Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[sndral]

What is the difference between a regular room vs a value studio at Jambo? I've never seen the value studios come up as a choice before and I'm guessing they go fast. As far as I can tell, the only differences are:

Two queen beds vs. a queen and a pull out couch
price
no microwave vs. microwave

My son has his heart set on a savannah view but the price difference is substantial, so I'm considering a value studio instead. Anything I need to know about these? Touring Plans room finder shows that many of them have partial savannah views which could be great.

I think, although I could be wrong, that values for AKL villas is the parking lot view, whereas standard could be a pool view. I don't think there's a pool view option for the villas

Touring Plans shows 18 rooms under the "value/studio" category and when I looked at the "view from the balcony" pictures 8 were partial savannah view, 8 were pool view and 2 were parking lot. Am I interpreting "value/studio" category correctly? How accurate is the room map on their site?

Sigh... room categories at AKL are complex.
The DVC villas are all on the 5th floor. The value villas are all on Ostrich or Giraffe trail and have varied views - the two arms at the front of Jambo. They are smaller than the standard or savanna view studio villas by a couple of feet. They are extremely popular because they save points, thus they are typically 100% booked. It's really luck of the draw in terms of view & if you are in a view you don't like (pool, towards parking) you can't change as there won't be an empty value villa to go to w/ a points stay @ least. The savanna views are partial & I suspect not the best, given the locations of the villas.
Standard DVC villas in Jambo have pool or partial savanna views and are on Zebra or Kudu trail. Savanna view DVC villas are on Zebra or Kudu trails and face one of the 3 larger AKL savannas. As I mentioned they are all on the 5th floor.
Concierge villas are on the 6th floor, are very hard to get and don't have the best views.
Regular rooms are located on all floors up to & including the 4th. A standard view can get you partial savanna or front of the building/parking lot on any of the 4 trails - maybe even obstructed pool? Pool view gets you a pool view and savanna view should put you on Zebra or Kudu trail w/ views of one of the 3 main savannas. Regular room categories have changed through time.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Sigh... room categories at AKL are complex.
The DVC villas are all on the 5th floor. The value villas are all on Ostrich or Giraffe trail and have varied views - the two arms at the front of Jambo. They are smaller than the standard or savanna view studio villas by a couple of feet. They are extremely popular because they save points, thus they are typically 100% booked. It's really luck of the draw in terms of view & if you are in a view you don't like (pool, towards parking) you can't change as there won't be an empty value villa to go to w/ a points stay @ least. The savanna views are partial & I suspect not the best, given the locations of the villas.
Standard DVC villas in Jambo have pool or partial savanna views and are on Zebra or Kudu trail. Savanna view DVC villas are on Zebra or Kudu trails and face one of the 3 larger AKL savannas. As I mentioned they are all on the 5th floor.
Concierge villas are on the 6th floor, are very hard to get and don't have the best views.
Regular rooms are located on all floors up to & including the 4th. A standard view can get you partial savanna or front of the building/parking lot on any of the 4 trails - maybe even obstructed pool? Pool view gets you a pool view and savanna view should put you on Zebra or Kudu trail w/ views of one of the 3 main savannas. Regular room categories have changed through time.

Thanks for the explanation! I understand....I think? Heh, it really is confusing. The value studio I'm seeing now is on WDW website, so it would be a booking through them and not DVC points. So I guess that means if you end up right in front of the noisy bus line, you could still ask to be moved (probably to a regular savannah view room, since they seem to be the most common type) and just pay the difference? According to the pics on Touring plans the 8 studios that face the Ostrich Trail have decent savannah views. Not sure why they aren't labeled as such. When I search for "value/studio" on the TP site that's what comes up. I'm wondering if there's a chance you could get assigned one of those rooms. If you are buying through Disney, you'd still get regular housekeeping service and all that, right?

 

[iheartglaciers]

The big Savanna visible from Kidani is also viewed from Kudu and Ostrich trails over in Jambo and is called Sunset Savanna FYI.
Did you see the zebras on Sunset? I know AK/AKL were part of that Zebra specie's captive breeding program and it was sort of a work in progress, just wondering if they are still there?

Thanks for the info! I did see zebras on Sunset two weekends ago, here is a photo:

 

[DisneyDiana]

We are DVC members and stay in the value studios frequently. The studios that overlook the Sunset Savannah are very nice. They overlook a watering hole so you will frequently see antelope, giraffes, zebras, and several kinds of birds. The ones overlooking the parking lot are mainly tree top views and are fairly quiet. Pool views are self explanatory. I really like the value studios as they are in great locations and are only a short walk to the lobby and the elevators.

 

[sndral]

Thanks for the explanation! I understand....I think? Heh, it really is confusing. The value studio I'm seeing now is on WDW website, so it would be a booking through them and not DVC points. So I guess that means if you end up right in front of the noisy bus line, you could still ask to be moved (probably to a regular savannah view room, since they seem to be the most common type) and just pay the difference? According to the pics on Touring plans the 8 studios that face the Ostrich Trail have decent savannah views. Not sure why they aren't labeled as such. When I search for "value/studio" on the TP site that's what comes up. I'm wondering if there's a chance you could get assigned one of those rooms. If you are buying through Disney, you'd still get regular housekeeping service and all that, right?

Probably because they are smaller that the other villas and thus in their own category. Yes if you pay cash for the villa (rather than a DVC points stay via a rental from an owner or your own DVC points) then you will get daily housekeeping - when I did so, tho' the housekeeper tended to forget so I had to call housekeeping a couple of days to remind them.
In terms of switching to a regular room, I don't know, I suspect it might be problematic. But even if you end up over on Giraffe trail or w/out a savanna view, there are lots of places to enjoy the animals throughout Jambo.

Thanks for the info! I did see zebras on Sunset two weekends ago, here is a photo:

THANK YOU! That's them - the Hartman Mt. zebras, can't wait to see them this Dec.!

 

[dansdad]

Touring Plans shows 18 rooms under the "value/studio" category and when I looked at the "view from the balcony" pictures 8 were partial savannah view, 8 were pool view and 2 were parking lot. Am I interpreting "value/studio" category correctly? How accurate is the room map on their site?

In our experience, extremely INaccurate.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

We are DVC members and stay in the value studios frequently. The studios that overlook the Sunset Savannah are very nice. They overlook a watering hole so you will frequently see antelope, giraffes, zebras, and several kinds of birds. The ones overlooking the parking lot are mainly tree top views and are fairly quiet. Pool views are self explanatory. I really like the value studios as they are in great locations and are only a short walk to the lobby and the elevators.

Thanks this is really helpful!

Probably because they are smaller that the other villas and thus in their own category. Yes if you pay cash for the villa (rather than a DVC points stay via a rental from an owner or your own DVC points) then you will get daily housekeeping - when I did so, tho' the housekeeper tended to forget so I had to call housekeeping a couple of days to remind them.
In terms of switching to a regular room, I don't know, I suspect it might be problematic. But even if you end up over on Giraffe trail or w/out a savanna view, there are lots of places to enjoy the animals throughout Jambo.

Good to know! I'm trying to decide if I should lock in one of these rooms now while they are available, with hopefully the option to cancel/modify/change things if need be. Even if we got stuck with a bad view, I do like how AKL has lots of viewing areas around the grounds, so we'd still get to see animals, just not from the room.

 

[disnmooner2013]

My knowledge is based on 3 Wanyama safaris (most recent Jan. 2016) and one lunch w/ an animal specialist @ Sanaa. My understanding is that each savanna's animals leave the savanna for the barn and then move back to their savanna, then husbandry goes to the next barn. I know the keepers do Arusha before Uzima, as they share a barn. Not sure where Sunset fits into the schedule (indeed from the lunch I had the impression that Sunset had it's own keepers.) My guess would be that you saw the Sunset animals as you left because the keepers had finished Sunset savanna and had moved on to Arusha.
Whether they are still doing things in that order I can't say - perhaps someone who has taken the night vision safari or the lunch w/ an animal specialist or done Wanyama very recently can provide the current working rotation/schedule. Or even someone who has asked the CM's at the outlooks what time the animals normally go to their barn might have info. about the current schedule.
These are live animals and although there is a routine - events or issues can create havoc w/ the schedule. Examples being a health concern w/ an animal, introducing new animals or moving them from AK to AKL or savanna to savanna, an animal the dawdles going to or leaving the barn, a giraffe that balks at some minor change, etc..

Great info

 

[disnmooner2013]

http://www.themouseforless.com/walt-disney-world/resort-hotels/movies-under-stars/

These are usually updated on the 3rd or 4th of the new month.

Thanks didn't know mouse for less had them

 

[disnmooner2013]

Thanks for the info! I did see zebras on Sunset two weekends ago, here is a photo:

awesome photo

 

[JessP81]

Can anyone attest to the comfort level of the pullout beds in the villas in jambo House? We have booked a 2 bedroom villa for next year and there are some adults in our party that will have to sleep on the pullout that are concerned they will be small, thin and uncomfortable.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I just booked my first AKL stay for October...of 2018! My son will turn 3 a few days after the trip, so it'll be our last "free" trip with him.

Do you think Disney has a "certifiably insane" pin that they'll send with my vacation materials?

 

[monica9]

....thanks.....it's also important to consider that it takes as much time for those who are staying at a 'monorail resort' to AK/DHS as vice-versa...

I know this is old but I'll chime in. My sister stayed at the GF and she said the transportation was the worst she ever experienced. The monorail from MK at night took her over 45 minutes. And all of the other parks are just as long because they share with the other monorail resorts.

 

[monica9]

Honestly the bus system, we've found is probably one of the best we've encountered..
TBH: The only ride that is remotely longer than other resorts is to MK. & that is maybe 20 minutes...
to Epcot maybe 11 mins.
to HS about 8 or 9
to AK maybe 5
I also thought that I heard a few weeks ago about possibly dedicated buses to MK instead of sharing from the 2 properties.

You mean stopping at Jambo and Kidani before leaving for a park? Did they ever make the switch to dedicated busses?

 

[monica9]

Is the pool walk in? Is there an area where my 13 month old will be able to sit and splash?

 

[DisneyDiana]

Can anyone attest to the comfort level of the pullout beds in the villas in jambo House? We have booked a 2 bedroom villa for next year and there are some adults in our party that will have to sleep on the pullout that are concerned they will be small, thin and uncomfortable.

They are not small or thin. The pull outs are custom made so they are not the traditional type where you feel the horrible bar through the middle. They have nice, thick mattresses but are very hard. I can sleep on them fine but prefer to bring a memory foam mattress topper. I shove it in my suitcase and then pack around it. The pull out twin is very comfortable on its own.

 

[dgbg100106]

We're staying at AKL CL July 18-22. Excited for our first CL stay!

July

Disneyvoice, 15th - 22nd, AKL

AKL_Megs, 17th - 23rd, AKL

Kayteekt, 18th - 22nd, AKL CL

Jump00, 19th - 26th, AKL

Karenklo, 23rd - 29th, AKL

Leebee, 25th - 27th, AKV

 

[dgbg100106]

We officially changed from Yacht Club to AKL savannah view today. We are not staying cl and staying an extra night from May 29-June 5. How are the views of the animals from the savannah view rooms with king beds? Are the king bed rooms also close to the lobby and have great animal views from the balcony? We are hoping for a king bed room since we will have our daughter in a pack and play and figure this gives us more room than 2 queens with a pack n play.

May

Disnmooner2013, 29th - Jun 5th, AKL

 

[dgbg100106]

Our first visit to AKL July 19-25 !!
Booked standard room. Saw where they have bunk bed rooms my girls would LOVE to not have to sleep together (teenagers of course). I hope we get close to lobby though bc I've had a recent foot injury still recovering from. Are there standard bunk bed rooms close to lobby etc?

Also I see there are toiletries in the rooms, do they replenish when we use them? Hope to save space in the luggage but again have 2 teenage girls so they'll be using up the shampoo/conditioner haha

July

Disneyvoice, 15th - 22nd, AKL

AKL_Megs, 17th - 23rd, AKL

Kayteekt, 18th - 22nd, AKL CL

Kelscross, 19th - 25th, AKL

Jump00, 19th - 26th, AKL

Karenklo, 23rd - 29th, AKL

Leebee, 25th - 27th, AKV

 

[CeruleanMoon]

It's official! We are staying in Jambo April 21 - 28, 2018. I am so excited! Thanks to all of you here on Disboards I have learned so much already and it's made the process less stressful. I can't wait and my son is over the moon!