Touring AKL

[Jessirip]

We have a 5:00pm Sanaa dinner reservation in April and plan to head there from AK via bus about 4:00. After dinner, we would like to check out AKL a little, as we are thinking of staying there for our 2021 trip. We would like to head back into AK via bus by 7:00pm for an EE fast pass and Rivers of Light, so figuring dinner will be about an hour, we'll have some time to wander the resort.

Any tips on what to see as we wander? I have read there are lots of animal viewing areas which I'm excited for. Do you have a favorite? Also, I know Sanaa is in Kidani Village... is there anything we should check out there before we head over to Jambo House? (Also, it's walkable between the two right?)

Thank you.

 

[wdw&sonny]

You may have to wait for your 5:00 reservation. Dinner will likely take longer than 1 hour, unless you don't have any drink, appetizer, bread service or dessert. You can walk from Kidani to Jamba but it's about 1/2 mile, 10 min walk. Savannah behind both Kidani and Jamba. Viewing areas in Jamba, large lobby, gift shop, pool area, fire pit, lounge, Jiko, Boma...could probably do a quick walk through in 30 min.

 

[Jessirip]

Thanks - since 5pm is the first seating I'm hoping if we arrive by 4:45 we'll be seated fairly quickly. Sounds like a fairly easy walk between and we'll be happy to take a stroll after a big dinner. If we do go too long maybe we'll just see Kidani and head back to AK.

 

[WaterLinds]

We have similar plans when we're there Feb 10--it's our arrival day, so no park, but dinner at Boma and I'm hoping the rest of the group will walk over to Kidani with me after to have a look around. We're considering AKL for our 2019 trip so I'd like to explore a little.

When do you go? If we're there first I'll try to remember to come back and post about our explorations.

 

[rwdavis2]

You'll have time. The FP is good until 8. You can tour the lodge in less than 1/2 hour. Depends on how long you look at the animals. It's well worth doing.

 

[Jessirip]

We have similar plans when we're there Feb 10--it's our arrival day, so no park, but dinner at Boma and I'm hoping the rest of the group will walk over to Kidani with me after to have a look around. We're considering AKL for our 2019 trip so I'd like to explore a little.

When do you go? If we're there first I'll try to remember to come back and post about our explorations.

That's so nice thank you! We're going in April. Have a great trip.

 

[OhThePain]

IMO, I would try to see Jambo prior to your ADR, maybe even head out from AK a little earlier so you aren't rushed in wondering and you don't feel rushed at dinner (keep in mind, EE is not a short walk from the gate). There are lots of little spots to watch the savannahs from (we have a favorite spot where we have never seen anyone else). If you are shorter on time, walking through the lobby and maybe out onto Arusha Rock should be more than enough to convince you to stay there (I know it was for us the first time we stepped foot into AKL for a Jiko reservation). Worry about the real exploring for when you stay there. As others have said, the walk to Sanaa is maybe 10 minutes (they also have a shuttle that goes from one building to the other).

There is a pretty nice spot right outside of Sanaa where the fire pit is. If you don't have time to stop at Jambo, you'll have plenty of time to walk out there and drift away a bit. It can be pretty easy to totally zone out while looking over the savannahs, almost forgetting you are actually in Disney.

 

[Jessirip]

IMO, I would try to see Jambo prior to your ADR, maybe even head out from AK a little earlier so you aren't rushed in wondering and you don't feel rushed at dinner (keep in mind, EE is not a short walk from the gate). There are lots of little spots to watch the savannahs from (we have a favorite spot where we have never seen anyone else). If you are shorter on time, walking through the lobby and maybe out onto Arusha Rock should be more than enough to convince you to stay there (I know it was for us the first time we stepped foot into AKL for a Jiko reservation). Worry about the real exploring for when you stay there. As others have said, the walk to Sanaa is maybe 10 minutes (they also have a shuttle that goes from one building to the other).

There is a pretty nice spot right outside of Sanaa where the fire pit is. If you don't have time to stop at Jambo, you'll have plenty of time to walk out there and drift away a bit. It can be pretty easy to totally zone out while looking over the savannahs, almost forgetting you are actually in Disney.

This is wonderful thank you!

 

[KenHutch]

Be warned the CM's there are incredibly friendly and helpful. One of the reasons we are staying there in June is during our last trip I resort hopped over there and not only did one of the CM's talk to me about the lobby and the artwork they let me tour the pool (something Beach Club did NOT allow) and one CM even arranged for me to see an empty room.