Hello this will be our first trip and we would really like to stay at one of the resorts in AKL with a savanna view. My questions are which resort has the best savanna views? Is the AKL and the AKL jambo two different resorts? We are going to request and hope for a savanna view that is up close and personal, where we can literally see animals walking by our balcony so definitely nothing on the higher levels. How close is the view from 1st-3rd floor? Also which savanna were you in? Any responses would be appreciated!
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AKL resorts Savanna view
- Thread starter Sade
- Start date
sxeensweet
Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
If you want to stay in a standard hotel room it will only be at Jambo. If it's a DVC room type that can be booked through Disney or by using/renting points (deluxe studio or Villas) it could be at both. Kidani Village is only DVC type rooms and Jambo has both. And both have great Savannah views in the Savannah view rooms. We prefer Kidani but some prefer Jambo. 
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You should want to be on the 3rd or 4th floor. You won't be able to see as much from the first or second floor, as much can happen in the distance.
Look for photos online - the animals can only come within 100-200? feet of the rooms. There is a road that is between the savannah and the resort that vehicles use and the animals cannot get onto that road (except for birds and a few other small animals).
It is amazing to wake up and look out and see dozens of gazelle asleep in the grass, or to watch giraffe galloping across the savannah in the distance.
crbrown25
Well-Known Member
We've stayed in Savanna View rooms at both Kidani and Jambo. You really can't go wrong either way. I would recommend requesting Arusha view at Jambo, and Sunset view at Kidani (both are facing "inward", check out maps of each resort and you'll see what I mean) I would also recommend a higher floor, as it gives you a wider view of the area. And bring good binoculars, there's so much to see!
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
So AKL is indeed the resort, and it has two separate buildings, Kidani Village and Jambo House. If you are staying in a normal hotel room, then you would be in Jambo House as Kidani is DVC only, while Jambo is a mix. All the rooms are roughly equidistant from one of the savannas, but overlook different places/features. Animal care staff does a good job of spreading out the feed lures to help to ensure that all guests get a chance to see animals.
TouringPlans.com has a good tool you can use to see what your room view would be based upon the different rooms. Keep in mind that you would usually want to request a particular trail and floor, and not much else as otherwise the room assigner doesn't know what you are really looking for when you make a request.
TouringPlans.com has a good tool you can use to see what your room view would be based upon the different rooms. Keep in mind that you would usually want to request a particular trail and floor, and not much else as otherwise the room assigner doesn't know what you are really looking for when you make a request.
BigRedDad
Well-Known Member
"Savanna" view is EXTREMELY subjective and expensive with no guarantee of what you see. We booked, paid for, and received our Savanna view. We had a view of an ankole cattle (just 1) that never left. I wanted to think it was tied up there but it wasn't. The once in a blue moon an ostrich would wander by. At 5PM, they did the giraffe walk through for 10 minutes. For the ~$100 more per night, we really got nothing for it. Unless you are paying for a view of Arusha rock or one of the premium Savannas, simply stay in the cheapest room and walk out to view the animals at the viewing stations.
DisneyDreamer08
Well-Known Member
We have only stayed at AKL once, and it was many years ago, so maybe someone else can back me up here Our room overlooked the Uzima Savanna which is much smaller than the main savanna. We really liked it. The animals were always close to our balcony and we always had lots to see. We ventured out to the viewing area which overlooks the main savanna once during our stay. Because it is so large, the animals were way in the back and we could barely see them. Or they were blocked by far away trees and what not. I don't know if you can request the Uzima savanna but it might be worth looking into.
Our room overlooked the Uzima Savanna which is much smaller than the main savanna. We really liked it. The animals were always close to our balcony and we always had lots to see. We ventured out to the viewing area which overlooks the main savanna once during our stay. Because it is so large, the animals were way in the back and we could barely see them. Or they were blocked by far away trees and what not. I don't know if you can request the Uzima savanna but it might be worth looking into.
contrariwise
Well-Known Member
We stayed on Uzima too (4th floor) at Jambo and really liked it. We had requested Arusha and were really disappointed not to get it, but when we saw Uzima, the disappointment vanished. There were always animals there, up close and personal -- giraffes, zebra, ankole cattle, little scurrying things, birds. We eventually stayed in a room with Arusha view, and were disappointed. There were less animals, they were less active, and it seems like there was more foliage in the way. YMMV. The moral of the story is if they put you on Uzima, check it out before complaining. I would request Uzima based on our experiences. That said, it was a trek to the room on Uzima savanna.We have only stayed at AKL once, and it was many years ago, so maybe someone else can back me up here
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DisneyDreamer08
Well-Known Member
The location of our room wasn't bad. We were pretty close to the pool and food court. It is my understanding that all rooms are (purposely) far from the buses. We were told the constant noise is disruptive to the animals so the bus stop is quite the distance from the lobby and savanna areas on purpose.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Counter-point, there are many "standard" view rooms that do have a view of the savanna, but it might be partially obstructed or otherwise less-than-perfect for Disney to sell it as a savanna view. Twice in the last three years, we've had standard view rooms that overlooked the sunset savanna. The first time, there was a fenced off concrete area that the keepers used for their vehicles and supplies, but it didn't obstruct our view of the savanna at all. This last trip, we were in the very first room on the second floor down the steps from the main lobby. The kitchen exhaust fan from Boma blew right on our balcony and smelled AMAZING.
It's not perfect, but it was half the price of actually paying for savanna view.
BigRedDad
Well-Known Member
That looks exactly like the view we had for "Savanna" view. Our room was to the right of this. We paid a hefty premium for this view (almost $100 more a night). The ankole cattle sat right in the middle of that grass the whole time and never moved when we were there. If you wanted to see a giraffe, it had to be at the exact time they herded them to Sunset Overlook. That was the only time they were there.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
You have the worst experiences at Disney World.
BigRedDad
Well-Known Member
I have the worst luck at Disney. I still enjoy the experiences. This was the last trip we paid for a view. Since then, we have gotten much better with the standard views. BWV and SSR had excellent views for Standard.
Zipadeelady
Well-Known Member
What is it about Kidani that you like better than Jambo. We are renting points and I have to give my preference? I need helpIf you want to stay in a standard hotel room it will only be at Jambo. If it's a DVC room type that can be booked through Disney or by using/renting points (deluxe studio or Villas) it could be at both. Kidani Village is only DVC type rooms and Jambo has both. And both have great Savannah views in the Savannah view rooms. We prefer Kidani but some prefer Jambo.
sxeensweet
Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
What is it about Kidani that you like better than Jambo. We are renting points and I have to give my preference? I need help
Are you staying in a studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom?? This is where some of the big differences come from. Kidani was built from ground up as DVC rooms , Jambo took regular hotel rooms and turned some into DVC room so they are a little smaller and not as nice to us. 1 and 2 bedrooms have a whole extra bathroom than those at Jambo. Kidani 1 bedroom villas have 2 full bathrooms of which the master is a lot bigger than Jambos master bath with a seperate large jacuzzi tub and seperate huge shower etc. In the extra bathroom is a tub shower combo. Jambo in its sole master bath only has a tub shower combo. Also Kidani's 2 bedroom villas have 3 full bathrooms and Jambo only has 2.
Now if you are staying in a studio they are very similar at both. Also we love how Kidani is a little more Intimate and just for us overall is better and Jambo is just a quick walk or ride next door. Also if you have a car at Kidani you get to park in the parking garage under the hotel which is nice.
Zipadeelady
Well-Known Member
We will be staying in a studio and this trip for us is mostly a relaxing at the resort trip, so pool is important, and the bar.Are you staying in a studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom?? This is where some of the big differences come from. Kidani was built from ground up as DVC rooms , Jambo took regular hotel rooms and turned some into DVC room so they are a little smaller and not as nice to us. 1 and 2 bedrooms have a whole extra bathroom than those at Jambo. Kidani 1 bedroom villas have 2 full bathrooms of which the master is a lot bigger than Jambos master bath with a seperate large jacuzzi tub and seperate huge shower etc. In the extra bathroom is a tub shower combo. Jambo in its sole master bath only has a tub shower combo. Also Kidani's 2 bedroom villas have 3 full bathrooms and Jambo only has 2.
Now if you are staying in a studio they are very similar at both. Also we love how Kidani is a little more Intimate and just for us overall is better and Jambo is just a quick walk or ride next door. Also if you have a car at Kidani you get to park in the parking garage under the hotel which is nice.
Also where is a good section to request? floor?
sxeensweet
Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
Kidani has a great pool and also bar that is with Saana. Also you are allowed to go next door and use the pool and bar at Jambo and vice versa being they are sister resorts. We prefer 3rd or 4th floor at Kidani.We will be staying in a studio and this trip for us is mostly a relaxing at the resort trip, so pool is important, and the bar.
Simba's Mom
Well-Known Member
Everyone has a different experience however! When I've stayed at Jambo, I always see lots of animals. Yet at Kidani, even though I was on the Sunset Savannah, which shares with Jambo, I saw virtually no animals, never a giraffe all week, which I've seen regularly on the Sunset Savannah from Jambo. So based on my experience, I'd say don't pay extra for the savannah view at Kidani, but do at Jambo!
sxeensweet
Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
That's the opposite of our experience on Sunset Savannah at Kidani. Sunset Savannah we always see giraffes galore and the other animals while we are there. Now Pembe Savannah at Kidani you don't see giraffes but Pembe exclusively has the Okapi which is a beautiful creature and the only Savannah outside of AK park you will see it. There is less animals on that Savannah due to the Okapi needing to be seperate from some other species. But Sunset we love it and usually see plenty of the animals there staying at Kidani.
