As I write this, I truly hope it’s the last time I publish anything with the words #Jambogate in it. I am sure that anyone with a somewhat vested interest or even remote curiosity in what has been going on with the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas-Jambo House can relate. It has felt like a long and bumpy journey to figure out if this beloved resort would open even before the end of 2020.
As of today, I am hoping we can put that to rest. DVC Members with upcoming Jambo House reservations recently received an email confirming that the Jambo House DVC villas will be opening with very limited amenities.
The email states the following:
Dear Member,
Welcome Home! We are delighted you have chosen Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House as your vacation destination and we look forward to sharing our hospitality with you!
In preparation for your upcoming stay, we would like to inform you that upon the reopening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, Uzima Pool will also open; however, all other amenities such as restaurants and merchandise locations will remain closed. A shuttle from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village will be provided where available merchandise locations and restaurants are located.
To aid in physical distancing efforts, we strongly recommend that you use Online Check-In Service in advance—online or with the My Disney Experience app. If you need to check-in upon arrival, check-in will be at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village front desk.
We appreciate your patience and understanding. Should you need assistance with your reservation or have general questions, please visit our Member Online Booking Tool via DisneyVacationClub.com or contact Disney Vacation Club® Member Services at 800-800-9800 or 407-566-3800 between the hours of 9:00am–9:00pm (ET) Monday through Friday or 9:00am–7:00pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday. One of our Vacation Advisors will be happy to assist you.
Sincerely,
Disney Vacation Club
It’s important to note that not only will amenities such as restaurants and gift shops remain closed, but the front desk will not be available either. Guests needing to use the front desk for any reason will need to visit Kidani Village. We received our email and have a stay at Jambo House coming up in a few weeks as part of a multi-resort stay. I was wondering what this means for luggage service and if we will be dragging our suitcases from Kidani bell services to our room at Jambo House. I’m also wondering if the Uzima Pool Bar will be open. While it does state in the email restaurants will be closed, the pool bar is not listed as closed like The Mara is with the rest of Jambo House restaurants on Disney’s sites.
I hopped on DVC chat and the regular Disney chat at the same time. Member Services didn’t seem to have an answer to my luggage question but did remind me that the internal shuttle will be available regardless. The regular Disney chat assured me that bell services would transfer our luggage to Jambo House. In terms of the Uzima Pool Bar, I was told it wasn’t opening at this time. I’m still perplexed why Disney would leave it unmarked as closed while everything else that is closed is listed that way. Nonetheless, I am just going to be happy to step foot back into that beautiful African lobby and I am really excited at the prospect of a potentially deserted Jambo House. It could make for some great photo opportunities.
I’m interested to hear your thoughts, DVC Fans, especially if you have an upcoming stay at Jambo House. Are you satisfied with the offerings? Are you considering switching resorts? How long do you think the villas will operate without the rest of the hotel? Let us know in the comments below and hopefully, I’ll see you soon at Jambo House!
I think opening a resort without a front desk, restaurants, pool bar, and gym is ridiculous. Not worth the point cost to stay in a deserted hotel, save for one’s fellow guests. Commuting to Kidani for food and service is a poor solution. Disney should be ashamed to qualify Jambo as an “open” resort. So much of this reopening is sad and pathetic—closed restaurants, shuttered pools, missing amenities.
Has there been any additional information on how the airline check-in will work? The last I heard, they said that it would likely be available but limited, and now with so many other things at Jambo House remaining closed, I wonder what they’ll do with that service. We’re not going until September, so I’ll also keep my fingers crossed that more will open up by then.
I don’t believe we’ve seen Airline Check-In open for any resort thus far. Unsure if it will once the theme parks have also reopened.
I just spoke with DVC phone line(18008009800) and they are 100% sure jambo house will not be open at the end of July for our vacation and should expect a phone call to be moved around 7 days prior to the trip. I also received an email from Disney last night stating that jambo house will not be open in the near future
Hey Scott – The Disney Vacation Club website and the communications they have been giving to guests arriving next week suggest otherwise. I’m not sure who you spoke to but all signs right now point to the resort opening July 10th for DVC Members, however, most amenities will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
My Granddaughter and I spent many nights in December 2019 at Jambo House.
It was so beautiful, the memories we made together
there are unforgettable.
My heart aches & feels so blessed at the same time
realizing Disney will never, ever be the experience we enjoyed last December, 2019.
I celebrated my 60th birthday in Disney World with my 4 year old Grandaughter!
It was the most magical time of my Life!