Animal Kingdom Kidani - First Timers

[TigerInGa]

I've read through several different threads on here regarding AKL, just hoping to get some ideas all in one thread.

We were able to get our loaded resale contract closed and points in our account withing 40 days. Amazing!

I called today to see what trip they could put together for us before the points expire at end end of January. They were able to get us 5 nights in AKL - Kidani (Savannah View) and 1 night at Boardwalk. We are 2 adults and a 2 year old girl.

This is our first trip to stay anwhere not named Fort Wilderness.

If this was your first trip, but you know what you already know, what would you tell us should be on our "must do" lists at these 2 resorts.? We'll have theme park tickets for 3 days, so I'm looking for ideas for resort days, under the general assumption that the pool may be a bit too cold.

 

[Pyotr]

Dinner at Sanaa, Jiko, and Boma. All three have excellent food.

 

[Best Aunt]

Find the monthly activity guide. The AKl thread on the resort board probably has it. Lots of activities for kids and some for adults. Try pools at Jambo and kidani if warm enough. Jambo has bigger gift shop. There is a van which goes between jambo and kidani. Find all of the different areas outside where you can see the animals.

 

[Geomom]

Community halls at both kidani and boardwalk. Coloring sheets, crafts (some cost $ but there are some free ones too), games, toys, a Disney movie playing on the TV. Kidani community Hall on first floor, boardwalk's is in the building by the non-feature pool.

Tons of activities at kidani and jambo house, lots of cultural activities... great resort for non park days.

 

[Wakey]

Watch out for the bees at Kidani pool, my wife got stung, that was summer though.

 

[drusba]

Jan is hit or miss for pools -- been to Kidani in Jan a number of times, with the best year having upper 70s to 80s everyday and the worst being so cold everyday (highest day was about 48, night was below freezing and we even saw snow), the pool was actually closed. If the pool is open and weather complies, it has an excellent kid's water play area.

Ideas provided above are all good. Another thing to consider is a location request, particularly at Kidani, which is among the longest hotel buildings in the world, and I mean on earth not Just WDW (over 2/3 mile from end to end), Getting a room near the end of one of the two wings means extremely long walks to lobby, busses and amenities (total walking distance to those things is comparable to walking from the base of World Showcase at Epcot to Germany). Personal preference, particularly for Jan, when pool can be unlikely, is to request a room through Member Services near the Timon elevator. Each wing has three elevators . The Timon elevator, on the south wing (the front of the building faces west) gives you fairly quick access to the bus station and reasonable access to lobby,, community hall, and pool. That request also means, if met, that you would get Sunset savanna view, the better savanna at Kidani (it has giraffes, Pembe savanna does not), although you likely should also give Sunset savanna view as a request.

 

[TigerInGa]

Jan is hit or miss for pools -- been to Kidani in Jan a number of times, with the best year having upper 70s to 80s everyday and the worst being so cold everyday (highest day was about 48, night was below freezing and we even saw snow), the pool was actually closed. If the pool is open and weather complies, it has an excellent kid's water play area.

Ideas provided above are all good. Another thing to consider is a location request, particularly at Kidani, which is among the longest hotel buildings in the world, and I mean on earth not Just WDW (over 2/3 mile from end to end), Getting a room near the end of one of the two wings means extremely long walks to lobby, busses and amenities (total walking distance to those things is comparable to walking from the base of World Showcase at Epcot to Germany). Personal preference, particularly for Jan, when pool can be unlikely, is to request a room through Member Services near the Timon elevator. Each wing has three elevators . The Timon elevator, on the south wing (the front of the building faces west) gives you fairly quick access to the bus station and reasonable access to lobby,, community hall, and pool. That request also means, if met, that you would get Sunset savanna view, the better savanna at Kidani (it has giraffes, Pembe savanna does not), although you likely should also give Sunset savanna view as a request.

Great advice, going to put that room request in right now. Thank you so much!