What exactly is an AKL reservation?

[Lisa Warner]

We have made our first reservation at AKL for our trip in January. I know our room is AKL Savannah view but then I am confused. When I look up the maps of the resort I only see Jambo House and Kidani Village but I know both of those are listed as a reservation of their own not just AKL. So where exactly would we be staying?

 

[mousehockey37]

We have made our first reservation at AKL for our trip in January. I know our room is AKL Savannah view but then I am confused. When I look up the maps of the resort I only see Jambo House and Kidani Village but I know both of those are listed as a reservation of their own not just AKL. So where exactly would we be staying?

Jambo is the main Animal Kingdom Lodge where guests who make reservations through Disney stay. Kidani Village is the DVC resort.

 

[Lisa Warner]

Jambo is the main Animal Kingdom Lodge where guests who make reservations through Disney stay. Kidani Village is the DVC resort.

So I will be staying in Jambo? (Yes reservation made through Disney) Why is Jambo listed separately for reservations?

 

[mousehockey37]

So I will be staying in Jambo? (Yes reservation made through Disney) Why is Jambo listed separately for reservations?

Yes, you will be in Jambo. If you booked Animal Kingdom Lodge, that's Jambo. If you booked Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa's, that can be both Jambo AND Kidani. From the sounds of it, it sounds like you just booked the Lodge, which again, is Jambo.

 

[Lynne M]

Jambo is the main Animal Kingdom Lodge where guests who make reservations through Disney stay. Kidani Village is the DVC resort.

It's a bit more complicated than that. You can make reservations through Disney to stay in Kidani Village, and there are also DVC villas in Jambo House.

Way back when Animal Kingdom Lodge was first built, there was one building, and it operated as a Disney resort.

Some years later, it was decided that a Disney Vacation Club property would be added to AKL. This was done in two phases. First, some existing rooms on the fifth floor were converted to studio, one and two bedroom villas. The existing AKL building was given the name Jambo House, and is now part hotel, part timeshare.

Then, Kidani Village was built, with studio, one, two and three bedroom villas. It's an all-DVC building.

So, to answer your question: where you're staying depends on what room type you booked. If you booked a studio or larger villa, you could be in either building, and you would have been asked which building you wanted at the time you made the reservation. The resort name on your reservation would be Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House or Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani Village.

If your confirmation says Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, you're staying in Jambo House.

 

[mousehockey37]

It's a bit more complicated than that. You can make reservations through Disney to stay in Kidani Village, and there are also DVC villas in Jambo House.

Way back when Animal Kingdom Lodge was first built, there was one building, and it operated as a Disney resort.

Some years later, it was decided that a Disney Vacation Club property would be added to AKL. This was done in two phases. First, some existing rooms on the fifth floor were converted to studio, one and two bedroom villas. The existing AKL building was given the name Jambo House, and is now part hotel, part timeshare.

Then, Kidani Village was built, with studio, one, two and three bedroom villas. It's an all-DVC building.

So, to answer your question: where you're staying depends on what room type you booked. If you booked a studio or larger villa, you could be in either building, and you would have been asked which building you wanted at the time you made the reservation. The resort name on your reservation would be Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House or Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani Village.

If your confirmation says Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, you're staying in Jambo House.

I've stayed at Kidani a few times, explaining the difference can be a little tough, though I did explain exactly what you said in post #4. So thanks for backing me up!

 

[Lisa Warner]

Thank you for all the information. I get the big picture now!!