's important to you! HTH's!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Thanks! If we got to the bus stop at 8 AM, would that be enough time to get to the park by 8:15? Isn't it only across the street?

I really can't figure out where to request. I want a really great savannah view. I'd love to see giraffees, but I wasn't sure if that was a good area with lots of animals and activity.

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks! If we got to the bus stop at 8 AM, would that be enough time to get to the park by 8:15? Isn't it only across the street?

I really can't figure out where to request. I want a really great savannah view. I'd love to see giraffees, but I wasn't sure if that was a good area with lots of animals and activity.

Well, IF a bus came at 8 you'd be OK, but I'd play it safe and get to the bus stop around 7:20-7:25. (better to be sitting there waiting a few minutes than to see the bus pulling away as you're walking down the path! )

Can't tell you for sure where you'll find the most animals. I do know that we've seen the giraffes on Kudu and Zebra trail. And a "tip" for you: you can walk way down to the end of Kudu, go out on the exterior stairs and sometimes catch either the giraffes or the zebras "playing" - I've seen them there all different times of the day and it's so much fun to watch the animals "having fun"! (the barn is nearby)

 

[BKMETV]

Is there a bus that runs from AKL to DTD? If so about how long does it take?

Thanks

 

[Donald is #1]

Is there a bus that runs from AKL to DTD? If so about how long does it take?

Thanks

Yes there is a bus to DTD from AKL. However, I don't remember how long it takes.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...0522105885_Destination__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1

Mapping says about 15 minutes.

 

[angiepangie8]

Is there a bus that runs from AKL to DTD? If so about how long does it take?

Thanks

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...0522105885_Destination__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1

Mapping says about 15 minutes.

Also to add on to this question~ Does anyone know it any of the DTD busses will then take you directly to the parks or do we need to go back to AKL and get a bus from there?

 

[Dan Murphy]

No buses from DtD to any parks, helps prevent guests from parking free there and hopping over to a park. DtD buses only go to resorts.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

How long does it typically take to get to Animal Kingdom from the Lodge?

 

[*NikkiBell*]

My reservation says we have a "Studio-Savanna View (Dedicated)" as our vacation home. What does this mean exactly? Is it a smaller room?