Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[sjs314]

Glad you're having an amazing 1 day stay at AKL I cannot wait for my friend to see it in December, she's stayed at pretty much every deluxe resort, but has never stepped foot in AKL yet.

The excitement is real!!! I stayed at AKL in 2006 in. Standard room overlooking the front of the resort, no Savanah view but saw animals from the various vantage points around the lodge. Fell in love with breakfast at Boma’s and the food at The Mara was good too. In 2013 I returned and could not wait for my BFF to see this magnificent resort. We booked a standard room but were upgraded to a Savanah room! We were in love! Best vacation ever, tried Sanaa at lunch had a window table !
This year we are staying in a Savannah CL room, our first ever CL stay and we can not wait for October to get here!

 

[Lewdannie]

thanks for the response. Is there a way to find out what rooms are DVC rooms? are they all on the 5th floor?

Here you go:
https://www.easywdw.com/forums/showthread.php?35532-Room-Views-at-Animal-Kingdom-Villas-Jambo

 

[gizfish]

Does AKL have the Coke Freestyle machines?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Does AKL have the Coke Freestyle machines?

No, just the old style machines

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I am thinking of moving my Fall into Magic package resort to Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are reserved at Coronado Springs but all of the construction makes me nervous, and the only other moderate the package is offered is at CBR, also under construction! I’ve stayed at WDW resorts under construction and it just isn’t as magical.

Questions, is the standard room ok? I think this is as big a jump up in $$ that I’ll be able to talk my husband into. Are there quick dining options for breakfast? Although We aren’t big sit down breakfast eaters, I don’t want a grab and go, something more like the food court concept at the moderates or values.

Is the bus service good? Can you walk to Animal Kingdom?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I am thinking of moving my Fall into Magic package resort to Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are reserved at Coronado Springs but all of the construction makes me nervous, and the only other moderate the package is offered is at CBR, also under construction! I’ve stayed at WDW resorts under construction and it just isn’t as magical.

Questions, is the standard room ok? I think this is as big a jump up in $$ that I’ll be able to talk my husband into. Are there quick dining options for breakfast? Although We aren’t big sit down breakfast eaters, I don’t want a grab and go, something more like the food court concept at the moderates or values.

Is the bus service good? Can you walk to Animal Kingdom?

When is your trip? The pool and pool bar will be closed starting Sept. 4, 2018 to December 2018. You can use the pool at Kidini. They will also be doing some room refurbs starting with the Jambo Villas.

Bus service is not too bad and no, you cannot walk to Animal Kingdom Park.

 

[BravePrincessMerida]

Are there quick dining options for breakfast? Although We aren’t big sit down breakfast eaters, I don’t want a grab and go, something more like the food court concept at the moderates or values.

Can you walk to Animal Kingdom?

Hi, there! Though I’ve actually not ever stayed at AKL, I will be in September of 2019 and have done enough extensive research to answer a couple of questions.

The Mara is the QS location at AKL and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. From what I’ve read, it’s very good. I also have read that Sanaa at Kidani Village (a short walk to the property next door) has QS breakfast. I thought I read this may be a test run but it’s something to consider.

You cannot walk to Animal Kingdom and I’ve heard conflicting opinions on the bus service. Overall, though, the majority seems to think it’s reliable. Hopefully you can do a trip report when you get back!

 

[karen4546]

I am thinking of moving my Fall into Magic package resort to Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are reserved at Coronado Springs but all of the construction makes me nervous, and the only other moderate the package is offered is at CBR, also under construction! I’ve stayed at WDW resorts under construction and it just isn’t as magical.

Questions, is the standard room ok? standards rooms at AKL are fine but request partial Savanna and you may be surprised.


Are there quick dining options for breakfast? The Mara I don’t want a grab and go, something more like the food court concept at the moderates or values.

Is the bus service good? The bus service is good. People say it takes a long time to get to MK but it really doesn't.

Can you walk to Animal Kingdom? no you can not walk to Animal Kingdom. You can walk to Kidani village and have the bread service there-highly recommend.

I want to add that if you are not truly set on the AKL don't go all in. I love the AKL - it feels like home so much that even though we were at Yacht club last year we only spent one night and asked to switch to AKL.

I believe the pool may be under construction so you may consider that also. Being this is an AKL thread I don't want to get on another resort bandwagon but my only moderate go to is POFQ and I am sure there is no discount for that resort.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

When is your trip? The pool and pool bar will be closed starting Sept. 4, 2018 to December 2018. You can use the pool at Kidini. They will also be doing some room refurbs starting with the Jambo Villas.

Bus service is not too bad and no, you cannot walk to Animal Kingdom Park.

Oh no, our trip is September 3-8. Is the other pool far? I’m not at all familiar with this resort, are the standard rooms in Kidani?

 

[sjs314]

I am thinking of moving my Fall into Magic package resort to Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are reserved at Coronado Springs but all of the construction makes me nervous, and the only other moderate the package is offered is at CBR, also under construction! I’ve stayed at WDW resorts under construction and it just isn’t as magical.

Questions, is the standard room ok? I think this is as big a jump up in $$ that I’ll be able to talk my husband into. Are there quick dining options for breakfast? Although We aren’t big sit down breakfast eaters, I don’t want a grab and go, something more like the food court concept at the moderates or values.

Is the bus service good? Can you walk to Animal Kingdom?

The Mara is one of the best quick serve on Disney property IMO

With a standard view room you can request a partial Savanah view
Bus system is great

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

The Mara sounds perfect, I looked at the menu and there are some nice sounding items!

is Sanaa a sit down or counter service restaurant?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Oh no, our trip is September 3-8. Is the other pool far? I’m not at all familiar with this resort, are the standard rooms in Kidani?

Kidani is the DVC resort. From what I understand its a 15 min.walk or they have a shuttle you can take.

 

[RachelTori]

Oh no, our trip is September 3-8. Is the other pool far? I’m not at all familiar with this resort, are the standard rooms in Kidani?

Kidani is a DVC resort so all the rooms there are “villas”. If you book a standard view resort room at AKL, you will be in Jambo House and as sjs314 posted, you can request a partial Savannah view.

If your DH isn’t sold, please don’t stress about CSR. Even with the construction it’s not loud and intrusive and you would still have a wonderful stay!

Sanaa is table service and it is wonderful!

 

[gillep]

Kidani is a DVC resort so all the rooms there are “villas”. If you book a standard view resort room at AKL, you will be in Jambo House and as sjs314 posted, you can request a partial Savannah view.

If your DH isn’t sold, please don’t stress about CSR. Even with the construction it’s not loud and intrusive and you would still have a wonderful stay!

Sanaa is table service and it is wonderful!

Sanaa is a table service for lunch and dinner however, it is a counter service restaurant for breakfast. They have grab and go items and cooked items. You can either eat at the tables in Sanaa or they will package your food to-go if you order the cooked items.

 

[RachelTori]

Sanaa is a table service for lunch and dinner however, it is a counter service restaurant for breakfast. They have grab and go items and cooked items. You can either eat at the tables in Sanaa or they will package your food to-go if you order the cooked items.

Thanks for the breakfast clarification. I’m not a breakfast person and seem to remember Sanaa not even being open for breakfast initially.

I believe they’ve had several different breakfast options over the years.

 

[gillep]

Thanks for the breakfast clarification. I’m not a breakfast person and seem to remember Sanaa not even being open for breakfast initially.

I believe they’ve had several different breakfast options over the years.

Exactly, I don't believe they had breakfast when they opened. The current offering has been going on since December 2016. I think it was initially reported to be a test, but I guess it has stuck because they were definitely still offering it in April. I personally think it is one of the best QS breakfasts because they seem to make more of the hot food to order, or at least in smaller more frequent batches, instead of the usual food court style places where they have large quantities sitting there and then plate it up when you order. I think it doesn't get as much traffic as other places so they don't make the huge quantities that other QS places seem to do. They also have pressed pot coffee which is much better than the stuff that you can get in the gift shop upstairs. So I at least hope that it sticks around.

 

[ForEver2016]

Just read that Jambo House is supposed to have a room refurbishment from 8/18-fall 2019. Does anyone know the extent of these renovations? I’ve never stayed at a resort that was undergoing construction, will it affect us that much?

Edited to add: We are staying Jan 2019. Booked through David’s DVC rentals, not sure if we can change our reservation. We have a toddler so will be returning to our room mid-day for naps every day.

 

[sjs314]

Just read that Jambo House is supposed to have a room refurbishment from 8/18-fall 2019. Does anyone know the extent of these renovations? I’ve never stayed at a resort that was undergoing construction, will it affect us that much?

Edited to add: We are staying Jan 2019. Booked through David’s DVC rentals, not sure if we can change our reservation. We have a toddler so will be returning to our room mid-day for naps every day.

First I have heard about the room refurb, where did you hear about this. I could deal with the pool being refurbished during our stay but the room refurbishment causes me some concern.

 

[sara_s]

Hi all! I booked a standard view for 9/20-9/22 and was wondering if there are requests I can make on MDE that would get me at least close to a partial Savanna view? High floor, near lobby, etc?

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

Just wondering if AKL is still cashless? We'll likely cancel our breakfast ressies at BOMA if it is...