? about AK transportation

[bravenyc]

I heard that this summer that Kidani and Jambo each have their own dedicated bus and that buses are no longer stopping at Kidani and then Jambo. Is this true?

thanks in advance!

 

[allsaintsatx]

We literally just got back today, and we shared a bus every time.

 

[bravenyc]

We literally just got back today, and we shared a bus every time.

Thanks so much. I am trying to decide between Kidani and Jambo - and the transportation is a big deciding factor.

Which one were you staying at and which would you recommend.

 

[allsaintsatx]

They are only about a minute bus ride away from each other, so I wouldn't factor that in for deciding which location! you can walk between the 2 if you wanted!

We stayed in Jambo, which is mostly regular guest rooms, I believe Kidani is mostly DVC but you can reserve them on the website as well. We need 2 queen beds, and the comparable rooms we looked at at Kidani had a queen bed and a queen sofa sleeper and I just feel if we are spending the money and going on a vacation I don't want anyone staying on a pull out, especially when we can stay next door with 2 queen beds!

Jambo has a QS restaurant, Kidani doesn't (except at the pool you can get some sandwiches and such). Honestly, they are so close to each other, and they both have nice pools and lobbies and equally amazing savannas IMO, for me it would boil down to food options and bed/room options. And price of course!! Jambo, for us, was less expensive than a Villa at Kidani. Jambo has more food options as well, and the 24 hour (I think?) Mara QS was utilized many times! Sanaa, at Kidani, is one of our favorite dinners on property, but was easily accessible by a shuttle van that goes back and forth between the 2 resorts mostly all day. Took maybe 3 minutes. If you've never stayed at AKL I would probably recommend Jambo. The lobby has more of a "wow" factor and the pool/QS/arcade are all grouped together so it is slightly more convenient.

We love AKL! Whichever side you choose I'm sure you'll love it!

 

[bravenyc]

They are only about a minute bus ride away from each other, so I wouldn't factor that in for deciding which location! you can walk between the 2 if you wanted!

We stayed in Jambo, which is mostly regular guest rooms, I believe Kidani is mostly DVC but you can reserve them on the website as well. We need 2 queen beds, and the comparable rooms we looked at at Kidani had a queen bed and a queen sofa sleeper and I just feel if we are spending the money and going on a vacation I don't want anyone staying on a pull out, especially when we can stay next door with 2 queen beds!

Jambo has a QS restaurant, Kidani doesn't (except at the pool you can get some sandwiches and such). Honestly, they are so close to each other, and they both have nice pools and lobbies and equally amazing savannas IMO, for me it would boil down to food options and bed/room options. And price of course!! Jambo, for us, was less expensive than a Villa at Kidani. Jambo has more food options as well, and the 24 hour (I think?) Mara QS was utilized many times! Sanaa, at Kidani, is one of our favorite dinners on property, but was easily accessible by a shuttle van that goes back and forth between the 2 resorts mostly all day. Took maybe 3 minutes. If you've never stayed at AKL I would probably recommend Jambo. The lobby has more of a "wow" factor and the pool/QS/arcade are all grouped together so it is slightly more convenient.

We love AKL! Whichever side you choose I'm sure you'll love it!

Thanks!

 

[allsaintsatx]

Thanks!

 

[mousehockey37]

Thanks so much. I am trying to decide between Kidani and Jambo - and the transportation is a big deciding factor.

Which one were you staying at and which would you recommend.

IIRC, bus stops at Kidani first, then Jambo when picking up. So if you're going at a busy time, you may want to factor that into being able to get a seat (and not have to stand).

 

[bravenyc]

IIRC, bus stops at Kidani first, then Jambo when picking up. So if you're going at a busy time, you may want to factor that into being able to get a seat (and not have to stand).

Thanks. This is exactly my concern. This is our first time staying at AK and I would love to stay at Jambo but my brother has a bad knee and standing on a crowded bus would be hard (we are going in late June 2018). So this has me leaning toward Kidani.

 

[Lvsdisney]

Unless you are leaving at a prime time (park opening), I wouldn't worry about not having a seat leaving from Jambo. The bus was never crowded going to the parks for us, but we would leave 9-9:30 ish, after the morning crowd left already.

 

[rangerxenos]

When we stayed here in 2015 we stayed at Jambo, and the only issues with crowded buses were at peak times, basically park closings.

 

[allsaintsatx]

Thanks. This is exactly my concern. This is our first time staying at AK and I would love to stay at Jambo but my brother has a bad knee and standing on a crowded bus would be hard (we are going in late June 2018). So this has me leaning toward Kidani.

If someone in your party has mobility issues, please keep in mind that Kidani has limited hot food offerings. Since it's DVC Disney assumes you'll be cooking most meals in your room, so there isn't a QS location. The only QS in the resort is breakfast at Sanaa, and TS for lunch and dinner. Sanaa is incredible, but maybe not for every single day! It is a van ride to Jambo to get to QS and the buffet at Boma, and it is not an accessible van, it is a regular passenger van with steps and a low ceiling, which can be difficult to get into if you have any issues.

Also when requesting your room be sure to ask for close to lobby. AKL hallways are fairly long, and could feel like a few miles with a bad knee!

As for the buses, at least on our trip, maybe 10-15% of the people on the bus went to Kidani, so when it showed up at Jambo there were just a handful of people on the bus, if at all. Most times I just assumed we had our own Jambo bus because there was no one on it! But we are not rope droppers or park closers so can't say for peak times. If the bus was ever standing room only it was always on the return trip from the parks to AKL.

Also, if just standing on the bus will be troublesome, he may want to look into renting an ECV. My mom has a bad ankle and the ECV is literally a lifesaver. All Disney buses can accommodate at least 2 ECVs per trip, and you are let on the bus first and let off last, and the guest is able to sit in the ECV on the bus ride. You won't have to worry about a seat cause you literally bring your own!