A question about Animal Kingdom Lodge and its fire pit

[daf]

We're considering booking a Savana view room in Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We have some health issues with wood smoke, and we noticed that there are several fire pits around AKL - one next to Sanaa, one right behind the lobby next to the savanna, and others.
We phoned the resort and found that they're indeed burning wood, not gas, which could be a problem for us.

We are wondering if the smell of smoke is noticeable from the rooms facing the Savanas.
Can anyone attest to that?

Thank you.

 

[Marrila]

We're considering booking a Savana view room in Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We have some health issues with wood smoke, and we noticed that there are several fire pits around AKL - one next to Sanaa, one right behind the lobby next to the savanna, and others.
We phoned the resort and found that they're indeed burning wood, not gas, which could be a problem for us.

We are wondering if the smell of smoke is noticeable from the rooms facing the Savanas.
Can anyone attest to that?

Thank you.

I'm very sensitive to smoke and I've never had a problem with the lobby fire pit. There is no smell of smoke.

 

[dreamer17555]

I have never noticed the smell even walking right past the one in the lobby

 

[Mommb]

It is quite a distance from the fire pit in the Jambo lobby to the rooms. If you're at all concerned, ask for a room above the first floor, and there will be almost no chance of the smoke being noticeable.

 

[Djm_in_buffalo]

“Wood” is a combustible that while mostly predictable when burned, is not uniform and is influenced by other factors, such as wind, rain, and how ignited. I have no idea what wood(s) they burn at the lodge. When burning properly, it should have very little smoke emitted.

Last weekend we returned from a stay there. We had a savanna view room and at no point did I smell smoke from the balcony and certainly not from the room.

While I knew about the fire pits and saw them when extinguished, I never was around to see a fire. My wife and daughter did go one night to make s’mores. One late afternoon, I could clearly smell a wood fire and while I couldn’t then see it, I know the pit was a good 50+ yards away, on the other side of various shrubbery and the Maji pool bar building. Again, this was in a communal space by the pool that I smelled it, not our room. While I’m sure there was enough ppm for me to smell it, it wasn’t irritating and I couldn’t see any smoke, but it was a rather pronounced smell. I’m guessing if it was one of the parking lot view rooms, those folks could smell it if on their balconies.

On balance, I think most if not all would never notice the smoke from the savannah balconies, let alone rooms. I also think it would be pretty easy to avoid the communal areas that have the fires; as far as I know, they’re not burning all day, just an hour or so, here and there.

 

[bamafaninNOLA]

I’m a DVC member with AKL Jambo House as my home resort and never recall the smell of smoke from the pits in our many years of visiting.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are they lit all the time or just a couple hours in the evening? If they’re like other hotels it’s just an hour or two so good odds you won’t even be around if you have dinner or evening park plans…

 

[daf]

Just for future reference, there is definitely a lot of smoke everywhere. The lobby, the pool, Boma. Poor ventilation. Everything was perfect in AKL but if smoke bothers you, it’s not the place for you.

 

[Marrila]

I'm quite sensitive to smoke and I've never noted a problem at AKL.
I won't hesitate to book there again. We love the atmosphere and the restaurants.

 

[jo-jo]

I thought the fire pit in the lobby was gas.

 

[Djm_in_buffalo]

Just for future reference, there is definitely a lot of smoke everywhere. The lobby, the pool, Boma. Poor ventilation. Everything was perfect in AKL but if smoke bothers you, it’s not the place for you.

Darn, sorry to hear that you had that experience. I’m wondering if it’s mostly weather, inexperience of the person lighting it, or poor quality of wood that’s the main culprit. Namely, if they store the wood out in the elements, wet would be smoky, someone inexperienced in lighting would be smoky, as would greener wood. It’s too bad they haven’t perfected it “yet” (well…several decades in….)

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I'm allergic to both certain kinds of wood and smoke, it's our home resort staying there more than 10 times and I've never ever had issues with it. I even sit around the lobby pit in the evenings to relax. No issues.

But if you think you are going to have some kind of issue. Then you might want to think about another resort (be aware Wilderness Lodge has fire pits as well).

 

[CarolynFH]

Just for future reference, there is definitely a lot of smoke everywhere. The lobby, the pool, Boma. Poor ventilation. Everything was perfect in AKL but if smoke bothers you, it’s not the place for you.

As many times as I've been in AKL, I've never noticed it being smoky.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just for future reference, there is definitely a lot of smoke everywhere. The lobby, the pool, Boma. Poor ventilation. Everything was perfect in AKL but if smoke bothers you, it’s not the place for you.

I didn’t notice that either.

Please write Disney. Maybe something is wrong with their HVAC system.

 

[Minnesota!]

The SMELL of smoke is everywhere, but I wonder if it is a pumped in smell to go with the theming, because it has never been an issue for me, either.

 

[Djm_in_buffalo]

The SMELL of smoke is everywhere, but I wonder if it is a pumped in smell to go with the theming, because it has never been an issue for me, either.

Hmmm. Great point. It might be similar to Pirates of the Caribbean; thematic only (or at least mostly).

 

[CarolynFH]

The SMELL of smoke is everywhere, but I wonder if it is a pumped in smell to go with the theming, because it has never been an issue for me, either.

I guess it's been too long since I've been there, because I don't remember a smoke smell at all! I'll make a point of visiting AKL next time we're at WDW!

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

It does have a smoky lobby smell (which I think is part of the piped in lobby smell) but I've never really had an issue with it or seen real smoke other than the firepit outside at night and even that wasn't bad.

 

[mamatohaleybug]

Just for future reference, there is definitely a lot of smoke everywhere. The lobby, the pool, Boma. Poor ventilation. Everything was perfect in AKL but if smoke bothers you, it’s not the place for you.

I'm very sensitive to smoke with both migraines and asthma flares but in my many visits I have never had the slightest problem at AKL. I'm so sorry this was your experience.