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

[fish4bills]

We're checking out, as you're coming in... If you see a little blonde haired boy in the room, his name is Ian - and his is very much a three year old. Sometimes he bites, and makes wild animal sounds - so you might mistake him for some of the local wildlife that should be out on the trail. I may or may not have accidentally left him
*note - I'm seriously kidding. He's adorable, and i love him. He's just a handful.

I completely understand-I have one of those (although he has aged 4 yrs and and has dark hair) but is much better now and still as adorable as those very challenging years! We can't wait for our first AKL trip!!!

 

[Kara]

I've read people mentioning night vision goggles????
can anyone explain??

 

[ajjollie23]

We have not done this yet but if you ask at the front desk you can do night-vision animal watching--complete with night-vision goggles, there are many other programs as well such as going to a bonfire to hear tales told by African story-tellers, listening to African ambassadors talk about their home countries, free wine-tastings at Jiko--The Cooking Place (home of the largest North American collection of South African wines!), and more.

 

[momtwoboys]

Does anyone know or remember if the gift shop area that sells grocery items has gallon jugs of water?? I will be making coffee in the room and would like to NOT have to use the water from the tap. Thanks!!

1 month to go

 

[5boyz]

Read in notes on first page that fridge is avail...does that mean you have to request one or is it in the room already? Also the bunkbeds....can I request to have a bunkbed room? I know it is only a request like the bldg request?

 

[momtwoboys]

Fridge is already in the room. Bunk Beds are a category, costs a bit more. At least that was what I was told on the phone. Pool view w/2 queens was one price and Pool view with Bunks was a bit more. Of course when I called to make the switch to AKL only standard 2 queens were available...hoping to be able to pay for an upgrade at check-in. Good Luck

 

[Flossbolna]

Read in notes on first page that fridge is avail...does that mean you have to request one or is it in the room already? Also the bunkbeds....can I request to have a bunkbed room? I know it is only a request like the bldg request?

Fridges are in every room, you don't need to request them.

Bunkbed rooms are a different booking category. If you book them they are guaranteed. But they are more expensive than regular rooms. Some people have luck when asking for an uppgrade to a bunk bed room. But be aware that if you ask for it, they might not give you a free upgrade.

Hope this helps!

 

[Flossbolna]

Does anyone know or remember if the gift shop area that sells grocery items has gallon jugs of water?? I will be making coffee in the room and would like to NOT have to use the water from the tap. Thanks!!

1 month to go

You were quicker than me with your answer on the bunk beds! Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your question!

Have you thought about bringing a walter filter for the tap water?

 

[momtwoboys]

trying not to have to pack too much stuff, and was hoping that they sell Jugs of water. Maybe someone will know Also does anyone have a recent picture of the refillable mus "station" just to see what they are offering these days????? We don't drink soda, so this is what we base the need to buy the mug or not.

 

[momtwoboys]

meant Mug Station.....need more coffee!

 

[5boyz]

Thank you all!! Oh good about the fridge and the bunkbeds not a biggie...didnt know they even had them I just seen that on the first page too, so thought I would ask.

 

[Flossbolna]

trying not to have to pack too much stuff, and was hoping that they sell Jugs of water. Maybe someone will know Also does anyone have a recent picture of the refillable mus "station" just to see what they are offering these days????? We don't drink soda, so this is what we base the need to buy the mug or not.

I did not take a picture, but I seem to remember that it was mainly (or even only?) sodas. But they also offered some really nice iced tea., You could choose between unsweetened and sweetened black tea and a lemon flavoured white tea which was delicious (but rather sweet, I blended it with the unsweetened black and loved it!). Then there is hot tea, hot chocolate and coffee as well.

 

[momtwoboys]

thanks Flossbolna! We do drink unsweetened Ice Tea. Wish the coffee wasn't that gross stuff either, but oh well. I mailed ahead a package last year with bottled water, and Seltzer ( my drink of choice) along with some snacks and choc milk that my boys like, and we got the package on our 7th day of our trip Thinking of just buying what they sell in the gift shop this year. Hopefully someone that is there soon can report back on the water and other options of drink, now that Kidani is open and they should have a larger selection of food/drink in Zawandi

 

[swwake]

thanks Flossbolna! We do drink unsweetened Ice Tea. Wish the coffee wasn't that gross stuff either, but oh well. I mailed ahead a package last year with bottled water, and Seltzer ( my drink of choice) along with some snacks and choc milk that my boys like, and we got the package on our 7th day of our trip Thinking of just buying what they sell in the gift shop this year. Hopefully someone that is there soon can report back on the water and other options of drink, now that Kidani is open and they should have a larger selection of food/drink in Zawandi

For our '08 trip, we ordered bottled water from Garden Grocer (along with a few snacks), and it was delivered on the day of our arrival. We also did a ship-ahead box with toiletries, ponchos, etc, and sent it UPS, scheduled to arrive 2 days before we got there. It was also there on time.

 

[wdisneyaholic]

Hi everyone. My family and I will be staying in a 1 bedroom villa at Kidani this July. We have never stayed DVC, we are not owners, just have a rssie booked. Can someone explain what the differences are there compared to styaing in the hotel. ie. towels, room cleaning, etc. TIA!!

 

[5boyz]

I was just there on DVC rented points. I think it said it works after 4 days you get a towel and trash and after 7 mousekeeping, then I guess just keeps going like that...that is how I took it. We were only there 2 nights 3 days so I was the mousekeeper..but that was ok, just dh and I so no mess.

 

[hematite153]

Hi everyone. My family and I will be staying in a 1 bedroom villa at Kidani this July. We have never stayed DVC, we are not owners, just have a rssie booked. Can someone explain what the differences are there compared to styaing in the hotel. ie. towels, room cleaning, etc. TIA!!

It depends how you've booked. If you've booked through CRO, then, everything is pretty much the same as with staying in the hotel, except that you have a kitchen with a dishwasher to manage yourself. If you've rented points (or are going on some other form of points stay) then you will have trash & towel service on the 4th day if your reservation is for less than 8 days. If your reservation is for 8 or more days you'll get a full cleaning on day 4 and trash & towel service on day 8.

 

[5boyz]

There ya go...I knew it was something like that...lol

 

[disneyfan67]

A lot of good information on this thread and I'm staying in a GV at Kidani in the 3rd week of December. I'm taking the whole family down for a special early Christmas vacation. I have been looking on where the GV are located at on the map and wonder where they are? Does anyone have pictures they can share? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

 

[Harmonysmomma]

Hey!

I posted this another place but got no answers... just wondering if anyone here could help:
I am really interested in the AK RS. We are getting the deluxe plan (we love ts and 2ts meals) but we do have 2 year old who can make it a bit rough sometimes to enjoy So now my questions are..

1.is it 2ts per person (Including tip for the rs?)
2. isn't it 2ts p.p NOT including tip to eat at Jiko?
3. Don't the dinners come from JIko?
4. Aren't you technically saving a bit of money (TIP) when you eat RS?


Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!