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

[PNO4TE]

Yes, thanks F'burg. (I'll have to be on the look-out for your plate.)

It is parked outside my studio downtown 5 days a week!

 

[WDWKOOK]

It is parked outside my studio downtown 5 days a week!

Well, if it's anywhere near Karl's, then I might see it!

 

[PNO4TE]

Well, if it's anywhere near Karl's, then I might see it!

Not near Carl's

On William Street in Old Town.

 

[nemofans]

:
Umm, in my first post I actually was asking about Savanna View room location requests and I mentioned not wanting a pool view because I don't like the noise, but I'm glad you like the Pool View.

Anyway, this evening I booked a Savanna View and requested a location (without DISer guidance); I requested Zebra or Kudo Trail, high floor.

Since this will be our first AKL stay, let me know the must-dos/sees for me and DD11.

Our 1st choice was savannah view, but only pool & standard were available. We chose pool & were very pleased. We didn't notice noise from our room & we went back for afternoon naps every day.

I regret we didn't do activities at AKL. WE will be staying there again & I want to make sure we do the storytelling by the fire pit & using night goggles to see the animals. Don't miss the flamingos by the pool.
Mara is very good. Jiko is one of our favorite restaurants. We only tried Boma for breakfast & plan on trying it for dinner on our next trip.

 

[nemofans]

That was actually our first choice of view (I know, gasp!) It almost guarantees you a fairly centrally located room to the pools, Mara, and busses, and the pics I've seen on here are so pretty. It's a great value considering it's only $10 more a night and the savanna view is $80 more When we called the only options were standard and savanna, so we splurged for savanna so we didn't have to look at a parking lot

Yes! The room location is perfect! You are close to the lobby & the pool & Mara are right there. We had an animal viewing area a few steps down across the hall w/rocking chairs.
Our 1st choice was savannah, but it wasn't available. We were pleased though.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I have a question about getting to the busses and I'm hoping someone can help me On most mornings, we'll most likely eat breakfast at Mara and then walk over to the bus stop. I'm looking at the property map and I see paths from the pool that lead to the Giraffe Trail. Can we walk from Mara, around the pool, through Giraffe Trail, and out onto the walkway to the busses? Is there a hallway or somewhere that cuts through? Maybe down by the Fitness Center?

Thanks

 

[wendypooh]

I have a question about getting to the busses and I'm hoping someone can help me On most mornings, we'll most likely eat breakfast at Mara and then walk over to the bus stop. I'm looking at the property map and I see paths from the pool that lead to the Giraffe Trail. Can we walk from Mara, around the pool, through Giraffe Trail, and out onto the walkway to the busses? Is there a hallway or somewhere that cuts through? Maybe down by the Fitness Center?

Thanks

You can walk back inside the resort, cut through Zawadi and go out the doors to the sidewalk to the bus stop.

 

[tiffany2009]

Got back from Kidani a couple of weeks ago. Stayed in a 1 BR Savannah View. I requested Sunset Savannah, second or third floor. We got a great room on the third floor close to the elevators. Room was perfect for us: two adults, three kids. There was a giraffe feeding station right outside out room. One day the wildebeast were chasing some antelope all over the savannah. The next day we actually saw an ostrich lay an egg!!! Kids loved the Community Hall and the afternoon pool party. We walked over to Jambo house for Boma and Jiko (kids went to Simba's Cubhouse). What a fantastic resort!!!!!!!!!!! Why did we have to leave????

 

[SRUAlmn]

You can walk back inside the resort, cut through Zawadi and go out the doors to the sidewalk to the bus stop.

Thanks

 

[Bookmomhp]

We will be staying at AKL in late October (Jambo CL), and I'm wondering if it would be worth it for us to rent a car? I've been reading the reviews of AKL bus service and it seems to be somewhat hit and miss. We tend to like to get to the parks at rope drop, and I keep having visions of a bus pulling up in the morning already packed full of Kidani people, and not being able to get to the parks on time. On the other hand, when we were at the Poly three years ago in October, we were often the only family on the buses at 8:00 a.m., so maybe the early morning buses won't be too crowded?

Or would it be possible to walk to Kidani in the morning and get the bus there?

Any input from more experienced AK resort people would be great! I am so excited for this trip --- our itinerary is set and ADRs are made but the transportation issue is still a little black cloud hanging over my head

 

[KELLY]

That was actually our first choice of view (I know, gasp!) It almost guarantees you a fairly centrally located room to the pools, Mara, and busses, and the pics I've seen on here are so pretty. It's a great value considering it's only $10 more a night and the savanna view is $80 more When we called the only options were standard and savanna, so we splurged for savanna so we didn't have to look at a parking lot

It is funny we got the 40% discount off a room for our dates. I wanted just a pool view. But the only thing left on the cheap end was pool view with bunkbeds. I was thinking of upgrading to savanah but dd wants the bunkbeds now.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Can someone tell me if there are washers and dryers in the one bedroom villas at Jambo House? Tia!

 

[RachaelA]

We will be staying at AKL in late October (Jambo CL), and I'm wondering if it would be worth it for us to rent a car? I've been reading the reviews of AKL bus service and it seems to be somewhat hit and miss. We tend to like to get to the parks at rope drop, and I keep having visions of a bus pulling up in the morning already packed full of Kidani people, and not being able to get to the parks on time. On the other hand, when we were at the Poly three years ago in October, we were often the only family on the buses at 8:00 a.m., so maybe the early morning buses won't be too crowded?

Or would it be possible to walk to Kidani in the morning and get the bus there?

Any input from more experienced AK resort people would be great! I am so excited for this trip --- our itinerary is set and ADRs are made but the transportation issue is still a little black cloud hanging over my head

We're at AKL right now. We use a car. We haven't taken a bus once this trip even to MK. We had pretty long waits the few times we took the buses from AKL last summer.

 

[KELLY]

We're at AKL right now. We use a car. We haven't taken a bus once this trip even to MK. We had pretty long waits the few times we took the buses from AKL last summer.

Oh please don't tell me that. The one thing I loved at pop was the busees were awesome. Oh well can't have everything.

 

[hematite153]

I've been reading the reviews of AKL bus service and it seems to be somewhat hit and miss. We tend to like to get to the parks at rope drop, and I keep having visions of a bus pulling up in the morning already packed full of Kidani people, and not being able to get to the parks on time.

We had no problem with the buses from Jambo just before Christmas last year. (In general, I find that early morning, for rope drop, buses are better than later in the day regardless of resort.)

Can someone tell me if there are washers and dryers in the one bedroom villas at Jambo House? Tia!

1 bedroom villas, yes. (I think there are a couple of 1 bedroom suites that aren't DVC that might not. But, all DVC 1 bedrooms have a washer/dryer.)

 

[dmccarty]

We will be staying at AKL in late October (Jambo CL), and I'm wondering if it would be worth it for us to rent a car? ....we were often the only family on the buses at 8:00 a.m., so maybe the early morning buses won't be too crowded?

We have never had a problem with the buses at AKL and we have been a few times. After AKV opened up I was wondering how the buses were going to work out at a busy time like spring break...

Last October on two morning we saw the bus fill up rapidly at AKL because the bus was already quite full of people from AKV. I *** THINK *** this was for a park that did not have morning EMH. The one thing I don't like about October trips is there are not enough early EMH days and then only at 0800. We prefer 0700 EMH openings. Less people and more time in the park before the crowds hit.

Surprisingly the kids actually agree that getting up early and getting to the parks at Rope Drop is a good thing to do! I wonder if they will think so when they are teenagers?

I don't think we ever saw the buses filled up when we were getting to Rope Drop on morning EMH days. The two times we did see the bus fill up we managed to get on the bus but there was quite a crowd that could not get on the bus. The bus was filled so that people were standing.

Since we are in DVC we will stay at AKV next trip because we have never stayed there before and because of the buses. AKV seems very nice but AKL is going to be hard to beat. I will miss my morning walks to Mara for coffee. Well what Disney calls coffee. AKL early in the morning 0500 or 0600 is very nice to see. Quiet. Last trip it was COLD. I walked to Mara and their was fog on the pool. With a duck swimming in the pool fog. Very pretty. Of course I left the camera in the room.

Next trip is getting closer but still too far away....

Later,
Dan

 

[plazajane]

Which should we do? Only 4 of us will be there for one day before switching resorts and joining the rest of the group. We were thinking of trying AKL or AKV. We will do Savannah view either way. Any big differences? Any best room locations to ask for. I'd love to see zebras and giraffes. Are they also at Kidani? I understand we can use both pools. It will be a day just spent at the resort. I'm thinking that Jambo will be more impressive of a building.

 

[KELLY]

The discount just opened up some standard rooms yesterday so I called to get that room. We are upgrading from pop so I'm sure we will be happy with any room at AKL. We stayed at WL standard room and were facing the service area but from the floor we were on the only way you could see it was stand up and look down.

My question is where are the standard rooms Located? They also had PV rooms open up so for the 60.00 I might just go with that depending on where the standard rooms are. The walk isn't a huge deal to us. We have stayed as SSR before when we needed a seprate living space when my youngest was still going to bed at 7 pm. And we walked that just fine.

 

[sjs314]

The discount just opened up some standard rooms yesterday so I called to get that room. We are upgrading from pop so I'm sure we will be happy with any room at AKL. We stayed at WL standard room and were facing the service area but from the floor we were on the only way you could see it was stand up and look down.

My question is where are the standard rooms Located? They also had PV rooms open up so for the 60.00 I might just go with that depending on where the standard rooms are. The walk isn't a huge deal to us. We have stayed as SSR before when we needed a seprate living space when my youngest was still going to bed at 7 pm. And we walked that just fine.

I do not know where all the standard rooms are located so can only speak about my previous stay at AKL in a standard room. The one I had was located on the third or fourth floor (I forget) on the Giraffe Trail, the balcony was tiny(a big disappontment) and had a view of the front entrance looking out toward the parking lot. The good thing was it was a short walk to the elevator and convient to the lobby, Bomas,etc.I am one who tends to take my chances with standard view rooms sometimes ending up pleasantly surprised no matter where I have stayed.

 

[CelticBelle]

I'm trying to get an AKV jambo 1 BR club level for our honeymoon next March. I know there are only 5 right? Does anyone know when these might be available to book.

I want to try to get it ASAP just to lock it in. When i called last time they said that some of the villas arent available to book until 10 months out, however im reluctant to fully believe them since they didnt really know what I was asking for and had instead booked me at a 1 BR at kidani. I really want to stay CL because i love my coffee in the morning but I also love all the space in the 1 BR.

Thanks!