Do you prefer Kidani or Jambo?

[Luv2trav]

We have stayed at Kidani and loved it. We didn't like the counter service options therefore we are electing to go with Jambo this time around. I am scared I will be disappointed in the Sav View room from Jambo. I loved our view from Kidani.

What are your thoughts?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Because you can get a lower floor at Kidani, in some cases those views may be better. I recently had a savannah view value studio in Jambo and there were very few animals who bothered to make their way toward that end of the Sunset Savannah. Since I was in a value studio and the savannah was just a bonus, I don't have any complaints, but if I had had a savannah view studio I would have been disappointed.

However, I have never been disappointed in the Arusha savannah studios that I've had at Jambo. All in all, I like Jambo better, but if I'm with a larger group, I do book Kidani for the extra bathrooms in the 1-2 bedrooms there.

Bobbi

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Please post your thoughts on this. We will be at Kidani for 3 days in Dec. We stayed at Jambo in Jan. and thought it was very nice. We toured Kidani and thought it was great as well except for no counter service there. DVC needs to look into either adding a counter service to Kidani or start serving breakfast at Sanaa. Mara is a nice counter service place and the gift shop/mercantile at Jambo is amazing.

 

[wheelcap]

I absolutely LOVE Jambo, and absolutely HATE Kidani. Kidani feels like a cheap apartment building in the middle of nowhere, but Jambo feels like a luxurious hotel in the jungles of Africa. Kidani has a "cute" pool area, and that "so-called" counter-service place for food, but Jambo has a wide array of food options. Kidani has a little circle considered the main savanah viewing area, but Jambo has a large, beautiful viewing area out back, and wonderful views all around. Kidani has a tiny little shop crammed into the corner by the front lobby, but Jambo has a large, well-themed shop. I understand it's all in each person's personal preference, but I just can't understand Kidani.

 

[drusba]

The ideal resort is: Kidani's larger 1 and 2Brs with the extra bathroom and having rooms on all floors, Jambo's three restaurants or even better all four restaurants at one, Jambo's pool with Kidani's slide and kid's play area, Kidani's parking under the building, Arusha savanna view at Jambo, Jambo's lobby and store, and Kidani's first stop for park busses.

Unfortunately you can't get the ideal one but both are pretty darn good.

 

[mamaprincess]

We bought AKV for Jambo so we prefer Jambo. We bought when they first went on sale. DH and I have always been in complete awe of Jambo and just couldn't believe that they were going to have DVC there. It feels like you are truly living in someone's vision. The architect must have been given carte blanche and the budget to really use all of his talent to bring a world to life. There just seemed to be no stone left unturned. I just think Walt would have loved Jambo house because it truly transports you and Walt was all about telling a story and having you fully immersed in that story. While I am sure Kidani has the better villas and the parking situation is superior, Jambo house truly brings the story of to life.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm at Jambo right now. I LOVE it here, but I have no desire to stay at Kidani. But I've never stayed there, so I really can't compare the two. However, I've talked to lots of people on buses, and those who've stayed at both places all prefer Jambo. And even those who've only stayed at Kidani are really bothered by the lack of CS. All I know is that I'm not giving up my value studios (I swear this one's the best room I've ever had at any WDW resort), wouldn't move away from Mara's butternut squash soup, and love being close to Boma and Jiko.

 

[dclfun]

I like the rooms in both and actually had better animal viewing at Kidani but as others have mentioned, it's really a HUGE minus to not have a CS restaurant there. Not everyone wants to dine in their room or dine at the parks, esp. for breakfast. Depending on where your room is located at Kidani, it can be a really, really long walk over to Mara. Until this is rectified, I won't be choosing Kidani again.---Kathy

 

[disneystick]

I absolutely LOVE Jambo, and absolutely HATE Kidani. Kidani feels like a cheap apartment building in the middle of nowhere, but Jambo feels like a luxurious hotel in the jungles of Africa. Kidani has a "cute" pool area, and that "so-called" counter-service place for food, but Jambo has a wide array of food options. Kidani has a little circle considered the main savanah viewing area, but Jambo has a large, beautiful viewing area out back, and wonderful views all around. Kidani has a tiny little shop crammed into the corner by the front lobby, but Jambo has a large, well-themed shop. I understand it's all in each person's personal preference, but I just can't understand Kidani.

I feel the same way....I just think Jambo to me is more of a luxury hotel vs apartment style of Kidani.

 

[wildernessDad]

I like the accommodations at Kidani and there is the Pembe savanna too. For overall theme and convenience to food, I like Jambo.

 

[eporter66]

We have not stayed at Jambo, but had such a great experience at Kidani last October, we booked it again this year, and will be going a week from today.

We love the kids area pool - our daughter had a blast there. When we go to WDW we expect to do a lot of walking, so taking a hike over to Jambo was never a big deal for us. I agree Kidani needs a small counter service restaurant, but I never minded heading over to Jambo. Plus - we get a one bedroom, so we stop and buy lunch meat, fruit, snacks, and a few things to cook for meals, so we do just fine.

Our first night we are having dinner at BOMA - we did that last year and had to do it again - fantastic!

 

[csharpwv]

I have a little different opinion than most on here - in a way - but am of the same opinion on some aspects of the differences between the two.

Last December we stayed at Jambo for a week. We had reserved a Savannah View Studio, and when we arrived we had the choice of two rooms that were available. One with a very limited Savanna View - and one that was in the very last building in the hotel. We opted for the better view - and somewhat regretted it all week - every time we had to make the trek from the lobby to the room. It was approx 1,200 steps round trip from the front door to the door of our studio. Once I forgot something in the room - and had to walk all the way back to the room from the bus stop (an additional 75+ steps) - so it takes a good chunk of both your time and energy when you are (a) Headed to the pool (b) Headed to the Mara (c) going anywhere by bus (d) Going to the lobby - or out of your room for ANYTHING!

DW and I both say that next time we stay at Animal Kingdom we will book at Kidani and request a room on the end of Kidani nearest to AKL - it HAS to be closer to the Mara than what our previous room at Jambo was - and it will still be fairly close to the Kidani lobby - as well as close to both pools.

Jambo is NICE because even though you are staying on DVC points your ARE actually staying in a Deluxe Resort. Not all DVC resorts REALLY feel DELUXE in the sense of FANTASTIC lobbies and the major investment in the these that you just don't find in ALL of the DVC resorts (Saratoga for example)

We have NOT stayed at Kidani - but I did venture over to the lobby and it does lack the grand scale of Jambo's lobby. However the possibility of being on the end of the resort which is a major distance from all civilization at Jambo is enough to make us want to stay at Kidani next time - reserve at 11 months - and request the end of the DVC property closest to Jambo to hopefully have the best of both worlds!

 

[Luv2trav]

I think we are going to to try Jambo. Can I request Arusha sav?

 

[Nikisha421]

Jambo...it's so my closer...more convient...it has concierge...we are just so happy when we are there...on the other hand I have to say I have only stayed at KV once...and it was after saying at Jambo CL for five days...plus the first five days were park heavy...so by the time we got to KV I was tired and still had another five days to go...so everything about it seemed so inconvienent...not having a QS location...or food right outside of my door as when CL you will have...not to mention we ended up with a parking lot view of the pool...greaaat...but Jambo gets my vote

 

[La2kw]

We prefer Kidani. It's more intimate and less hectic, the rooms are nicer, you can see animals from the air conditioned lobby, and it feels like DVC. Jambo is huge, bustling, and does not feel at all like DVC, and you cannot see the animals as easily from the lobby. It's so easy to get to the restaurants at Jambo, plus Sanaa is excellent as well.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Each has it's pros and cons. We are going to try Jambo on our next trip then we can give our opinion. My likes of Kidani were...huge 2 bedroom villa, awesome pool for kids, fun pool parties, convenient community hall right on our floor, first bus stop. At Jambo we are looking forward to..a more deluxe resort feel, being steps away from Mara, saving points with a value villa, the bigger savannah

 

[CruznLexi]

we stayed JH first and it was very nice. Love the nice hot tub by the gym. The mara is nice and even when we stay at KV we go over there to eat. We love Boma but the walk is only about 10 minutes. We prefer the pool at KV the slide is longer and faster. We like the drink station that is so close with JH you have to go through the Mara area and when wet it is not so nice. We like being the first bus stop. We don't normally get SV we like to save on points. Love the community hall.
Lexi

 

[dsneygirl]

We have stayed at both and I prefer Jambo. The lack of CS at Kidani is a huge let down for us.

 

[Kuzco]

I personally love both. If I had to choose (fortunately with DVC, I never have to), I'd probably pick Kidani. It seems less hectic and I like that the bus picks up at Kidani first, which is a huge plus. If a CS restaurant and more shopping options are a must, then I'd say choose Jambo.

I find it interesting that most posters feel that Jambo is more "upscale." I agree with this, but when I traveled with friends in May, they all agreed that Kidani seemed more upscale.

It goes to show you that everyone's opinion will be different and you won't know which is your favorite until you try both for yourself!

 

[RDP]

I like Kidani! We bought Kidani DVC and we feel like it was built for us!!!! We stayed in Kidani last year and had all the benefits of Kidani (Quiet, bigger rooms, Great pool for our children) and all the benefits of Jambo (Better gym, sauna, steam, restaurants) Also at Kidani we get on the Buses first!