Animal Kingdom Kidani

[drusba]

We are staying in a 2 BR lockoff in June. So if we want a partial savanna view, would I need to request a certain elevator or is that too large of a range of rooms? Looking at the map, I'm guessing the savanna views are in the pod 7x34-7x41 facing the Pembe Savanna, is that correct? That looks like it would be near the Rafiki elevator, but that could also land us with a pool view or a parking lot view, correct? Would I be better keeping it "partial savanna?" Also does this limit me so much that I'll probably end up in the last pod?

I assume you have a standard room reservation. You cannot end up at the end of the south wing because there are no standard rooms in the last three building pods. If you actually want full savanna view with a standard, you need to be somewhat close to the end of the north wing because the sixth pod (and possibly seventh) from the lobby has the converted rooms that directly overlook Pembe, and the request there would be to be near the Pumba elevator. There are no standard rooms beyond the sixth (or possibly 7th) pod. If you want both close to pool and a partial savanna view looking to the right from your balcony, then it is not clear that the pod you mention actually has standard rooms. A couple reports indicate that some (and only some) of that pod has rooms converted to standard but there have not been enough reports on that to confidently confirm it like there has been for that sixth pod. Requesting close to Rafiki elevator would likely put you in elther the second pod from the lobby, from which there is no adequate view of the savanna, or the third pod from which you get a partial view looking to the right from the balcony.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I assume you have a standard room reservation. You cannot end up at the end of the south wing because there are no standard rooms in the last three building pods. If you actually want full savanna view with a standard, you need to be somewhat close to the end of the north wing because the sixth pod (and possibly seventh) from the lobby has the converted rooms that directly overlook Pembe, and the request there would be to be near the Pumba elevator. There are no standard rooms beyond the sixth (or possibly 7th) pod. If you want both close to pool and a partial savanna view looking to the right from your balcony, then it is not clear that the pod you mention actually has standard rooms. A couple reports indicate that some (and only some) of that pod has rooms converted to standard but there have not been enough reports on that to confidently confirm it like there has been for that sixth pod. Requesting close to Rafiki elevator would likely put you in elther the second pod from the lobby, from which there is no adequate view of the savanna, or the third pod from which you get a partial view looking to the right from the balcony.

Wow, so that pod is savanna view. It looks like there is quite a bit of pool area in front of that pod. That's why I assumed it was standard. Not sure I want to be in the 6th or 7th pod in the north wing. That is a LONG walk to the buses. Isn't the 6th or 7th pod where the fence comes close to the resort? If so, then it wouldn't be a full savanna view, correct? I totally understand that a full savanna view would require booking a savanna view room. Which I have done before, and it IS wonderful. I just don't have the extra points this trip. Wonder if I requested partial savanna AND close to pool if that would help my chances of being in the 3rd pod? That looks like a great location since it would be closer to the bus stop, the savanna, and the pool. In fact, I think that's where our savanna view 2 BR was a few years ago but facing the Sunset Savanna.

 

[drusba]

The 6th (mainly) and the 7th partly is where the fence comes in fairly close to shrink the savanna in that area. That 4th pod is still somewhat of a mystery as there have been a couple reports seeming to say that members got it as standard view on the Pembe side and then other reports by someone in the pod on the Pembe side having a savanna view reservation and complaining that it does not have a real good savanna view. I am guessing the part of the pod close to the third pod may be standard and that the other end of the 4th pod is savanna view, but it still not clear.

 

[RooRach0906]

Thank you for all that have replied to this thread and thank you to the OP who created it! I now know that I should request near the Timon elevators so we can be near the bus stops. We are taking friends with us on our next trip and I would love the convenience to the bus stops. We have never stayed here before. Any other things I need to be aware of??? We are going to reserve a dedicated 2 bedroom.

 

[RooRach0906]

One more question... is it possible to move the sleeper chair into the master room?

 

[quandrea]

You can't move the chair--too big.

Timon is actually the only area I wouldn't pick. Wouldn't want the bus/parking lot views and the sun beating down on the room. We really like Rafiki for access to pool and lobby. We also liked Pumba for partial savannah view--walk is no where near thirty minutes as mentioned up thread. I've timed it with twin five year olds and it is three to five minutes. On my own I do the walk in two minutes. The area near the Zazu elevator offers great savannah views and a short, two minute walk to Jambo house.

Animal kingdom Kidani is home for us. You'll love it.

 

[happydisneymom]

We are at Kidani now in a 2 br std view room. I requested the TIMON elevator based off of recommendations from this board. We lucked out and got a room about 20 ft from the Timon elevator and on the top floor (5th)! YAY! If you don't plan on going to the lobby much, this is a GREAT location as just outside of the Timon elevator is the bus stop. It is as close to the bus stop as you can get and the view isn't bad either. It's not a savannah view but we do have a beautiful view of some natural wetlands. I would definitely recommend it!

What was your room number?

 

[wdw_nutz]

See this Kidani map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/Kindani_Village_Map.jpg. The front entrance to the lobby faces west and thus there is a north wing to the left on the map and a south wing to right, with the pool on the north wing and the bus stop on the south wing which runs toward Jambo. The two standard GVs, which are the only GVs that face Pembe savanna, are at the end of the 6th pod from the lobby on the north wing and the beginning of the 7th. You were right near the Pumba elevator which is in the same place as that red AED (defibrillator) sign between the 6th and 7th pods. The standard rooms are in: (a) the first four pods from the lobby on the south wing (the last three pods on the south wing have no rooms on the road side); (b) first three pods on the north wing; and (c) converted savanna rooms to standard in the 6th pod on the north wing from the lobby, and also believed to be in some part of the 4th pod on the north wing and possibly the 7th. If you want a converted room with a savanna view, you should likely request being near the standard GV's where you were before. If you want a short walk to the bus stop but have some real distance to the pool, you could request either close to community hall or close to the Timon elevator (which is in the same place as the AED sign between the 2d and 3rd pods on the south wing), both of which also give you a fairly easy walk to the lobby. If you want a short walk to the pool but have some distance to the bus stop, request pool view or close to the Rafiki elevator, which is in the same place as the AED sign between the 2d and 3rd pods from the lobby on the north wing (down that elevator to ground, parking lot, floor gives the shortest possible walk from the building to the pool). If you want the shortest walk to Jambo (although still more than 1/4 mile), but do not mind being far from the lobby and pool, request near the Zazu elavator which is in the same place as the AED sign between the 5th and 6th pods on the south wing.

I recommend these days against requesting just "close to lobby." As time has passed, there are now a large number of members who have experienced Kidani and had the long walks from lobby to room, who now all request "close to lobby" with the result that many do not get it and the default placement when your location request cannot be met is to place you in any available room, which is usually one far from the lobby.

Is there a thread anywhere with a detailed description of Jambo like this one? I'm looking for info about location of standard studios. Thanks! x

 

[drusba]

Is there a thread anywhere with a detailed description of Jambo like this one? I'm looking for info about location of standard studios. Thanks! x

Compare the following two maps together
http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5-large.html
http://i.imgur.com/G2qaSva.png

 

[Babygirl2015]

Very informative thread. Thanks!