Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[Momtwofour]

We lucked out and got a savannah view. There are views of the pool and the parking lot as well. Requests aren't taken, because of course everyone wants the same view.

I went ahead and changed to the 1 bdrm. We decided on space over view.
So you don't get the option to make requests w the value rooms?

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Kidani 2 bedrooms have 3 bathrooms which I think would be a bonus with 3 teenage girls!

Exactly my thoughts. I was thinking dedicated 2 bedroom at Kidani for a number of reasons. One was the extra bathroom, two being we've never stayed there, and three because with the dedicated you get two beds in the 'studio" rather than a bed and pullout couch with the lock-off 2 bedrooms.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

I went ahead and changed to the 1 bdrm. We decided on space over view.
So you don't get the option to make requests w the value rooms?

I was told technically you CAN, but EVERYONE wants savannah, so they can't be expected to please everyone.

 

[Tonyz]

Jambo everyone! So excited to be coming back to my favorite place on earth for a couple nights in September!

 

[SLamott1973]

Considering at a 1 bedroom value villa at jambo house for 12/2-12/9/2017, we've never explored AKL before and thought staying at jambo would be best to try first. I hope we like it as much as we do WL! I'm getting caught up on all this great info and wondering if kidani village would be better based on room size.

 

[disnmooner2013]

Are the views of the Savannah much better from club level rooms vs non club level rooms? Are there certain room numbers with best views of the animals? Which floor is the club level lounge on? Is there a list of which animals are on which savannah? Is there a listing of what is food and drinks are offered at the club level lounge?

 

[Momtwofour]

Have a 1 bdrm value booked at Jambo. Any suggestions for a room request? And is there any possibility of some fairy dust and a view upgrade??

 

[sndral]

Hi, I'm about 3.5 weeks out from my trip! I have booked a standard view room,...My only options shown for online check in are:

Near lobby
Lower floor
Upper Floor
Near Elevator
Near Transportation
Near Paddock

I get to choose 2 of those. I'm thinking my best chances for a quiet room would be "Upper floor" and...? Not "near transportation"--right? What is the "paddock?"
I've also heard that some of the "standards views" have somewhat of a savanna view, just not a great one. Is there anything I can request that would make a "semi savanna view" more likely? Thanks!

Near Paddock is actually a location at SSR. Someone on the GF thread reported they had that among their choices for on line check in at the GF too. Disney IT at it's best (not.)
If you don't mind walking to the Pool/Mara requesting & getting Kudu trail would give you a partial savanna view. You know you'll be on the 4th floor or lower as the 5th and 6th are all DVC. Near transportation might put you in one of the front facing (parking lot/ road view) rooms on Giraffe trail, so I wouldn't ask for that.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Have a 1 bdrm value booked at Jambo. Any suggestions for a room request? And is there any possibility of some fairy dust and a view upgrade??

as i mentioned above, there are SO few value rooms that they fill them first come first serve. You CAN make a request, but 99.999% of the people are making the EXACT same request, so it's basically luck of the draw.

 

[Momtwofour]

as i mentioned above, there are

as i mentioned above, there are SO few value rooms that they fill them first come first serve. You CAN make a request, but 99.999% of the people are making the EXACT same request, so it's basically luck of the draw.

thanks for you response. I have had great luck w fax requests in the past so it doesn't hurt to try. I have received the exact room I requested one several occasions. No harm in trying

 

[Minnieloves4]

Super excited for our first stay at AKL, Aug 23-29. We haven't told the kids yet so we can't wait to see their faces light up when we arrive. We plan to surprise them when we land at MCO.

 

[Tonyz]

Have a 1 bdrm value booked at Jambo. Any suggestions for a room request? And is there any possibility of some fairy dust and a view upgrade??

I did end up getting an upgrade to a savannah room last time I stayed there. It was amazing. So it definitely is possible! Probably easiest when it's less crowded (we went in early September).

 

[Tonyz]

Super excited for our first stay at AKL, Aug 23-29. We haven't told the kids yet so we can't wait to see their faces light up when we arrive. We plan to surprise them when we land at MCO.

You guys are gonna have an amazing time. That first ever walk into the lobby is breathtaking!

 

[Miss Frankie J]

Hi! this might be a silly question but i'm a disney resort newbie.

This will be my first time at AKL, we are staying for one night to explore the resort. A question about Check in, where would we be staying? at Jambo house or Kidani Village? I'm assuming Jambo house?

Also I know requesting a room view is nearly impossible, but do they usually grant location requests based on needs? like Upper floor or Near lobby easily? The only thing I'm sure that I want is an upper floor. Otherwise I don't know what I should check off in room requests.

EDIT: ALSO follow up question, Are the pools gated and you need your magic band to get in? Just need to know to make sure we have our bands out.

 

[sunset7132]

Thanks for the image Sunset7132! Those prices seem reasonable for room service.

the room service food is AMAZING. I had a ny strip steak it was one of the best steaks i had. the salads and chicken wings are so good, huge selection, we were there for the first time in december 2016, booked a bounce back lol we have to try it twice.

 

[pktbMouse]

Hi AKL people..I wanted to ask your opinion on something...we are CBR diehards but this year the way our flights were booked we have an extra night to fill..I was thinking of trying AKL savannah room for that one night...do you think one night is ok? Would you do it for one night only? thanks

 

[beesly]

Hi AKL people..I wanted to ask your opinion on something...we are CBR diehards but this year the way our flights were booked we have an extra night to fill..I was thinking of trying AKL savannah room for that one night...do you think one night is ok? Would you do it for one night only? thanks

Will you be spending much time at the resort? If so, I would definitely do it. If you're only going to be sleeping there and leaving early the next day, I'd try to add another night onto the place you're staying for the rest of your trip (which I assume is CBR based on your post).

 

[courtney118]

Hi! We are staying at AKL for the first time this year...we go to Disney at least once or twice a year but for some reason never stayed there, our last trip we ate at Jikos and loved the lodge-so we booked our next stay there!! So excited..any tips or recommendations, your favorite things at AKL??? Thanks!!

 

[pktbMouse]

Will you be spending much time at the resort? If so, I would definitely do it. If you're only going to be sleeping there and leaving early the next day, I'd try to add another night onto the place you're staying for the rest of your trip (which I assume is CBR based on your post).

We will be spending the day there relaxing..its our last day unfortunately and flights are booked so we cant add a day I was hoping to ask for late checkout if they do such a thing

 

[loveshak22]

Hi! this might be a silly question but i'm a disney resort newbie.

This will be my first time at AKL, we are staying for one night to explore the resort. A question about Check in, where would we be staying? at Jambo house or Kidani Village? I'm assuming Jambo house?

Also I know requesting a room view is nearly impossible, but do they usually grant location requests based on needs? like Upper floor or Near lobby easily? The only thing I'm sure that I want is an upper floor. Otherwise I don't know what I should check off in room requests.

EDIT: ALSO follow up question, Are the pools gated and you need your magic band to get in? Just need to know to make sure we have our bands out.

The last 2 Disney trips I did I was very specific with my room requests, and I have to say they accommodated them all. At AKL I asked for King bed, Zebra trail, and even requested a specific blocks of rooms to be further out from the lobby but not all the way down at the end of the trail. When I went to GF we stayed CL and I didn't want to hear all the noise in the morning so I asked for a king bed, non-handicap accessible room, not off the lobby, preferably on the 3rd or 4th floor, and no adjoining rooms. I always feel like the door for an adjoining room lets in extra noise from the neighbors. And we got exactly what was requested.

I'm at AKL May 8 - 11 and I called in my room request yesterday for a king bed, 4th or 5th floor, Arusha view, and no adjoining door. I'm trying to decide if I want to ask for Zebra trail again or just leave it Arusha view and if I want to request a specific block of rooms again. I don't like being too close to the lobby or pool because of noise.

With all that said, they can't guarantee anything and when I check-in I may have double-beds on the first floor with an adjoining door! LOL! But it never hurts to call and make the request!

Sometimes I am sure they think I am crazy with my long lists of requests