AKV - Kadani or Jambo?

[dizplanner]

We are planning on going to WDW in early December. I currently have a 1 bedroom booked at VWL for 7 nights, Dec 6-13 since that is my home resort. I am thinking of switching to AKL since we have never stayed there. I would be booking a 1 bedroom savannah room. It would be my husband and I and possibly our 23 year old daughter.
Would you recommend I try for Kadani Village or Jambo House and why?
Do you think we will have problems switching at 7 months?

Are any of the savannahs better for viewing the animals? What should we request?

I don't have any problems staying at VWL, particularly at Christmas time. I just thought we might like to try something different.

 

[Kidanifan08]

We are planning on going to WDW in early December. I currently have a 1 bedroom booked at VWL for 7 nights, Dec 6-13 since that is my home resort. I am thinking of switching to AKL since we have never stayed there. I would be booking a 1 bedroom savannah room. It would be my husband and I and possibly our 23 year old daughter.
Would you recommend I try for Kadani Village or Jambo House and why?
Do you think we will have problems switching at 7 months?

Are any of the savannahs better for viewing the animals? What should we request?

I don't have any problems staying at VWL, particularly at Christmas time. I just thought we might like to try something different.

With 3 adults, I would suggest Kidani. The main reason is that the 1BR villas have two full bathrooms at Kidani. The Kidani rooms are also bigger. Kidani has a great pool area, although swimming can be hit or miss in December. Since Jambo has a limited inventory of DVC villas, you are more likely to get a room at Kidani at the 7 month mark for that week. Many AKV owners like to stay at Jambo for some of the reasons listed below, so it is often has spotty availability at the 7 month mark for early December.

Kidani only has one restaurant, Sanaa, which is wonderful. Jambo had Jiko and Boma and there is also a counter service restaurant called Mara. The lobby at Jambo has more grandeur than that at Kidani and has a huge Christmas tree. The lobby at Kidani is understated, but beautiful at Christmas. The market at Jambo is larger and has more selection than that at Kidani. The good news is that you can take a park bus or intra-resort shuttle from Kidani to Jambo or you can walk. One thing that we really love about Kidani is that the park buses stop there first and are essentially empty before going over to Jambo, so you are basically guaranteed a seat.

So despite Jambo House's larger market, greater restaurant selection and impressive lobby, I would still recommend Kidani for a 1BR with 3 adults. If you do choose to make the change, you are going to make someone very happy to get a 1BR at VWL for the holidays!!

 

[iluveeyore]

Completely agree with previous poster - hubby and I loved Kidani - and request the Sunset Savannah - it is the one that has the giraffes and is more central - we literally walked one door down the hall to the elevator and came out in the lobby - pool is directly across from lobby entrance - so nice and peaceful at Kidani - there is a shuttle directly to Jambo House if you want to go over there to eat. Kidani has a nice little gift shop to get your refills at, or there is a refill station by the pool if you have mugs. There is a nice "library" area near the lobby to sit and relax or view animals from outside. We only had a studio, but the one bedrooms having an extra bathroom would be a bonus for your daughter to have her own space. If you have a rental car like we did, the parking is inside a parking garage, which was nice to protect us from hot sun and rain. We are from Ontario, Canada, and we own at VWL but find we never stay there as it feels too much like home, and we enjoy the tropical theming of AKV more.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you like the separate shower from the jetted tub, you'll want Kidani Village. JH is just converted hotel rooms, so they could not put in both a shower and jetted tub. The shower is in the jetted tub.

 

[Jennasis]

Just booked Kidani 1BR for September. Savannah view. So excited! We love Jambo House though...only booked Kidani for the extra bathroom as we are traveling with another couple. What should we request so we are still close to Jambo foir walking purposes since we are savannah view as well?

 

[dizplanner]

Thank you for your responses. I think I will try for Kidani Village.
I'll request the Sunset savannah.