Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

Ugh! I'm not one for sitting around the airport for hours. Three hours is a little much for me. I think maybe we will Uber. Thanks for the info!

We've actually started asking for a little earlier ME pickup. We got tired of the OJ sprint through MCO to catch our flight. That security line at MCO can be horrendous.
 
We are here at AKL now..checked in last night..I had requested a room close to lobby and got my wish for sure! We are like the 3rd room from the lobby on the Ostrich trail..we have a Savannah view even though I booked standard..nice surprise! We went and got the bread service at Sanaa last night and everyone was right ITS AMAZING! We are not in a refurbed room but the room is very clean and every staff interaction has been great. We had breakfast at The Mara this morning and it was quick and efficient ( much better than Roaring Fork from when we stayed at WL last year) I love this resort and I am so glad we chose to stay here this year.
 
We are here at AKL now..checked in last night..I had requested a room close to lobby and got my wish for sure! We are like the 3rd room from the lobby on the Ostrich trail..we have a Savannah view even though I booked standard..nice surprise! We went and got the bread service at Sanaa last night and everyone was right ITS AMAZING! We are not in a refurbed room but the room is very clean and every staff interaction has been great. We had breakfast at The Mara this morning and it was quick and efficient ( much better than Roaring Fork from when we stayed at WL last year) I love this resort and I am so glad we chose to stay here this year.

Great information!!! Could you please explain us where you can see refurbishments works? It is supposed that the works are only in the guest rooms but not in the lobby. Can you see machines or workers in the Savannah? Is the savannah affected by the refurbishment??

Thank you
 
Great information!!! Could you please explain us where you can see refurbishments works? It is supposed that the works are only in the guest rooms but not in the lobby. Can you see machines or workers in the Savannah? Is the savannah affected by the refurbishment??

Thank you
When we were there last week. You could see them working on the rooms to the left of the animal viewing area off the main lobby. They were about halfway around (Kudu trail area).
 


Here now - actually in Kudu where the construction is. Pros: in a refurbed room, which is AWESOME. Savanna view is clear; no cranes. Cons: Though we are on 3D floor (ground ish) we have to take two elevators, walk around the 4th floor lobby area, and then dodge obstructed areas. We are actually in the same room we stayed in 2 years ago so we have a great comparison. Refurbed room is awesome, but getting here is a bit of a hassle.
 
I just received a very interesting call from Disney Guest Services. Next week I was scheduled to stay three nights pool view at AKL. The phone rep told me that AKL was running behind on their refurbishments and could not accommodate all their booked guests, and that I was being moved to a different resort.

He first offered me a one-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. I explained that I will be a female traveling solo, and I am truly not comfortable with long walks alone after dark to my room, which I would probably have at SSR. And being solo, a standard room is best for me as long as the resort all under one roof or at least more compact. After a few minutes on hold, he came back and offered GF Sugar Loaf, which is adjacent to the main building, so no long walks in the dark.

While I was really looking forward to staying at AKL again, that is quite an upgrade! Give Disney credit for going above and beyond to meet their guests’ needs and make them happy. This will be my 25th trip to Disney, and also my birthday, so the pixie dust is much appreciated! :wizard:

Also, if anyone is looking for one spot at the Jiko Wine Tasting next Wednesday, I just canceled mine. It didn’t make sense to travel there if I wasn’t staying at the Lodge. Hopefully next time!
 
I just received a very interesting call from Disney Guest Services. Next week I was scheduled to stay three nights pool view at AKL. The phone rep told me that AKL was running behind on their refurbishments and could not accommodate all their booked guests, and that I was being moved to a different resort.

He first offered me a one-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. I explained that I will be a female traveling solo, and I am truly not comfortable with long walks alone after dark to my room, which I would probably have at SSR. And being solo, a standard room is best for me as long as the resort all under one roof or at least more compact. After a few minutes on hold, he came back and offered GF Sugar Loaf, which is adjacent to the main building, so no long walks in the dark.

While I was really looking forward to staying at AKL again, that is quite an upgrade! Give Disney credit for going above and beyond to meet their guests’ needs and make them happy. This will be my 25th trip to Disney, and also my birthday, so the pixie dust is much appreciated! :wizard:

Also, if anyone is looking for one spot at the Jiko Wine Tasting next Wednesday, I just canceled mine. It didn’t make sense to travel there if I wasn’t staying at the Lodge. Hopefully next time!

That IS amazing pixie dust! Sugar Loaf is club level!!!
 


I just received a very interesting call from Disney Guest Services. Next week I was scheduled to stay three nights pool view at AKL. The phone rep told me that AKL was running behind on their refurbishments and could not accommodate all their booked guests, and that I was being moved to a different resort.

He first offered me a one-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. I explained that I will be a female traveling solo, and I am truly not comfortable with long walks alone after dark to my room, which I would probably have at SSR. And being solo, a standard room is best for me as long as the resort all under one roof or at least more compact. After a few minutes on hold, he came back and offered GF Sugar Loaf, which is adjacent to the main building, so no long walks in the dark.

While I was really looking forward to staying at AKL again, that is quite an upgrade! Give Disney credit for going above and beyond to meet their guests’ needs and make them happy. This will be my 25th trip to Disney, and also my birthday, so the pixie dust is much appreciated! :wizard:

Also, if anyone is looking for one spot at the Jiko Wine Tasting next Wednesday, I just canceled mine. It didn’t make sense to travel there if I wasn’t staying at the Lodge. Hopefully next time!

That's awesome! Enjoy! And I would consider a move to Saratoga to be a downgrade.
 
Hi Are they still painting the balconies? My friend has booked the club level Savannah view for the 1st week of July and is concerned after hearing that the balconies are being painted at Jambo house. When she booked the vacation, there was no mention of refurbs / painting at AKL. She lives in the UK. Thanks so much.
 
I just received a very interesting call from Disney Guest Services. Next week I was scheduled to stay three nights pool view at AKL. The phone rep told me that AKL was running behind on their refurbishments and could not accommodate all their booked guests, and that I was being moved to a different resort.

He first offered me a one-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. I explained that I will be a female traveling solo, and I am truly not comfortable with long walks alone after dark to my room, which I would probably have at SSR. And being solo, a standard room is best for me as long as the resort all under one roof or at least more compact. After a few minutes on hold, he came back and offered GF Sugar Loaf, which is adjacent to the main building, so no long walks in the dark.

While I was really looking forward to staying at AKL again, that is quite an upgrade! Give Disney credit for going above and beyond to meet their guests’ needs and make them happy. This will be my 25th trip to Disney, and also my birthday, so the pixie dust is much appreciated! :wizard:

Also, if anyone is looking for one spot at the Jiko Wine Tasting next Wednesday, I just canceled mine. It didn’t make sense to travel there if I wasn’t staying at the Lodge. Hopefully next time!
You’ll love the GF, have you stayed there before?
I’ve read a couple of posts from people staying at BW getting moved to the GF as well recently.
I assume the 1 br. at SSR being bigger than a pool view room at AKL would be an upgrade in that sense and while SSR has a nice location adjacent to DS and I felt safe walking around after dark at nearby POFQ, I would definitely feel safer doing so at GF, the distances between buildings is fairly close and while not crowded, there are always people around the grounds - most likely due to the several restaurants at the GF.
 
You’ll love the GF, have you stayed there before?
I’ve read a couple of posts from people staying at BW getting moved to the GF as well recently.
I assume the 1 br. at SSR being bigger than a pool view room at AKL would be an upgrade in that sense and while SSR has a nice location adjacent to DS and I felt safe walking around after dark at nearby POFQ, I would definitely feel safer doing so at GF, the distances between buildings is fairly close and while not crowded, there are always people around the grounds - most likely due to the several restaurants at the GF.

I’ve stayed at GF once before (but not CL!). It does feel very safe because the paths are well lit and even the farthest rooms are only a short walk. I’d booked pool view at AKL specifically because those rooms are all a short walk from the lobby too. I did think the one bedroom at SSR was a fair alternative, but it just didn’t work for me being a solo this trip. If my adult daughter who loves Disney Springs had been along, we would have been very happy with it.

Now I have to figure out when I can make it back to AKL. I had been looking forward to it for three months and that feeling doesn’t just go away! I think that may be Disney’s plan, haha!
 
Are there pics of the updated rooms? We have a Studio Villa at Jambo booked for september. Just wondering if we might get a refurbished room and what they look like. I haven't stayed at AKL since 2005.
 
Are there pics of the updated rooms? We have a Studio Villa at Jambo booked for september. Just wondering if we might get a refurbished room and what they look like. I haven't stayed at AKL since 2005.
If you have a Studio Villa (DVC room) those aren't being refurbished as that is a different schedule than the cash rooms. I believe the Villas were refurbed in 2016.
 
I’ve stayed at GF once before (but not CL!). It does feel very safe because the paths are well lit and even the farthest rooms are only a short walk. I’d booked pool view at AKL specifically because those rooms are all a short walk from the lobby too. I did think the one bedroom at SSR was a fair alternative, but it just didn’t work for me being a solo this trip. If my adult daughter who loves Disney Springs had been along, we would have been very happy with it.

Now I have to figure out when I can make it back to AKL. I had been looking forward to it for three months and that feeling doesn’t just go away! I think that may be Disney’s plan, haha!
We had booked AKL last year before they closed the pool and we were lucky enough to be moved over to BC. We absolutely loved it, but of course now we have this years trip booked for AKL instead of the moderate we were supposed to do. So Disney's evil plan does work!
 
We are staying at Jambo house and well have a 3 year old. Is it worth going over to kidani village pool? Will we be missing out if we don't? Or do you think the main pool has enough entertainment for him.

I would definitely check it out if you have time in your schedule. We stay at Jambo and we generally go over to splash area at Kidani at least once during our stay on a resort day, my kids (4, 7 & 10) love it. The benefits of the Kidani pool are the great splash area and also the tiny toddler slide if your child isn't yet ready for the big slides. Both pools have playgrounds adjacent to them, activities scheduled, zero entry and great slides.

If you are going to the parks every day commando style and don't have much down time scheduled I would skip it, you'll be happy with the pool at Jambo.
 
Staying one night no parks just wanting to soak in the atmosphere and animals. Myself and kids 17.13,6 any advice on things not to miss..
we are staying Jambo House dec SV, daughter loves giraffes and son is obsessed with flamingos
 

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