What is going on with the design of Animal Kingdom Lodge?

[HansGruber]

I've parked in every one of their parking lots and absolutely NONE are themed. so exactly what are you expecting from a parking garage. heck the lots at the parks themselves are pretty basic. Why would expect a PARKING lot to fit the theme of an African grassland?? again serious question, how does one theme a parking lot/garage. You honestly can't see the bit of ridiculousness in that expection?

Huh? I never said or inferred that it should be themed! I stated that none of the Disney resorts have underground parking or a parking garage. Why on earth would they start with AKL of all resorts?!
And if the point of underground parking is to hide the cars, why didn't they create underground parking for Jambo house?! Surely, you can see the discrepancy in logic here.

Now as far as the resorts themselves, remember the preserves are basically for the animals.

It's for the animals, for the guests and above all...for PROFIT! I saw the cleverly hidden electric fences. Please don't tell me AKL is "for the animals" while they are getting electrocuted for our enjoyment and for Disney's profit.

It wouldn't have been invasive to the animals to place a 5th story lookout or observation deck on the ends of Kidani.

 

[HansGruber]

I believe you said it right here.

Ugh. A parking lot is not the same as underground parking. My OP only mentions only underground parking; someone else brought up the Jambo parking log. There has been a clear distinction throughout the entire thread.

 

[epcotisbest]

Yes, because accepting free money is the same as having an opinion on a $300+/night resort.
No offense, but if you have anything constructive to add, please do. But your passive-aggressive attitude is sad and counter-intuitive to the discussion.

Wow

 

[Shouldigo12]

While I love the idea of underground parking, it doesn’t exactly go along with the idea or the theme of being on an African safari.

Again, I like the underground parking, but it doesn't fit with the theme at all.

In regards to parking, you stated:


But the parking is NOT the same at both buildings. Kidani is underground, Jambo is a parking lot.
I understand the intent was to hide the cars, but that doesn't deviate from my original point that a parking garage doesn't exactly fit the theme of a resort resembling Africa. Most, if not all (someone educate me here) Disney World resorts don't have underground parking. Why start with AKL?

 

[Shouldigo12]

Huh? I never said or inferred that it should be themed! I stated that none of the Disney resorts have underground parking or a parking garage. Why on earth would they start with AKL of all resorts?!
And if the point of underground parking is to hide the cars, why didn't they create underground parking for Jambo house?! Surely, you can see the discrepancy in logic here.




It's for the animals, for the guests and above all...for PROFIT! I saw the cleverly hidden electric fences. Please don't tell me AKL is "for the animals" while they are getting electrocuted for our enjoyment and for Disney's profit.

It wouldn't have been invasive to the animals to place a 5th story lookout or observation deck on the ends of Kidani.

Come on man. Stop trying to act like you haven't said things you clearly have. The parking lot not matching the theme is something you've brought up several times.

 

[HansGruber]

Swing a miss.

We're talking about this:

I mean you say you like the parking lot...

Never once wrote that I liked the Jambo parking lot. I wrote that I liked the idea of underground parking but that it didn't go with the African safari vibe and that it's peculiar to build one of Disney's first underground parking at AKL and not at another one of Disney's dozen+ resorts.

It begs the question, what does my like or dislike of underground parking have to do with my original point?
I also like a good baseball game, it doesn't mean I want a baseball stadium built in the middle of AKL.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Huh? I never said or inferred that it should be themed! I stated that none of the Disney resorts have underground parking or a parking garage. Why on earth would they start with AKL of all resorts?!
And if the point of underground parking is to hide the cars, why didn't they create underground parking for Jambo house?! Surely, you can see the discrepancy in logic here.




It's for the animals, for the guests and above all...for PROFIT! I saw the cleverly hidden electric fences. Please don't tell me AKL is "for the animals" while they are getting electrocuted for our enjoyment and for Disney's profit.

It wouldn't have been invasive to the animals to place a 5th story lookout or observation deck on the ends of Kidani.

ok that I'm totally misunderstanding, this is what you originally posted. You made mentioned of the underground parking lot and the the walk from kidani to Jambo not being "themed" in any way.

So how can I possible misunderstand?

The theming is beautiful, the animals are very cool but my god…the design of the entire resort is so baffling to me.

We stayed in Kidani village. While I love the idea of underground parking, it doesn’t exactly go along with the idea or the theme of being on an African safari.

While in Kidani, the only way to walk across the entire complex is by going on floor #2. If you attempt to view the animals throughout the entire complex on any of the upper floors, you will be met with dead-ends.

Perhaps I missed them, but why aren’t there any animal look-out or watch-out points littered throughout the complex? The only way to see the animals is through windows in the hallways of the resort, the sightlines of which aren't that great. I thought for sure there would be outside decks or over-hangs with which to observe.

The walk from Kidani to Jambo house is incredibly long and very disjointed. You have to go outside, across multiple intersections and walk by some loud service/ machinery building. None of it is themed in any way. And we also got lost on the way over to Kidani on our first trip. Why didn’t they build a skyway across the animal field connecting Kidani to Jambo house? It would take me 45 minutes just to get a late night snack.

Even Jambo house is confusing. You have to walk down half a flight of stairs to get to the bar, then another half flight and outside in order to get to the indoor café area.

Again, beautiful resort but I feel like a high schooler designed the place.

Now as to whether or not they are "electrocuting" the animals?? I think it might be more of the electronic fence I have for my dog, more irritating than "electrocuting".

and lastly yes, it is for profit. It's a hotel, the object of a hotel is for people to pay to stay there. the two are not mutually exclusive

 

[Shouldigo12]

Swing a miss.

We're talking about this:



Never once wrote that I liked the Jambo parking lot. I wrote that I liked the idea of underground parking but that it didn't go with the African safari vibe and that it's peculiar to build one of Disney's first underground parking at AKL and not at another one of Disney's dozen+ resorts.

It begs the question, what does my like or dislike of underground parking have to do with my original point?
I also like a good baseball game, it doesn't mean I want a baseball stadium built in the middle of AKL.

I already showed you where you said you liked the underground parking. I understand you have a problem with the theme. If you had understood my post, something you have chided others for not doing, you would have known that what I was saying is that people think it's a bit odd to admit you like underground parking but are still unhappy with the garage because it isn't themed enough. Don't throw stones in glass houses- if you're going to accuse other people of having bad reading comprehension, maybe you should make sure you can actually understand what people are saying yourself.
"I wrote that I liked the idea of underground parking but that it didn't go with the African safari vibe....."
And just for fun, here's yet another example of you stating the parking doesn't go with the theme (oh I'm sorry, vibe) of AKL even though just a few posts ago you were absolutely shocked someone could get the idea your problem with the parking lot was that it didn't match the theme of the resort.

 

[HansGruber]

I’m just going to assume English is a second language for you. I’ve posted in plain English and your replies have been in anything but. The way you have osmosed my points into one generic and blended point is truly staggering.

Next, I’ll be accused of trying to turn AKL into a baseball stadium. Only on this board...

 

[Shouldigo12]

I’m just going to assume English is a second language for you. I’ve posted in plain English and your replies have been in anything but. The way you have osmosed my points into one generic and blended point is truly staggering.

Next, I’ll be accused of trying to turn AKL into a baseball stadium. Only on this board...

And here's the biggest problem of all. "People aren't agreeing with me, so I'm just going to be rude and insult people." No one is misinterpreting your points here. We all get exactly what you're saying. The issue is that most of don't agree with them and think your complaints are petty (parking lots), easily avoidable (the walk), or there for a good reason (not enough viewing areas). We're not understanding why these things bothered you so much you felt the need to make a thread about it. And I don't understand why when people explained you could have just taken a shuttle, or that wanting an in theme parking lot doesn't make sense, or why the resort isn't littered with viewing areas, you decided to get rude.

 

[HansGruber]

If you think what I posted is “rude”, then you really need to get some thicker skin. You accused me of making a statement that I never made. When I call you out on it, you change the subject. At least give me the decency of a spirited debate, not just throwing stuff at a wall and seeing what sticks.

 

[Stellajack]

But, it's not a safari. It's a resort in the middle of a massive tourist area that starts at $300/night.

We haven't stayed in Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) since 2010, but one thing every guest is made aware of is this: This resort is the animals' home. The "tourists" are simply guests at the animals' home. It is an incredible resort. Yes, there are places to observe animals out on THEIR savanna and it is up to the guest tourist to seek out those places. Yes, it is an expensive resort, but IMO worth every penny. I love the serenity and quiet of the savanna, especially at night. I hear your frustration, but this is not ALL about Disney greed. It's "nahtazu".

 

[Shouldigo12]

If you think what I posted is “rude”, then you really need to get some thicker skin. You accused me of making a statement that I never made. When I call you out on it, you change the subject. At least give me the decency of a spirited debate, not just throwing stuff at a wall and seeing what sticks.

Actually I pointed out several places you did make those comments. And I don't recall changing the subject. When I called you out on lying again and trying to act like it was just so crazy someone would think you had a problem with an unthemed parking lot, despite complaining over and over that it didn't match the theme of the resort, you got rude and insulted me. You seem to have the odd habit of forgetting what's actually said in this thread, especially when it comes to your own comments.

 

[nickys]

In regards to parking, you stated:


But the parking is NOT the same at both buildings. Kidani is underground, Jambo is a parking lot.
I understand the intent was to hide the cars, but that doesn't deviate from my original point that a parking garage doesn't exactly fit the theme of a resort resembling Africa. Most, if not all (someone educate me here) Disney World resorts don't have underground parking. Why start with AKL?



My OP clearly states:


Again, thank you for completely ignoring my post while attempting to deviate from the original topic. You can lead a horse to water...

Maybe they added the underground parking when they built Kidani because otherwise there wouldn’t have been room for the pool area? Pretty sure the Kidani pool area is actually backed right up against the boundary of WDW property. If they’d had to add a massive concrete normal parking lot, there would have been no pool.