Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[vinotinto]

I'm so confused by the king bed situation when looking at AKL on Touring Plans Room Finder. I see only a handful of "Standard King + 1 day bed" rooms, and a lot of "Garden View 1 King bed" rooms (especially on the Zebra trail). Since the AKL booking site only lists Standard & Savannah King categories, do you think all of the Touring Plans "Garden View" king rooms are actually Savannah view?

I would love it if the answer is no. My ideal would be a partial savannah view king room. Anyone have experience with or knowledge of the king rooms at AKL?

The TP room info is not 100% accurate. I still find it useful for general views, etc. It's best to simply state what your request is (i.e., king bed room is most important, partial savannah view is second most important).

 

[dgbg100106]

I will be there Sept 22-Oct 2 First stay at AKL and it's our disneymoon!

September
9/2 - 9/10 sethschroeder AKL
9/3 - 9/10 Micharlotte AKL
9/3 - 9/17 Welsh_Dragon AKL
9/6 - 9/15 SealedSeven - AKL
9/7 - 9/13 Jennasis - AKL
9/7 - 9/14 TangledHairDon'tCare AKV Jambo
9/9 - 9/19 BabyFu18 - AKL
9/14 - 9/16 ShayBells - AKL
9/22 - 10/2 SaraJR - AKL Disneymoon
9/23 - 9/28 DGBG100106 - Aulani

 

[kimmar067]

July
7/8 - 7/10 mhmcduff - AKL CL
7/9 - 7/12 DizDaD7 AKL
7/12 - 7/19 DizDaD7 BC
7/13 - 7/16 Amy M - AKL CL
7/19 - 7/22 eratess - AKL Jambo
7/21 - 7/27 WendyBelle - AKL
7/24 - 7/31 Lilysmom - Kidani
7/25 - 7/28 vinotino - AKL CL
7/28 - 7/31 DisneyDiana - AKV CL
7/28 - 8/3 cakebaker - AKL CL

 

[kimmar067]

...just thought I'd add this. While staying at AKL last week, I didn't notice any construction noise. However, I did see some workers walking through the hallways...BTW, our room [Room #4433] had not been redone yet.

 

[kimmar067]

I'm so confused by the king bed situation when looking at AKL on Touring Plans Room Finder. I see only a handful of "Standard King + 1 day bed" rooms, and a lot of "Garden View 1 King bed" rooms (especially on the Zebra trail). Since the AKL booking site only lists Standard & Savannah King categories, do you think all of the Touring Plans "Garden View" king rooms are actually Savannah view?

I would love it if the answer is no. My ideal would be a partial savannah view king room. Anyone have experience with or knowledge of the king rooms at AKL?

...our room on Zebra Trail was a king bed room. It was also handicap-accessible.

...the couch also opened up to a single sleeper.

 

[wifey]

...our room on Zebra Trail was a king bed room. It was also handicap-accessible.

...the couch also opened up to a single sleeper.

I hope the sofas are very clean and comfortable.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just wanted to give a quick review now that I have been home a couple of days. I had many concerns about staying at AKL.

We were in room 5320. I wound up doing a TP request at the very last minute and we got it. Room was ready early, too. We loved being in a DVC unit. I might be spoiled from now on!!

The minute we stepped into that lobby we felt like we were at home. I've never had that feeling at any other WDW resort before. Every single cast member we encountered was wonderful. The bed was so comfortable. I had the best sleep in months there. It helps when you're worn out from the parks. My almost 9 year old loved the sofa bed. She said it was very comfortable. Boma and Victoria Falls were awesome.

We had giraffes, wildebeest, ostrich, ankole, and zebras every day. The giraffes were our favorites. We saw 1-3 every day. We wound up buying a wooden one at the resort to remind us of the trip.

We only saw a few construction vehicles at the pool. We didn't hear any work being done. They were working on a room very close to the lobby, but it was not noticeable.

We loved the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle. We didn't mind hanging out at the resort when we got rained out one night. We loved being close to things off site. We went to BurgerFI for lunch one day, hit Publix and Target. It was nice to have so much only a couple of miles away. We drove to Epcot, but took the bus everywhere else.

AKL is now our favorite resort. Wishing for a discount so we can switch to it for Thanksgiving, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[dgbg100106]

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2019 & 2020
If you have any updates please let me know…
2019
July
7/12 - 7/19 DizDaD7 BC
7/13 - 7/16 Amy M - AKL CL
7/19 - 7/22 eratess - AKL Jambo
7/21 - 7/27 WendyBelle - AKL
7/24 - 7/31 Lilysmom - Kidani
7/25 - 7/28 vinotino - AKL CL
7/28 - 7/31 DisneyDiana - AKV CL
7/28 - 8/3 cakebaker - AKL CL
August
7/29 - 8/4 mum22girlz - AKL Jambo
7/29 - 8/4 Wayland10 - AKL Jambo
7/30 - 8/10 OThopeful35 - AKL
7/31 - 8/4 DisneyDiana - AKV Jambo
8/1 - 8/6 alex9179 - AKL
8/10 - 8/12 isabellea - AKL (no park stay)
8/11 - 8/17 bigjon94 - AKL Jambo
8/11 - 8/17 StepDisney - AKL
8/12 - 8/15 TMEF23 - AKL
8/13 - 8/17 anguyen - AKL
8/14 - 8/23 eeyore29 - AKL Jambo
8/19 - 8/24 stace1214 - AKL
8/22 - 8/30 Jennie2003 - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 wendyone - AKL
8/23 - 8/26 meggers628 - AKL
September
9/2 - 9/10 sethschroeder AKL
9/3 - 9/10 Micharlotte AKL
9/3 - 9/17 Welsh_Dragon AKL
9/6 - 9/15 SealedSeven - AKL
9/7 - 9/13 Jennasis - AKL
9/7 - 9/14 TangledHairDon'tCare AKV Jambo
9/9 - 9/19 BabyFu18 - AKL
9/14 - 9/16 ShayBells - AKL
9/22 - 10/2 SaraJR - AKL Disneymoon
9/23 - 9/28 DGBG100106 - Aulani
October
10/1 - 10/10 wifey - AKL
10/27 - 10/30 P'colaBeachBum - AKL
November
10/31 - 11/7 Kc0912 - AKL
11/7 - 11/10 DisneyDiana - Kidani
11/12 - 11/17 minie_meese - AKL Jambo
11/16 - 11/18 RADOPT - AKL CL
11/16 - 11/24 rubysparkles - AKL
11/23 - 11/28 Shelleyfs - AKV
December
11/30 - 12/14 - Ashleylvsgoofy - AKL
12/1 TammyLynn33 - AKL Jambo
12/5 - 12/8 MemphisVanessa - AKL CL
12/5 - 12/12 ZOOMAMA - AKL
12/7 - 12/14 NMPensFan - AKL
12/8 - 12/24 Scoobie - AKL Kidani
12/26 - 12/30 elsbit - AKL CL
2020
January
1/8-1/15 gillep - ALK CL (DVC)
1/25 - 1/27 KimBean - AKL
1/25 - 2/2 maranara - AKL
February
2/4 - 2/12 Mollygirl21 - AKV
2/14 - 2/20 MadMadamMim1 - Kidani
March
April
4/14 - 4/25 cincystamper - AKL Jambo
May
June
6/28 - 7/4 DisneyDiana - AKV
July

 

[Jennie2003]

Staying in a standard room at AKL for first time, where would the best place to put the pack and play? Not sure if we are gonna use it or make the boys share a bed (fine with in the room with us, so bathroom is out)

 

[Scoobie]

Just wanted to give a quick review now that I have been home a couple of days. I had many concerns about staying at AKL.

We were in room 5320. I wound up doing a TP request at the very last minute and we got it. Room was ready early, too. We loved being in a DVC unit. I might be spoiled from now on!!

The minute we stepped into that lobby we felt like we were at home. I've never had that feeling at any other WDW resort before. Every single cast member we encountered was wonderful. The bed was so comfortable. I had the best sleep in months there. It helps when you're worn out from the parks. My almost 9 year old loved the sofa bed. She said it was very comfortable. Boma and Victoria Falls were awesome.

We had giraffes, wildebeest, ostrich, ankole, and zebras every day. The giraffes were our favorites. We saw 1-3 every day. We wound up buying a wooden one at the resort to remind us of the trip.

We only saw a few construction vehicles at the pool. We didn't hear any work being done. They were working on a room very close to the lobby, but it was not noticeable.

We loved the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle. We didn't mind hanging out at the resort when we got rained out one night. We loved being close to things off site. We went to BurgerFI for lunch one day, hit Publix and Target. It was nice to have so much only a couple of miles away. We drove to Epcot, but took the bus everywhere else.

AKL is now our favorite resort. Wishing for a discount so we can switch to it for Thanksgiving, but I am not holding my breath.

Which side were you in - Jambo or Kidani? Were you in a DVC studio? Wondering because we'll be staying there for the first time at Kidani in a DVC standard studio and curious what to expect. TIA!

 

[WalkDisneyWorld]

When I looked on TP room finder I found pretty much one room in the whole resort which was King Bed, a decent partial savannah room and close-ish to the bus. I have requested that room as my preferred but realistically I doubt I’ll get it. So in my fax I basically described why I wanted that room and what my preferences were in order of preference should it not be available. Obviously with the reno’s we also don’t know that they’ve kept all the King rooms as King rooms as well.

We were there the last week of June & I was told by a CL CM that they were taking out the bunk bed rooms and replacing most of them with king rooms because the resort is lacking in that area. Sad for the families who like bunk beds(which we used to be, when the kids were younger), but good news for those of you hoping for more kings.

 

[eeyore29]

Does anyone know -for sure- if the front desk still sells prepaid credit cards to use in the laundry room? And if so, are the cards only certain $ amounts, or can you choose whatever amount you want?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Which side were you in - Jambo or Kidani? Were you in a DVC studio? Wondering because we'll be staying there for the first time at Kidani in a DVC standard studio and curious what to expect. TIA!

Jambo --savannah studio

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Anyone in September staying CL?
Also is there any need to put in a room request if staying Savannah View CL? Maybe ‘quiet room’?

 

[donaldanddaisy]

Hi All,

Sorry to just jump in - have a couple questions. Going for a quick 2 night resort only stay in early Aug. On hotels.com there are standard rooms for under $300 a night which seems like a good deal? But couple questions:

Construction? I just want to make sure the pool itself is not under construction.
Is it possible to get a partial savannah view from a standard view? And are any of the standard rooms renovated? Anything else I should think about?

Appreciate the help!

 

[Starwind]

Hi All,

Sorry to just jump in - have a couple questions. Going for a quick 2 night resort only stay in early Aug. On hotels.com there are standard rooms for under $300 a night which seems like a good deal? But couple questions:

Construction? I just want to make sure the pool itself is not under construction.
Is it possible to get a partial savannah view from a standard view? And are any of the standard rooms renovated? Anything else I should think about?

Appreciate the help!

The pool construction is done and over with.

A "partial savanna view" is one of the many kinds of "view" you can get in a standard room -- parking lot, roof, pool, partial savanna view.

Some years ago, they changed the designation of some of the savanna rooms that had poor views [e.g. partially obstructed by building, has a human pen, etc] and made then standard rooms. Hence the "partial savanna view" description.

Most or all of Kudu trail has been renovated. Kudu trail has standard and savanna view rooms.

SW

 

[donaldanddaisy]

The pool construction is done and over with.

A "partial savanna view" is one of the many kinds of "view" you can get in a standard room -- parking lot, roof, pool, partial savanna view.

Some years ago, they changed the designation of some of the savanna rooms that had poor views [e.g. partially obstructed by building, has a human pen, etc] and made then standard rooms. Hence the "partial savanna view" description.

Most or all of Kudu trail has been renovated. Kudu trail has standard and savanna view rooms.

SW

Thank you! So I can call or fax in a request?

 

[DisneyArkie]

I’m sure the answer is here, but don’t really want to dig. We are staying next month in a savanah view room at animal kingdom lodge. Are those rooms renovated yet? If not any idea how much progress so I will know if we actually have a chance for one. Thanks!

 

[MemphisVanessa]

I’m sure the answer is here, but don’t really want to dig. We are staying next month in a savanah view room at animal kingdom lodge. Are those rooms renovated yet? If not any idea how much progress so I will know if we actually have a chance for one. Thanks!

From what I've seen here, there are newly renovated savannah view rooms on the Kudu Trail. You could call and request one of those.

 

[DanielleRhymesWithBelle]

We're there Sept 2-7 for our accidental, unintentional, SWGE opening week stay.
First time staying at AKL. SO so excited.

It's BFs first Disney trip in decades, so I'm looking to show him a good time.
Monitoring room and construction status.