Considering a stay at AKL

[wendow]

We would be a family of 5 + a baby. We stayed at BLT in their 1 bd and it was perfect. Do the 1 bd's in both Jambo and Kidani sleep 5 + a baby? I can't tell because some places say they sleep 4 and some say 5. Also, we prefer having 2 bathrooms like we had in the BLT 1 bd. Is that the same too at AKL? Or do some rooms only have 1 bathroom?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Mommb]

The 1-bedroom villas (except for the Value rooms) at both Jambo and Kidani can sleep 2 people on a sofa bed and 1 person on a sleeper chair in the living room, and 2 people in the master bedroom. So, they can take 5 people plus a baby. (The Value rooms don't have the sleeper chair.)

The 1-bedrooms in Kidani have 2 bathrooms, but the 1-bedrooms at Jambo have just 1 bathroom, which is across the hall from the master bedroom (but not connected to it, as in some of the other DVC resorts).

 

[drusba]

1BRs at both can sleep your group but room at Kidani is significantly larger. Kidani is actually larger than the BLT room you had, while Jambo is significantly smaller than that BLT room. Kidani has two bathrooms to Jambo's one, has separate shower and tub in master bath (Jambo has combined tub/shower), and has more closet space than Jambo.

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

I think you would be very comfortable at AKL-Kidani. It is our home resort and we LOVE it!

 

[wendow]

Thank you everyone! Kidani does sound like the right choice for us. So, if we are renting points, how do we know whether we will be in Jambo or Kidani? I don't remember seeing a difference in these on the point charts? I do remember seeing the "value" category which seems like that definitely won't work.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you everyone! Kidani does sound like the right choice for us. So, if we are renting points, how do we know whether we will be in Jambo or Kidani? I don't remember seeing a difference in these on the point charts? I do remember seeing the "value" category which seems like that definitely won't work.

Kidani and Jambo are guaranteed booking options and you would just let the person your are renting from know that you want to book at Kidani. Point charts are the same for both resorts so you don't see separate ones but Jambo does have 2 additional room categories (value and concierge) that are options so if you booked one of those you would be at Jambo. But I agree that Kidani sounds like the best fit for what you are looking for.

 

[wendow]

Thank you, Kathy, that is very helpful! So excited to try AKL

 

[drusba]

Yes, you definitely don't want "value" which is only at Jambo and the rooms are "value" because they are the smallest DVC rooms that exist at the resort. If Kidani your option is either savanna view or standard (usually road or pool) view. When ordering you request the specific building (guaranteed) and if you are getting savanna view I would suggest asking for close to lobby or close to community hall (non-guaranteed requests) which would put you close to all amenities such as store, bus stop, pool, and restaurant and will avoid long walks to the lobby which at Kidani can be extremely long if you are in rooms far from the lobby.

 

[wendow]

Thank you, that is good to know! What building is preferable for a standard view that is close to the main pool, bus stop, food, etc? Is there a thread that someone could point me to that contains info about different buildings and room views?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you, that is good to know! What building is preferable for a standard view that is close to the main pool, bus stop, food, etc? Is there a thread that someone could point me to that contains info about different buildings and room views?

There is Jambo House and Kidani Village. No other buildings. Kidani Village is one long string of villas. At Kidani Village the pool is across the parking lot from the villas. There is only one pool at KV and one pool at JH.

At KV, there is a table service restaurant, Sanaa, this is Indian style food. At the KV pool, you can order from the pool bar, but what you can order is very limited. At JH, there are two table service restaurants (Jiko and Boma). Boma is buffet that serves breakfast and dinner. Jiko only serves dinner. There is a counter service at JH, Mara. It is not a food court like you had at POR. It is more like the Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary Resort.

At JH, standard view is the pool. At KV, standard view is the parking lot or the pool just past the parking lot.

 

[drusba]

Kidani is one long building with two wings, north and south, running from lobby. With standard view, you may want to request pool view (you don't really see it that well) to avoid view of road and bus stop. That would put you fairly close to everything.

 

[wendow]

Thank you both! I appreciate all the information