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

[johnsonet]

Do all of the savannas have giraffes? I HAVE to see giraffes from my balcony!!

Yes

 

[MrsJ Henry]

i need some optimism....please...

we leave in 2 1/2 weeks for akl. all i could get was standard view i've been stalking the website, hoping a pool or savanna view would open up for us, but nothing yet. i really don't want a view of the parking lot! we will be in the room a good bit with the baby napping and going to bed early. it would be nice to relax on the balcony with a bottle of wine at night...but not to look at cars.

so does anyone have an opinion on whether to change resorts or stick with my standard view? it will by my bday when we are there, so my last hope is to be upgraded on arrival...but that is just a gamble...

please make me feel better!

If it were me i would stick with AKL even with the standard view. As the above posted stated you can see the animals from so many places.
BUT if the view is really important then you may want to switch. But believe me...... this resort is so worth it. IMOP........ the view is the least of what makes this resort so wonderful.
good luck and have a great time.

 

[kadee_29]

How exciting.

I'll put in my vote for Uzima Savannah. According to our guide on the Wanyama Safari, it has the most animals. Of the savannah views I've had (only three), it was my favorite.

Happy planning!

Thanks!! I will look into that one definitely.

Welcome Back!!! I'm glad you're getting to plan for a new trip. We had to cancel a trip a few years back, and I know how hard that can be for everyone, especially the kids.

Most people have said to ask for Arusha Savannah (that's the main one in the middle of the hotel), Zebra Trail side (closer to pool & Mara). Some say to ask for 3rd or 4th floor, some say it doesn't matter).

Good luck with your planning! Are you going to keep the trip a secret from the kids?

Arusha!! That's the one I had read about before. We are going to try to keep this a secret from the kids as long as we can. Not that I think we will have to cancel this trip but I never thought we would cancel the last one either. That and I just think it will be fun to surprise them with it.

 

[momtwoboys]

I must really be nuts! I just changed our resort for our May1-8 trip. We went from ASMU to AKL pool view/bunk beds!!!!! I am sooo excited! For those of you that stay there often, do you eat at the restaurants more than once? Boma for instance? We know we will eat there on our arrival night, but would it be worth the convenience to repeat it again?? Considering the transportation to get to other places, any opinions?

 

[candeeapril]

I must really be nuts! I just changed our resort for our May1-8 trip. We went from ASMU to AKL pool view/bunk beds!!!!! I am sooo excited! For those of you that stay there often, do you eat at the restaurants more than once? Boma for instance? We know we will eat there on our arrival night, but would it be worth the convenience to repeat it again?? Considering the transportation to get to other places, any opinions?

This will be our first stay at AKL too, but we loved Boma's. I think for sure we'll eat at Boma's more than once. I'm curious about the new restaurant Sanaa.

 

[momtwoboys]

I have to call back to put in a request and after looking at the map, I'm confused. What floor would be best to request for a Pool view/bunk bed room? Anyone know, or have pictures? Thanks

 

[disneymagicgirl]

If it were me i would stick with AKL even with the standard view. As the above posted stated you can see the animals from so many places.
BUT if the view is really important then you may want to switch. But believe me...... this resort is so worth it. IMOP........ the view is the least of what makes this resort so wonderful.
good luck and have a great time.

thanks for the advice! i may just stick with it and hope i can upgrade when we arrive. even if i can't upgrade, i can use the $600 i am saving compared to other deluxe resorts for a lot of different things in disney!

 

[Flossbolna]

I must really be nuts! I just changed our resort for our May1-8 trip. We went from ASMU to AKL pool view/bunk beds!!!!! I am sooo excited! For those of you that stay there often, do you eat at the restaurants more than once? Boma for instance? We know we will eat there on our arrival night, but would it be worth the convenience to repeat it again?? Considering the transportation to get to other places, any opinions?

Congratulations! AKL is a great resort! I think you can easily eat at Boma more than once, there are so many different things to eat! Also it does vary it offerings: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1754675 The schedule might not be that much up to date, but it will give you an idea which nights have the same food and which should offer something different. Also, Sanaa at the AKV Kidani Village will open on May 1. Allearsnet had some pictures of the food there: http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2009/03/sanaa_at_animal_kingdom_villas_1.html Sanaa is also open for lunch, Boma and Jiko are not.

Otherwise, we always try to combine our dinner with our evening avtivities, often eating at a restaurant close to a park where we spend the evening, e.g. Monorail resort for MK evening. We never had problems getting there and back, but it helps to schedule late dinners for days where a park has evening EMH to avoid a transfer through DTD.

 

[karenos]

but how is the construction noise level?? - I am going in late April 09.

Thanks!
-Karenos

 

[hockeymom3]

I just switched our May 2 - 13th reservation for CBR-Pirate Room to AKL - Standard View. I really wanted the Wilderness lodge, but couldn't get a standard view there, and couldn't justify spending even more for the 11 nights we're there.

I'm excited to stay in a deluxe, and to have queen beds but wondering if I'll regret it!!

I notice on allears they post menu's and I found one for the counter service at Mara (?) but it doesn't list many food options. Does anybody know if they have more or is that it?

 

[Flossbolna]

I have to call back to put in a request and after looking at the map, I'm confused. What floor would be best to request for a Pool view/bunk bed room? Anyone know, or have pictures? Thanks

The lower floor rooms at the pool can be very much hidden behind trees and such, so if you want to see the pool, I would request 4th floor. If you want easy access to your room, 3rd floor is great as this is the same level as the lobby. So for people with strollers, this would be great.

but how is the construction noise level?? - I am going in late April 09.

Thanks!
-Karenos

There really should not be any construction noise level anymore. Kidani is opening May 1, so I guess at the end of April they will only be working on the inside of it.

I just switched our May 2 - 13th reservation for CBR-Pirate Room to AKL - Standard View. I really wanted the Wilderness lodge, but couldn't get a standard view there, and couldn't justify spending even more for the 11 nights we're there.

I'm excited to stay in a deluxe, and to have queen beds but wondering if I'll regret it!!

I notice on allears they post menu's and I found one for the counter service at Mara (?) but it doesn't list many food options. Does anybody know if they have more or is that it?

In addition to the items listed on the menu there are many ready made items available. However, Mara does not have an extremely extensive selection. It is not a food court as at the values and moderates, but just a counter service restaurant.

 

[ang38]

While it may not have a lot of food options, what it does have is really good~ Everything we ate there was made fresh to order. They have the best shrimp basket,and stew bow. In the morning the breakfast food were hot and the bacon crispy. We stayed there with 3 teenagers for 13 nights and never ran out of food to eat. Meanwhile last year we stayed at POR and found the food court food horrid! Cold, leftover, and breakfast soggy. They had more choices than Mara but we hated eating there!

I just switched our May 2 - 13th reservation for CBR-Pirate Room to AKL - Standard View. I really wanted the Wilderness lodge, but couldn't get a standard view there, and couldn't justify spending even more for the 11 nights we're there.

I'm excited to stay in a deluxe, and to have queen beds but wondering if I'll regret it!!

I notice on allears they post menu's and I found one for the counter service at Mara (?) but it doesn't list many food options. Does anybody know if they have more or is that it?

 

[TheWog]

Is the view of the Arusha Savannah different from the Kudu and Zebra trail?

 

[That70sGuy]

I didn't see an answer to this on page one; my apologies if it's been asked a hundred times.

Is there valet parking at AKL? If so, is there a charge to non-DVC members for using it (aside from the tip, of course)?

Thanks.

 

[BCV23]

Is the view of the Arusha Savannah different from the Kudu and Zebra trail?

It seems to me that the view changes from room to room really due to trees, pens, etc.. But those two trails do see the same savannah. On Kudu Arusha Rock is to the right and on Zebra, it's to the left. Mirror images if you will.

I didn't see an answer to this on page one; my apologies if it's been asked a hundred times.

Is there valet parking at AKL? If so, is there a charge to non-DVC members for using it (aside from the tip, of course)?

Thanks.

Yes, there's valet parking. There is a charge unless you're a DVC member staying on points but sorry, I don't remember what it is. Maybe $8-10/day...in that neighborhood anyway.

 

[TheWog]

It seems to me that the view changes from room to room really due to trees, pens, etc.. But those two trails do see the same savannah. On Kudu Arusha Rock is to the right and on Zebra, it's to the left. Mirror images if you will.

Thank you. I have heard different things. The feeding area or something was on the Kudu side so that would be better. I am leaning towards the Zebra side though because of the location to Mara and the pool. I really have no idea and know that any request is just that, but trying to figure the best place to get the best of all worlds. Or I could just let them decide and enjoy what we get. Some times I think we overthink this stuff too much. Thanks for you input it is really appreciated.

 

[addiesmom]

Thank you. I have heard different things. The feeding area or something was on the Kudu side so that would be better. I am leaning towards the Zebra side though because of the location to Mara and the pool. I really have no idea and know that any request is just that, but trying to figure the best place to get the best of all worlds. Or I could just let them decide and enjoy what we get. Some times I think we overthink this stuff too much. Thanks for you input it is really appreciated.

For what it is worth, we were in a Savannah View room on the Zebra Trail in December and thought it was the perfect location! We were actually right off the lobby and for us it was just awesome! The lobby is so breathtaking and we loved feeling so close to it. Plus we were right down the hall from the bar (we were w/out kids) and the table service restaurants. YUM! The Mara, Laundry and Pool were a quick walk too. For us it was centrally located and most convenient. So we just loved it! Wherever your room ends up being located, I'm sure you'll be enchanted! Enjoy

 

[CFedor1]

The lower floor rooms at the pool can be very much hidden behind trees and such, so if you want to see the pool, I would request 4th floor. If you want easy access to your room, 3rd floor is great as this is the same level as the lobby. So for people with strollers, this would be great.



We were there in November and had ground floor. I thought I would be disappointed. The view was obscured by trees; however it was private and extremely convenient. Older children were allowed to go to pool area because we could see them and new they wouldn't get lost coming back without worrying about the elevator. The short walk to the Mara in the am for coffee was great. I think there are pros and cons to all floors/locations.

 

[kaffinito]

Thank you. I have heard different things. The feeding area or something was on the Kudu side so that would be better. I am leaning towards the Zebra side though because of the location to Mara and the pool. I really have no idea and know that any request is just that, but trying to figure the best place to get the best of all worlds. Or I could just let them decide and enjoy what we get. Some times I think we overthink this stuff too much. Thanks for you input it is really appreciated.

I would definitely request Zebra Trail over Kudo Trail. The animals feeding is interesting, but I think it would be better to be on Zebra and be closer to everything! We were on Kudo and it was a looonnggg hike to get to the lobby.

 

[BCV23]

I would definitely request Zebra Trail over Kudo Trail. The animals feeding is interesting, but I think it would be better to be on Zebra and be closer to everything! We were on Kudo and it was a looonnggg hike to get to the lobby.

Zebra trail is equally long though.

My personal favorite (other than 6th floor) was 3rd floor Uzima Savannah very near the elevator to the Mara area. Seemed close to everything.

Of course, I only have two stays that weren't on the 6th. And only three there.

But it was really great. Wonderful views of the animals and close to everything.