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

[RachelTori]

Thanks to those who have responded so far!! Are there any DVC in the Jambo house? We stayed there last May and loved it. I know that at Kidani there is no food court like Mara. Also can you get a room with a queen and bunk beds? I'm not sure what comes in a Studio VS. a 1 bedroom. Sorry if these questions are repeats! Just need to be full of knowledge before switching my vacation around again! We don't need a gigantic 2 bedroom unit, so not sure what our options are. Looks like we will be below the 300 points that are offered to us though. Can you stay in a concierge room on points? we need 8 nights, basic dining plan, and also buy our park passes....hmm. This is confusing

The DVC member will have to make all the arrangements for you. I just want to make sure you're aware that you will not be able to call and check on your reservation; but as long as it's someone your DH works with, I don't think you'll have any concerns!

Yes, there are DVC rooms at AKL-Jambo! There are a very small number of Club Level (concierge) DVC rooms, but it is highly unlikely that you would be able to get them for an April trip. Your DH's co-worker can certainly try though!

You can get the Dining Plan added to the DVC reservation, but you'll need to buy the park passes separately.

 

[momtwoboys]

Oh good to know, because we want to stay at Jambo house Can you add the dining plan ahead of time OR at check-in? Does anyone know the make-up of a DVC room in Jambo house? 2 queens? 1 queen and bunk beds? We are not crazy about having a pull out couch as the sleeping arrangement for our boys Thank you all so very much for this help! We will have to make a decision very soon, or she will pass the offer onto someone else.... but at $6.50 per point I'm thinking its a good deal, right??

 

[RachelTori]

Oh good to know, because we want to stay at Jambo house Can you add the dining plan ahead of time OR at check-in? Does anyone know the make-up of a DVC room in Jambo house? 2 queens? 1 queen and bunk beds? We are not crazy about having a pull out couch as the sleeping arrangement for our boys Thank you all so very much for this help! We will have to make a decision very soon, or she will pass the offer onto someone else.... but at $6.50 per point I'm thinking its a good deal, right??

Oh my stars!!! At $6.50 per point you got a GREAT deal!!!! Grab it!!!

The Dining Plan must be added prior to check-in (at least 48 hours prior I believe) so have the DVC member add it when she makes the initial reservation; then no worries!

Here's the Jambo configuration: Most 1-bedrooms accommodate up to five Guests, plus one child under 3 in a crib. The 1-bedroom has a Master Suite with King-size bed, private bathroom, and living room with queen-size sleeper sofa (most also include a sleeper chair).

The Jambo 2-bedroom accommodates up to 9 guests, plus 1 child under 3 in a crib. The 2-bedroom features a Master Suite with King-size bed and private bathroom; a separate bedroom with queen-size bed, double-size sleeper sofa, and private bathroom; and a living room with queen-size sleeper sofa (most also include a sleeper chair).

HTHs!

 

[Disneyobsession138]

I'm not sure if this question has already been answered with in this forum, I didn't have the energy to read through 100+ pages right now!

I will be going to AKL on January 10th!!! And I was wondering if the bus system was less efficient, slower, more crowded, etc. if the buses are going to the Kidani Villages now too (either after/before AKL stop)? Or is Kidani close enough for those guests to have to walk to AKL to use their busstop? Is Kidani basically part of AKL, just villas...the disney website didnt give me a very good feel for it..

Does that question make any sense?! Sorry I haven't been to AKL in a few years!! Thanks so much for anyone who may know something!

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks to those who have responded so far!! Are there any DVC in the Jambo house? We stayed there last May and loved it. I know that at Kidani there is no food court like Mara. Also can you get a room with a queen and bunk beds? I'm not sure what comes in a Studio VS. a 1 bedroom. Sorry if these questions are repeats! Just need to be full of knowledge before switching my vacation around again! We don't need a gigantic 2 bedroom unit, so not sure what our options are. Looks like we will be below the 300 points that are offered to us though. Can you stay in a concierge room on points? we need 8 nights, basic dining plan, and also buy our park passes....hmm. This is confusing

Oh good to know, because we want to stay at Jambo house Can you add the dining plan ahead of time OR at check-in? Does anyone know the make-up of a DVC room in Jambo house? 2 queens? 1 queen and bunk beds? We are not crazy about having a pull out couch as the sleeping arrangement for our boys Thank you all so very much for this help! We will have to make a decision very soon, or she will pass the offer onto someone else.... but at $6.50 per point I'm thinking its a good deal, right??

RachelTori answered most of your questions, but in case she missed a few, here goes.
1) None of the DVC rooms have bunk beds

2) Concierge level: DVC only has 10 2 Bedroom lock-offs. This can be used as 10 2 bedrooms, or 10 1 bedrooms + 10 studios. Or a combination there of.

3) Not sure on the dining plan since I have never used it.

Is teh $6.50 per point to rent points?

I'm not sure if this question has already been answered with in this forum, I didn't have the energy to read through 100+ pages right now!

I will be going to AKL on January 10th!!! And I was wondering if the bus system was less efficient, slower, more crowded, etc. if the buses are going to the Kidani Villages now too (either after/before AKL stop)? Or is Kidani close enough for those guests to have to walk to AKL to use their busstop? Is Kidani basically part of AKL, just villas...the disney website didnt give me a very good feel for it..

Does that question make any sense?! Sorry I haven't been to AKL in a few years!! Thanks so much for anyone who may know something!

I'm at Kidani so it's hard for me to say. But to be honest, the buses to me don;t see any more packed than they did during my stays last year before Kidani opened.

 

[madelyn]

$6.50 per point is a great deal and you will not pay any tax but if you look at the total for a week, your cost will probably be more than you would spend at POP. No housekeeping services (unless concierge) come with DVC but you can purchase if desired. If there is no availability at Jambo House, the walk from Kidani is not that far.

Oh good to know, because we want to stay at Jambo house Can you add the dining plan ahead of time OR at check-in? Does anyone know the make-up of a DVC room in Jambo house? 2 queens? 1 queen and bunk beds? We are not crazy about having a pull out couch as the sleeping arrangement for our boys Thank you all so very much for this help! We will have to make a decision very soon, or she will pass the offer onto someone else.... but at $6.50 per point I'm thinking its a good deal, right??

 

[momtwoboys]

Yes the $6.50 is to rent the points. We are probably looking at a Studio (Value) I actually do not mind the pool view at all. I think in that case the price would be a bit less for the 8 nights vs the the stay at POP. If I'm pricing it out right??? The idea of my kids sleeping on a pull out couch it less than desirable, but oh well. I love Jambo house with everything right there, and if its not available then I might not switch. Thanks again to everyone that has helped with information so far. We fell in LOVE with our stay last year in a bunk bed pool view room, and the kids keep asking to go back

 

[madelyn]

Studio value during 2010 Magic Season would be 6 nights @ 12 points (weekday) and 2 nights @ 18 points (weekend) so 108 points @ $6.50 per point = $702, so yeah, cheaper than POP w/ tax unless you were getting a substantial discount. I think I did that right. I wasn't using a points calculator but was doing it on my own using the points chart. Value studios might not be available so you would have to keep your options open and let your husband's co-worker know if you were willing to pay for a few more points to get another type of studio. Value can be Savannah, pool or standard view, I believe. I am not sure what the standard views at Jambo House are but ours at Kidani was parking lot. The pull out couch was comfy but it did require us to take it out and put it up each night/morning since we did not have housekeeping.

Yes the $6.50 is to rent the points. We are probably looking at a Studio (Value) I actually do not mind the pool view at all. I think in that case the price would be a bit less for the 8 nights vs the the stay at POP. If I'm pricing it out right??? The idea of my kids sleeping on a pull out couch it less than desirable, but oh well. I love Jambo house with everything right there, and if its not available then I might not switch. Thanks again to everyone that has helped with information so far. We fell in LOVE with our stay last year in a bunk bed pool view room, and the kids keep asking to go back

 

[momtwoboys]

Madelyn thank-you so much! I am not getting a discount at POP right now, with everyone getting that infamous Pin code for 2010, I was feeling like this may be my only "deal" !!! Wonder why no DVC have a set up with the bunk beds?? My younger guy has autism and sleeping can be a big production So last year I felt they slept great with the bunk set up.... Can you fit a twin aero bed on the floor near the pull out? We are snowed in here in Mass, so I'm enjoying the day Dis'ing

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Madelyn thank-you so much! I am not getting a discount at POP right now, with everyone getting that infamous Pin code for 2010, I was feeling like this may be my only "deal" !!! Wonder why no DVC have a set up with the bunk beds?? My younger guy has autism and sleeping can be a big production So last year I felt they slept great with the bunk set up.... Can you fit a twin aero bed on the floor near the pull out? We are snowed in here in Mass, so I'm enjoying the day Dis'ing

Yes you can fit one there. In Kidani, there is a sofa bed couch and a chair bed couch, twinish size. But in Jambo there wasn't and my two boys did not want to share so the 13yo took the couch cushions and made a bed on the floor every night. He said it was great!

 

[madelyn]

No bunk beds at any DVC except for the Treehouses at Saratoga Springs. I was just going to say I didn't know if there would be room for an aerobed at Jambo House since we stayed at Kidani in a Standard Studio. MomsOf2boys, was this at a value size studio? In Kidani there is a sleeper chair in the living room portion of 1 and 2 bedrooms, not studios. They are also in Jambo house 1 and 2 bedrooms as long as they are not "value" sized.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

No bunk beds at any DVC except for the Treehouses at Saratoga Springs. I was just going to say I didn't know if there would be room for an aerobed at Jambo House since we stayed at Kidani in a Standard Studio. MomsOf2boys, was this at a value size studio? In Kidani there is a sleeper chair in the living room portion of 1 and 2 bedrooms, not studios. They are also in Jambo house 1 and 2 bedrooms as long as they are not "value" sized.

We were in a "value" sized in Jambo, so we did not have the chair bed. But there was room...here is a picture of the living room area of a 1 bedroom. The size difference was noticed mostly in the master bedroom where the bed barely fit and the placement of the ONE bathroom in the hallway not accessable from the master bedroom directly.



You can click the picture to make it larger... I didn't want to add a huge picture and I don't know how to be "in between" lol

 

[caribear]

Just back from 3 nights at Jambo House! The resort looked beautiful with the Christmas decorations all aglow! They had a photopass photographer taking family portraits in front of the lobby tree from 5:30pm - 9:30pm each night. I had "won" this stay from the Last Minute Travel deal at the beginning of the year and had chosen a Savannah view room. I faxed in a request 5 days prior to check-in requesting an Uzima Savannah view. We arrived for check-in at 12pm and our room was ready....my request was not granted, but we still enjoyed the room we were assigned. We had room 3223, which turned out to be a bunkbed room facing the Arusha Savannah in the 1st pod along the Kudu Trail. We saw plenty of animal close to our room. A little smelly on the balcony from the bird pond right near our room, but I guess I got used to the smell or it went away because I didn't notice it after the 1st day. My DD7 loved the bunkbeds, but it was hard because my DS2 wanted to climb up there and play. If you happen to received this room....beware....the regular bed makes the loudest squeaking noise I have ever heard! You can't sit down or even roll over in your sleep without the squeaking. It was pretty annoying, but I was not in the mood to change rooms and my DD would be heartbroken if we gave up the bunkbeds. My kids participated in all of the bead activities at the resort to make the bead chain/lanyard and had lots of fun. I love this resort and I think this was our 10th stay over the past several years. The dark lobby and the all over atmosphere of the resort is what draws me in and keeps me coming back. The buses were not that great....but we had a car and drove several times. It took about 20 minutes to get to MK, but the real problem was bus overcrowding. Several times the bus would come and not everyone would be able to get on...and this would be after waiting 10+ minutes at the bus stop (at Jambo House). The AK bus was the worst and for some reason took forever to arrive. I am thinking they might only have 1 bus for AK since it is so close to the resort....but when there are several handicap scooters and wheelchairs that need to board it can take a long time. They really need more buses added to the route. The bus stop at Kidani opened on the 6th or 7th...not sure, but when we were there on the 7th it was being used.

All in all we had a great time and will be back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge! We did have breakfast at Boma which was okay (we did not have a reservation and only waited 5 minutes), but we have enjoyed other breakfast buffets much more.

Jambo!

 

[madelyn]

Thanks for the photo! She was asking whether there was room in a value studio along w/ the queen bed plus sofa sleeper pulled out so she may need to get another opinion. If you were in a 2 bedroom value, then the value studio would have been the same size as the 2nd bedroom (not the master) in the 2 bedroom. I'm not sure how the value studio compares in size to the master bedroom or living room portion of a 1 bedroom.

We were in a "value" sized in Jambo, so we did not have the chair bed. But there was room...here is a picture of the living room area of a 1 bedroom. The size difference was noticed mostly in the master bedroom where the bed barely fit and the placement of the ONE bathroom in the hallway not accessable from the master bedroom directly.



You can click the picture to make it larger... I didn't want to add a huge picture and I don't know how to be "in between" lol

 

[caribear]

Just read the post about the areobed in a value studio....and there really isn't much room unless the bed is put in front of the queen bed and blocks the walkway to the bathroom or it is put in front of the sink/refrigerator/microwave area near the door to the room. I have stayed in a studio in both Kidani and Jambo...one being a value and the other a standard. The value did seem a little more crowded (basically less room between the sleeper sofa and the queen bed), but I requested a savannah view which was honored. It was in front of a "people pen," but did not ruin our view of the animals. Hope this helps!

 

[momtwoboys]

thanks, yes every bit helps!! My younger son who is 9 is very tiny...probably could sleep on a "kid" sized aero bed and be fine. I just think the shock of walking into the room and NOT seeing the bunk beds might send him into meltdown mode I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if someone had a picture of a value or standard studio Glad there are lots of AKL lovers out there!!!! Never would have thought that we would like it so much! All I heard of how dark, far away etc that it was, but after staying there we are begging to get back Of course if it doesn't work out and there are no available DVC in the Jambo house then POP it is for us

 

[michaeldorn1]

Totally Off Topic!! But, we check-in in 5 days!!! Yeah!! All the months of planning are coming to fruition! Stayin @ Kidani w/ a Savanah view!

 

[Flossbolna]

Totally Off Topic!! But, we check-in in 5 days!!! Yeah!! All the months of planning are coming to fruition! Stayin @ Kidani w/ a Savanah view!

Have a wonderful trip!! It's 48 days for us!

 

[mmmears]

Totally Off Topic!! But, we check-in in 5 days!!! Yeah!! All the months of planning are coming to fruition! Stayin @ Kidani w/ a Savanah view!

Have a wonderful trip! AKL is an amazing resort!

Have a wonderful trip!! It's 48 days for us!

Hope the time passes quickly! Then you'll get to be back at AKL!!!

 

[miprender]

Totally Off Topic!! But, we check-in in 5 days!!! Yeah!! All the months of planning are coming to fruition! Stayin @ Kidani w/ a Savanah view!

Have a wonderful time Take many pictures for us!