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

[TheWog]

Thanks everyone. I thought that was the case, but wanted to make sure. I think we will like the "seclusion" and really enjoy the resort itself. Thanks again.

 

[WDWMaiselFamilyWDW]

Hi, AKL Experts.

I've been searching and searching and I can't find this info, so I apologize in advance if this is addressed somewhere in this thread.

I've seen info about the AKL construction and the provisions that will be made for "Members" during the January 15-April 15 period when the Sunset Savanna's closed. I assume this info applies to DVC members and not resort guests. However, I don't see any info about booking an s-v room for this period--as a regular resort guest, not as a DVC stay.

Will CRO (is that what Disney reservations is still called?) clearly tell you while you're booking that you definitely have an s-v room or is it more hit-and miss, i.e., you book s-v, but when you get there, you may not get an s-v room (i.e., an s-v room overlooking a savanna with animals on it) and you'll have no way of knowing ahead of time?

Even if they'd give some kind of a discount or other offer if the room turned out not to have a view of animals on a savanna, I'd rather not risk it, since an s-v room at AKL is the main reason we want to go to WDW in either January or March.

Thanks so much for anything you can offer, any site you can point me to, or maybe a page in this thread that I didn't find.

I am wondering the same thing...although I would probably stay at the AKL regardless. We booked AKL for our last WDW trip, standard room, and were upgraded to SV at check-in. It was awesome!

I love the resort so much I'd stay there without the view if I had to...but if a good discount comes out for Jan, I may decide to book SV and I'd love to know how they're handling that. I want to make sure I see animals on my savannah! I guess requesting a room facing the Arusha Savannah would work?

 

[Miffy]

I am wondering the same thing...although I would probably stay at the AKL regardless. We booked AKL for our last WDW trip, standard room, and were upgraded to SV at check-in. It was awesome!

I love the resort so much I'd stay there without the view if I had to...but if a good discount comes out for Jan, I may decide to book SV and I'd love to know how they're handling that. I want to make sure I see animals on my savannah! I guess requesting a room facing the Arusha Savannah would work?

WDWMaiselFamilyWDW: We love it there, too. We had one trip where we were staying somewhere else (a bad decision--obviously) and were thrilled to be able to get a last-second reservation at AKL. It was standard, but we didn't care. We just wanted to be at the lodge. We packed our bags and flew over there in a taxi. I had to restrain myself from kissing the greeter at the front entrance!

We were upgraded to an s-v room when we checked in--no charge, and I'd offered to pay for an upgrade! That was a truly magical vacation.

Since my original post, we booked a pool-view room for the end of January. The AP rates were good and I felt kind of uncomfortable booking an s-v room that may not have a view of animals. If we get there and there are s-v rooms available that have a real savanna view, then I'll see if we can get an upgrade, which we'll be happy to pay for. I just didn't want to book an s-v room not knowing what the state of things is.

I don't think requesting anything on a reservation is helpful, I'm sorry to say. I haven't had good experience with that in the past. I've booked far in advance and requested Arusha Savanna during periods when all 3 savannas were open, and upon check-in found that we were facing the Uzima instead. We were able to switch, but my point is that I'm not totally sure they even look at requests on the reservations. The only thing one's guaranteed is a room in the class of room you've booked. Other than that, the rest is up for grabs--the floor you're on, the savanna you're facing, the corridor you're in, etc.

The AP discount's excellent, so let's hope that other discounts appear soon. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[jeanylaser]

They have shops at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and what is the name of that store! I wanted to know is how much is this hotel rates for the Animal Kingdom lodge and we are Florida Resident!

 

[karentan]

hiya from the AKL!! we check out tomorrow, but thought i'd give you all an update on AKL.
the kidani village construction is coming along well, have taken loads of photos, will upload them when we get back.
the painting of the balconies has finished on the zebra trail, the cranes were still there last night but theyve gone now.
buses are great, we have taken 3 buses and a boat today, and not waited more than 5 minutes for a bus, waited 20 mins for the boat but only because the last one had just left.
epcot and the F&W festival were surprisingly quiet today, but MK was busy late in the afternoon when we got there.
AKL club level is great, well worth the money in my eyes, theyve been great. very efficient and nice. the food is great. and the free alcohol helps too! have taken loads of photos of the hotel and the room, which i plan to share on the net when i get back, everyone on here has helped so much when i was planning that i want to give something back, and if my slightly random photos help (ie: took one of the air conditioning panel!! ) someone, then yay!
off to port canaveral for 3 days on the disney wonder,
see you all when i get back!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

Hi everyone

I hope someone can give me their thoughts on post!!!

We are due to arrive at AKL on Nov 15th but our flight from the UK is quite a late one and we probably won't arrive for check in until around 7pm-8pm (depending on how quickly we get off the plane, get our bags and find our transfer man!!!).

We have booked a standard view room.

We stayed in July in Savannah Rooms and thought they were amazing. However, we decided not to book them this time as we don't expect we will see any other 'varieties' of animals (we could be wrong though!) and we are a bit budget restricted (although not that much!).

Can I just say that we are SO happy to be going back - we don't care what room we get and where it is, we are just so so happy to be going again - we really are!

However, on this trip, we expect to spend a little more time in the room than perhaps you would normally. I'm nearly 16 weeks pregnant and so will want regular naps / breaks, and my Mum loves her naps too!

Because we are checking in so late, what are the chances that we will get a really really bad room? You know I mean bad in the nicest possible way though don't you!!! We were thinking about paying for an upgrade on arrival if they have rooms available but will there be any available at that time of the night?

We have decided against requesting a specific location on the reservation - as I agree with a PP, I'm not sure they ever pay attention to them!

If we were feeling cheeky & brave, what would be the best way to ask for a 'free' upgrade?

Thanks for the help!!!

Julie xxx

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

I forgot another question I have...

What are the chances of us getting a KING bed in a Standard View Room? I DON'T want one as I'm going with my Mum!!! Should we make a request via our travel agent that we need two queens or just hope for the best!

I know KING beds are quite rare so I'm hoping it won't be a problem! I need my sleep and my Mum snores and fidgets!!!

xxx

 

[ang38]

WOW!! You're going back! Are you doing CL again? If so, let's hope weird man isn't there again! Can you imagine if you walk in and he is??~~ Have a great time~

Excellent thanks! I will be at AKV Friday and I requested Arusha Savanna. During my May trip, the scaffolding was on the Sunset Savanna.

 

[eddieras]

Hi everyone

I hope someone can give me their thoughts on post!!!

We are due to arrive at AKL on Nov 15th but our flight from the UK is quite a late one and we probably won't arrive for check in until around 7pm-8pm (depending on how quickly we get off the plane, get our bags and find our transfer man!!!).

We have booked a standard view room.

We stayed in July in Savannah Rooms and thought they were amazing. However, we decided not to book them this time as we don't expect we will see any other 'varieties' of animals (we could be wrong though!) and we are a bit budget restricted (although not that much!).

Can I just say that we are SO happy to be going back - we don't care what room we get and where it is, we are just so so happy to be going again - we really are!

However, on this trip, we expect to spend a little more time in the room than perhaps you would normally. I'm nearly 16 weeks pregnant and so will want regular naps / breaks, and my Mum loves her naps too!

Because we are checking in so late, what are the chances that we will get a really really bad room? You know I mean bad in the nicest possible way though don't you!!! We were thinking about paying for an upgrade on arrival if they have rooms available but will there be any available at that time of the night?

We have decided against requesting a specific location on the reservation - as I agree with a PP, I'm not sure they ever pay attention to them!

If we were feeling cheeky & brave, what would be the best way to ask for a 'free' upgrade?

Thanks for the help!!!

Julie xxx

hi julie- we were just at AKL in october for our third stay-- our previous two we had savannah view, but this last trip we went with a pool view. we too arrived late - got to AKL about 945pm - we got a ground floor 'pool view' - really lousy room-view wise. we had no view. only greenery (for privacy of course) but you couldn't see the pool at all. the location was great - right down the hall and out the door and you were at the pool and mara, boma etc. i did inquire as to a different room but they had nothing that first nite. i also asked for a savannah, but again nothing available (this was tues 10/7). they did offer a room change to the 4th floor, pool view the next day, but by then i didn't want to go thru the hassle of a room change.

i too wondered about a late arrival - and that was our experience. we never once went out on the balcony, er uh... patio i should say!

like you mentioned, i too didn't think the view (or lack thereof) would matter when i booked, but not having that balcony did really take away from the AKL experience. I wonder what the balcony pool view would have been like- there's something about just relaxing out there (animals or pool) that is special and it was surely lacking on our trip. so bottom line for me is i'm not confident about a late arrival! however, perhaps it could work in your favor- you arrive late, your standard views are filled and they move you to a better room- but that didn't happen for us! one thing, tho i would certainly expect 11/15 to be less busy than 10/7

good luck!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

hi julie- we were just at AKL in october for our third stay-- our previous two we had savannah view, but this last trip we went with a pool view. we too arrived late - got to AKL about 945pm - we got a ground floor 'pool view' - really lousy room-view wise. we had no view. only greenery (for privacy of course) but you couldn't see the pool at all. the location was great - right down the hall and out the door and you were at the pool and mara, boma etc. i did inquire as to a different room but they had nothing that first nite. i also asked for a savannah, but again nothing available (this was tues 10/7). they did offer a room change to the 4th floor, pool view the next day, but by then i didn't want to go thru the hassle of a room change.

i too wondered about a late arrival - and that was our experience. we never once went out on the balcony, er uh... patio i should say!

like you mentioned, i too didn't think the view (or lack thereof) would matter when i booked, but not having that balcony did really take away from the AKL experience. I wonder what the balcony pool view would have been like- there's something about just relaxing out there (animals or pool) that is special and it was surely lacking on our trip. so bottom line for me is i'm not confident about a late arrival! however, perhaps it could work in your favor- you arrive late, your standard views are filled and they move you to a better room- but that didn't happen for us! one thing, tho i would certainly expect 11/15 to be less busy than 10/7

good luck!

Thanks so much for your comments (and honesty!) - I'm really sorry your late arrival didn't work out in your favour - that really sucks - people shouldn't really be penalised for checking in late should they!

Julie xxx

 

[TheWog]

Thanks so much for your comments (and honesty!) - I'm really sorry your late arrival didn't work out in your favour - that really sucks - people shouldn't really be penalised for checking in late should they!

Julie xxx

I hope not. Our flight doesn't land in Orlando until 11:03 p.m. when we go in April. I hope they have decent rooms available then. Have a great time.

 

[jeanylaser]

I need to know what is the name of the store at Animal Kingdom Lodge!

 

[jerseygal]

I personally think that late arrivals at any hotel are given last preference of better rooms...

Seems like alot of money to pay for an expensive deluxe resort for such a late arrival and not having the benefit of using it that day..

Have you considered staying the first night at a less expensive property either offsite or on and then checking in bright and early the next day?

Just a thought...........

 

[eddieras]

I need to know what is the name of the store at Animal Kingdom Lodge!

Zawadi

 

[eddieras]

I personally think that late arrivals at any hotel are given last preference of better rooms...

Seems like alot of money to pay for an expensive deluxe resort for such a late arrival and not having the benefit of using it that day..

Have you considered staying the first night at a less expensive property either offsite or on and then checking in bright and early the next day?

Just a thought...........

i think you may be right ! i thought of doing this too-- about 2 days after i checked in!!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

I personally think that late arrivals at any hotel are given last preference of better rooms...

Seems like alot of money to pay for an expensive deluxe resort for such a late arrival and not having the benefit of using it that day..

Have you considered staying the first night at a less expensive property either offsite or on and then checking in bright and early the next day?

Just a thought...........

I'd rather people be honest with their opinions - thank you! I hadn't ever thought about the fact we're paying for something we're barely using on our first day! Stupid of me...

A good idea about changing rooms but I can just imagine Mum's response if I suggested it!!! bless her! ... def. something we should think of another time!

Thanks so much for your response!

Joo xxx

 

[TheWog]

I personally think that late arrivals at any hotel are given last preference of better rooms...

Seems like alot of money to pay for an expensive deluxe resort for such a late arrival and not having the benefit of using it that day..

Have you considered staying the first night at a less expensive property either offsite or on and then checking in bright and early the next day?

Just a thought...........

Last time we arrived at a similar time and just stayed right in the airport at the MCO Hyatt and went to the resort in the morning and spent the day at the parks. DW and DS11 want to get to the resort in the evening and just go to the parks right away with no other delays. I think if we get a bad room, I will just ask that we get moved that first full day and see what happens.

 

[Debs Hill]

We have arrived late at BWV and OKW and have never been given a horrible room....in fact we got our requests met at both resorts! I know this is a little different to AKL in terms of views but don't give up hope of a nice room!!!
Debsx

 

[Mommy_Jen]

HELP!!

I just booked 2 nights at AKL for a club level. The CM said that all they had was standard room club level and I asked her if it would be savannah view and at first she said no. That all they have is standard room club level (no savannah views) then I told her that when I read the description of a standard room club level on the disney website it sounds like all standard room club levels are savannah view. She then says oh- I guess they are savannah views. So I booked but I'm not sure what type of view I will have. When I log into disney.com to view my reservation it says for room type: "Standard Room - Kilimanjaro Club".

Can someone please tell me what I'm getting for this?

I really want CL with a view of some animals (plus the kids want bunkbeds).

She said that she can put in a request for the bunkbeds and that I problem would get it because I also need a crib in the room.

I also noticed on the website that the savannah view bunk bed was $335 and that the standard room Club Level was $345. So it was only $10 more for CL.

Thanks for the help.

Jen

 

[west&east]

My understanding is that all club level rooms are savannah view. Now that you have a res, contact the IPO and repeat your request for bunk beds. They have been great with me so far.