Kindani and Jambo house [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

CandleontheWater

06-04-2008, 11:10 AM

I keep reading you AKL owners mentioning these two buildings and I was wondering what the advantages/disadvantages were at buying at one verus the other. If you buy at Kindani can you not stay at Jambo? I own at SSR and I hope to stay at AKL in 2010, so I was curious to see if I would be allow to make a ressie for either building.

KyleRayner

06-04-2008, 11:16 AM

You'll be able to make a ressie in either building. I would think like making any other ressie at a DVC resort, you can put in a request for what building you want to stay in. But I have to say, once Kidani is complete, I can't see anyone requesting Jambo over Kidani. The only way you would get put in Jambo I guess would be if Kidani happened to be completely booked and there was no room, then I guess you would have to stay in Jambo.

By the way, you guys look cute in your Mickey Ears!!!

Disney_Villain

06-04-2008, 12:24 PM

There is no difference in owning Kidani or Jambo . . . as far as ressies are concerned. This just shows what portion of the complex was sold.

To explain this with a comparison: Our deeds at OKW and SSR have specific building numbers on them, of which we legally own a portion (like a condo). If we own at OKW's "building 55", that has no bearing on our ressies at OKW.

ktbugsmom

06-04-2008, 02:28 PM

KyleRayner

06-04-2008, 02:31 PM

Here is a question for KyleRayner - why wouldn't anyone want to stay at Jambo? I am not flaming at all - I am just curious. :confused3

I bought a small add on at AKV with the hopes of concierge occassionally (have it booked for January!) and the occassional long weekend trip. Now concierge is ONLY at Jambo, but I would think that staying at in a regular room at Jambo would be nice due to the main resort location.

To be honest, I never gave much thought to the Kidani addition and the benefits of that addition. Is it going to be that much nicer than Jambo? If so - why? Hmmm... if it is that much nicer, maybe I need more points! :)

You bring up a good point that I wasn't aware of. I didn't know concierge was only available at the Jambo house. I was just thinking that Kidani was going to have its own pool, its own restaurants, etc., that it would be nice to be in a brand new building and not have to go over to Jambo to use their facilities if you didn't have to.

bobbiwoz

06-04-2008, 02:32 PM

We've stayed in a value studio, and I will be staying in a value 1 bedroom soon. These point values make it certain that I'll be requesting Jambo sometimes!

Bobbi:)

ktbugsmom

06-04-2008, 02:48 PM

New is always fun, but I was just wondering if I was missing something else! :) I will be honest, I have been a DVC member (BWV) for about 5 years, we had stayed at AKL and really liked it, so I talked DH into a small add on (50 points) - and did not really do much research! I just knew we enjoyed the AK Lodge and the restaurants - and knew we would like a change of pace from time to time. However, since we can use the facilities at Kidani even when staying at Jambo - I won't mind the walk if we stay at Jambo - I am used to those LONG hallways at BWV! :rotfl:

KyleRayner

06-04-2008, 02:50 PM

I am used to those LONG hallways at BWV! :rotfl:

:rotfl2:

Deb & Bill

06-04-2008, 03:58 PM

Here is a question for KyleRayner - why wouldn't anyone want to stay at Jambo? I am not flaming at all - I am just curious. :confused3 ...

I look at it the other way. Why would anyone want to stay in Jambo House? There are no dedicated two bedrooms. There are no separate shower/tubs in the bathrooms, only the combos like in studios.

wildernessDad

06-04-2008, 04:14 PM

I look at it the other way. Why would anyone want to stay in Jambo House? There are no dedicated two bedrooms. There are no separate shower/tubs in the bathrooms, only the combos like in studios.

Answer: Concierge, value-point rooms, standard-point rooms.

Deb & Bill

06-04-2008, 04:15 PM

Answer: Concierge, value-point rooms, standard-point rooms.

Who wants smaller rooms?? Not me.

snowwhitemom

06-04-2008, 05:12 PM

bobbiwoz

06-04-2008, 05:32 PM

Ok forgive me here what are the two differ between the two. Why is one better or different? I stayed at a one bedroom in AK in Oct. have no idea where or anything else....just like the normal lodge but a 1br.....hummmm I am way confused, nothing new.:confused3

You stayed in Jambo, the only AKV building opened now. Once Kidani Village is opened, you will have a choice of which building. Kidani will be newer and will have a wonderful water play area. There will be 2 full bathrooms in the 1 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms in the 2 bedrooms. There will be standard view and savannah view. Right now, in Jambo house, if you get a standard view, you will have a pool view, in Kidani, the standard view will be of the parking area (this I think I've read).

Only Jambo have the value sized rooms. They are smaller but they cost less, and with them you actually have a chance of parking lot, pool or savannah view. We had a value savannah view studio in December, and we saw animals. It was a good deal for the Saturday night points.

Once Kidani opens, we'll have a better idea of demand. I suppose the savannah 1 -2 bedrooms in Kidani will be booked first. Why not? More bathrooms, and the bathrooms will have better amenities....yes, a real whirlpool, not just in the tub/shower combination. People who want standard will have to make a decision, extra bath, or pool view.

There are lots more people who can give you more distinctions between the two buildings, I'm sure.

Bobbi:)

snowwhitemom

06-04-2008, 05:38 PM

Thanks so much for the info!!!!! so will both have GV??hummmm. the pics i saw were so great of the GV ..... I just have to stay there one day and blow mass amount of points...LOL

bobbiwoz

06-04-2008, 06:11 PM

Thanks so much for the info!!!!! so will both have GV??hummmm. the pics i saw were so great of the GV ..... I just have to stay there one day and blow mass amount of points...LOL

Yes, there will be GV's in both buildings!
Bobbi:)

shellybaxter

06-04-2008, 06:14 PM

I guess I just assumed that your would make a reservation for either Kidani or Jambo because of the two different check in locations

ktbugsmom

06-04-2008, 06:45 PM

kimberh

06-04-2008, 10:22 PM

I will try both of them, then I will make my decision as to which one I prefer to book. The extra bathroom will be a nice feature to have, I must admit. :goodvibes

jarestel

06-05-2008, 12:11 AM

Once AKV is fully open & functional (Kidani and Jambo House), you will know at the time you make your reservation which building you will be occupying. As I understand it, it's not a reservation request, but an actual booking category. Regardless of where your original points were purchased (Kidani or Jambo) you may use them at the 11 month window to book either facility. Availability is the only determining factor regarding which side of AKV one will be able to reserve.

AKV707

06-05-2008, 06:57 AM

You stayed in Jambo, the only AKV building opened now. Once Kidani Village is opened, you will have a choice of which building. Kidani will be newer and will have a wonderful water play area. There will be 2 full bathrooms in the 1 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms in the 2 bedrooms. There will be standard view and savannah view. Right now, in Jambo house, if you get a standard view, you will have a pool view, in Kidani, the standard view will be of the parking area (this I think I've read).

Only Jambo have the value sized rooms. They are smaller but they cost less, and with them you actually have a chance of parking lot, pool or savannah view. We had a value savannah view studio in December, and we saw animals. It was a good deal for the Saturday night points.

Once Kidani opens, we'll have a better idea of demand. I suppose the savannah 1 -2 bedrooms in Kidani will be booked first. Why not? More bathrooms, and the bathrooms will have better amenities....yes, a real whirlpool, not just in the tub/shower combination. People who want standard will have to make a decision, extra bath, or pool view.

There are lots more people who can give you more distinctions between the two buildings, I'm sure.

Bobbi:)

The standard view rooms at Kidani will have either a parking lot, pool, or garden view. So you could end up with a pool view at Kidani. As is said above, all of the standard view rooms at AKV have a pool view. Only one value unit has a parking lot view.

I think the draw for Jambo will be the value and concierge categories.

dianeschlicht

06-05-2008, 08:06 AM

I don't think it will make a lot of difference to us if we are staying a 1 bedroom in either building, since we usually only have 2 of us in a 1 bedroom, so the extra bath is not an issue. Even if we had 3, the Jambo 1 bedrooms have the bathroom seperate, so no need for the living room person to trek through the master bedroom to get to the bath... Again, not an issue for us. The real draw for Jambo for us is concierge, and I think it will be VERY difficult to get at anything other than the 11 month window day by day.

Dawn16

06-05-2008, 02:05 PM

Count me as another who will stay at both. I definitely don't see a big downside to Jambo. Of course, I'm very fond of it having stayed many times pre-DVC purchase. The Mara quick service food location is another plus at Jambo as far as we're concerned. Gotta get that Zebra Dome fix without having to dine at Boma every day!

UmmGooD

06-05-2008, 02:19 PM

What about maintenance. Will the Jambo House be kept nicer over time because it is actually part of a hotel that Disney actively tries to book?

LisaS

06-05-2008, 02:37 PM

Thanks so much for the info!!!!! so will both have GV??hummmm. the pics i saw were so great of the GV ..... I just have to stay there one day and blow mass amount of points...LOLThe photos you saw were of a GV in Jambo House. Those GVs are all on one level and have a pool table. The GVs in Kidani will be on two levels and will have a sitting area on the 2nd floor, but no pool table.

nicolepdonnelly

06-05-2008, 05:32 PM

We are hoping to use our first points and make a trip to AKV in late June '09. We were hoping to stay at least most of the week at the Concierge level at Jambo House, but I don't know if Kadani Village will be open then to stay there part of the week. Does anyone know, can I book 11 months out there if MS don't know exactly when it will be ready?
The main reason for staying at Concierge is to do the sunrise savannah.;)

Donald is #1

06-05-2008, 06:27 PM

I believe that another plus for Jambo House will be Mara. I don't believe that I have read any reports of a CS place at Kidani Village.

To counter that, here is an advantage for Kidani: Savannah view rooms on lower levels. I think that when I am not staying CL, I will prefer Kidani so that I can "hopefully" have a 2nd or 3rd floor room.

PinkTink63

06-05-2008, 06:42 PM

I honestly did not realize there were that many differences!

But, I will admit we are a "studio" family. There are normally just 3 of us - me, DH and DD8, so a studio works just fine... My stepdaughter is now in HS, so she can't take off 5 days anymore :( , but even when she does come, we make a studio work. Plus given we only have 50 points at AKV - the bigger rooms probably won't be an option for us.

We are just a "studio" family too!:rotfl2: We are also only 3, so a studio is fine for us! I would like to try a 1 bdrm. just once! I keep telling myself, I'm going to splurge on the points and book it and then I figure out how many days we are only able to stay, then book a studio!:lmao: We would only get about 7-8 days in a 1 bedroom and my family would rather be able to stay at WDW for 15 days instead!

LisaS

06-05-2008, 07:01 PM

...here is an advantage for Kidani: Savannah view rooms on lower levels. I think that when I am not staying CL, I will prefer Kidani so that I can "hopefully" have a 2nd or 3rd floor room.I agree! I prefer the savanna views from the lower floors. We had a second-floor room at AKL once and we were so close to the animals, it was wonderful!

dianeschlicht

06-06-2008, 04:27 PM

I agree! I prefer the savanna views from the lower floors. We had a second-floor room at AKL once and we were so close to the animals, it was wonderful!

Yep, our first AKL stay was on 2nd floor too, and we loved how close we were to the animals! I kept getting up all night and looking out because the Ankoli cattle were sleeping right below our balcony.

dgaston

06-06-2008, 08:01 PM

Answer: Concierge, value-point rooms, standard-point rooms.

This is what will keep me booking at Jambo.

dgaston

06-06-2008, 08:05 PM

2 bathrooms for the 1 br in Kidani, 3 bathrooms for the 2 br in Kidani.

This is what will have me booking at Kidani.

photobob

06-07-2008, 09:00 PM

2 bathrooms for the 1 br in Kidani, 3 bathrooms for the 2 br in Kidani.

This is what will have me booking at Kidani.

Me too!

buzz5985

06-08-2008, 01:22 AM

2 bathrooms for the 1 br in Kidani, 3 bathrooms for the 2 br in Kidani.

This is what will have me booking at Kidani.

LOL I thought it was the animals that attracted people to AKL.

buzz5985

06-08-2008, 01:28 AM

2 bathrooms for the 1 br in Kidani, 3 bathrooms for the 2 br in Kidani.

This is what will have me booking at Kidani.

LOL I thought it was the animals that attracted people to AKL.

Deb & Bill

06-08-2008, 06:33 AM

LOL I thought it was the animals that attracted people to AKL.

But if you are lucky, an Ankole cattle might just ask to use the bathroom on the lower level villas.

LIFERBABE

06-09-2008, 08:45 AM

Who wants smaller rooms?? Not me.

I agree with Deb & Bill. We added on at AKV, but after our Christmas Concierge stay, we will prefer Kidani once it is open.

I dont want smaller rooms (even if they are less points, that 1 bed concierge was as small as I ever want to see and it was not value or standard) and concierge will be so difficult to string more than 2 nights together (if you are lucky to get even that) that I think it will be a useless category for us once all is completed. I don't like to move and since we have already tried concierge I will take a 1 bed Kidani for our entire stay then a split stay to get concierge services.

AKV is a great resort with superb theming. I just think the retrofits to the Jambo units were forced (because they were) and the rooms are not in keeping with what I really love about DVC.

Now, the Jambo Grand Villas look like they actually benefitted from the conversions and that will be a plus to stay in Jambo for the Grand Villas.

kimberh

06-09-2008, 03:57 PM

I have just booked our second Concierge Stay for next May. I really thought it was going to be hard to get a second stay. I have to say, I am very pleased that I have been able to book it. With the Daily mousekeeping (that was impeckable) I have fallen in Love with Concierge. When I take all the family, I am going to book a two bedroom or larger at Kidani. I really can't wait for it to open. This is what I love about AKV's, the flexibility to choose so many different room sizes and views. :goodvibes Sunrise Safari, here I Come...again!