Hi Beth! Thank you so much for bringing your question to
planDisney.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most breathtaking resorts at the
Walt Disney World Resort. There’s truly nothing quite like waking up to the sight of giraffes and zebras roaming just beyond your balcony. I completely understand wanting to know what to expect for your stay, especially when it comes to upcoming refurbishments and how they might affect those beautiful savanna views.
At this time, Disney has announced a refurbishment project for Jambo House that is scheduled to begin in May 2026. However, the exact dates and details of the work haven’t been released yet, so it’s difficult to know whether the specific dates of your May 11–14 stay will overlap with the start of the project. These large-scale refurbishments are carefully scheduled and can shift depending on several factors, including the progress of ongoing work at Kidani Village, which is planned to take place just before the Jambo House updates begin.
To be extra sure, I reached out to a Cast Member who confirmed that during this refurbishment, some savanna views will indeed be partially obstructed. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine in advance whether your specific room will be affected, since construction zones can vary throughout the process and room numbers are assigned at check-in. If you’d like to minimize the chance of an obstructed view, I recommend checking in in person and kindly asking a Cast Member if there are any rooms available with a clear savanna view. While requests can never be guaranteed, the team will always do their best to accommodate you whenever possible.
Even if your room view ends up being impacted, you’ll still have access to alternate savanna viewing areas around the resort. These quiet overlooks often provide wonderful photo opportunities and peaceful moments watching the animals. And if you decide you’d prefer to stay elsewhere, some other excellent
Disney Resorts Collection hotels include Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, each offering its own unique magic and charm!
I hope this helps clear things up for you, Beth. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. We're always available and more than happy to help here at planDisney. Have a magical day!
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula