AKL value vs standard studio? Jambo vs kidini?

[firstwdw]

What is the difference? Is it the view? What is the value vs standard view studio?
Also are studios located in both Jambo house and kidini village? What are the differences in those? Do both have activities for children? Is the splash area at kidini only for kids under 48 inches?
Is there enough to do at AKL for a resort day or 1/2 a resort day?
How's the bus transportation? How long is travel time to the parks once on the bus?
Lots of questions! Thank you so much! Narrowing down our options and new to DVC

 

[erionm]

Value Studios are smaller by approximately 3 feet and are only in Jambo House. Value Studios can have either a Parking Lot, Pool or Savanna View. MS will not put a View request on the reservation.

Standard View Studios are available in both Jambo House and Kidani Village. In Jambo House they will be mostly pool view with some with limited savanna views. In Kidani Village they will be pool view or garden view.

Savanna View Studios are available in both Jambo House and Kidani Village.

You will know at the time you make your reservation which building you are staying in (Jambo House or Kidani Village). You will check-in at that building and if using Disney transportation, you will be dropped off at that building.

Most feel that AKL/AKV has the best bus transportation of all of the Disney resorts. The buses stop at the two buildings within the resort (order depends on route) and are not shared with any other Disney resort.

 

[chalee94]

Most feel that AKL/AKV has the best bus transportation of all of the Disney resorts. The buses stop at the two buildings within the resort (order depends on route) and are not shared with any other Disney resort.

be aware, though, that AKL/AKV is probably the farthest disney resort from the magic kingdom. once the bus comes, you probably still have a 20 min trip...might be an issue if young children are involved.

but the giraffes and zebras are great. here is a sample list for more AKV resort activities:

AKL resort activities

cookie decorating, culinary tour at boma, night vision animal viewing, african folktales, music of the savanna and drum cafe might be good options depending on age.

 

[magicaldisney]

Bus ride time to AK is 5 minutes or so since they are next to each other. To the other parks, it is roughly 20 - 25 minutes. We love AKV and find there are many things to do at the resort. If you have children, Kidani has one of the best pools on Disney grounds. Wonderful pool play/splash area, zero entry, and pool slides for both adults and toddlers. Kidani is also the first bus stop of the two buildings.

 

[Mvtracey]

Last trip we stayed at AKL studio standard the first night and were just off the lobby and had a savanna view it was amazing then we moved to a AKL studio value and were just off the lobby and had an amazing pool view but the room defiantly felt smaller it was just myself and my husband with our ds4 so it was enough room for us Loved the resort ! And the food court was pretty good

 

[fivetexans]

Regarding Kidani vs Jambo:

Jambo House has more activities that you can do on site. There are more restaurants, including the quick service Mara restaurant. You have a few other bonuses like the flamingo pond, huge lobby, bigger gift shop, etc. You will have a mix of DVC and non-DVC guests. Not that this is a huge deal, but it is the more crowded of the two buildings.

Kidani is more quiet (IMO). The swimming pool has more for kids with the splash zone. I like the savannah views better at Kidani since it is more open and you can see farther from one end to the other. I like the Community Hall and the arcade better at Kidani. The artifacts are more abundant throughout the building. This is almost exclusively DVC guests.

Wherever you stay, it's only a few minutes to walk between buildings, or a short van ride which the resort offers for free.

Jambo may be better if you're wanting an all in one place. Kidani is my favorite, but we still need to walk over to Jambo to do a quick service meal, unless we decide to eat at the Kidani pool.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Tigger1]

I have been in both. I prefer the standard for size makes a difference. I have not stayed at Kadani but checked out the pool. It would be great for Children.

 

[firstwdw]

Thanks everyone! This is so helpful! It's just myself, husband and our 7 year old son. Are there any really bad views in a value studio? I have seen horrible WL standard room( not DVC) view pictures.

 

[chalee94]

Are there any really bad views in a value studio?

of course. you are statistically more likely to get a savanna view or pool view, but the value rooms are pretty much always full, so someone has to get the parking lot view rooms.

if view is important, spend the pts and book the view you want.

(personally, i've stayed in value studios twice. got one savanna view and one parking lot view.)