Are there AKV owners that will only stay in Jambo or Kidani?

[mamaprincess]

Just wondering with all the categories and two distinct locations are there any AKV owners who will only stay in Kidani or Jambo. Also are there owners who only book a particular category like only Savannah or Concierge or only value.

If you only stay in one AKV location or the other and only ever book a particular category, please tell what it is and why?

 

[erionm]

We've stayed Concierge Level last September and will be again for a couple of nights this September. Those CL stays were to be able to do the Wanyama Safari (last year) and the Sunrise Safari (this year).

We purchased at AKV because of the Savanna View. Except for our CL stays, all others have been and will probably always be Savanna View. We have only stayed in Jambo House so far, but will be staying in Kidani Village after our CL stay this year.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We don't find the experiences all that different between the two. Most of our AKV stays have included CL though. I don't think the point reallocation will allow us to do as many of those stays as we had planned to anymore though. I'm thinking we will mostly use our AKV points for savannah view 1 bedroom units for occational nights at the beginning or end of trips. That's how we have mostly used it so far, and it works well. Frankly, I'm not all that thrilled with the layout of the AKV rooms. HATE the dark bathrooms and high counters where you can't get near the mirror. We also learned last year when we had a 2 bedroom with guests that the kitchen/living area is not convenient for more than 4 people.

 

[spiceycat]

Diane you are just spoiled by OKW big rooms.

would think Kidani would have enough room?

for studios would go with Jambo house first. Studios are the same or nearly the same in both places. Like standard or value - cheap.

for 1-bedrooms and up would go with Kidani - there is just so much more room there.

 

[erionm]

for 1-bedrooms and up would go with Kidani - there is just so much more room there.

The additional bath in the Kidani Village 1-bedroom and larger is also a large plus.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane you are just spoiled by OKW big rooms.

would think Kidani would have enough room?

for studios would go with Jambo house first. Studios are the same or nearly the same in both places. Like standard or value - cheap.

for 1-bedrooms and up would go with Kidani - there is just so much more room there.

Actually Pat, we prefered the studio at Kidani. It had a better bathroom arrangement than Jambo studios. For the 1 bedrooms, I don't much care which it is. I do like the extra space at Kidani, but the Jambo ones are fine, and I have preferred our Jambo savannah views so far better than what we had at Kidani. We never have more than 2 people in a 1 bedroom anyway, so the extra bath doesn't mean much.

 

[LisaS]

When we stay in a Savanna View room we prefer to be as close to the animals as possible. All the Sav View rooms in Jambo are on the 5th floor and that's too far away from the animals for me. In January we stayed in a 2nd floor room in Kidani and loved it for animal watching. Also, the master bathroom in Jambo 1BRs have a combined whirlpool tub and shower but Kidani 1BRs have a separate, large shower stall in the master bath. So for those two reasons, I prefer Kidani to Jambo House. We don't mind the walk over to Jambo if we want to have breakfast at The Mara or Boma so that's not a concern for us. And while some people think the lobby in Kidani is too small (especially compared to Jambo's lobby), I find it quiet and cozy. I also prefer the outdoor animal viewing area at Kidani to the Arusha Rock area at Jambo because you are closer to the animals and don't have to climb up on the rock ledge to see over the fence.

 

[LisaS]

Actually Pat, we prefered the studio at Kidani. It had a better bathroom arrangement than Jambo studios.

Could you elaborate Diane? Looking at the floor plans, I figured I would like the Jambo studios better. In Jambo, the shower and toilet are in a separate room so someone can be using the sink area while someone else is taking a shower. Plus the mirror won't get all fogged up from the shower.

What was it about the Kidani studio bathroom layout that made it work better for you?

 

[honeymo78]

We use our akv points for concierge stays. I dont think we'll use them for anything else there.

 

[disneystick]

I have only stayed CL studio in Jambo...but have walked over to check out Kidani. Very nice place...however, we just prefer to be close to everything and really prefer the hotel feel of Jambo and all the places to eat at Jambo.

 

[whitfamily]

We prefer Jambo so we can get the Value rooms. When you run the point per night its the best value through out the week in our opinion. 200 points is getting us six nights in August in a 1BR value and four nights in a Studio at VWL. Last year we didn't even get a week of nights because we stayed in 1BR's that weren't Value.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Kidani for us....definitely Kidani!

Concierge at Jambo was fun and I guess I'd do that again sometime but otherwise I'd always choose Kidani over Jambo- love that extra bathroom in the 1br although thats not the only reason. But that's just me! I talked with a CM at Jambo when we were doing the night vision goggles and then two nights later he was at Kidani near the fire pit by the savanna . I asked him which he preferred and he said he'd rather be at Jambo. He said that Jambo was "livelier" than Kidani because it wasn't all time shares.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We recently sold AKV, but we always stayed and will continue to stay at Jambo House.

1) bigger pool
2) quick service food
3) larger and grander lobby
4) larger gift shop
5) larger common areas

 

[DizGirl20]

Can someone tell me how far of a walk it is b/w Jambo & Kidani... how many minutes? Thanks!

 

[Tara]

I'm not all that thrilled with the layout of the AKV rooms. HATE the dark bathrooms and high counters where you can't get near the mirror.

I actually had a funny thing happen related to this (loosely). I needed to put my contacts in before leaving so after using RAC, I went to the public restroom off the Kidani lobby. These are individual restrooms, not ones with stalls. I needed to lean forward to see what I was doing (even these rooms are dark). As I leaned forward, the automatic faucet activated at the moment the contact fell off my finger and it went right down the drain!

Luckily I use daily wear lenses and always have several with me, so I was covered. But that was NOT a turn of events I was expecting!!!

 

[5by5]

Can someone tell me how far of a walk it is b/w Jambo & Kidani... how many minutes? Thanks!

I think it was about 5 - 7 minutes. But we may have been moving a bit slow after several days in the parks.

 

[5by5]

When we stay in a Savanna View room we prefer to be as close to the animals as possible. All the Sav View rooms in Jambo are on the 5th floor and that's too far away from the animals for me. In January we stayed in a 2nd floor room in Kidani and loved it for animal watching. Also, the master bathroom in Jambo 1BRs have a combined whirlpool tub and shower but Kidani 1BRs have a separate, large shower stall in the master bath. So for those two reasons, I prefer Kidani to Jambo House. We don't mind the walk over to Jambo if we want to have breakfast at The Mara or Boma so that's not a concern for us. And while some people think the lobby in Kidani is too small (especially compared to Jambo's lobby), I find it quiet and cozy. I also prefer the outdoor animal viewing area at Kidani to the Arusha Rock area at Jambo because you are closer to the animals and don't have to climb up on the rock ledge to see over the fence.

The above sums up a lot of the reasons we stay at Kidani. We always get a 1 bedroom and the extra bathroom is great. The pool is great and yes the lobby is smaller, but really, does that matter? You're not sleeping in the lobby (I hope!). Kidani just seems more intimate.

 

[twinklebug]

I've stayed Jambo value studio overlooking the savanna once and Kidani SV studio twice. They're both beautiful but are as alike as cousins: from the same family but with totally different personalities. Jambo's like the rock & roll cousin who's got everything going all at once while Kidani's the quiet one who'd rather sit off stage but her beauty shines through just as strong.

If I had to choose one over the other, for my personality I prefer Kidani. Unless we need to save points and book value, or I have no other choice, I will only book there. I'm a person who enjoys quiet spaces and sunshine. Kidani has tons of places to find that.

(I'm also not a huge fan of drums beating in the lobby all evening long )

 

[Brave teacher]

We've never stayed at Jambo before, but my DH had one stay at Kidani last summer and declared this was it for him. It's just so quiet and peaceful. We love it. Even the kids said they didn't want to stay anywhere else when in WDW.

 

[disney dumbo]

We stayed in Kidani in December. Loved the 2 bedroom! But while it is beautiful... the of the lack of restaurant conveniences was a negative for us. We are not a "cook on vacation" type of family. Next time we are staying at Jambo... so we will better be able to compare. Jambo's lobby is spectacular!