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

[ciera321]

It's been a few years since we've stayed at AKL and we're headed down Sunday! I have a question about Mara that I hope someone can answer....Do they have a pastry that is a twist with a gooey sweet center with mini chocolate chips??? We've gotten them at Boardwalk Bakery and Poly and I'm so hopeful that they have them at Mara...

 

[SRUAlmn]

While staying at AKL last week my DH and I were discussing it's pros/cons. We really enjoyed our stay, but felt that the transportation was sort of a downside. Don't get me wrong, the busses weren't a terrible option, however, we've stayed at many other deluxes and every single one of them has an alternative option for at least one park. Even the Wilderness Lodge (which is in the same price range) offers you the option to boat to the MK, and possibly even boat to MK and then monorail to TTC/Epcot. With the proximity to the AK, it's surprising that AKL hasn't considered some sort of walking path, or private little tram to take guests there. I really feel like, as a deluxe resort, this is something that should be considered. I have read MANY posts on the DIS in which people have chosen not to stay at AKL just because of the transportation. Anyone know if it's ever been discussed?

 

[KELLY]

Can someone tell me where the standard rooms are? We are thinking of taking advantage of the room only discount and just purchasing tickets now. Before Aug 1st. We are currently at pop with free dining and tickets.

We wouldn't add the dining plan or tickets since last year we purchase at ticket and never used it. So we only need one 7 day base ticket. We also have water park pases left over on some non-epirey 10 day tickets.

My girls also want to eat at t-rex and rainforest which aren't on the dining plan anyway. We will be there for 10 days so they standard room and one 7 day base ticket is the same price as our entire package.
We stayed at Wl a few years back and we absoutley loved it.

 

[Harmonysmomma]

This is weird. Not that any of you know me. But I started out "booking with AKL CONCG" then we switched to Poly, then to Pop, now we are back to AKL (sava room) with a potential split stay with Pop.


Lookin forward to learning a lot here! We leave SEpt 18th. YAY

 

[CruznLexi]

80 days till Kidani it is slowly getting closer!

 

[MissLiz]

In your personal opinion what is the best savanna view? We stayed at sunset savanna last year, and it was nice. The only issue problem was that we were very close to the area where are the air condition units were. It was kinda noisy when we went on our patio. Does Arusha have more animals, is it quieter? TIA

We like both Arusha and Uzima. We stayed on the Uzima savanna the last 2 times we were there and there were always animals out. I don't recall it being loud except for the one time a guy on the balcony above us decided to have the loudest conversation on his cell phone that I have ever heard.

 

[Atotty]

Read the posts about Arusha only having one giraffe and the females being moved to Uzima. Does anyone know what other animals are on Uzima? Does it ahve zebras?

 

[MissLiz]

Uzima does not have zebras.

We usually saw 3-4 giraffes, tons of Thompson's Gazelles, and some other animals that we joking referred to as water buffalo, but I don't believe that's what they really were.

The first time we stayed on that savanna, we saw quite a few wildebeests, but they were gone this last time. Too bad because they were DD's faves.

I'm sure there are more animals, but I'm not recalling what they are. Sorry.

 

[jjohnson]

While staying at AKL last week my DH and I were discussing it's pros/cons. We really enjoyed our stay, but felt that the transportation was sort of a downside. Don't get me wrong, the busses weren't a terrible option, however, we've stayed at many other deluxes and every single one of them has an alternative option for at least one park. Even the Wilderness Lodge (which is in the same price range) offers you the option to boat to the MK, and possibly even boat to MK and then monorail to TTC/Epcot. With the proximity to the AK, it's surprising that AKL hasn't considered some sort of walking path, or private little tram to take guests there. I really feel like, as a deluxe resort, this is something that should be considered. I have read MANY posts on the DIS in which people have chosen not to stay at AKL just because of the transportation. Anyone know if it's ever been discussed?

While I do agree... it is also nice in the heat of the summer to cool down on the AC bus before arrival.

 

[Samar]

Can someone tell me where the standard rooms are? .

I don't know where all of the standard rooms are as I've only stayed there once at Jambo but we were on Ostritch Trail. We got a small upgrade (bunkbeds vs. queen) and were just a few doors down from the lobby Nice parking lot view to people watch

 

[Atotty]

Uzima does not have zebras.

We usually saw 3-4 giraffes, tons of Thompson's Gazelles, and some other animals that we joking referred to as water buffalo, but I don't believe that's what they really were.

The first time we stayed on that savanna, we saw quite a few wildebeests, but they were gone this last time. Too bad because they were DD's faves.

I'm sure there are more animals, but I'm not recalling what they are. Sorry.

Thanks!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Hello!

I'm renting DVC points for next Feb./Mar. (I'm participating in the Princess 1/2 Marathon) and was able to get a Value Studio at AKL for less than the discounted "race rate" for a Value. Works for me!

I saw that the Value Studios are at the far end of two trails and may have parking lot, savannah or pool views. I know things work a little differently with DVC so, if I want to request a specific view (knowing it's only a request) can/should I make it ahead of time? Usually I go with the luck of the draw and sometimes have gotten moved upon check-in. I wasn't sure if that's the case with DVC as well (being able to be moved at time of check-in, I mean.)

Thanks!

 

[mapmakerj]

I just booked a 5nt. stay for next June and we are very excited to return to the lodge. Our budget only allowed for a std. view this time. We have stayed there twice before, once booked in a SV with a code and once booked in Std and were given a free upgrade to SV. We will hope for some more pixie dust on an upgrade, but are just happy to be able to stay there at all, so Std. would be just fine too! (We are going to split this stay with 6nts. at WL for our 1st stay there, so 2 deluxes ain't too shabby!)

 

[kdfogliano]

We are staying in a 2BR savannah view in the AKV-Kidani

What savannah will we be looking at? Does anyone have a suggestion about what to request? Any help would be appreciated! We are usually BCV people but since our son is obssesed with animals now we thought this may be nice!!

Thanks!

 

[huey578]

Another site is reporting the following:Animal Kingdom Lodge to Charge a Premium for Arusha Savanna View Rooms in 2011

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/re...s-rooms/?showYear=2011 Value Season - Weekday

 

[lissiesmum]

Another site is reporting the following:Animal Kingdom Lodge to Charge a Premium for Arusha Savanna View Rooms in 2011

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/re...s-rooms/?showYear=2011 Value Season - Weekday

yup...if you go to book a package in 2011 on the WDW website, the new booking category is already there

 

[jenseib]

I read the first page, but I can't go through another 190...LOL! WE booked 2 nights standard for Dec and then are switching to Pop for a package/free dining. I don't know if I should make a request. Ideally, we will be just hanging at the resort those 2 days and doing alot of swimming. Do they have 1st floor rooms that open up to the pool area? Also, which would be best to request to be kind of close to the lobby? I really don't mind a walk of any kind, but my DH had his hip replace a year ago and still is having complications, but refuses to rent a scooter.


Also on the first page it said a couple of times to use scotch tape on the door. I don't know if the OP is here anymore to edit that, but I know that all of Disney's resorts ask for you NOT to use scotch tape on anything. In fact someone was charged a cleaning fee at Pop once for using it, along with painting a window.

 

[Samar]

I read the first page, but I can't go through another 190...LOL! WE booked 2 nights standard for Dec and then are switching to Pop for a package/free dining. I don't know if I should make a request. Ideally, we will be just hanging at the resort those 2 days and doing alot of swimming. Do they have 1st floor rooms that open up to the pool area? Also, which would be best to request to be kind of close to the lobby? I really don't mind a walk of any kind, but my DH had his hip replace a year ago and still is having complications, but refuses to rent a scooter.


Also on the first page it said a couple of times to use scotch tape on the door. I don't know if the OP is here anymore to edit that, but I know that all of Disney's resorts ask for you NOT to use scotch tape on anything. In fact someone was charged a cleaning fee at Pop once for using it, along with painting a window.

Ostritch trail is close to lobby BUT you have to walk across the big lobby, up a hallway in the back part of the hotel, down the elevator and then to the pool area. If you have a ground floor pool view, you'd have to walk through the building anyways because the rooms all have little balconies. You might want to ask for ground floor, pool view near the elevators. A lot of requests but easier for your DH mobility-wise. Either way, you'll have to go through the lobby to check in and check out.

Good luck

 

[ajjollie23]

I read the first page, but I can't go through another 190...LOL! WE booked 2 nights standard for Dec and then are switching to Pop for a package/free dining. I don't know if I should make a request. Ideally, we will be just hanging at the resort those 2 days and doing alot of swimming. Do they have 1st floor rooms that open up to the pool area? Also, which would be best to request to be kind of close to the lobby? I really don't mind a walk of any kind, but my DH had his hip replace a year ago and still is having complications, but refuses to rent a scooter.


Also on the first page it said a couple of times to use scotch tape on the door. I don't know if the OP is here anymore to edit that, but I know that all of Disney's resorts ask for you NOT to use scotch tape on anything. In fact someone was charged a cleaning fee at Pop once for using it, along with painting a window.

Did you know that your hubby/family can get an automatic fast pass for all the rides, so that he doesn't have to wait in lines? call the CS and tell them about the hip replacement and they can tell you what you need to do. It is for any injury/operation that would make it difficult to stand in lines for long periods of time.

 

[hematite153]

Did you know that your hubby/family can get an automatic fast pass for all the rides, so that he doesn't have to wait in lines?

Sorry, but, this is a common misconception. Most of the ride queues have been made fully accessible and guests can take wheelchairs and scooters through the lines. A few of the older queues cannot be easily modified and they often have alternate entrances. However, those entrances will still require you to wait.

In fact, even though it appears to the walk-in line that you are cutting the line, you have frequently waited longer than you would have in the regular line.

There is something called a Guest Assistance Card and you can certainly get one asking for shorter walks and to sit while waiting whenever possible, but, according to most reports these are requests that very few attractions are able to provide. The GAC is NOT a fast pass and you are still encouraged to make use of fast passes whenever possible.

I recommend that you check out the information in the disABILITIES forum, especially the FAQ. I'd also encourage your DH to reconsider the refusal of the scooter. If walking through the resort to the pool is likely to be difficult, just getting from POP to the park entrances is going to be daunting.

My DFIL started out saying that he'd just walk slowly and take breaks, but, after some consideration he got a scooter and he said daily that it was a Godsend. He used it to get around the resort and to get from the resort to the parks. Then, in the parks he would park it in stroller parking while walking around each land. That way he got to exercise and he got to push his walking, but, he used up all of his walking power on the "fun part" of the day, not the "getting somewhere" part of the day.