hard to get AKL-club!

[disneycrazy2004]

Studios are the lockoff part of the two bedroom units so everything you are reading here related to Club level Villas also applies to the Club Studio units.

1. There are only 5
2. Three are savannah view, two are pool view, no view requests are allowed
3. The three savannah view rooms are high up so the views are not as good. You do still have a view and you will still see animals from the balcony, however the view is better from a lower floor.
4. Because there are so few, all club villas are extremely difficult to get.

Thank your for the info, after reading everything I think we will go with a savanna view. We are going there for the savanna view so I really don't want to take any chances and not able to get it. Now the big question is - Jumbo House or Kidani?

 

[GrammyGee]

We've stayed at both resorts several times and have always seen way more animals at Kidani. There are different animals at different locations so call to see which area you want - we like to see lots of giraffes and zebra. Also, we like the pool better at Jambo and to eat at Bomas and Mara but it is easy to go back and forth between the two resorts. Debbie

 

[disneycrazy2004]

We've stayed at both resorts several times and have always seen way more animals at Kidani. There are different animals at different locations so call to see which area you want - we like to see lots of giraffes and zebra. Also, we like the pool better at Jambo and to eat at Bomas and Mara but it is easy to go back and forth between the two resorts. Debbie

Thank you Debbie! Great information we would love to see lots of giraffes! What location would you pick to do that?

 

[LisaS]

we would love to see lots of giraffes! What location would you pick to do that?

If you book Kidani, add "Sunset Savanna" as a request. Some of Kidani's Savanna View rooms face the Pembe Savanna, a small savanna that does not have giraffes and zebras. Requests are not guaranteed so there is a chance you will end up in a Pembe facing room.

If you book Jambo House, the Arusha Savanna is very pretty. You can also request the Sunset Savanna or Uzima Savanna. Those three savannas have always had giraffes however I did see a report not too long ago from someone staying in a Uzima facing room that they didn't see any giraffes. Not sure if that was just bad luck or if there were no giraffes on Uzima for some reason.

I like the Jambo studio layout better than Kidani's, however Jambo's studios have less storage space. The DVC rooms in Jambo House are on the fifth floor (plus the Club Level rooms on the sixth floor). You see the animals better on the lower floors so for the best animal viewing, book Kidani and request the Sunset Savanna and a low floor.

 

[disneynutz]

There are only a few reasons for staying at DVC Jambo CL IMO.

You enjoy the attention from Mousekeeping, using a reader to access the restricted area, you enjoy the food and drink offerings, you want to experience the "special safari".

The room views of animals are not guaranteed and the balconies have the roof hanging down blocking the view that you do have.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Not sure if that was just bad luck or if there were no giraffes on Uzima for some reason.

When we were there in May there were no giraffes on the Uzima. I asked one of the CM's at the overlook and they confirmed that there weren't any - and it sounded like there hadn't been for awhile. They did have some new (to us at least but I can't recall the names) animals out there that they did not have when we did the Sunset safari in 2009.

 

[GrammyGee]

I would call to ask what to request to get to see the giraffes. One night at 2AM we had a giraffe eating leaves from a tree right outside our room and it was such a peaceful experience to sit and watch. We also had a room once that was at the very end of the building so I figured we wouldn't be seeing many animals (don't remember the exact location) but it was near the area where they take the animals each morning to check them out so as I had my coffee I saw just about every animal parading by - the put a favorite food on the back of a jeep and the animals just follow it to the fenced enclosure ! Debbie

 

[Dean]

Thank your for the info, after reading everything I think we will go with a savanna view. We are going there for the savanna view so I really don't want to take any chances and not able to get it. Now the big question is - Jumbo House or Kidani?

Good choice. I can't emphasize enough how difficult it is to see the "view" from the club room. You have to go out on the balcony and position yourself at the right level to see basically anything.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So you can get some small idea - this is a view from a DVC concierge room and is what you would get if you didn't get one of the 3 savannah view rooms:





We've stayed concierge level twice and have gotten the pool side both times. It's not a booking category I'd recommend if the view is what is important.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Thanks everyone for the help with our decision for the location! I feel so much better with my choice! This is all so new to us and your help is greatly appreciate it ! The main reason for club level for us was the turn down service but the view is what we really, really are excited about I will book tomorrow

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Just booked our first week at Kidani - savanna view
Thanks for all your help, so excited.....

 

[GrammyGee]

I'm sure you'll enjoy it --- the resort is beautiful, the castmembers are wonderful and there's lots of activities going on at the resort all the time. Have a great trip ! Debbie

 

[DenLo]

I thought all of the club level rooms have Savana View....One of the reasons we picked this resort was because of the animals, I might have to rethink my choices then What would be the best choice in order to see lots of animals during the day, especially in the morning

The animals are bought in each morning to the barns for a check up by the animal specialists. The process begins around 5:00 AM and ends by 11:00. They start with the Pembe savanna and return the animals to the savanna within 30 to 45 minutes. And then the CMs move to the next savanna. Working around to Arusha Savanna which is last. However, we noticed when we stayed in a cash stay at AKL that many of the animals start moving to the barns way before the time they are called. So sometimes the Sunset and Uzima have no animals for more than an hour because they are all standing around the barn near the Arusha savanna.

I think in the morning you will see the most animals on the Pembe savanna as those animals are released by 6 or 7 AM. However, there are no zebras nor giraffes on the Pembe savanna. There are impalas, waterbuck, Thomson gazelles, red river hogs, birds, okapis, and ankole cattle (the ones with the huge horns).

 

[com_op_2000]

I have gotten two nights at AKV CL studios at 7, 6, and 4 months out. You just have to be willing to take what you can get. Maybe get a couple of your days at CL and the rest in the non-CL room; you can check-in to CL at 7:00 AM and you will still have access to the CL lounge on checkout day until mid-night of the checkout day.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

I have gotten two nights at AKV CL studios at 7, 6, and 4 months out. You just have to be willing to take what you can get. Maybe get a couple of your days at CL and the rest in the non-CL room; you can check-in to CL at 7:00 AM and you will still have access to the CL lounge on checkout day until mid-night of the checkout day.

Great tip, Thank you

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Hello again,
I was able to get two nights in a club level before our savanna view reservation. I am very excited about it because we really want to do the Sunrise Safari. But I have more questions now - the day we check out is Thursday, which is when the safari would be...Would we be able to do the Safari and then come back to the room and move. Also, has anyone done this? How would the move be done? We would be moving from Jumbo to Kidani. Thanks again for all your help

 

[drusba]

Yes, you can do the safari on your CL check-out day. As to changing rooms, you will need to do a check-out and check-in. I am not sure you can get back in time in the morning to do check out by 11 although it is likely possible. The issue is whether you even want to try. Likely savanna view room will not be avaialble at 11. The safari takes you to Animal Kingdom for the tour and then breakfast at Pizzafari. They also give you fastpasses for the Safari ride. You are on your own getting back to AKV, meaning you take the resort bus. One idea would be, if switching rooms that day, to check out before the safari meets up at 7 and then just spend the day at AK and come back after 4 when you know your new room will be ready at Kidani. They will move luggage to Kidani but usually they do not make that move until mid afternoon.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Yes, you can do the safari on your CL check-out day. As to changing rooms, you will need to do a check-out and check-in. I am not sure you can get back in time in the morning to do check out by 11 although it is likely possible. The issue is whether you even want to try. Likely savanna view room will not be avaialble at 11. The safari takes you to Animal Kingdom for the tour and then breakfast at Pizzafari. They also give you fastpasses for the Safari ride. You are on your own getting back to AKV, meaning you take the resort bus. One idea would be, if switching rooms that day, to check out before the safari meets up at 7 and then just spend the day at AK and come back after 4 when you know your new room will be ready at Kidani. They will move luggage to Kidani but usually they do not make that move until mid afternoon.

Thank you very much for the info! Would I leave our luggage in the room or do I have to take to the check out desk?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you very much for the info! Would I leave our luggage in the room or do I have to take to the check out desk?

You can either call Bell service or take it down to bell service to store until your savanna view room is ready. You cannot leave it in the room you are checking out of and you also need to be there for bell service to pick up if you decide to call them.

BTW - I agree with checking out before the safari. I'd feel way too rushed trying to get back prior to 11 am. However when we did the safari in May we were not given FP's for the regular safari ride. That may have been eliminated with the advent of FP+. Still, the breakfast is nice and not something we've wanted to rush thru and it's nice to do a few other things in the park while there.

 

[BCV23]

No fast pass for the Safari for several years now.

I agree that it makes more sense to checkout before the safari. Far more considerate of the next guests and housekeepers and more fun for you. We've done it a number of times between different family members. The "ride" portion of the safari doesn't end until 9am. Then everyone treks to breakfast which is a nice leisurely meal or should be. By the time you walk to the front of the park and wait for a bus, it could be 11am or later. Far more fun to enjoy breakfast and then do whatever else you want in DAK.

Congrats on your reservation. Love the club villas.