Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[Mtraynom]

Just booked AKL for November 12-18, 2023, you can add me It's my first stay at AKL and I'm so excited! Hoping to eat at Boma and Sanaa.

 

[Baldy]

Does anyone know when the woodcarver is in the lobby?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Does anyone know when the woodcarver is in the lobby?

I saw the woodcarver outside the main store at Jambo house a few weeks ago.

 

[Baldy]

I saw the woodcarver outside the main store at Jambo house a few weeks ago.

Ooohhh. Thank you. I’m glad he is back.
I was hoping to see him next month but we only have 2 days.

 

[Chimaera]

Just added an extra day to our Aug 1-12 Jambo savanna trip so we now leave on the 13th and can do MNSSHP on the 12th! I paid for our entire family of 9 (7 staying offsite) to go to the party and it’s going to be a surprise for everyone. I’ve spent way too much on this vacation already and it’s still 2 weeks away!

 

[preemiemama]

Does anyone know when the woodcarver is in the lobby?

When we were there last month, he seemed to be there in the evenings, maybe after 3-4 pm? I recall seeing him as we'd head out for dinner. Not sure when he finishes.

 

[Baldy]

Everyone here has been so great about sharing info. I promise to return the favour when I am there in 6 weeks.

One more question…
My aunt is joining us at Boma for a late breakfast on my birthday. If I ask at the desk, do you think they would allow her to use the pool if it’s not busy? Or should I just add her to the room for one night and pay the extra adult fee? I don’t want to break the rules. I’m just wondering if there is a “day guest” option.

 

[abg3]

Just returned from 6 nights in Jambo - Giraffe Trail 2024 pool view. Nice room with a great view. Very well sound insulated and mostly could never hear anything going on in the pool area. Pretty quick access to front of the lodge since it's immediately to the right of the main doors.

Some overall thoughts:

Mara is pretty reasonable priced for food compared to most fast food, and thats mostly what's on the limited menu. Zebra Domes still available! As all over WDW, beverages are very costly. Scoot down Sherberth Rd (right out of the AKL main road rather than straight) and you are back on 192 pretty quickly. CVS right there. $6 for a case of water. Don't go to the Walmart. Its crowded like MK Main St at 9pm during fireworks once parks start closing.

Finding your room can be a challenge. Recommend asking at bell services and NOT wandering around dragging bags and searching. The posted maps are not great at telling you HOW to get to a wing. Lots of dead ends and floors you can't get to from certain places will lead to "moments" with a travel weary family.

Selected no room service for the week. Might have been a mistake. Mid week had to grab a couple rolls TP from the cabinet in the restroom by Boma and refresh the towels from the pool towel stock. We were never in the room during maid service times so not easy to go get them replaced. Generally accepted practice seemed to be bag your trash and leave with old towels in the hall to be picked up the next morning during maid service.

If you plan a mobile order for Mara after MK closes and you are riding the bus back late, expect a long pickup time. 1.5 hours plus. Everyone is doing the same on the bus headed back.

If you find yourself back at AKL after a long day, sit-downs all booked, walkup waitlists are all at capacity (as they are nearly every night) and tired of same old Mara choices - consider riding down that shortcut to US 192 if you have a car. Plenty of restaurants and takeout close by if you are in a jam. One night at 10:30 pm due to bad planning had to make a Chik-Fila run for salads. Sanaa mobile order is a good choice too, but no avail very late.

Pool area was awesome. Jambo Pool bar was fun. Not so fun is the every day diaper incident at the pool where they clear you out for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the situation. Please keep those babies clean and well covered in good swim diapers. It affects everyone when this happens!

We road the bus one time to Disney Springs. Stayed till near closing. Horrible experience. Took over 1.5 hours to get back. Drove the car the rest of the week with 10-15 minute drives from AKL to any theme park parking lot. Magic Band is scanned to allow access to any theme park parking lot. If you are going to early entry (plus 30 minutes before that) you will usually be first up front in parking lot anyway. If driving late to theme parks, you can usually navigate down close to the front and find any open spot for a shorter walk too. For the TTC early entry days, the ferry always ran first before the monorail ever opened up.

We were disappointed there were no AKL pins available. Anywhere. Supply chain issues I guess. We like to get a pin at each resort when we stay there, and this was our first time to AKL. Sure, we can buy one online afterward....

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. The late night extra hours for deluxe resort guests at MK and EPCOT or totally worth it too!

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Everyone here has been so great about sharing info. I promise to return the favour when I am there in 6 weeks.

One more question…
My aunt is joining us at Boma for a late breakfast on my birthday. If I ask at the desk, do you think they would allow her to use the pool if it’s not busy? Or should I just add her to the room for one night and pay the extra adult fee? I don’t want to break the rules. I’m just wondering if there is a “day guest” option.

I’d add her to the room. No worries then.

 

[mlggator22]

Does anyone have pictures of Kidani one bedroom villas with both the chair bed and sofa bed pulled out? I'm curious how much room there is when both are being utilized for sleeping. If you do not have pics of that, can anyone comment on it.
For instance, do I need to move any of the furniture to make it fit?

 

[pooh'smate]

Does Mara have a Freestyle Coke machine or is it the regular style of Coke machine? I tried searching but I must be doing it wrong LOL

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Does Mara have a Freestyle Coke machine or is it the regular style of Coke machine? I tried searching but I must be doing it wrong LOL

Regular.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Does Mara have a Freestyle Coke machine or is it the regular style of Coke machine? I tried searching but I must be doing it wrong LOL

It's a regular Coke machine and not a Freestyle one.

 

[pooh'smate]

It's a regular Coke machine and not a Freestyle one.

Thank you

 

[CarolynFH]

Does anyone have pictures of Kidani one bedroom villas with both the chair bed and sofa bed pulled out? I'm curious how much room there is when both are being utilized for sleeping. If you do not have pics of that, can anyone comment on it.
For instance, do I need to move any of the furniture to make it fit?

We don’t have photos, but we used both chair and sofa beds in the past, without moving any furniture.

 

[mlggator22]

We don’t have photos, but we used both chair and sofa beds in the past, without moving any furniture.

Thank you for the information. It's helpful.

 

[dgbg100106]

We will be staying at Jambo House on August 17-20th!

August
8/17 - 8/20 lziol Jambo
8/20 - 8/27 tinkerdee AKL
8/22 - 8/27 Dayzy - AKL
8/23 - 8/30 kittercats85 - AKL
8/30 - 8/31 Baldy - AKL

 

[dgbg100106]

Add us as well! Jambo House September 14-17!

September
9/3 - 9/11 ktink - AKL
9/14 - 9/17 titaniumfemme - Jambo

 

[dgbg100106]

Hi! I'll be at Jambo House from 9/5/22 - 9/11/22! Can't wait! This is a rebooked DVC rental from our cancelled reservations back in 2020. So excited. My DS and DDIL are traveling from Oregon and will be staying at Jambo House as well!

September
9/3 - 9/11 ktink - AKL
9/5 - 9/11 Gerweniel - Jambo
9/14 - 9/17 titaniumfemme - Jambo

 

[dgbg100106]

We are there July 19th-24th as well.

Is Sanaa still doing the quick breakfast I saw mentioned awhile ago..?

July
6/30 - 7/7 DisneyDiana - Jambo House
7/16 - 7/22 ocalla - AKL
7/19 - 7/24 AquaDame - AKL
7/24 - 7/28 mlggator22 - Kidani