Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo House is a Deluxe Villa Resort that is also a Disney Vacation Club Resort. The villas are located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which mean you get to see animals walking the grounds, just as if you were on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom. 

Overview

Jambo House is inspired by the traditional “kraal,” which is a horseshoe-curved design that offers views savannas where over 30 species of African wildlife can be seen. There’s also African-themed dining, fun pool areas, a range of room selections, including spacious studios and multi-bedroom villas.  

There’s even another Disney Vacation Club resort on property: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village. Animal Kingdom Lodge offers regular guest rooms, whereas the “Villas” refer to DVC accommodations available at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. All of the resorts also share the same dining locations.

The views are unbeatable and to see African animals roaming, all while staring at a 4 lush savannas is unforgettable. Below is everything you need to know about Jambo House.

Rooms And Bathrooms

Jambo House has several room offerings. You can choose from studios, villas, and even rooms with Club-Level Service.

You can even sleep up to 12 people, depending on the type of room you book. There are room layouts below, if you’d like to check them out.

Rooms feature the standard amenities, including a hairdryer, TV, free WiFi, a coffee maker, telephone, in-room safe, and an iron and ironing board. There are also a range of views, including either one of the savannas, landscaping, pool, or the parking area.

The rooms also have both standard and USB outlets scattered around, with some near the beds and TV stands. Unfortunately, there isn’t space underneath the beds for storing luggage. But, there are closest and drawers for you to place your items.

What makes Jambo House rooms great is that they have more amenities than your average Walt Disney World resort, like toasters, microwaves, full-size kitchens or kitchenettes, and some even have a washer, a dryer, and a dishwasher.

As for the bathrooms, they have a nice amount of counter space. Keep in mind that some of the sink and vanity areas in the bathrooms don’t have a separate door. But, there is a door separating the shower/tub combo and toilet.

Now, let’s take a look at the rooms and their offerings.

Studios

• Deluxe Studio — Standard View: Views of Landscaping or Parking Area; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Spacious accommodations include a kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony
• Deluxe Studio — Savanna View: Views of Savanna; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony
• Studio — Value: Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony

Villas

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Savanna View: Views of One of the Savannas; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Value:Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa; Full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer 
• 1 Bedroom Villa — Standard View: Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Great for families, villas include a full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer

• 3 Bedroom Grand Villa — Savanna View: Views of One of the Savannas; Savanna views can be enjoyed throughout this 2300 sq. ft. space—game room included; 1 King Bed and 4 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa

Studios and Villas with Club-Level Service

These rooms and suites have standard amenities, in addition to Club-Level Service perks. They include:

• Evening turndown
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge (serves refreshments 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily)
• Complimentary fax assistance
• Access to Concierge service at the Kilimanjaro Club

Guests also have access to a DVD Player and Disney Signature Services for personal assistance with your trip.

Here are the rooms:

• Deluxe Studio — Club Level: Views of Pool or One of the Savannas; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette, a balcony, and access to the Kilimanjaro Club

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Club Level: Views of Pool or One of the Savannas; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Full kitchen, a dining area, and access to the Kilimanjaro Club

Note: There are also both wheelchair and hearing accessible rooms available that include accessible bathrooms and visual alarms.

Checking In And Out

When it comes to checking in and out, you have a few options: at the front desk, online through the official Walt Disney World website, or via the My Disney Experience app.

The lobby is located in the main building. Even though the front desk is there to assist guests, especially with checking in and checking out, all Disney World Resort guests are encouraged to check-in online or by using MDE.

• Checking-In: After you check-in online or using the app, you’ll receive a room-ready notification via next. You can then use your MagicBand or MDE’s digital key feature to unlock your room door.
• Checking-Out: Currently, guests will automatically be checked out of their rooms. But, if you have unresolved charges to your hotel folio, you’ll need to visit the front desk.

Note: Guests also have the option of to chat virtually with resort Cast Members via MDE for any assistance. 

Jambo House shares a lobby with Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here you’ll find much of the main dining and the Zawadi Marketplace, the resort’s gift shop.

Magical Express pickup and the bus stop are also right outside the main lobby, along with Resort Airline Check-In and luggage storage for those who have checked out or are waiting to check in. (Be sure to check with the resort to see if airline check-in and luggage storage services are available.)

Parking

Parking is available at Jambo House. There is a standard $25 overnight self-parking fee (including tax) that is applied to guests’ hotel folio upon check-out. (If you made resort reservations before June 18, 2020 for an arrival in 2020, the parking fee is only $24 per night.)

Valet parking is also available for $33 per night.

Complimentary standard self-parking is available for non-resort guests exploring dining, shopping, entertainment, and other experiences during the day.

We also have a complete Walt Disney World parking guide you can browse.

Important: Valet parking might not always be available.

Pros And Cons

Resort category: Disney Vacation Club

WDW Prep Favorite: Yes

Pros: Dedicated buses, less expensive than most Deluxe Resorts, great on-site restaurants, 1 of the most gorgeous WDW resorts, Savanna View rooms have view of animals, during less busy times upgrades are often possible

Cons: Not within viewing or walking distance of any theme parks, Standard View could be disappointing, rooms are smaller than average Deluxe Rooms, on-site restaurants are African and may not appeal to everyone

Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House – Temporarily Closed room options

Room type	Bed size	Max people per room	Floor Plan
Studio - Value	Queen	4
Deluxe Studio - Standard View	Queen	4
Deluxe Studio - Savanna View	Queen	4
Deluxe Studio - Club Level	Queen	4
1 Bedroom Villa - Value	King	4
1 Bedroom Villa - Standard View	King	5
1 Bedroom Villa - Savanna View	King	5
1 Bedroom Villa - Club Level	King	5
3 Bedroom Grand Villa - Savanna View	Queen	12

Resort Map

Scheduled refurbishments

Name: Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House - Temporarily Closed

Description:

From: March 31, 2020

To: September 26, 2021

Other info

How to rent DVC points to stay in a Deluxe Villa and pay moderate prices

Photo tour of Animal Kingdom Lodge

DISboards.com thread with lots of pics and info

Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House Resort Maps

Amenities And Shops

There are several amenities offered to guests at Jambo House, including a gift shop, on-site laundry services, and even the chance to watch movies outside on a big screen! 

Important note: Some of the following amenities might not be available at all times.

• Johari Treasures: Find souvenirs, snacks, and plenty of Disney items.
• Zawadi Marketplace: Purchase sundires, snacks, souvenirs, and more.
• Laundry Services: There are 24-hour self-service laundry facilities available. Villas with one or more bedrooms also feature in-unit washers and dryers.
• Dry Cleaning Services: Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are also an option.
• Movies Under the Stars: Watch complimentary Disney movies by the Uzima Springs Pool.
• Jambo House Campfire Activities: Roast marshmallows around a campfire.
• Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center: workout facility and sauna with massages and facial treatments.
• Childcare Services: In-room babysitting for children 6 months to 12 years old.

Pools And Recreation

There’s one main pool at Jambo House, but the pool at Kidani Village is only a short walk. If you need a non-park day, we recommended spending the day at your hotel and enjoying the Disney Resort pool.

Important note: Some of the pools and recreation options might not be available at all times.

The pool available is:

• Uzima Springs Pool: An 11,000 square-foot pool with 234,980 gallons of water. It has a zero-depth entry point and a 67-foot-long waterslide. There’s also a bar and lounge nearby.
• Samawati Springs Pool (located at Kidani Village): 128-foot waterslide and zero-depth-entry with a nearby lounge and bar nearby with refreshments and snacks. There’s also a water playground for kids called Uwanja Camp that features 3 distinct zones for kids of all ages. The zones include: the Observation Station (ages 4 and younger), the Departure Zone (5 to 7 years old), and Base Camp (ages 8 and up).

Some other recreational options include:

• Hakuna Matata Playground
• Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade

How to get from Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House to anywhere at Disney World

There is one form of complimentary transportation available at Jambo House: Walt Disney World buses. You can find the bus stop near the front of the main building.  All of the different ways to get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to anywhere in Disney World is listed below.

Dining options at Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

There are plenty of dining options available at Animal Kingdom Lodge, including lounges, Quick Service spots, and several Table Service choices, like the popular Sanaa (the bread service is a must!). At select locations, Mobile Ordering is also available.

Plus, Sanaa also features Mobile Dine Check-In, meaning you’ll check-in using the My Disney Experience app rather than going to the host stand. When your table is ready, you’ll be notified to proceed to a specific location.

Sanaa also has Table Service To Go, which allows guests to Mobile Order and take their meal back to their room. You can read more about the dining options below.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Everything Else

Dining options at Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, and Jambo House share the same dining options. You can read more about the dining options below.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Everything Else

Trip reports that included Animal Kingdom Lodge

Jim’s April Mom and Son Trip – PREP274

Jim’s April Mom and Son Trip – PREP274