BWV lover's comments on Kidani

[jekjones1558]

I just returned from 5 days in a Kidani studio. I had stayed at Jambo previously but never at Kidani. Most of our points are at BWV and we adore the BW view 1 bedrooms. Because my recent trip was solo and last minute, I felt lucky to be able to try a Kidani studio. These are a few random thoughts:

• While I liked Jambo okay, I LOVED Kidani. Absolutely loved it. If I weren't already point poor I would be adding another Kidani trip immediately. I was surprised that I loved the peacefulness of Kidani (for some reason it seemed more peaceful to me than Jambo) especially since I love BWV because it is in the middle of the action!
• I know that most people prefer the studios at Jambo but I loved my Kidani studio. Maybe if I were keen on counter service eating I would have felt differently. Even if I were to stay in a studio with someone else (DH and I always do 1 bedrooms) I like having the toilet in a separate room. I also felt that the lighting was better at Kidani than at Jambo. There were tons of electrical outlets--4 in the bathroom and 4 near the table in the living room. I don't remember studio refrigerators well, but I loved the movable dividers in the door of the frig.
• The animal viewing was just great--zebras, giraffes, ankoles, plus other 4 leggeds and birds, even a tortoise. I even had a giraffe sitting down right in front of my balcony one night!
• The balcony was decent size and it was covered. That kept the sun from beating in and kept light rain out. This helped on the nights when I didn't feel like dealing with rain in the parks.
• Cast members were great! My housekeeper gave me the royal treatment on trash and towel day, making my bed, giving me a clean coffee pot and mugs, leaving 3 new coffee packs and lots of toiletries. Front desk staff were most helpful.
• On the recommendation of several people I took in a couple of talks in the library from cast members who shared info about their African countries. I loved talking with one from Botswana about the way that country is portrayed in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency books.
• I rented a car. I think this was key to my not feeling too isolated. I had 2 early morning tours that would have been really tough to get to if I had needed to use Disney transportation. I also checked out what stores and restaurants are available on 192. There is a great selection and easy to get there!
• Sanaa! What great food! I am fond of very few Disney restaurants anymore but Sanaa is wonderful.
• Water play area for kids! I much prefer it to SAB for young kids (I know that others would disagree). I wish that our family trip last October had been at Kidani. The kids are young (5 of the 7 are under age 5) and they would have absolutely adored this pool area.
• Artifacts. Lots of them. Kudos to Disney.

I may think of other things later, but these come to mind now. DH wants to stay at BWV in Oct. for F&W and in Dec. for the holiday stuff but I am nagging him to try Kidani next spring. I don't want to wait that long to go back there so I am plotting... You Kidani owners have a wonderful resort!

ETA:
• Underground parking! How could I have forgotten this! No sun beating into your car. And one night I escaped a downpour without a single drop falling on me!
Here is a link to my trip report: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2925675

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm so glad you liked Kidani, Jean! I'm also glad you got to take in some of the cultural exchange talks. Was it from people who are getting ready to leave in June, or was it people who had already been here 6 months? We saw one presentation twice about 3 months apart, and the young lady had improved greatly in her presentation skills in that time. We saw her very first one on our December trip.

I also agree with you on the lighting at Kidani. I think it's MUCH better than at Jambo. I also think you are right on about Sanaa! It is far and away the best Disney restaurant short of Victoria and Alberts.

Aren't those artifacts amazing? I always spend time just walking the halls on all the floors so I can see all of them. Kidani truly transforms into an African destination.

 

[debbieandroo]

Kidani is where I had spent my first two DVC visits. In fact, their spacious two bedroom was what convinced me to buy into DVC in the first place. I absolutely love it there. My points aren't there but it does feel like home.

Ironically, I just spent a week at the BWV and love it there, too! Happily, I had the chance to visit Kidani and eat at Sanaa. I completely agree with you - it's one of my favorites, too.

I never got to hear one of the cultural talks but I did do the food tour of Boma and Jiko. Got to try out Boma's soup and zebra domes and the bread service at Jiko. I definitely recommend that one for your next visit.

So glad you enjoyed your solo trip.

 

[AKLFan3]

I'm glad you enjoyed Kidani! I agree with you about the Kidani studio. I prefer it to Jambo House's studio since the bathroom is very large.

Sanaa is my favorite restaurant at Disney and I have at least one meal there almost every day of my trip when I visit. I think it is Disney's hidden gem for dining.

I think Kidani is more peaceful than Jambo because Jambo's lobby is HUGE and more people tend to relax and hang out there than in Kidani. I also think the noise from the restaurants at Jambo echoes throughout the lobby too.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

My sentiments exactly on Kidani! We love it there too and are getting ready to spend our next two trips there. Any recommendations on what to order at Sanaa? I find the menu intimidating--not sure what to try.

 

[jekjones1558]

My sentiments exactly on Kidani! We love it there too and are getting ready to spend our next two trips there. Any recommendations on what to order at Sanaa? I find the menu intimidating--not sure what to try.

Hopefully others will post regarding Sanaa. I ordered salad samplers and meat combos so I could try several offerings. I am a bread fan so the Indian Bread Service appealed to me. Sanaa offers lots of small plate sampler choices which I think is a great way to check out interesting options.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Hopefully others will post regarding Sanaa. I ordered salad samplers and meat combos so I could try several offerings. I am a bread fan so the Indian Bread Service appealed to me. Sanaa offers lots of small plate sampler choices which I think is a great way to check out interesting options.

We will have to try the samplers then! Of course that makes sense! I'm sure to find more items that I like than not. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

I stayed in a Kidani studio 3 years ago and liked it. The parking was nice, I would only stay there with a car. Our room was about half way down the hall, at the bottom of the "U", we saw animals mostly in the late afternoon. Very few in the morning, which was disappointing.

 

[Muhlenberg]

We love Kidani! And it's like a mini-museum when you're walking around!

We came home about 3 weeks ago, and we keep looking out our back window for all the animals.

 

[LisaS]

My sentiments exactly on Kidani! We love it there too and are getting ready to spend our next two trips there. Any recommendations on what to order at Sanaa? I find the menu intimidating--not sure what to try.

Try the tomato soup with paneer cheese. It's soooo good!

 

[goofy4tink]

My exact thoughts on Kidani!! I love it there. I thought my dd and dh would love it as much as I do, but nope. They thought it was 'okay' and didn't really feel the need to stay there again after our two night stay there.
But I love it there...looking forward to staying there again on a solo trip.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Try the tomato soup with paneer cheese. It's soooo good!

That sounds delicious!! I will definitely try it on one of our trips. Thanks!

 

[Candace]

Just finished reading your TR. Thanks for posting all those great pictures! I am going to Kidani the first week of August solo, and I can't wait now! I wasn't sure whether I would want to stay there solo, but I really wanted to try it, and now I feel much better. I also will be in a SV studio, and I, too, usually stay in a one bedroom. I guess you are home by now; glad you had a great birthday at WDW.

 

[cwdefouw]

I stayed in a Kidani studio 3 years ago and liked it. The parking was nice, I would only stay there with a car. Our room was about half way down the hall, at the bottom of the "U", we saw animals mostly in the late afternoon. Very few in the morning, which was disappointing.

We had a room on the Sunset Savannah in late March this year and also saw few animals in the mornings. During our Sunset Safari, the guide told us that all of the animals return to the barns during the morning for at least one hour, usually more. I guess they set it up this way figuring that morning is usually park time for guests, whereas afternoon and evening is when most guests are more likely to be in their rooms and doing animal viewing.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Try the tomato soup with paneer cheese. It's soooo good!

My son loves soup, soup of any kind and this is one of his fave's!

We also much prefer Kidani to Jambo, lighter decor, master bath, etc and that 3rd bathroom in the 2br's, seals the deal!

 

[psac]

We had a room on the Sunset Savannah in late March this year and also saw few animals in the mornings. During our Sunset Safari, the guide told us that all of the animals return to the barns during the morning for at least one hour, usually more. I guess they set it up this way figuring that morning is usually park time for guests, whereas afternoon and evening is when most guests are more likely to be in their rooms and doing animal viewing.

I don't know if it was in official Disney material, or in sites like here and Allears, but yes, they use the mornings for feedings and animal care, because they do assume that everyone is either heading to the parks or sleeping late, and not animal watching at that time. Ironic since some of the best animal viewing in the Kilimanjaro Safaris is in the morning when the animals seem to be most active.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have had the best animal viewing in the afternoons zt both Kidani and Jambo

 

[sleeperclan]

Loved your trip report! We've stayed Jambo House but this will be our first time at Kidani. Glad to see a BWV lover can enjoy Kidani...DHs fav is BWV and is bummed DD picked Kidani for her graduation trip. I may have to do Sanaa room service our first night. The trios looked wonderful!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Loved your trip report! We've stayed Jambo House but this will be our first time at Kidani. Glad to see a BWV lover can enjoy Kidani...DHs fav is BWV and is bummed DD picked Kidani for her graduation trip. I may have to do Sanaa room service our first night. The trios looked wonderful!

You will be missing out if you don't actually go down and enjoy Sanaa in the restaurant. LOVE the decor and the animal viewing from there.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I am glad you enjoyed Kidani. I love the serenity and beauty of the place. My son loves the Community Hall and I enjoy getting a drink at the bar and then taking it to the firepit to sit in a big rocking chair at night.

Some argue that its far from everything. I find that not to be true.

Oh and the Ginger carrot soup at Boma. YUMMY!!!!