AKL Villa Studios

[SwanVT2]

I am looking at renting points for 2021 at AKL through the rental store. Is the likelihood that I will get a studio at either Jambo or Kidani the same? Also, which building is the "main building" with Boma? Is that Kidani? How are Jambo and Kidani pools different? How is quick service there? We are used to staying near Boardwalk or DS and like having multiple dining options, but DD really wants to stay with the animals next time. Thanks!

 

[chalee94]

Jambo is the main building- old AKL.

Kidani pool has a nifty kids play area.

Mara, the quick service, is in Jambo, along with Boma and Jiko. Sanaa is at Kidani.

Studios are only on the 5th floor of Jambo - don't count on a value studio as they are very rare. Kidani is all DVC and has many more studios overall.

You can do a search for Jambo vs Kidani to find much more information...

 

[Marionnette]

I am looking at renting points for 2021 at AKL through the rental store. Is the likelihood that I will get a studio at either Jambo or Kidani the same? Also, which building is the "main building" with Boma? Is that Kidani? How are Jambo and Kidani pools different? How is quick service there? We are used to staying near Boardwalk or DS and like having multiple dining options, but DD really wants to stay with the animals next time. Thanks!

Jambo is the main building and where you will find Jiko and Boma. It has fewer DVC villas and so your chances of getting a Kidani studio are greater. Sanaa is at Kidani.

The Jambo pool is larger and has a zero level entry. The Kidani pool is small, which makes it easier to keep an eye on small kids. It also has the better splash and play area.

Kidani has very long hallways. It can be a bit of a hike just to get to the bus stop, lobby or pool. There is a shuttle that runs between Jambo and Kidani or you can walk it in less than 10 minutes. You can also hop on any theme park bus at Kidani and it will take you to Jambo. Kidani is always the first to be picked up and to be dropped off.

 

[chalee94]

Kidani is always the first to be picked up and to be dropped off.

I think the Disney Springs bus picks up first at Jambo. (Not a theme park, I know.)

 

[SwanVT2]

If we wanted to go to Universal, should we rent a car or take an Uber?

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We have rented DVC at AKL several times, and are doing so for this trip. We have done both Jambo and Kidani. It reall comes down to what you are looking for in a resort.

Jambo is louder and busier. The pool is bigger, but doesn't have a kids play area.The Mara quick service is basically poolside and you have Boma and Jiko in house. Buses pick up here last

Kidani is much calmer and quieter. I prefer the animal viewing areas of Kidani to Jambo. The pool is smaller, but also zero entry. The splash area is extensive. The only restaurant option is Sanaa, but it is excellent. Buses pick up here first.

The buildings are connected via an internal shuttle system that runs continuously.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

The Jambo pool is larger and has a zero level entry. The Kidani pool is small, which makes it easier to keep an eye on small kids. It also has the better splash and play area.

Both pools are zero entry actually.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are old and can make the short walk between Kidani and Jambo and it takes about ten minutes. If you take the shuttle make sure the seat you choose to sit in is dry. Lots of people will take the shuttle to swim at the pool where they aren't staying. So they return really wet.

 

[kwdw]

Sounds like this is a tough one for you! I think you want to get a savanna view - regardless of the resort - based on your DD wanting to stay with the animals. We love Kidani because we like its pool better, even though its a bit smaller. The slide is better, IMO! And if your DD is splash pad age - I think Kidani's is one of the best. And we like that its quiet. And for the one time we are headed to Boma, we just walk over, though we have used the internal shuttle once.

Now - you mention dining options. Kidani doesn't have the "food court" like Jambo does. Sanaa does some quick breakfast stuff - but if you are used to using the quick service dining alot - Kidani is not the place to stay. We tend to either have a car and go grocery shopping or do grocery delivery - so our quick service is already in our room.

Rent car or Uber - depends upon how much you might want to use the car! Price it out. I'd have a rental car every time at WDW if I could afford it. I find that if I am going "out and about" at least twice on a trip - car wins for sure. I only skip the car on short trips when I never plan to leave property.

 

[SwanVT2]

Sounds like this is a tough one for you! I think you want to get a savanna view - regardless of the resort - based on your DD wanting to stay with the animals. We love Kidani because we like its pool better, even though its a bit smaller. The slide is better, IMO! And if your DD is splash pad age - I think Kidani's is one of the best. And we like that its quiet. And for the one time we are headed to Boma, we just walk over, though we have used the internal shuttle once.

Now - you mention dining options. Kidani doesn't have the "food court" like Jambo does. Sanaa does some quick breakfast stuff - but if you are used to using the quick service dining alot - Kidani is not the place to stay. We tend to either have a car and go grocery shopping or do grocery delivery - so our quick service is already in our room.

Rent car or Uber - depends upon how much you might want to use the car! Price it out. I'd have a rental car every time at WDW if I could afford it. I find that if I am going "out and about" at least twice on a trip - car wins for sure. I only skip the car on short trips when I never plan to leave property.

My daughter has outgrown the splash pad. She will.be 8 when we travel. Seems like Jambo is the way to go with the dining options. We would like to visit Universal this trip. Should we do a split stay or rent a car or uber it?

 

[kwdw]

My daughter has outgrown the splash pad. She will.be 8 when we travel. Seems like Jambo is the way to go with the dining options. We would like to visit Universal this trip. Should we do a split stay or rent a car or uber it?

If you are going to do more than one day at Universal - I would split stay it. The early hour admission for the Universal resorts is KEY - especially for the WWOHP stuff. Took my 9 yo niece to Univeral this past year - she's a HP fan - two days was needed to make her happy. We had a third day - but we didn't NEED that. But if you are doing one day - I'm not sure moving resort rooms is worth it. Might switch this qustion to the Universal boards.

 

[SwanVT2]

If you are going to do more than one day at Universal - I would split stay it. The early hour admission for the Universal resorts is KEY - especially for the WWOHP stuff. Took my 9 yo niece to Univeral this past year - she's a HP fan - two days was needed to make her happy. We had a third day - but we didn't NEED that. But if you are doing one day - I'm not sure moving resort rooms is worth it. Might switch this qustion to the Universal boards.

Did you have EP? How necessary are those? This would be last week of Feb. 2021. Thanks!

 

[kwdw]

Did you have EP? How necessary are those? This would be last week of Feb. 2021. Thanks!

We didn't have EP. We stayed at Cabana Bay because that had a room set-up that made sense for us. At the time we went, Hagrid's and Gringott's didn't take EP (I don't know if they do now) - and we weren't going to ride the giant coasters anyway - so we were fine without it. But if one of the resorts that its included in the price is what you want - having that would be nice, I must admit. We were okay without it - but that's based upon us not planning to ride some of the rides that have the super long waits in the first place. It was a first-time trip for my two companions - so there was plenty for us to do that didn't have long waits. We spent A LOT of time just soaking in WWOHP. Bought a wand and did lots of spells, spent time in shops, ate at both restaurants, had butterbeer, had ice cream, waited out a rain storm just watching folks, etc. IF you really want to hit all the rides there, EP is a good thing. You can feel a bit like a second class citizen without it at US/IOA