AKL what are the differences...

[Dee77]

I have to admit that I am at a total loss when it comes to AKL. What are the differences between the buildings, the booking categories and what "experiences" are different bookings eligible for.. Thanks!

 

[TinksApprentice]

AKL is the Main Building (Jambo House) at this resort the DVC rooms are all on the 5th floor. This is a larger resort and has 2 table service restaurants, 1 counter service restaurant and a large store. The only different thing I know that you would be elegible for is if you book concierge, then you have access to book special safari's at the resort and AK. You also get snacks,daily cleaning etc. The point difference for this is significant though and needs to be booked at the 11month mark.

AKV is the DVC resort (Kidani) This has a smaller store and 1 table service restaurant. The resort is much quieter IMHO and is only a short walk or shuttle to Jamob if you want a counter service meal. The pool is nicer IMHO and I just like to overall feeling of Kidani better.

They both have lots of activities, etc. so not much diff there.

Hope this helps and let me know if there are any specific questions you need answered.....

 

[CocosMeme]

AKV is our home resort and our favorite! We have stayed at both and prefer Kidani for multiple reasons. We really love the quiet when we get home from a busy day at the parks. The busses stop at Kidani 1st so you always get a seat! It is also nice to be the 1st stop coming home at night. The pool at Kidani is awesome and kids LOVE the slide. As far as food, we eat breakfast in the room and usually have lunch in the parks, so it is not usually an issue with us. We have eaten sandwiches at the Kidani pool and they were fine. We also brought food with us in a cooler to the pool once and it was not a problem either. You can catch a van or ride a bus to Jambo if you want access to the bigger atmosphere or restaurants, or the pool. The small shop in the lobby at Kidani has the drink machines for mugs if you get them (very convenient). In Jambo you need to go all the way down to Mara to get to the drink machines. We also like staying in a lower floor room to get better access to the animals on the savannah. Hope this helps!

 

[Reddog1134]

Also, only Jambo House has value rooms. They are slightly smaller than the normal rooms in their size category.

 

[hakepb]

Kidani 1 and 2BR's are much nicer than Jambo.

Kidani is larger, has an extra bathroom and has a full master suite with seperat shower and tub

Jambo has a bathroom that is not connected to the MBR and you have to step into the jacuzzi tub for the shower.

Although Jambo studios are slightly smaller, they are still functionally good and the Jambo dining options make studios worth while.
Jambo GV's are the awesome, 1 level GV's with a dedicated pool table room (and a proper master suite that includes a bathroom flat screen to view in the tub)

 

[DenLo]

Here's some square footage information on the villas at each Jambo House and Kidani Village.


AKV Villas

Grand Villa
AKV Kidani - 2201
Jambo - 2349

2 Bedroom
AKV Kidani - 1173
Jambo - 1075
Jambo Value - 945

1 Bedroom
AKV Kidani - 807
Jambo - 710
Jambo Value - 629

Studio
AKV Kidani - 366
Jambo - 365
Jambo Value - 316

The Jambo House villas are all converted hotel rooms into DVC villas. So the square footage is smaller for everything except for the GV. Although the GVs at Jambo have a pool extra room. The secondary bedrooms share a wall. Whereas at Kidani the bedrooms are separated by a loft area.

 

[DenLo]

Perhaps this will help you compare the villas for each AKV building.

Studios

Jambo House - 365 SF or 316 SF for a value

Kidani Village - 366 SF

1 Bedroom Villas

Jambo House - 710 SF

Kidani Village - 807 SF

2 Bedroom Villas

Jambo House - 1075 SF or 945 for a Value

Kidani Village - 1173 SF

3 Bedroom Grand Villas

Jambo House - 2349 (I can't find a new format floor plan for Jambo House)

Kidani Village - 2201

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks, that's really interesting. Are the 1 BR value villas the same layout as the regular size 1 BR villas at Jambo? Also, the bed in the 1 BR master BR at Kidani looks to be bigger. Is that just an illusion because the villa is bigger?

 

[Reddog1134]

Thanks, that's really interesting. Are the 1 BR value villas the same layout as the regular size 1 BR villas at Jambo? Also, the bed in the 1 BR master BR at Kidani looks to be bigger. Is that just an illusion because the villa is bigger?

They should be the same layout. Cut off part of the room near the balcony (including the chair) and that gives you an idea of the value layout.

The Kidani bed looks bigger because the picture is bigger. (The bed would actually look smaller if the villa was bigger.)

 

[Dee77]

Thanks everyone- this is exactly what I was looking for, now I feel like I have a much better understanding of AKL. I can't wait to stay there.

 

[LisaS]

Are the 1 BR value villas the same layout as the regular size 1 BR villas at Jambo?

Yes. Just imagine the floorplan below with the outer wall moved three feet to the left. (Use the outer width of the bathtub as a guide -- it's approximately three feet wide). All the furniture in the living room and bedroom would be squished up to fit in the smaller space. There is a sleeper sofa but no sleeper chair in the room because there isn't enough room. (There might be a regular chair in the room, but if so, it doesn't open into a bed.)

 

[Dee77]

Kidani 1 and 2BR's are much nicer than Jambo.

Kidani is larger, has an extra bathroom and has a full master suite with seperat shower and tub

Jambo has a bathroom that is not connected to the MBR and you have to step into the jacuzzi tub for the shower.

Although Jambo studios are slightly smaller, they are still functionally good and the Jambo dining options make studios worth while.
Jambo GV's are the awesome, 1 level GV's with a dedicated pool table room (and a proper master suite that includes a bathroom flat screen to view in the tub)

So the GV's in Jambo are the ones with the pool table, and there are none at Kidani?

 

[hakepb]

So the GV's in Jambo are the ones with the pool table, and there are none at Kidani?

Correct. The Kidani GV's have a 2 story living room and an upstairs sleeping loft (for extra bed space and can serve well as a kids living room) but no pool table.

(I've not stayed in either but you see it on the floor plans. The Jambo GV plan above only shows 2 card tables, but that was an early plan before they thought of the pool table )

 

[happyann79]

I think the biggest difference is no food court at kidani. I find that to be a little difficult and prefer the lodge for that reason. Also kidani has more parking lot views that you won't find at the lodge.