Changing Resorts-Help!

[SwanVT2]

It is a family bucket list to stay at AKL savannah view and I am thinking of switching our SSR studio to a 1 bedroom AKL savannah view so we can enjoy the view, eat more in the room to save money, eat at Sanaa and discover new pools. My question is, how comfortable are the sleeper sofas? It is the only thing dissuading me from making the change. DD is 12 and 5'3" so needs regular bed like the Murphy bed at SSR, which she has found superior to the sofa bed. Also, is the savannah view worth it? AND how are the pools (DD is a fan of slides)? Thank you!!

 

[SwanVT2]

It is a family bucket list to stay at AKL savannah view and I am thinking of switching our SSR studio to a 1 bedroom AKL savannah view so we can enjoy the view, eat more in the room to save money, eat at Sanaa and discover new pools. My question is, how comfortable are the sleeper sofas? It is the only thing dissuading me from making the change. DD is 12 and 5'3" so needs regular bed like the Murphy bed at SSR, which she has found superior to the sofa bed. Also, is the savannah view worth it? AND how are the pools (DD is a fan of slides)? Thank you!!

Also, I see Kidani has two bathrooms. Is that tub a jacuzzi/soaking tub I see in the Disney website video?

 

[CarolynFH]

how comfortable are the sleeper sofas?

The Kidani 1BR have both a sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair. The chair is reportedly quite comfortable - my dad was happy with it when he was 85 years old! So if your daughter is the only one sleeping in the living room, she’ll probably be happy with that.

Also, I see Kidani has two bathrooms. Is that tub a jacuzzi/soaking tub I see in the Disney website video?

Yes, the primary bath at Kidani has both a tub and a walk-in shower. The tub will probably still be a jacuzzi, if your visit occurs prior to the refurbishment expected next year. If not, it will at least be a soaker tub.

 

[DeeBee3]

We have stayed in the 1BR at Kidani (2022). The 2 full bathrooms are a major plus.

The sofa bed is TERRIBLE, in my opinion. Some people are less sensitive when sleeping. I am 5'3" so the size is not the issue - the metal bar and thin padding is the issue.

The new Murphy beds feel like a regular bed to me. Kidani is beautiful so I definitely understand the appeal. I have never stayed at SSR.

P.S. my daughter stayed in that sleeper chair - she liked it, but I personally did not try it out.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Savannah view is worth it. Pool is great. You can use either Jambo or Kidani pool I believe. Both great.

Sleeper sofa is awful. Bad enough to counteract the Savannah view and pool and awesome food at AKL. Sleeper chair we didn’t try so can’t answer that part.

 

[sndral]

I own at AKV & love staying at the resort, however, that sleeper sofa is horrible, much worse than the VGF sleeper sofa was before VGF got the Murphy sofa/beds. I’ve slept on the sleeper chair at AKV & found it to be far more comfortable than the sofa bed.
I assume AKV will get Murphy sofa/beds in the rumored 2025 refurb & will likely lose the spa tubs .
You can use both Jambo & Kidani’s pools, I think Jambo’s slide is bigger.
Regarding savanna view, I’ll often opt to save points at Jambo by booking a standard view because many standard views at Jambo overlook a savanna & the others are above the pool, but that’s not the case at Kidani, IMO it’s definitely worth paying savanna view points when staying at Kidani, be sure to request a location that puts you overlooking the large Sunset savanna v. the small & narrow Pembe savanna when staying at Kidani.
A 2 br. standard view costs only a few points more than a 1 br. savanna view at AKV - if there’s a 2 br. standard view available at Jambo it might be worth it to spend a couple of points more to get the queen bed in the second bedroom. I’d request Kudu trail for location in Jambo standard since all of the standard views on Kudu trail overlook Sunset savanna.

 

[intamin]

I own at AKV & love staying at the resort, however, that sleeper sofa is horrible, much worse than the VGF sleeper sofa was before VGF got the Murphy sofa/beds. I’ve slept on the sleeper chair at AKV & found it to be far more comfortable than the sofa bed.
I assume AKV will get Murphy sofa/beds in the rumored 2025 refurb & will likely lose the spa tubs .
You can use both Jambo & Kidani’s pools, I think Jambo’s slide is bigger.
Regarding savanna view, I’ll often opt to save points at Jambo by booking a standard view because many standard views at Jambo overlook a savanna & the others are above the pool, but that’s not the case at Kidani, IMO it’s definitely worth paying savanna view points when staying at Kidani, be sure to request a location that puts you overlooking the large Sunset savanna v. the small & narrow Pembe savanna when staying at Kidani.
A 2 br. standard view costs only a few points more than a 1 br. savanna view at AKV - if there’s a 2 br. standard view available at Jambo it might be worth it to spend a couple of points more to get the queen bed in the second bedroom. I’d request Kudu trail for location in Jambo standard since all of the standard views on Kudu trail overlook Sunset savanna.

Agreed, I refuse to sleep on that sleeper sofa. I'd rather keep the thing in sofa form and just sleep on that cuz at least then I get the padding from the cushions. I love everything else about the resort and think it'll be much better after the refurb but I wouldn't put anybody on that pull out sofa.

 

[Anthony1971]

We have never found the sleeper sofa to be an issue. Also the sleeper chair was fine. We have never had complaints young to old but everyone is different.
Kidani’s master bathroom is amazing….
Using the kitchen is a choice but great for light breakfasts and snacks at the very least.
Pools - Kidani by far has the better slide it is both fast and fun. The pool itself is on the smaller side but we personally have not seen it crowded. Jambo pool is much bigger to me has the worst slide of all resorts but absolutely perfect for a less daring person.
Jambo does have more going on and the lobby is amazing.
The views well that is personal. On the Kidani side I would say a Savannah view is worth it just to avoid some of the standard views - knowing where you are can make some of these views rough.
Jambo has many great viewing areas and the standard views will be at least of the pool.
Worth it it depends on your expectations…. Will you see animals 24/7 not by a long shot. There are times you will see birds and times you will see a lot of activity. The animals are in fact feed at different times on each part so keep the in mind. The majority of what Kidani overlooks ,with the exception of some rooms in the pumba section which may be considered standard, is the largest part and not uncommon to see a Giraffe run that in and of itself is worth the view…. Jambo also has rooms that overlook this section of the savanna but the views to me are not as good as they are further away from the main run.

 

[sndral]

We have never found the sleeper sofa to be an issue. Also the sleeper chair was fine. We have never had complaints young to old but everyone is different.
Kidani’s master bathroom is amazing….
Using the kitchen is a choice but great for light breakfasts and snacks at the very least.
Pools - Kidani by far has the better slide it is both fast and fun. The pool itself is on the smaller side but we personally have not seen it crowded. Jambo pool is much bigger to me has the worst slide of all resorts but absolutely perfect for a less daring person.
Jambo does have more going on and the lobby is amazing.
The views well that is personal. On the Kidani side I would say a Savannah view is worth it just to avoid some of the standard views - knowing where you are can make some of these views rough.
Jambo has many great viewing areas and the standard views will be at least of the pool.
Worth it it depends on your expectations…. Will you see animals 24/7 not by a long shot. There are times you will see birds and times you will see a lot of activity. The animals are in fact feed at different times on each part so keep the in mind. The majority of what Kidani overlooks ,with the exception of some rooms in the pumba section which may be considered standard, is the largest part and not uncommon to see a Giraffe run that in and of itself is worth the view…. Jambo also has rooms that overlook this section of the savanna but the views to me are not as good as they are further away from the main run.

I’ll defer to your greater knowledge of which pool’s slide is better, not being a slide aficionado myself .

 

[zachatak]

I know it has been said several times before but I shall say it again. The sleeper sofa absolutely stinks! Even when my youngest weighed 50 lbs, it hurt. I tried it one night and my back was in bad shape for a couple of days.

 

[SwanVT2]

Thank you all! We have decided to save our pennies, stick with SSR and go to AKL when they are done refurbishment.

 

[zackiedawg]

Fortunately many of the resorts are replacing those sofa beds with murphys, but back in the days when we'd stay in rooms that had the sofa beds (which I agree are terrible), we always requested double foam mattress pads from housekeeping as soon as we arrived...with two layers of foam pads, the sofa beds are much more tolerable...though the downside is you have to be VERY forceful to close the sofa with the pads on and it's very difficult to open again with them, or you have to take the pads off before folding which means remaking it each evening. Still worth it though. The murphys are 1000% better.