Kathy Z
Counting my Blessings
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
- Messages
- 1,513
My brain must still be on vacation. I just spent 15 minutes looking for AKL part 2 and finally realized it was the Dec. 2010 thread that went to a part 2.
We arrived back home last night from a 1-week stay at AKL Jambo House. We had booked a Savannah View room and requested Zebra Trail, third floor, Arusha Savannah, midway. Our room assignment was on Arusha Savannah but Kudu Trail, second floor, next to furthest out section. Our CM was very helpful in trying to relocate us and we agreed to a room change after our first night out on Kudu Trail. My DH has battled vertigo since July and we preferred the Zebra trail location for ease in getting to places without so much walking. Our second room was #3505, located just 3 doors away from the elevators down to Mara, which made it easy for me to run back and forth with our mugs.
We saw animals every morning from our balcony except for the morning we slept in and they had already been taken to the barns for check ups and clean up of the Savannah. We were in the room until just past noon on departure day (we were allowed a late check out) and Arusha Savannah was full of animals. While I loved the experience of seeing all the African animals from the comfort of our own room I doubt that I would stay at AKL again because we depend on WDW transportation and it is true that the bus transportation from AKL Jambo House is lacking. As others have reported, part of the problem is that the bus first stops at Kidani Village and if it filled up there it would skip Jambo House. And most of our buses filled to standing room only before departing AKL. We seemed to have the poor luck of often arriving just as the bus for the theme park we were headed to had pulled out. Therefore, our average bus wait time from AKL was 20 25 minutes. The worst time was 34 minutes and we did not even see the previous bus pull out! The one time that we only waited 10 minutes was great. Once, a group of fellow passengers stormed the back doors after a wheelchair was loaded and the driver forgot to close the back door. She did not make those passengers get off but gave them a stern lecture. DH & I were first in line to board from the front but all the seats were then taken. A young couple stood up and gave us their seats. We had much better luck catching buses back to AKL in the evening but we rarely stayed until park closing.
Our big splurge was going on the Wanyama Safari. It was wonderful! Our timing was much better with this. I booked it 6 months from the date we went on safari and chose the best weather day of our entire week. Our two guides were enthusiastic young women familiar with their savannahs and animals. The only animals we did not see were the red river hogs (it was too cold so they were being kept in the barns) and the guinea fowl. There were just 6 other people on the safari and we enjoyed their company at Jiko for our bountiful meal together after our safari.
Ive saved a copy of the Private Dining pamphlet so I can answer questions you might have on that. We used it for breakfast 3 times. Guests on the DDP will redeem 2 TS meals from their meal plan balance for each person dining. A $3 delivery charge, applicable sales tax and 18% service charge will be added to all orders. We were on DxDP but only ordered for 1 person and split it. For 2 TS credits, all inclusive, we were able to order a 3-egg ham & cheese omelet served with choice of bacon or sausage and choice of breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. Also included in our order was a pot of coffee and a large orange juice. We were surprised that 2 biscuits were also included in this ample meal for 1! Since I knew that they had pineapple at Boma I requested all pineapple for the fruit (we can not eat melon) and they accommodated this request. On the final day when we ordered this for just my husband they actually included both the potatoes and pineapple along with the other items. I went to Boma where I could get exactly what I wanted and then used my final leftover TS for 3 snacks at Mara to bring home to our grandchildren. 3 snacks for a TS is a poor trade but its better than letting them go to waste.
I'll try to answer any questions you have but may not get on the computer much more before Christmas. My husband's aunt died last week and we have a memorial service to go to on Thursday in addition to all the Christmas preparations I still have to do.
We arrived back home last night from a 1-week stay at AKL Jambo House. We had booked a Savannah View room and requested Zebra Trail, third floor, Arusha Savannah, midway. Our room assignment was on Arusha Savannah but Kudu Trail, second floor, next to furthest out section. Our CM was very helpful in trying to relocate us and we agreed to a room change after our first night out on Kudu Trail. My DH has battled vertigo since July and we preferred the Zebra trail location for ease in getting to places without so much walking. Our second room was #3505, located just 3 doors away from the elevators down to Mara, which made it easy for me to run back and forth with our mugs.
We saw animals every morning from our balcony except for the morning we slept in and they had already been taken to the barns for check ups and clean up of the Savannah. We were in the room until just past noon on departure day (we were allowed a late check out) and Arusha Savannah was full of animals. While I loved the experience of seeing all the African animals from the comfort of our own room I doubt that I would stay at AKL again because we depend on WDW transportation and it is true that the bus transportation from AKL Jambo House is lacking. As others have reported, part of the problem is that the bus first stops at Kidani Village and if it filled up there it would skip Jambo House. And most of our buses filled to standing room only before departing AKL. We seemed to have the poor luck of often arriving just as the bus for the theme park we were headed to had pulled out. Therefore, our average bus wait time from AKL was 20 25 minutes. The worst time was 34 minutes and we did not even see the previous bus pull out! The one time that we only waited 10 minutes was great. Once, a group of fellow passengers stormed the back doors after a wheelchair was loaded and the driver forgot to close the back door. She did not make those passengers get off but gave them a stern lecture. DH & I were first in line to board from the front but all the seats were then taken. A young couple stood up and gave us their seats. We had much better luck catching buses back to AKL in the evening but we rarely stayed until park closing.
Our big splurge was going on the Wanyama Safari. It was wonderful! Our timing was much better with this. I booked it 6 months from the date we went on safari and chose the best weather day of our entire week. Our two guides were enthusiastic young women familiar with their savannahs and animals. The only animals we did not see were the red river hogs (it was too cold so they were being kept in the barns) and the guinea fowl. There were just 6 other people on the safari and we enjoyed their company at Jiko for our bountiful meal together after our safari.
Ive saved a copy of the Private Dining pamphlet so I can answer questions you might have on that. We used it for breakfast 3 times. Guests on the DDP will redeem 2 TS meals from their meal plan balance for each person dining. A $3 delivery charge, applicable sales tax and 18% service charge will be added to all orders. We were on DxDP but only ordered for 1 person and split it. For 2 TS credits, all inclusive, we were able to order a 3-egg ham & cheese omelet served with choice of bacon or sausage and choice of breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. Also included in our order was a pot of coffee and a large orange juice. We were surprised that 2 biscuits were also included in this ample meal for 1! Since I knew that they had pineapple at Boma I requested all pineapple for the fruit (we can not eat melon) and they accommodated this request. On the final day when we ordered this for just my husband they actually included both the potatoes and pineapple along with the other items. I went to Boma where I could get exactly what I wanted and then used my final leftover TS for 3 snacks at Mara to bring home to our grandchildren. 3 snacks for a TS is a poor trade but its better than letting them go to waste.
I'll try to answer any questions you have but may not get on the computer much more before Christmas. My husband's aunt died last week and we have a memorial service to go to on Thursday in addition to all the Christmas preparations I still have to do.
May you and your little 
have a truly blessed time at WDW, staying at your dream resort. Do try to plan to be around some in the middle of the day when the savannahs are filled with animals.
this afternoon. I just want to verify. If we have a DVC 2 bedroom value in Jambo, a savannah view is possible? Can I request this? Will we have a balcony no matter what view we have? 
