Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[Armoire]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

Try again. It's taken me a couple calls 2 out of 3 times.

 

[cadien]

Don't forget the pin trading guy! He always had a line of kids waiting to trade/speak with him.

Could you say more about the pin trading guy? Is he on the schedule so we can find him?

 

[djs7685]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

The first CM I spoke to after booking AKL insisted that there was no such thing as the Zebra Trail or Kudu Trail so I couldn't make a request with those names but I had to make my request using the room number sequence if I wanted to specify one side over the other. She was also VERY adamant that I make sure I call to ask a CM questions and to not "listen to blogs" because they know best since they work for Disney lol I just politely tell them thank you and then call back later and cross my fingers.

I'd try again via phone and see if the next CM will put the request in for you. I can't speak from experience about the touring plans fax but I know I've heard a lot of people say the most sure way to get a specific request in is a phone call straight to the WDW resort customer service.

 

[Armoire]

@djs7685, that sounds just like my CM today.

Great advice from both of you. Thank you!!

 

[heathermm]

We stayed at Jambo House from 8/11-8/18. It was our first time at AKL. We had pool view room. The view was great; but unfortunately our balcony wasn't very conducive to seeing the view. We were in room 2430 (Zebra trail); right in front of the kiddie pool and above the game room. Our balcony didn't have the open slots like everyone else's. We had tall/solid wood so you could only enjoy the view when standing up. If I was going to be spending a ton of time at hotel and on the balcony, I may asked about switching. It was a little disappointing, but not the end of the world. Besides that, the hotel was great. Service was amazing. I was very happy/surprised at how well the bus service was. We never waited more than 10 mins for a bus (except one time) and more often than not it was more like 5 mins. I had heard horror stories about the busses at AKL so I had set my expectations low. I was also expecting to feel how far the hotel was from everything else; but again it was not an issue at all. The pool was great and never had an issue finding seats even close to the pool. I have nothing but positive things to say about AKL; but I don't think I would stay there again. We are use to being right in the middle of everything (we tend to stay at Contemporary and Poly) and we just didn't get the same feeling at AKL. It was a fabulous resort; but didn't quite feel as Disney to us. Here's a few shots from the balcony.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

Agree with dansdad, call and talk to a different CM. Last stay we booked a standard view room and was on Kudu Trail that had a view of the people pen and also a variety of animals.

 

[sndral]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

Realize that CM may have never actually been to AKL, never mind stayed there. I'd be so tempted to ask them how many times they've stayed at the resort!
The CMs answer the phone for all resorts in WDW, so they are certainly not experts on one particular resort, they remind me of the online room choice check ins, so generic as to be useless these days, if you can even get it to work.
I assume you did the survey after the call and rated them accordingly - nothing worse than disinformation from people who should be trained better. I get not raising expectations, but a response like "I'll note your request, but realize your view could be roofs or parking lot" would be much nicer, IMO.
If you've paid for touring plans & are using their request no need to call back, note I just call and don't subscribe to touring plans so have no personal experience w/ their success rate.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Could you say more about the pin trading guy? Is he on the schedule so we can find him?

I don't know his name ( I do remember seeing it though) or schedule, but you really can't miss him.

 

[AmyAnne]

Room experts, can you provide some info? I am planning to book two rooms at AKL (Jambo) and my ideal set of rooms would be a king with a daybed connected to two queens. It seems from the reservation site description that savanna view king rooms all also have a day bed -- am I interpreting this correctly? Also, do most/many rooms connect or is that a rare thing?

 

[pepperandchips]

Excited for our split stay here this November! Question.....we are wine lovers and would love to do the JIKO wine tasting offered at 3pm our first day. While browsing through the dining offerings I saw this on MDE but the Wednesday I wanted to do it in November is greyed out. Did i miss this opportunity or are reservations for this only made available a month or two in advance? I didn't even realize we needed reservations....I thought it was just a "show up and do it" sort of thing

What do you mean it is greyed out? All of the Wednesdays in November show up as blue links for me but I have been trying to grab another spot or two for November 21 and it appears to be sold out. I made the initial reservation May 21. I understand from prior reviews that it's a really limited spaces, so I think it sells out easily. Never hurts to check in and see if there are no-shows!

 

[leebee]

Thanks for the review! How far away was this room to Mara and the pool?

We basically walked across the lobby, down the stairs that lead to Boma/Jiko, and out the door. The pool was right there, Mara a little bit further down the path. It was an incredibly convenient location!

That sounds perfect! Did you submit a room request prior to your stay?

Yes, I used Touring Plans and they submitted the room request 5 days prior to our arrival. I looked at the pictures and decided we liked the view from 3220. Touring plans submits a request for a series of rooms with a similar view to the one you pick out.

 

[RachelTori]

What do you mean it is greyed out? All of the Wednesdays in November show up as blue links for me but I have been trying to grab another spot or two for November 21 and it appears to be sold out. I made the initial reservation May 21. I understand from prior reviews that it's a really limited spaces, so I think it sells out easily. Never hurts to check in and see if there are no-shows!

It is a small group. I can’t remember the # for sure - either 10 or 12 maximum. You all sit at one large, oblong table in Jiko.

 

[grumpy28]

We basically walked across the lobby, down the stairs that lead to Boma/Jiko, and out the door. The pool was right there, Mara a little bit further down the path. It was an incredibly convenient location!


Yes, I used Touring Plans and they submitted the room request 5 days prior to our arrival. I looked at the pictures and decided we liked the view from 3220. Touring plans submits a request for a series of rooms with a similar view to the one you pick out.

Terrific! Thank you!

 

[jerseygal]

We will be staying here in a standard room this December (first AKL stay and so excited!). I called to put in a request for a partial savannah view room but was told by the CM, “That is not possible for your room type. The view will be roof or parking lot.”

Any recommendations on whether I should try connecting with a different CM by phone or just rely on a touring plans fax for the request? Thanks!

YES, call back, you will get another CM who will hopefully be more knowledgeable!

 

[ksromack]

What do you mean it is greyed out? All of the Wednesdays in November show up as blue links for me but I have been trying to grab another spot or two for November 21 and it appears to be sold out. I made the initial reservation May 21. I understand from prior reviews that it's a really limited spaces, so I think it sells out easily. Never hurts to check in and see if there are no-shows!

I checked every Wednesday from now until the end of the year and the ONLY available time slot was Oct 17th for the Jiko wine tasting. I was hoping maybe they held out reservations until a month or so prior, like they do for dessert parties and such. Like I said in my original post, I thought maybe this was a "sign up on the day of" sort of thing but I guess I was way off on that one!

 

[huey578]

Anyone have info on where to book the Wild About Painting Classes? I don't see a link on WDW site. TIA

 

[bababear_50]

Good Morning
I am staying at AKL Jambo in Jan 2019. I know the Pool and Patio Bar will be closed due to maintenance but I was wondering if areas around the pool would still be open

: Playground
:Flamingos friends
:Fitness center/Spa
:Lounge chairs for sunning
:Animal observation areas/ Night vision
: S'mores fire pit
: Hot tubs

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Thanks
Hugs Mel

Edited to add:
I just e-mailed Disney guest services and hopefully they will have a rough time frame for completion of maintenance. (winter 2018 is a bit ambiguous)
I'll report back any info I get. Average wait time for info is 1-3 days from Disney for info.
I need my
Zahanati Massage

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Good Morning
I am staying at AKL Jambo in Jan 2019. I know the Pool and Patio Bar will be closed due to maintenance but I was wondering if areas around the pool would still be open

: Playground
:Flamingos friends
:Fitness center/Spa
:Lounge chairs for sunning
:Animal observation areas/ Night vision
: S'mores fire pit
: Hot tubs

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Thanks
Hugs Mel

Edited to add:
I just e-mailed Disney guest services and hopefully they will have a rough time frame for completion of maintenance. (winter 2018 is a bit ambiguous)
I'll report back any info I get. Average wait time for info is 1-3 days from Disney for info.
I need my
Zahanati Massage

Some have been told Dec. 2018 but even if that were factual, delays due to weather is always a factor, it's a little iffy in the winter here. One day warm, next day in the 40's and raining. Since the pool and pool bar will be closed I think there would not be hot tub and lounge chairs available. There is a pool and pool bar at Kidini you can use if it's still closed at Jambo.

 

[Diasmom]

My husband, daughter, 13, and I were lucky to be able to stay here 3 days last weekend. Beautiful resort, lovely cast members, and couldn't believe the animals. Truly wonderful stay. That being said, I was surprised by the amount of people jumping in line in front of us, especially since I'm pretty aware of it and will move to block it, I'm quicker than I look. Checking in, by mistake, at Kidani because I got off the bus too soon, a man does the hopping run to check in before me. Of course, that's when 2 of the 3 cast members go on break. Not a big deal, usually, but then his credit card was denied and spent 10-15 minutes surrounded by his " lovely" family waiting for the next receptionist to return. My husband was jumped in front of by a mom and young daughter waiting for the night vision goggles and a man "helping" another man with his camera and somehow forgot to go back in line. I can forgive kids but adults are frustrating. Did see an awesome bus driver at Animal Kingdom Park helping a woman on a evc. This young guy sprints on behind her, thinking she won't notice or say anything. She calls him out, politely and he's back in line 15 people deep with his friend who he was going to ditch. I understand that you run into rude people everywhere but it seemed so pronounced at AKL. Hopefully just the heat. That being said, it was our favorite resort. Hoping someday to go back.