Could someone give me a lesson on AKV??

[TwingleMum]

I am planning a trip in 8 months and i'm thinking of trying the AKV. Could someone explain to me the differences between Kidani and Jambo?? What are the pros/cons to each. Do either have concierge? ( I thought I read that AKV has a concierge level) I would need a 1 Bedroom. If I can't get concierge because of the 7 month window thing has anyone got it on a waitlist????

 

[Deb & Bill]

First, are you a DVC member staying on points?

If yes, then:

There are five two bedroom lockoffs on the sixth floor at Jambo House (the original bldg) on the Concierge level. Three are savanna view - with a somewhat blocked view. Two are pool view. At least one of the savanna view is handicapped accessible. You really need to be a member at AKV to get these at exactly 11 months out, first call of the day. You do these to get Concierge perks, not for the view.

The rest of the DVC villas in Jambo House are located on the fifth floor. All two bedroom villas are lock offs. None are dedicated. None of the one and two bedroom villas have a separate shower from the bathtub - it is a combination like in the studios. Value villas are only located in Jambo House and are strictly limited to 4/4/8 guests - no extra sleeper chair in the living room because there isn't room for it - these are smaller by about three feet in depth. Standard view at JH is a pool view. Value villas might be savanna, pool or parking lot. There are some single floor grandvillas at JH.

Kidani Village has studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and grand villas. There are dedicated two bedroom villas with two queen beds in the second bedroom. All the one, two and three bedroom villas have an extra full sized bathroom just off the entry. Standard view is parking lot or pool/parking lot. You can't really see the pool without also seeing the parking lot. There is parking under the building with elevators up to the hallways (or beads) so you can kind of park under your villa.

There is a table service restaurant in KV (Sanaa), but no counter service. You'll have to go to JH to get counter service (Mara). JH also has two table service restaurants, one is a buffet (Boma), the other is an upscale table service (Jiko).

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks Deb for the primer. I own at BVC. Its typical DVC the smaller resorts or views require that you own to insure you get what you want. I went to Africa on my honeymoon and we are celebrating our 20th this year. I'm sure where ever we get will be great.

 

[drusba]

Some additonal points:

1. Pool at Jambo is larger than one at Kidani but Kidani has the longer slide and the elaborate kids water play area. Jambo has lots of areas to find shade because of lots of trees and bushes, Kidani is more open to sun almost everywhere.

2. Walk from room to lobby at Jambo can be long if you are toward end of the wings (concierge are all over the lobby but savanna views are throughout). Nevertheless, Jambo's walk is short in comparison to what you can get at Kidani. Kidani has two wings, north and south (south is one closest to Jambo). Lobby to end room on south wing is close to 1/4 mile, lobby to end room on north wing is over 1/4 mile. It can take you 5 minutes or more to get to your room from the lobby. Thus, recommendation there is to request room close to lobby. Kidani does have ideal parking if you have a rental, it is on the ground floor under the building all the way throughout and each wing has two elevators along the wing so that you can always park fairly close to where your room is and get to it easily.

3. Jambo 1BRs are close in size to ones at BCV. Kidani 1BRs are about 100 sq ft larger.

4. Savanna view is 80% of all rooms. Kidani has two savannas, sunset (most rooms) and pembe (to the N/NW. Pembe has no giraffes and thus if you want giraffes request sunset at Kidani (if you request close to lobby you would automatically get sunset). West side of Jambo also overlooks sunset, Arusha is one in middle of Jambo building and Uzima to east of buidling (if you look at the Jambo building on a map the front entry is the south end and the ends of the U-shaped wings are the north end). My favorite request at Jambo is Arusha view away from the lobby along Zebra Trail. Rooms in that area not only give you good animal view but they also face west so you do not get the sun blasting in during the morning and can watch very nice sunsets.

4. A key advantage of Jambo is its having three restaurants, Jiko (upscale table service and very good), Boma (one of the best buffet restaurants on site), and Mara, counter service, all are near each other and near the lobby and pool. It also has the larger store and lobby. Kidani has only one restaurant, Sanaa, which is table service, but also very good (I personally like it more than Jiko) and you can get tables there that look out at the savanna (none at Jambo restaurants do).

5. Kidani's advantages include larger rooms with second bathroom in 1BR, kids water play area, and that DVC rooms are on all floors (2-5) and thus can get lower floor with more direct sight line at animals (Jambo DVC are only on 5th fl with concierge on 6th)

 

[Mtnman44]

So, just to clarify, none of the villas in Jambo (including the values) have a standalone jacuzzi tub?

First, are you a DVC member staying on points?

If yes, then:

There are five two bedroom lockoffs on the sixth floor at Jambo House (the original bldg) on the Concierge level. Three are savanna view - with a somewhat blocked view. Two are pool view. At least one of the savanna view is handicapped accessible. You really need to be a member at AKV to get these at exactly 11 months out, first call of the day. You do these to get Concierge perks, not for the view.

The rest of the DVC villas in Jambo House are located on the fifth floor. All two bedroom villas are lock offs. None are dedicated. None of the one and two bedroom villas have a separate shower from the bathtub - it is a combination like in the studios. Value villas are only located in Jambo House and are strictly limited to 4/4/8 guests - no extra sleeper chair in the living room because there isn't room for it - these are smaller by about three feet in depth. Standard view at JH is a pool view. Value villas might be savanna, pool or parking lot. There are some single floor grandvillas at JH.

Kidani Village has studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and grand villas. There are dedicated two bedroom villas with two queen beds in the second bedroom. All the one, two and three bedroom villas have an extra full sized bathroom just off the entry. Standard view is parking lot or pool/parking lot. You can't really see the pool without also seeing the parking lot. There is parking under the building with elevators up to the hallways (or beads) so you can kind of park under your villa.

There is a table service restaurant in KV (Sanaa), but no counter service. You'll have to go to JH to get counter service (Mara). JH also has two table service restaurants, one is a buffet (Boma), the other is an upscale table service (Jiko).

 

[drusba]

All 1BRs at Jambo have combined tub shower. All at Kidani are separate tub and shower in master bath.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So, just to clarify, none of the villas in Jambo (including the values) have a standalone jacuzzi tub?

That is correct. But photos I have seen show the tub does have jacuzzi jets in it. But you use it to shower and to bathe or soak.

 

[Talkingwoody]

Staying in a 1BR at Jamba. Does the 1BR and LR have seperate balconies. Is this the same for all DVC 1BR's, 2 balconies?

 

[LisaS]

So, just to clarify, none of the villas in Jambo (including the values) have a standalone jacuzzi tub?

The master bathroom in the Jambo House 1BR/2BR has a combination whirlpool tub and shower. I think the same model whirlpool tub is used in both Jambo and Kidani but the master bathrooms in Kidani also have a large standalone shower stall.

 

[nickspace]

God info... Thanks.

 

[lmshaggard]

Just stayed at AK - Kidani and while it was on my to-do once list, it quickly moved up to being one of our favorite resorts. What an amazing resort with excellent service!!! The walk to the room was long (we were at the north end towards the end), but we are walkers and didn't mind a bit. It was a very quiet resort and the animals were everywhere!! My little guys loved the pool and it was never crazy busy which was nice! We were in a Standard view studio and had actually had a view of some animals and a perfect view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. I had booked a 2 bdrm dedicated for December to take my family and had switched from BLT to AK-Kidani due to points since it is our treat and I am now SO excited after our recent stay!! I think I see an AK add on in our future

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

Just stayed at AK - Kidani and while it was on my to-do once list, it quickly moved up to being one of our favorite resorts. What an amazing resort with excellent service!!! The walk to the room was long (we were at the north end towards the end), but we are walkers and didn't mind a bit. It was a very quiet resort and the animals were everywhere!! My little guys loved the pool and it was never crazy busy which was nice! We were in a Standard view studio and had actually had a view of some animals and a perfect view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. I had booked a 2 bdrm dedicated for December to take my family and had switched from BLT to AK-Kidani due to points since it is our treat and I am now SO excited after our recent stay!! I think I see an AK add on in our future

Nice post! I always love to hear positive experiences about AKV. I hear a lot of complaints about how '"far away" and "remote" AKV is. To me, that is part of the charm. We feel like we really are in a remote, exotic resort in Africa!

 

[lmshaggard]

Nice post! I always love to hear positive experiences about AKV. I hear a lot of complaints about how '"far away" and "remote" AKV is. To me, that is part of the charm. We feel like we really are in a remote, exotic resort in Africa!

I felt the same way before we stayed and while I felt it was remote, but in a quick and convenient way. It really wasn't as far away as we expected and we loved it!