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

[eeyoresnr]

we'll be at Disney Friday by noon and we check in to AKV Kidani on Sunday!!!

 

[snykymom]

Hey you guys!

Not sure if this is the right place to post (sorry if its not)

We have been to Jiko and absolutley loved it! we have heard they do a special wine tasting there.

Does anyone know anything about this eg cost, times, how you book?

any info would be great

Thanks so much

Here's the link to the special dinners at Jiko:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-lodge/dining/jiko-dinner-series/
It's the first Thursday of the month.

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!

We were there in early September, and there was no problem with the busses stopping at Kidani. It made the trip a little longer, but crowding was not an issue.

 

[hematite153]

Value studios might not be available...

I'd actually be quite surprised if value studios are available at this point in time.

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

You might want to start preparing him then.

I'm pretty sure All Ears has pictures.

 

[RachelTori]

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

I've got pictures of both a Value & Standard Studio, but have only been able to find the Value pictures. So here they are for now; if I find the Jambo Standard Studio pics, I'll post them tomorrow.

My only complaint about the Value is the lack of storage. What you see here is what you get (and that wardrobe is already has stuff stored in in - like the vacuum and pack-n-play!)

 

[joelp]

Mu guess is the "efficiency" of the bus service depends on the time of day you try to get a bus: if you're there at a "peak" time like mid-morning (after breakfast at Boma! ), late-afternoon (heading out for dinner ...) ... it will be crowded. If you're one of those "get to the parks early" folks like myself - the buses (and parks!!) are never crowded ...

The only "problem" we've had with the buses from AKL is getting to the MK - they seem to take longer than "normal" ...

 

[momtwoboys]

WOW thank you for those pictures! I will casually show them to my kids today....they think we are skipping this year. I just want to see their reaction to what a room looks like without a bunk or regular "bed". As to whether they are even available or not...I'm waiting for a call from the DVC owner that my DH works with. We shall see. Of course my other option is pray hard for the extension of the stay4 get 3 free, then its a no brainer, I'd book a bunk room

 

[wide receiver]

In the picture the only storage is the wardrobe and the dresser?? No closet in the Value studio?

 

[RachelTori]

In the picture the only storage is the wardrobe and the dresser?? No closet in the Value studio?

That's correct; no closet. (and the wardrobe and the dresser hold very little, believe me!)

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Here's three of my favorite pics from our weekend trip to AKV concierge.

 

[Jazzygirl72]

I'm sure this has been asked before, so I apologize, but can someone give me an idea of how far apart the Lodge and Villas are? I looked online for a map and there are very few of the two of them next to each other. And the ones I've found don't have a scale. I have read it's a 5 min walk but it looks like the pool would be quite a hike.
I'm asking b/c the pool will be closed at the Lodge when I'm there next month. I'm disappointed but we were told we can use the Villas. So I'm wondering if taking the bus is the best option? Can someone give input?

 

[minnie2]

They are right next to each other but it depends on where your room is to tell how close you maybe.
We where in the Villa's I believe room 7460 and half way through our stay we realized we where closer to Lodge facilaties them villas.

 

[Jazzygirl72]

I found an artist's sketch of the two online. In this, it looks like there's only one road that you can take to get between the two because of the savanna's in between. Even if we're on the far left of the AKL, it still looks like a long walk to pool. Is that correct? We'll probably take the bus but I'm just trying to get a feel of distance. It's been my dream to stay here..I got a great discount so that's why we can afford it. I almost did WL due to this pool issue but again, it's been my dream to stay here. So I'm a bit disappointed that we have to go so far for the whirpool (that's really what I want, not the pool LOL).
Last year we stayed at CSR and we were not close to the main pool or jacuzzi's and therefore never even saw them b/c we were too exhausted to walk over there at the end of the day. I plan on this trip being more relaxed so we shouldn't have that problem, but again, it's a little aggravating.

 

[PNO4TE]

I will be at AKL on Friday! Second time this month and I cannot wait! This is what I saw last weekend:

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I will be at AKL on Friday! Second time this month and I cannot wait! This is what I saw last weekend:

That's beautiful isn't it?

 

[mmmears]

I'm sure this has been asked before, so I apologize, but can someone give me an idea of how far apart the Lodge and Villas are? I looked online for a map and there are very few of the two of them next to each other. And the ones I've found don't have a scale. I have read it's a 5 min walk but it looks like the pool would be quite a hike.
I'm asking b/c the pool will be closed at the Lodge when I'm there next month. I'm disappointed but we were told we can use the Villas. So I'm wondering if taking the bus is the best option? Can someone give input?

We took the bus to Kidani and walked back to the lodge. I think that the walk was closer to 10 mins from the Kidani pool to the lobby of Jambo house. Hope that helps!

 

[jeanylaser]

AKL is awesome place for my birthday on January 14, 2010!

 

[Jazzygirl72]

We took the bus to Kidani and walked back to the lodge. I think that the walk was closer to 10 mins from the Kidani pool to the lobby of Jambo house. Hope that helps!

Yes that helps! TY!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

AKL is awesome place for my birthday on January 14, 2010!

That will be a lovely birthday! Happy birthday to you. I will be there on the 16th!

 

[jeanylaser]

I really wanted to stay in the AKV "Jambo!" It's good place for christmas and New Years!

 

[Carolina93]

I've read about ten pages of this monster thread and I CAN NOT WAIT to get there on Jan. 31 with our two boys.

We are staying club level....I take it that's same as concierge right? Hope so because we are definitely wanting to do the Sunrise Safari.

Big question...how does the weather affect the animals we can see from the rooms? Right now, it's as cold down there as it's been in years....hopefully it'll warm up to normal by the time we get there, but if it's cold, will we see any animals?


So many more questions, but I'll try to keep reading......24 days and counting......