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Animal Kingdom Lodge
We just returned from a stay at AKL, Jambo House. Overall, it was a great resort and we we really enjoyed our stay. The art work and decor was just beautiful, and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed speaking with several staff posted at the animal viewing areas who were all from Africa (such beautiful accents!).
We visited the pool at Jambo House and at Kidani Village. I like that they have a toddler wading pool at Jambo House that is set apart from the larger pool. It was great to be able to sit on the chaise and let my son play without fear of having to rescue him from deeper water. The splash pads at Kidani Village were great, too. The main pools don't really have any theming, though, which wasn't what I expected. They do have nice water slides. My son especially enjoyed the water slide for younger kids at Kidani Village.
The room was comfortable with beautiful decorations and good beds. The only strange thing was that we had a room overlooking the path where folks walk to catch the buses. Surprisingly, it wasn't noisy at all and it was kind of fun to peek over at everyone heading out and back. But, there was a steep eave over the balcony that resulted in absolutely no view in the room. You had to actually walk onto the balcony to see out. It made the room very dark, which I didn't like at all (Room 3027, in case you want to avoid that).
The gift shop was great and I liked that they had grocery-type items.
We didn't visit any of the sit-down restaurants because I wasn't feeling well and didn't have an appetite for ethnic food. But, I really liked the counter service restaurant there. Unlike other resorts, it wasn't completely packed and congested, even for breakfast. There were good options for both 'theme' food and more traditional American fare.
The buses were fine as much as the buses are (I hate them and normally will just drive...freaks me out to have so many people packed in). There are only two stops...Jambo House and Kidani Village.
The best part of the whole experience was the voicemail we had waiting when we arrived of Mickey and Minnie singing Happy Birthday to my son. He played it at least 30 times, only accidentally calling the front desk twice!
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Thanks for the great review. We love this resort but haven't been in a couple of years. We will be there in 5 days and can't wait. Also staying at Jambo in a studio.
First trip May 1996 and many since
DVC Owner BWV
Next trips 2015 : March SSR, May-AKLV& Poly Oct- BWV & Dec- BCV
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We visited there in August and ate at Boma. I love the AKL, and I thank you for your thoughts about it. I really want to stay here some day!
Viva Darth Macho!
APR '98: Wilderness Lodge, 9 days, Honeymoon
OCT '99: Coronado Springs, 8 days, Halloween
AUG '03: All Star Music, 8 days, Summer Fun
AUG '10: Port Orleans Riverside, 10 days, Summer Celebration!
AUG '12: Pop Century, 14 days, My Dream Trip!
AUG '17: Hoping!
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Thanks for the review! I love hearing about this resort, as it is one my DH and I really want to stay at in the future. Sounds wonderful!
~Lisa~
WDW trips:
April, 1991- Honeymoon-offsite
Nov.1992-offsite
Nov.1995-offsite
April 2001-offsite
Dec. 2004-Wilderness Lodge, AS Sports
Aug. 2007- offsite
Mar 2008- AS Movies
Dec. 2008- Wilderness Lodge
Dec. 2010-AS Movies, CBR
Aug. 2011- Beach Club
Mar. 2012- AS Movies
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Glad to hear you enjoyed AKL. It really is a lovely resort. We will be staying there for our third time in November for DD Sweet 16. This is where she wanted to stay --- she loves the pool there.
TRACEY
șOș
Disneyland as a kid
11/02-POFQ * 07/04-Disneyland PPH * 11/05-AKL * 10/08-CBR * 12/10-WL * 11/11-AKL * 11/12-AKL * 11/13-GF * 11/14-AKL * 06/15-Poly * 12/15-YC * 5/16-BWI * 12/16-BC * 5/17-Poly * 10/17-GF * 12/18-POFQ * 12/19-YC * 12/20-CSR * 12/21-BC * 3/22-CSR
Next: 9/22*BWI
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I agree...AKL is awesome and IMHO the best resort to actually be at while at WDW....the lobby is wonderful to sit, read or people watch in, the restaurants are unique, the pool is great and then you have the animals to top things off.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
CR 74, 7, 11 Offsite 79,80,98,00,8 (2) Sports 94 DD 02 AKL 05, 08 AKLV 8 WL 6, 10 POP 07, 13 Movies 08 CBR 08 Swan 08 POFQ 08,11 CSR 08,13 FWC 09,13 Music 09 SSR-Tree 09 POR 10 12 Poly 10 (2) YC 10, BC 10, GF 10, AoA 13, OKW 13, Dream 11, next fwc 1/2014
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AKL is incerdible !! We stayed there for the first time this July and I am hooked. We had visited on several occasions, had dinner there, but to stay was perfection. We had a great Savanah View room with the animals sleeping, eating, or just meandering around beneath our balcony. I will probably stay other places out of necessity, however if and when possible I will be at AKL !!!
80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
11PORJan/11PORApr/12ASPJun/12AKLJul/12POPNov/13AKL/
14FQJun/14POPJul/14PORNov/15POPFeb/15FQJun/15AoADec/16ASPNov/17AoAJun/ 17POPSep/18CBJun/19PORApr/
IN GOD WE TRUST !!
STEELERS, SIX TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS
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I'm afraid AKL has spoiled us. We've stayed 3 times, and now really can't think of staying elsewhere. We love the animals, the decor, the delicious cooking smells, the restaurants, the cast members, the pin trading... I could go on and on.
Kathy
Many trips from childhood to 2008, WDW/DLP
8/09: Ultimate Adventurer Trip, WL Concierge/AKL
6/10: POFQ
12/10: Mousefan Reunion (Pop)
8/11, 7/12: AKL Concierge
10/12: ICOT 15th solo trip (Pop)
4/13: Pop
7/13: Hilton Bonnet Creek
7/14: 3 nights at BLT
12/14: US, IOA, and WDW
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DH and I are headed back to AKL for the third time this Oct. for a couple of nights before joining up with my In-Laws at YC. We love AKL! I stuggle to get DH to stay anywhere else. I have WL picked out to stay at for our next Christmas trip and he wants to go to AKL. He feels they are so similar why not have the animals as well. I just want to see WL at Christmas(We already did AKL at Christmas).
2008 Oct-POR & BC
2009 Oct- CS
2009 Dec- AKL & CRB
2010 April - Dolphin
2010 Oct- BWI
2011 April - POR
2011 Oct - AKL
2012 April - Poly
2012 Oct - AKL & YC
2013 April - WL
2013 Oct - AKL
2014 Jan - CS
2014 April - YC & POR
2014 Oct - WL & YC
2014 Dec - PORFQ
2015 April - BC
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The boat at WL lodge is huge plus!
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We love AKL... With the woodfire going all the time, it gets ingrained into your head. Now, whenever we smell woodfire, we are instantly transported back to AKL.
DVC Owner: BCV in 2002 & AKV in 2008
18 visits home between 2000 and 2014
Next up:
AKV in September 2014
BCV in December 2015
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Originally Posted by Mitzie
DH and I are headed back to AKL for the third time this Oct. for a couple of nights before joining up with my In-Laws at YC. We love AKL! I stuggle to get DH to stay anywhere else. I have WL picked out to stay at for our next Christmas trip and he wants to go to AKL. He feels they are so similar why not have the animals as well. I just want to see WL at Christmas(We already did AKL at Christmas).
You can always visit the Wilderness Lodge. Plan a meal there or just go there to see the decorations. I would choose Animal Kingdom Lodge over Wilderness Lodge.
Steve (aka brownie)
INTERCOT Staff: Accommodations & Mousellaneous
ASMv 4/00, 10/01, 11/03, 5/21
ASMu 8/12, 11-12/22
AKL 6/18
BC 9/94
CSR 8/14, 3-4/22
POP 11-12/10, 3/12, 10/12, 7/17, 4/22
POFQ 10/01
POR 9/04, 1/16, 11/19
WL 12/03
Disneyland 6/07, 1/15
Disney Dream 8/14
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Love AKL! We've stayed there twice now, after initially thinking we wouldn't like it. How wrong we were! Glad you had a good time.
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Originally Posted by brownie
You can always visit the Wilderness Lodge. Plan a meal there or just go there to see the decorations. I would choose Animal Kingdom Lodge over Wilderness Lodge.
SHHHH! We can't let DH get wind of that opinion...it will only fuel his ideas..no more crazy talk now!
2008 Oct-POR & BC
2009 Oct- CS
2009 Dec- AKL & CRB
2010 April - Dolphin
2010 Oct- BWI
2011 April - POR
2011 Oct - AKL
2012 April - Poly
2012 Oct - AKL & YC
2013 April - WL
2013 Oct - AKL
2014 Jan - CS
2014 April - YC & POR
2014 Oct - WL & YC
2014 Dec - PORFQ
2015 April - BC
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Originally Posted by Mitzie
SHHHH! We can't let DH get wind of that opinion...it will only fuel his ideas..no more crazy talk now!
Sorry, I'm with him on this one!
Steve (aka brownie)
INTERCOT Staff: Accommodations & Mousellaneous
ASMv 4/00, 10/01, 11/03, 5/21
ASMu 8/12, 11-12/22
AKL 6/18
BC 9/94
CSR 8/14, 3-4/22
POP 11-12/10, 3/12, 10/12, 7/17, 4/22
POFQ 10/01
POR 9/04, 1/16, 11/19
WL 12/03
Disneyland 6/07, 1/15
Disney Dream 8/14
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Dec.11-18, 2021 Port Orleans Riverside
Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2017, Port Orleans Riverside
Oct. 29-Nov.4, 2014-Yacht Club
Dec. 17-23 2011-Wilderness Lodge
Dec. 20-30, 2008-Pop Century
Dec. 25,2005-Jan.1, 2006-Coronado Springs
Jan. 1-7, 2003-All Star Movies
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Originally Posted by Melanie
Love AKL! We've stayed there twice now, after initially thinking we wouldn't like it. How wrong we were! Glad you had a good time.
Ours was the opposite experience! Couldn't wait to stay, and then were so bothered by the confined animals, we found we couldn't enjoy it!
We love the decor of the AKL, and the fabulous restaurants there, and you are right that the shop is so fabulous!
Jennifer (aka Mickey'sGirl)
INTERCOT Staff: Guests with Special Needs, Dining and Disney Characters
Last trip: March 2016 - Fantasy
Next trip: Aug 2017 - Aulani
I am a Galactic Hero once more!
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Originally Posted by Mickey'sGirl
Ours was the opposite experience! Couldn't wait to stay, and then were so bothered by the confined animals, we found we couldn't enjoy it!
We love the decor of the AKL, and the fabulous restaurants there, and you are right that the shop is so fabulous!
Confined animals ?? They are better taken care of there than in the wild or in another place under "captivity".
Our Savannah View room gave us so many days of animal viewing and I don't think any looked bothered by being there, they seemed very content, happy !! Plus their natural predators will not harm them......even man !!
80 1st./04POR/05POR/06POR/07POR/08POR/09POR/10POR/
11PORJan/11PORApr/12ASPJun/12AKLJul/12POPNov/13AKL/
14FQJun/14POPJul/14PORNov/15POPFeb/15FQJun/15AoADec/16ASPNov/17AoAJun/ 17POPSep/18CBJun/19PORApr/
IN GOD WE TRUST !!
STEELERS, SIX TIME SUPERBOWL CHAMPS
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AKL is definitely hands down our favorite resort on property. There is not one negative I can even think about. The cast members are just wonderful at this resort. They go above and beyond.
And the animals are just simply amazing! They are just beautiful to watch.
There are definitely no confined animals that is for sure! Lots and lots of area for them to eat, roam, play, sleep, and rest. They are definitely happy and healthy animals and have a wonderful staff that makes sure they are.
The food is divine. The Mara has the best cous cous!
The pool is just wonderful. My son would love it if he could live in AKL.
We just got home on Friday and cannot wait to go back for another trip!
Glad the OP enjoyed it so much. Sorry you werent feeling well Hope you are all better now!
First Trip '77
Disney Cast Member WDW '98
1st yr Anniversary Trip '02
DVC mem '04
Family Reunion '05! & Dads 70th '11
Found out we were having a baby' Disneyland, CA March '08
1st TRIP for DS 7/09 BIL WDW Wedding!
Found out baby #2 was coming WDW 5/11
#2 1st trip Sept'12 & Son#1 5th trip!
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