AKV Kidani Thoughts

[vandy]

We just finished a week at Kidani Village and I thought I would post some of my comments. First, let me say that I am one who prefers the condo style resorts of SSR and OKW much more than the traditional hotel style.

We requested to be close to the lobby and ended up in the Timon building on the 4th floor. This is the second building from the lobby and worked out perfectly since the bus stop for the resort was just outside. I would recommend requesting to also be close to the bus stop.

The rooms are fantastic for our size of family. The bedrooms are a little smaller than some other resorts, but giving the extra room in the living area for a sleeper chair and sofa sleeper was great! The additional third full bath was a tremendous asset as our boys had their own bathroom. The theming I thought was very well done. We compared it to The Kalahari Resort at the Wisconsin Dells (where we have stayed several times) and thought the decor and quality to be a little bit better at AKV. And since we drive, the parking under the building was huge to us as well. Plus, the elevator in Timon was super FAST! You did not waste anytime waiting or riding!

We had a savana view and did see several varieties of animals during the week so that was a nice feature. Being in the Timon section meant we were just a quick elevator ride and walk to the gift shop in the lobby for our mug refills! I also thought the pool area was very nice and the kids took advantage of it several times. For those with young ones, it looked like it would be great for them as well. Once again, the bus stop was just outside our section and the fact the Kidani is picked up before Jambo really helped also!

Overall I think it is a super nice resort, but I still prefer the condo style of SSR and OKW more. If we were not in the Timon section, it would be quite a walk to get to the bus stop and at SSR/OKW we never had too far to walk for a bus. Again, this is just my personal preference. I do like what Kidani Village has to offer us as DVC members and would not hesitate to stay there again. I believe it to be a sparkling jewel in the DVC crown and AKV owners have a lot to be proud of!

 

[vandy]

One other note: There were two things that were not so good, but had nothing to do with the resort itself, just the operations.

First, even though I had my credit card on file, the internet connection said I didn't and I needed to call every day for an access code. We charged with our room key several times so the card was on file, it just wasn't being recognizedd by the internet program. Nothing extreme, but just a little annoying doing this every day. Here at OKW this week, no problem

Last, we never received our packet to check out at our room. We left at 11:00am so there was plenty of time to get it there. Had to go down to the lobby to get our printout of charges. Again, nothing extreme, just annoying.

 

[CruznLexi]

We own at Kidani and love it. Can't wait till Oct 18! We have been to the park and prefer to spend a few hours by the pool each afternoon.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We bought at Kidani, and love it We stayed in Rafiki, and didn't think the hike to the busses was bad (maybe a 8 minute walk?) It might be worse when my son is older - he was 2, so when we were coming back at night, we put him in the stroller for the walk back to the room.

The pool area was great for a 2 year old. The little kid water slide was a huge hit!

 

[delmar411]

We also own at Kidani and I'll be honest, I didn't like it at all, as far as resorts go. No counter service, the hot tub isn't hot, the pool area didn't leave me very impressed esp as they don't use clean water for the kiddie play area (how much kiddie pee is cycling through there??), and the hours for the gift shop with the refillable mug station are way too short. At 7:30am I'm already on a bus to a park so I couldn't get coffee in the morning.

The rooms were great though and I did love the 3rd full bathroom. That was quite the bonus when you have 6 people to get ready in the morning.

I don't think we'll be back at Kidani unless nothing else is available. It's unfortunate as I was ready to fall in love with the place.

 

[Disneymom1969]

We too own at Kidani & will be staying there for the first time since we bought a few years ago. We will only be staying for two days before we leave on the Disney Cruise.
We have booked a 1-BR SV. Where would you recommend we request to stay for a good view, easy access to pool & mug station?? What building & floor?
Is there a quick service restaurant at Kidani or do we have to go to Jambo House?
Thanks in Advance for your help!

 

[vandy]

To get easy access to both pool and mug station you need to request nearest to the lobby. The lobby is on the second floor (First is the parking garage). We were in Timon 4th floor. I think the section between us and the lobby was Rafiki. That section has the community hall and arcade. I do not know the name of the section near the lobby on the other side. As far as the dining, sorry, but we do all our own meals. I believe you will need to go to Jambo for a quick service restaurant. Hopefully somone will answer for you. Getting to Jambo is easy, just hop any bus, or it is about a 5 - 10 minute walk from lobby to lobby.

 

[lilpooh108]

We also own at Kidani and I'll be honest, I didn't like it at all, as far as resorts go. No counter service, the hot tub isn't hot, the pool area didn't leave me very impressed esp as they don't use clean water for the kiddie play area (how much kiddie pee is cycling through there??), and the hours for the gift shop with the refillable mug station are way too short. At 7:30am I'm already on a bus to a park so I couldn't get coffee in the morning.

The rooms were great though and I did love the 3rd full bathroom. That was quite the bonus when you have 6 people to get ready in the morning.

I don't think we'll be back at Kidani unless nothing else is available. It's unfortunate as I was ready to fall in love with the place.

What do you mean they don't use clean water for the kiddie play area? Seriously? I'm taking my 1-year old there in 2 months...is it dirty? If it's a splash zone, isn't there a drain and water shoots out from overhead areas? Eek!

 

[CruznLexi]

We love Kidani we can't wait to go home in a few months. We did ask to be close to the lobby and the pool. We do not get up early and go to the parks we get up and go about 930 or later and stay for a few hours maybe until 1pm and then go to our pool and go back to the evening park later in the evening or have dinner at a resort and then play some mini golf or go and sit in the hot tub. The hot tub was very hot.

 

[jerseygal]

Kidani is our home!

First time will be August 2010 2BR...Love the 3 Baths as we're 2 Adults, 2 "Big Kids"!!!

We've requested "closer to Jambo" as we'll be using both pool facilities...

Will be a "quick walk" to Jambo for us...No strollers, younger children so will be easy!

For those with younger children, strollers, have been told by MS that there now is a Electric Cart called a "Pargo"? which transports guests between Jambo and Kidani...I think it carries something like 10 guests for those who don't wish to walk or take the bus....

Can't wait for our August vaca!!! Will need it by then!

 

[lmshaggard]

We just got back from a split stay at OKW and AK Kidani. I was very worried about Kidani, but it was our OKW stay I should have been worried about. AKV was last on my list (we own at BLT and GCV) and my DH and I have decided we have to have AKV points now too It is an amazing property. We were in a standard view studio and did have some animals as well as an amazing view of the MK fireworks and it was Summer Nightastic. It really couldn't get much better!!! My 4 yr old DS (who did not want to stay at AKV) only wants to stay there now. We also took the boys' godparents from South Africa with us - they stayed in a savannah view across the hall - and they loved it!! I am SO glad that I booked our big family vacation there in December - now I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

Thanks for the info. We own at Kidani --2 contracts and we will be making our first visit in 2 weeks. We have stayed at Jambo before and fell in love. Especially my DS. I am so psyched for this vacation that I don't care where I stay just get me to WDW!!!
I appreciate the tips of location requests. I have read so many things on here about the distance to Jambo pool and restaurants but I suspect for my family this will be no biggie (as we stayed in the farthest section at CBR and did not mind the walking at all)
Cannot wait to check out the pool. Did you see prints of Kidani in the gift shop > I know they had them of Jambo in their shop and I had always wished I had bought one . so this time.......

 

[lucyem]

I am staying there in Oct for 3 nights so am curious to hear about other people's thoughts. One of the big reasons we went resale was that AKV & BLT did not appeal to me at all. (I think thats why the guide never bothered to call me back LOL) I never had a chance to see the real thing, only the demos. Plus I have heard many good things so we will check it out. Depending on weather we will be in the parks in the morning and then afternoons/evenings at the resort.

 

[drusba]

We have booked a 1-BR SV. Where would you recommend we request to stay for a good view, easy access to pool & mug station?? What building & floor?
Is there a quick service restaurant at Kidani or do we have to go to Jambo House?
Thanks in Advance for your help!

Close to the lobby is the best request to make to be near pool, mug station in the store, restaurant and those like many others provide very good savanna view; many prefer lower floor view (2 or 3) to get more direct sight line to animals so you might also request lower floor.

There is no quick service restaurant at Kidani; only restaurant, Sanaa, is table service. You can get some things quick at the pool bar but if you want quick counter service breakfast in morning, you would need to go to Mara at Jambo. Walk from front door to front door from Kidani to Jambo is about 1/2 mile and takes about 8 to 12 minutes depending on pace. Can also take a park bus which all go from Kidani to Jambo (DD bus goes from Jambo to Kidani) and they also sometimes have a cart that goes between. Kidani has two wings, north which is furthest from Jambo and is the one on which the pool is on just north of lobby, and south which is one closest to Jambo. Ground floor is parking and there are two sets of elevators down both wings so no matter where room is you have fairly quick access to elevator and auto if you have one.

The wings are very long, south close to 1/4 mile, and north over 1/4 mile; if room is at the very end of south wing of Kidani, you have just under a five minute walk to lobby and pool; if you are at very end of north wing of Kidani, the walk is 5 minutes or longer to lobby but somewhat shorter to pool. If near last elevator on south wing, you can actually get to Jambo in about 5 to 6 minutes since you can walk out elevator and parking area right to walkway that leads to Jambo.

 

[princessbride6205]

I requested close to Community Hall (any floor). That is the first bead of Kidani to the right/south of the lobby. That way you're near the lobby and shop/mug station, but you're a little bit closer to the bus stop and to Jambo than the left/north side.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

...the pool area didn't leave me very impressed esp as they don't use clean water for the kiddie play area (how much kiddie pee is cycling through there??)...

This is not true, the water must be cycled with chlorine/bromide or other similar, it is not just tap water that is constantly recycled.

 

[delmar411]

What do you mean they don't use clean water for the kiddie play area? Seriously? I'm taking my 1-year old there in 2 months...is it dirty? If it's a splash zone, isn't there a drain and water shoots out from overhead areas? Eek!

There is signage at the splash area saying do not allow your child to drink/put the water in their mouth (something along those lines), that it is just recycled water. I don't recall the exact wording but I remember saying it was disgusting after reading the sign.

 

[delmar411]

This is not true, the water must be cycled with chlorine/bromide or other similar, it is not just tap water that is constantly recycled.

I have no idea but the signage states it is just recycled water.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I have no idea but the signage states it is just recycled water.

Recycled water doesn't mean that it's not filtered and chlorinated, it just means it's a closed system, not that different then a swimming pool. They are just pointing out that the water is captured and not just emptied into a storm drain or sewer.

 

[rescuetink]

We did not get a room as we requested, near the lobby. But we were in the Timon section in the garage and would take the elevator right to our room, well almost!! We were also a short walk from the elevator to the pool, which was nice since I was there every night with my DS. But we were a long... long... long... long... long... well I think you get it... way from the lobby!! I think we went there twice during our stay, not counting check-in. And since we drove everywhere and didn't use WDW transportation the distance to the bus wasn't a problem.

We loved the resort though!! I would say the only downfalls were that there should be stools in the bathrooms so the kids can reach WAY UP to the VERY HIGH sinks!!! And the day we were checking out the cleaning crew was camped out in front of our room for about a half hour waiting for us to vacate!! That made my DW crazy and feeling rushed!!

If, OR WHEN, I ever make another DVC purchase it will probably be at AKV so I can book my own vacation 11 months in advance!!!