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

[Magic2000]

DD & I will be staying at AKL for the first time in November and we are so excited!!!! I wanted to surprise DD and booked a pool view, bunk bed room -but I couldn't keep the secret and I told her! Now, she is REALLY excited!

 

[Harmonysmomma]

Are there any updated floor plans? ( I am esp looking for the 2 bedroom and grand villa) I clicked the links in the first post but they didn't work? I need to see if its enough room for us all not to kill each other That wouldn't be very disney like.

 

[pilferk]

Just got back on Friday.

We were in 7647, overlooking the NEW Pembi sananna, for 10 days. GREAT room/trip/view! My youngest wanted to bring the "piggies" (red river hog) home with us!

Tip: If you want to avoid the elements, there's 2 elevator banks you want to keep in mind.

Rafiki will get you down to the "back door" of the pool area. Take the elevator down to 1 (parking), get off, and follow the path to the right. You'll come right to a "room key" access gate behind the pool bar.

Zazu is the LAST elevator bank toward Jambo house. Take THAT down to parking, exit, and follow the path to the left. Takes you right to Jambo and you're outside for like 3-5 minutes.

FYI: From our room door to inside the Mara took us just about 12-15 minutes walk.

Also a heads up: The bus stop at Kidani is currently being ripped apart. They're more fully covering the area, and redoing the roofing on the existing structures. Apparently there was an issue. The temporary bus stop for ALL theme park/DTD busses is under the porte cochere, where the Magical Express busses would normally stop (covered, with benches). Not sure how long that will be going on for.

The bus stop construction also effects the "Jambo trail". They have other signage leading you along an alternate route...but we found it easier to stay INSIDE and follow the directions I gave, above.

The DME bus stop is now off to the left of the lobby (if you're standing outside, looking at the entrance).

There's adequate signage all over the outside, pointing all this out.

 

[candeeapril]

I'm glad you had a wonderful trip!! thanks for the updates

 

[John's Mom]

Just got back on Friday.

We were in 7647, overlooking the NEW Pembi sananna, for 10 days. GREAT room/trip/view! My youngest wanted to bring the "piggies" (red river hog) home with us!

Tip: If you want to avoid the elements, there's 2 elevator banks you want to keep in mind.

Rafiki will get you down to the "back door" of the pool area. Take the elevator down to 1 (parking), get off, and follow the path to the right. You'll come right to a "room key" access gate behind the pool bar.

Zazu is the LAST elevator bank toward Jambo house. Take THAT down to parking, exit, and follow the path to the left. Takes you right to Jambo and you're outside for like 3-5 minutes.

FYI: From our room door to inside the Mara took us just about 12-15 minutes walk.

Also a heads up: The bus stop at Kidani is currently being ripped apart. They're more fully covering the area, and redoing the roofing on the existing structures. Apparently there was an issue. The temporary bus stop for ALL theme park/DTD busses is under the porte cochere, where the Magical Express busses would normally stop (covered, with benches). Not sure how long that will be going on for.

The bus stop construction also effects the "Jambo trail". They have other signage leading you along an alternate route...but we found it easier to stay INSIDE and follow the directions I gave, above.

The DME bus stop is now off to the left of the lobby (if you're standing outside, looking at the entrance).

There's adequate signage all over the outside, pointing all this out.

Glad that you and your family had a great trip! Thanks for the info. It will come in handy in December.

Can't wait to read about your celebration.

Kathy

 

[rstanley]

I am really confused with everyone talking about Kidani and Jambo...are these seperate from the main resort for DVC members only?

Is there a map of the entire complex?

Thanks!

 

[pilferk]

I am really confused with everyone talking about Kidani and Jambo...are these seperate from the main resort for DVC members only?

Is there a map of the entire complex?

Thanks!

There are two buildings:

Jambo house (the original AKL,) and Kidani (the recent DVC villas addition).

Jambo house has all of the hotel rooms (floors 1-4), some DVC villas (floors 5 and 6), and the concierge lounge. Essentially, they just renamed the original lodge building "Jambo house", since the entire complex is now "The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas".

Kidani has most of the DVC villas.

Guests of both buildings can use both sets of amenities (pools, restaurants, etc). The two buildings are about a 7 to 10 minute walk apart (lobby to lobby).

Here's a couple different artists rendition of the complex, which I got back when the DVC points went on sale. There might be some slight variations in scale and actual construction now that the new building is finished:

Jambo on the Right, Kidani on the Left.

Jambo toward the top, Kidani toward the bottom.

 

[♥♥LittleSeaRose♥♥]

Hey Experts! My family is going to be staying in a studio our first time in DW and we want it to be great... I can't seem to find anything that shows where the studios are located in the Jambo house. We also cannot find anything that compares the value rooms to the savannah rooms as far as size, location in the resort, and views... IF ANYONE CAN HELP, I'D BE SO HAPPY!

 

[rstanley]

There are two buildings:

Jambo house (the original AKL,) and Kidani (the recent DVC villas addition).

Jambo house has all of the hotel rooms (floors 1-4), some DVC villas (floors 5 and 6), and the concierge lounge. Essentially, they just renamed the original lodge building "Jambo house", since the entire complex is now "The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas".

Kidani has most of the DVC villas.

Guests of both buildings can use both sets of amenities (pools, restaurants, etc). The two buildings are about a 7 to 10 minute walk apart (lobby to lobby).

Here's a couple different artists rendition of the complex, which I got back when the DVC points went on sale. There might be some slight variations in scale and actual construction now that the new building is finished

Thank you...Your explanation and the maps are very helpful!!!

 

[rstanley]

Does anyone know if they sell Disney Crocs at the gift shop? We bought a pair last year at the Poly but my daughter has grown out of them.

 

[pilferk]

Does anyone know if they sell Disney Crocs at the gift shop? We bought a pair last year at the Poly but my daughter has grown out of them.

We saw them at Jambo's gift shop (Zawadi Market place), but not at Kidani's. We also saw them for sale all over the parks.

 

[rstanley]

We saw them at Jambo's gift shop (Zawadi Market place), but not at Kidani's. We also saw them for sale all over the parks.

Great...Thanks!

I didn't want to have to find and buy them before the trip!

 

[yekcoh_99]

Awesome thread

 

[MinnieMommy07]

I have heard that only certain animals are on each savannah. Are there fences or barriers not allowing them to roam free? If this is the case, what is there to expect on each savannah?

'Nother question: Any photos of the view from Jambo room of the Kidani building out there?

And one more question, I've seen a previous posters pic of Everest with hot air balloons in it and thought it was GORGEOUS! Is this something that can be seen from one of the hotel rooms fairly close or do you think that it was REALLY zoomed in on with a camera?

 

[pilferk]

I have heard that only certain animals are on each savannah. Are there fences or barriers not allowing them to roam free? If this is the case, what is there to expect on each savannah?

There are fences/barriers. On the larger savannas (Arusha, Sunset) they're hard to notice in most spots.

On the smaller savannas (Uzima and the new Pembe at Kidani Village) they're more noticeable but not obtrusive (not like cages at a zoo).

All the animals on any given savanna are allowed to intermingle, FYI.

I know Arusha has Zebra, Giraffe, and gazelles. Sunset has Giraffe, Ankola cattle, and Wildebeast. Pembe has Red River Hogs, Okapi, and Gazelles. They all have various birds on them, too.

The above is NOT a complete list...I know I'm missing at least one animal type/herd beast in each savanna, but I can't remember which.

'Nother question: Any photos of the view from Jambo room of the Kidani building out there?

I have a couple from Dec '08, showing Kidani's construction, but no recent ones. I'll hunt them down (if nobody beats me to it), upload them, and post 'em. Should be able to track them down tomorrow.

And one more question, I've seen a previous posters pic of Everest with hot air balloons in it and thought it was GORGEOUS! Is this something that can be seen from one of the hotel rooms fairly close or do you think that it was REALLY zoomed in on with a camera?

On the "pool side" of Jambo house (the "main" hotel piece of the lodge), you can see Everest off in the distance from a number of spots. It's by no means "close", and while I haven't seen the picture in question, I'm assuming it's a shot taken with a good zoom lens.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

Ok, that is great! Thanks so much!

 

[cpbjgc]

Is this the picture you were thinking of:

This was taken in the morning. Here's another from the evening:

I took both of these pictures with my old MP camera with a 10x zoom. We were in room 5030 in the Giraffe trail near the end of the last building and had a partial view of the savanah immediately behind the pool as well as Expedition Everest. It was a great room (and had bunk beds too!). This was from January 2006, before the DVC conversion, so I believe this room is now considered a DVC villa.

 

[candeeapril]

Are the hot air balloons for a special event? How long will they be there? Awesome pictures!!

 

[cpbjgc]

Thanks!

We have seen the balloons floating around on every trip down. I think they are just private hot air balloon rides that run pretty much daily.

 

[miprender]

I took both of these pictures with my old MP camera with a 10x zoom. We were in room 5030 in the Giraffe trail near the end of the last building and had a partial view of the savanah immediately behind the pool as well as Expedition Everest. It was a great room (and had bunk beds too!). This was from January 2006, before the DVC conversion, so I believe this room is now considered a DVC villa.

Those are just awesome pictures.