Am I the only one that likes Jambo House?

[karebear06]

Let me just say, we have never stayed at AK as DVC members, but we have seen both Jambo and Kidani. I personally think I like Jambo so much more. It seems like the location is so much more convenient. I know the rooms are a bit different, but we just need the basic necessities of a studio.
From what I have read, Kidani is the only way to go. What do you think?

 

[Corwin]

I haven't actually stayed at Kidani, but have stayed at Jambo. We picked Jambo because we wanted to be near the restaurants, the main store, and the main lobby.

I'd like to try out Kidani some time just to see what all the fuss is about. They're not too impressive looking from the outside. They look like a bunch of tenement apartments, IMHO! I expect that they are nicer inside.

 

[SusanWasHere]

I've only stayed at Jambo, but have visited Kidani. If I were going to stay there again, I would request Jambo. I like being close to the restaurants and mug station. We walked in the rain from Kidani back to Jambo and it was just a bit too much. They need to make more food available at Kidani. It is gorgeous though!

 

[Reddog1134]

I've heard a lot of people say they like Jambo. I've probably heard just as many people say they like Kidani.

People that like Jambo seem to like it for:

Restaurants
Big Lobby
Concierge
Value rooms

People that like Kidani seem to like it for:

Extra bathroom
Pool play area
1st bus stop
Quietness

I prefer Kidani because none of the Jambo advantages matter to me except the impressive lobby. But I like all the Kidani advantages.

 

[dallastxcpa]

Well, I have a special place in my heart for Jambo. My DH and I stayed concierge on our wedding night (before DVC at AKL).

With that said, so far we love all the DVC's. I wouldn't stick my nose up at staying at any of them. They each have there qualities we love and they each have a few draw backs.

 

[Inkmahm]

I've heard a lot of people say they like Jambo. I've probably heard just as many people say they like Kidani.

People that like Jambo seem to like it for:

Restaurants
Big Lobby
Concierge
Value rooms

People that like Kidani seem to like it for:

Extra bathroom
Pool play area
1st bus stop
Quietness

I prefer Kidani because none of the Jambo advantages matter to me except the impressive lobby. But I like all the Kidani advantages.

We've stayed both and we like both. With family, we'll probably stay at Kidani in the future for the extra bathroom and extremely convenient parking. That said, when just DH and I go alone, we will probably pick Jambo. I really like that atmosphere of Jambo better (the lobby) and like the hot tub locations better, too. And yes, the restaurants, store, etc. We are staying Jambo concierge next March.

 

[Disneycouple99]

If I stay in a studio, Jambo. This is for the restraunts. If a 1-bedroom or higher, Kidani. This is for the bigger rooms and 2nd bathroom.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Personally I don't care about counter service, but the one thing that Jambo will always have over Kidani is the WOW! factor of the lobby, it's stupendous. I personally have never experienced it but I've read several posts of people being disapointed at their SV villas at Kidani, while I have always been very happy with the SV's villas we've gotten at Jambo, the animals have never been scarse. I will say that in summer, covered parking is rather enjoyable. I would stay at either but when bringing friends and family for the 1st time, I might prefer Jambo, just for the lobby.

 

[LisaS]

We stay at AKV because of the animals and we like to be as close to them as possible. In Jambo House we would be on the 5th or 6th floor. In Kidani, worst case I will be on the 5th floor but I have a good chance at getting a lower floor, maybe even the 2nd floor which is what I always request. So for this reason, I prefer Kidani.

Yes the lobby is smaller and quieter but I can always walk over to Jambo House if I want to be in the middle of the action or want to eat at one of the restaurants there. I always feel like I need a good walk after eating at Boma so staying in Kidani solves that problem as well!

 

[sjs314]

This is my second visit to AKL, my first visit there was no Kidani Village, one of my main reasons for going back to AKL this vacation was I loved Boma for breakfast, that alone makes me want to be in Jambo House. I love the Lobby to be fair I have not seen Kidani but have read it is not as impressive and has no counter serve place to eat to grab a quick bite or snack. I think Jambo will always be my favorite

 

[Telcogirl]

I haven't actually stayed at Kidani, but have stayed at Jambo.
I'd like to try out Kidani some time just to see what all the fuss is about. They're not too impressive looking from the outside. They look like a bunch of tenement apartments, IMHO! I expect that they are nicer inside.

Your suspicions are correct. Kidani is much nicer than a tenament apartment on the inside.

 

[dsneygirl]

I love Jambo. I think the value rooms are a fantastic deal for the points. We have stayed there 3 times and twice in the same studio which was directly above the pool and when you went down the elevator and out the side door you were about 10 steps to the bus stop.

Kidani definitely has the better pool but I don't like how you have to walk across the parking lot to get to it.

Also I prefer Boma and Jiko to Sanaa.

 

[starbox]

I like Jambo much better.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We like Jambo, mostly for the reasons other posters have stated.

Last year we had a concierge studio that was great. This year we have a one bedroom Value.

We never buy groceries to keep in the room, so we like to be close to Mara. (Close is a relative term, but in the same building is a good start.) AKL was our favorite resort before the DVC conversion, so it was natural for us to choose it as our home resort.

We did pop over and take a look at Kidani last summer. And if we were going to spend the points for a regular 1 bedroom we would absolutely do Kidani for the extra bathroom. But so far that hasn't happened.

 

[Anal Annie]

You're not alone. We just stayed at Kidani and had stayed at Jambo on a previous trip - hands down we preferred Jambo to Kidani.

I did not like the studio bathroom layout (I would prefer the tub be in with the toilet not with the sink) and a standard view is REALLY a standard view at Kidani no matter how you slice it. I didn't care for how far off center the pool was from a good portion of the building and I honestly expected MORE from the pool (bigger maybe?). The water was FREEZING when we went (March). We thought the store almost seemed like an after thought - it was aoout the size of my kitchen. The lobby was completely underwhelming but we did like that viewing area outside where the fire pit was located. Sanaa was good, we enjoyed it but we still liked Boma best (Jiko is in 3rd place for us) and we missed having the Mara right there. The pool bar was just average.

Biggest advantage IMO was that the buses stop there first. Our next trip back to AKV will be to Jambo.

 

[Anal Annie]

I haven't actually stayed at Kidani, but have stayed at Jambo. We picked Jambo because we wanted to be near the restaurants, the main store, and the main lobby.

I'd like to try out Kidani some time just to see what all the fuss is about. They're not too impressive looking from the outside. They look like a bunch of tenement apartments, IMHO! I expect that they are nicer inside.

Our DS12 kept asking why it looked like a warehouse!

 

[ToddyLu]

We prefer Kidani to Jambo. The CS doesn't matter to me. Boma was great but the Jambo lobby is very loud and Mara was difficult to find for us. I appreciate the fact that Kidani lobby is more intimate. I was worried about how I would like the outside of the building, too. When we drove up I was impressed with the safari type landscaping and the subdued colors the more I looked at it the more I really liked it. If DH and I had children I can see how more convienent Jambo could be. When given the choice MIL preferred Kidani over Jambo, too. That is what is so cool, two different resorts with the same theme...gotta love it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really like the way Jambo looks, and I love the hot tubs by the pool there. However, if we book a 1 or 2 bedroom, standard view or savannah view, it will be in Kidani because of the extra bathroom.

I just stayed in Kidani 1 bedroom savannah view in March and we 3 gals loved the stay. We loved seeing the animals, especially the red river hogs run around. We had a long walk to our villa, but we all broke up the walk by looking for animals on the many viewing windows along the way.

I've found the CM's at AKV, both of the houses, to be among the nicest and most informative of any CM's around. If I'm booking an AKV studio of any sort, my first choice is Jambo.

Bobbi

 

[Disney grandma]

I know the answer is somewhere on here but I can't find it. If you stay at Jambo can you use the pool at Kidani?

 

[Disneycouple99]

Yes.