Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[Akess]

There's a resort schedule that shows all activities each month. My daughters spent time making medallion rubbings in the lobby and talking with cast members. We also participated in a drum circle. Just talking with the cultural representatives was another activity that we enjoyed. We also spent time wandering around viewing all the different savannas - in back of the pool and the overlook. At night, we heard stories by the fire pit and my daughters roasted marshmallows. We never made it over in the evening to watch the animals with night vision goggles, but I wish I had! I also got a massage at the spa, which was lovely. The pool is great, as are the hot tubs. We spent a lot of time swimming. I heard Kidani has a great children's splash area, but we never made it over there, except to eat at Sanaa. Check out the resort activities calendar! Btw, Jiko was one of the best meals we've had at WDW.

Thank you. I've seen examples of activity schedules for the resort, but the majority of the activities seem to appeal to families with small children. My husband and I are traveling with our daughter who is 20 and her friend from college of the same age.

 

[Mopedmom1]

I did not see many animals at all in the am, mostly just birds.

Thank you so much for checking. Do you know what time approximately you left your room to head out for the day? We are from the West Coast and don't transition well to East Coast time so it's rare we leave much before 10am.

Glad your trip was good, but sorry to hear about all the rude people. Where I live I have noticed an increase in rudeness as well. Everyone is so hurried and stressed out all the time.

 

[MISSYLEXI]

Thank you so much for checking. Do you know what time approximately you left your room to head out for the day? We are from the West Coast and don't transition well to East Coast time so it's rare we leave much before 10am.

Glad your trip was good, but sorry to hear about all the rude people. Where I live I have noticed an increase in rudeness as well. Everyone is so hurried and stressed out all the time.

I wanted to be at the bus stop 1 hr before our first FP or ADR. So we left the room between 8:30-9:00. It gave us enough time to get to the park, go through bag check and where we needed to be on time.

 

[RachelTori]

....awesome.....did you do a bounce-back?

Kimmar, just an FYI - the only Bounceback currently available is Free Dining (no room discounts) for the following dates: 5/29-6/5/18; 6/29-7/11/18;8/1-9/8/18; and 12/7-12/22/18.

This offer must be booked by 10/31/17 so I'm hopeful the room discounts for 2018 will be released in early November. (I'm at WDW currently)

 

[Harambe]

As for anything bad: This is Just My Opinion so please don't take any offense to this

To us it just seemed like there was a lot of pushy and rude people this time. I don't know how many times we were plowed into with no sorry or excuse me being said, just rude comments. Don't get me wrong there were a lot of nice people but this was just not what I am use to experiencing and seeing at WDW. The last time we went to Florida we went Disney and a different park, it was a whole different atmosphere at the other park then at Disney and I don't want Disney to go down that path.

At one point me and my friend were waiting for our families to get on a ride and we saw 2 grown men, 1 probably late 50's the other early 40's, racing in scooters and almost collided with each other. I just don't think that MK is the place to be doing thinks like that.

Then we were in line for POTC and a women in front of us was in a wheel chair. It said Magic Kingdom on the back and she had a bandage with ice wrapped around her ankle. We asked if she twisted her ankle and they told us that a women in a motorized scooter ran over her foot. They said the women didn't stop or say she was sorry to her. She just kept going. It was the second day of vacation for them and they had 7 more days to go. It had happened at 1:00 and when we saw them it was 5:00. And this was the first ride they had been on all day. They had kids and didn't want to ruin the day for them so he said he will take her to the ER after they leave the park. They ended up on the ride with us and she was having a real hard time getting on and off the boat. My daughter, who is an LNA at a nursing home, made sure that she got off the boat ok. I am very proud of her for doing that. That is the type of things I like to see at Disney.

Like I said this is just my opinion and how I feel about it.
But all in all we did have a great time!!

I know how you feel. We felt that way too in January, after skipping Disney for 8 years. We noticed the crowds just plowing along, with heads down looking at their phones! We were walking behind a young couple at one point, when the gentleman looked down at his phone and yelled about a text he got about a short wait time somewhere, and they both turned around and banged right into us as they ran off. LOL - I am totally blaming the cell phones, and the My Disney Experience app!! I did use it, too, of course but while lounging on a bench while my family rode on the rides I don't do! Anyway - I'm glad you didn't let it ruin your trip. There are more wonderful, nice folks at WDW than stinkers.

 

[disnmooner2013]

Just back from AKL a few days ago! It was our 4th AKL stay and it was fantastic. Booked standard, and received a room on Kudu trail overlooking what I think is referred to as the "people pen." Tons of animals back there in the afternoon and evening. A few notes regarding our stay:

1. Room: In great condition! LOVED the new large shampoo/conditioner/shower gel/lotions. The scent brings back happy memories of our Disney cruises and it's so nice not to run out of shampoo. Beds were super comfy as always, and didn't really miss the runner at the end of the bed. Temperature in the room was great - we set it down to 68 degrees and that was perfect for sleeping. Housekeeping was well-done and prompt - always returned to a clean room during our afternoon break.

2. Buses: Yay!! Over 5 days, we went to all four parks (and the MK area twice.) The buses were outstanding. Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, and we frequently walked right on when arriving at the bus stops. Even after fireworks/park closing, not more than 10 minutes ever. Seriously, the best bus luck we've ever had in probably 40+ stays. And I'm SO happy we chose AKL for a summer trip because as much as I love walking to parks from the Epcot resorts, I'd far prefer a nice, cool bus in the summer months. And as mentioned previously, in our experience, AKL bus went direct to each park and then only stopped at Kidani on the way home. Much better than the multiple stops at not-so-close resorts when staying elsewhere.

3. Proximity to AK: This was great for Pandora and our plan to ride FOP at rope drop. While the bus ride to AK is only 5 minutes, we read on other threads that it's a good idea to arrive super early. So for a 9am opening, we left our room at 7am. Stopped at Mara for breakfast to go, and arrived at bus stop by 7:20am. Bus to AK was there within 5 minutes and we were at AK by 7:30am. At this point, bag check line was forming but bag check was not yet open. It opened around 7:50, I think. After clearing bag check, we lined up at the gate - we were toward the front. They started letting us through the gate around 8:15 or 8:20. Then we line up at the rope to Pandora. They dropped it gradually - the whole group would move forward in stages. Not sure when it actually dropped, but probably after 8:30 and before 9am. Loved FOP!

4. Dining: Mara was quick and convenient. Never too crowded. Used it for lunch on arrival day, snacks, quick breakfasts, etc. From the african potjie to the flatbreads (plain, like pepperoni or more interesting, like artichoke/tomato) to the african chili dog, everyone enjoyed! Food was good and there was enough variety for both our picky and adventurous eaters. Had dinner at Jiko one night and it was delicious as usual. The service at Jiko was super friendly and they did a nice job of accommodating an allergy without making a big deal about it.

5. Pools: Always able to find a spot to sit at both the Kidani and Jambo pools. Walk to Kidani was relatively quick, and both pools were well-maintained and not too crowded.

6. Luggage: Love magical express, and our bags arrived in our room as anticipated - about 3 hours after we arrived at the resort. On the way out, I love how the bell services and airline check-in desks are right next to each other. At other resorts, we send our checked luggage at a desk outside and then go back in to store our carry-ons. At AKL, it's all in the same spot. Never a more smooth luggage drop on departure day! On the way out, they sent our carry ons with a tour group headed to Brazil, so there was a moment of panic until a CM retrieved them as that bus was leaving. Phew! Very stressful, but resolved within 10 minutes.

7. Other: Everything about this stay was fantastic. Although not my favorite theme (I prefer a water/beach theme over animals) AKL is one of my favorite resorts. The smell in the lobby is not as present when first walking in as it was in the past, but it's still wonderful and strong near Victoria Falls/Boma and on the way out to the pool/Mara - so we enjoyed that! Water was available in the lobby each day and the flavors were yummy - cucumber, lime, orange, some combination. Kidani offered my favorite - strawberry/lime/cilantro. Finally, the price! $260/night for a standard room with a nice view of the animals.

Happy to try to answer any questions!

pixarmom great review. What was your room#?

 

[disnmooner2013]

Just back from our trip and had a terrific room on the 4th floor Kudu trail (standard). We have a "partial" savannah view, but it certainly felt like a full view to us! We saw a ton of animals every day and my daughters loved watching the animals. We used the TP fax service and got the exact room we requested. However, we did include some language that gave the room assignors a range of rooms and added a note that we were hoping for a partial savannah view anywhere convenient. The resort was beautiful and we loved it. Ate at Sanaa for our arrival day lunch, Mara and Jiko for dinner. All excellent. Buses were generally ok, but we did have a few long waits for Magic Kingdom buses in the evening. We used Uber a couple of times and it worked out well. Will definitely stay at AKL again!

Arden01 what was your room#?

 

[Fsp3726]

Hello all! I'll be headed to Kidani in December for my first AKL stay for just one night, mostly to eat at Jiko and do some scouting for a big family trip in 2019.

Question-does anyone know prices for the Wanyama Safari and starlight safari?

 

[Arden01]

Arden01 what was your room#?

Send you a PM

 

[mmouse50]

Savannah view with bunk bed rooms are they scattered through out the resorts facing different savannahs or do they tend to be located by 1 savannah (Arusha)?

 

[blondie511]

We used Prime Now twice on our recent trip and it was incredibly easy. We ordered a mix of snacks, refrigerated items and cases of water. I found their prices very good. Both boxes were held at Bell Services for us and they refrigerated our perishables. I placed my first order when I got off of the plane (my Prime Now cart was already loaded and ready to go) and it arrived within two hours. The refrigerators were the mini size, but we were able to fit a half gallon of milk on the door. Hope that helps!

I was happy to read your post! I will be placing an order with Amazon Prime soon. I have found two addresses for shipping to Jambo house - one says Lake Buena Vista and the other says Bay Lake. If you stayed at Jambo House, which did you use? Thanks for your time.

 

[Monorail_Man_NJ]

Does anyone know what the online check in for Savannah view rooms has on it? Or is it the same requests on the standard rooms?

Im wanting to request Zebra trail / arusha savannah since that is no longer a booking category.

 

[monica9]

We used Prime Now twice on our recent trip and it was incredibly easy. We ordered a mix of snacks, refrigerated items and cases of water. I found their prices very good. Both boxes were held at Bell Services for us and they refrigerated our perishables. I placed my first order when I got off of the plane (my Prime Now cart was already loaded and ready to go) and it arrived within two hours. The refrigerators were the mini size, but we were able to fit a half gallon of milk on the door. Hope that helps!

I'm intrigued by amazin prime now.
We will be traveling with a 13 month old. Still not sure if which foods she's going to be eating in 3 months but I do know I won't want her drinking the Florida tap water and don't want to spend a ton at the resorts buying individual bottles. So I was thinking of ordering a case of water, applesauce, diapers and a gallon of water and some yogurts.
How does it work?
How do I leave a tip if I am paying online?
Do I call the resort and tell them and if so when did you do that?
Is the fridge large enough at akl for a gallon of milk and 4 pack of small yogurts?
Thanks!

 

[Arden01]

I'm intrigued by amazin prime now.
We will be traveling with a 13 month old. Still not sure if which foods she's going to be eating in 3 months but I do know I won't want her drinking the Florida tap water and don't want to spend a ton at the resorts buying individual bottles. So I was thinking of ordering a case of water, applesauce, diapers and a gallon of water and some yogurts.
How does it work?
How do I leave a tip if I am paying online?
Do I call the resort and tell them and if so when did you do that?
Is the fridge large enough at akl for a gallon of milk and 4 pack of small yogurts?
Thanks!

I'm pretty sure all of those items are available on Amazon Prime Now, although the stock varies day to day. I believe Amazon uses local stores to fill inventory. What I did was explore Amazon Prime Now before our trip and fill a basket prior to our trip. Then when I landed at airport, I checked out and placed the order. There's a 2 hour delivery window. There was one item not available (I forget what it was!), but I easily substituted something else. I ordered cases of water, milk, yogurt, bananas, cheese, crackers, goldfish, hand soap for the bathroom and a few other things. Amazon will ask you to include a tip at checkout based on how much you buy. It's billed just like the other Amazon charge to your credit card. The fridge accommodates a 1/2 gallon of milk, but not a gallon. A pack of yogurts will fit just fine. I didn't call the resort, but our package was waiting at bell services. Amazon texted me when it was delivered. It was really, really easy and I will do it again. Also, I found the prices to be very reasonable on Amazon.

 

[monica9]

I'm pretty sure all of those items are available on Amazon Prime Now, although the stock varies day to day. I believe Amazon uses local stores to fill inventory. What I did was explore Amazon Prime Now before our trip and fill a basket prior to our trip. Then when I landed at airport, I checked out and placed the order. There's a 2 hour delivery window. There was one item not available (I forget what it was!), but I easily substituted something else. I ordered cases of water, milk, yogurt, bananas, cheese, crackers, goldfish, hand soap for the bathroom and a few other things. Amazon will ask you to include a tip at checkout based on how much you buy. It's billed just like the other Amazon charge to your credit card. The fridge accommodates a 1/2 gallon of milk, but not a gallon. A pack of yogurts will fit just fine. I didn't call the resort, but our package was waiting at bell services. Amazon texted me when it was delivered. It was really, really easy and I will do it again. Also, I found the prices to be very reasonable on Amazon.

Perfect! Thank you. We are still 3 months out but trying to get everything in order now. Sounds like prime now is pretty easy

 

[Arden01]

Perfect! Thank you. We are still 3 months out but trying to get everything in order now. Sounds like prime now is pretty easy

Have a great trip!

 

[monica9]

Have a great trip!

Thank you!

 

[xlsm]

After my solo visit in May I wasn't sure if/when I'd be headed back to AKL but...by some kind of crazy miracle, I just bought my friend's DVC reservation b/c she is moving and can't make it down! So DH and I will be making our first couples trip (although there is a chance we might have to bring the kids, which is fine too!) and staying in a savanna view studio 12/31 - 1/4. I think we're going to book 12/30 at Pop to get a bonus day, and I've already made our dining reservations (yesterday, before it was even official, LOL - the crazy planner in me is alive and well!)

 

[MissNurse]

We are booked for a trip 4/25/18-5/1/18!!! We will be staying club level savannah view!!!! So excited

 

[margievis]

I am officially booked for an adults only trip with my husband next year, August 31 through September 4, pool view room. It will be our first time staying in one of the deluxe hotels. I booked it on a bounce back offer for free dining, we just got back a week at Port Orleans Riverside. We loved it, although it was a bit spread out, but wanted to splurge next year since it would just be my husband and myself for a food and wine trip. I have read through all 92 pages, and I am so excited to stay here. The only thing, I am not sure about the pool view… When I booked it, the cast member on the phone told me that sometimes they have a partial savanna view as well. But, reading through this thread it seems like that Pool view rooms are the only ones that do not have a savanna view. My husband likes to be close to the lobby, restaurants, and transportation, which is why I paid for the upgrade. But, I would really love to have a bit of a savanna view. Should I upgrade to savanna view to get this? Or just stick with Pool view? Do the pool view rooms still have a nice view from the balconies? I am really excited about staying at this hotel, and, even though we will spend a lot of time at food and wine, I am planning a full day off to enjoy the restaurants and maybe the spa at this hotel.