DVC Villa - Jambo House versus Kidani Village

[Cloe Colton]

Currently trying to decide between the two - what are the advantages/disadvantages of one over the other? We would be looking at a savanna view and thats my main priority. Are the Jambo House rooms too high to see much?

I do love the AKL lobby over Kidani though.

Need help! lol TIA!

 

[Sara_H]

We stayed in Jambo house a few years ago and had a savanna view room. I think we were on the 3rd floor and while the animals weren't in our face we could still see them. One advantage to Jambo is that you are near The Mara if you want a quick service meal.

 

[Cloe Colton]

We stayed in Jambo house a few years ago and had a savanna view room. I think we were on the 3rd floor and while the animals weren't in our face we could still see them. One advantage to Jambo is that you are near The Mara if you want a quick service meal.

Oh perfect! The one article I read said that the DVC villas were all on the 5th and 6th floors so I was worried. I think that probably will be the better option if we can get it!

 

[Brett Wyman]

Jambo is better in most ways with the exception that the Kidani rooms are better as they aren't hotel room conversions. Also if you have a kid under 5 the splash pad is much better at Kidan's Samawati pool. In fact we prefer Samawati pool over Jambo's Uzmi pool all around.

Oh perfect! The one article I read said that the DVC villas were all on the 5th and 6th floors so I was worried. I think that probably will be the better option if we can get it!

That is true of Jambo DVC villas. They are only in the 5th and 6th floors. If you book a regular Jambo hotel room then if can be on any of the other floors. PP who was on the third floor stayed in a hotel room not a DVC room. Kidani is 100% DVC rooms, but Disney does cash rentals from there website for those rooms as well.

 

[Sara_H]

Correction - we were on the 5th floor (I just looked back) but we could still see.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'll only be on the sixth floor of Jambo House if you booked one of the five Concierge level two bedroom lockoffs or sections thereof, What size villa did you plan on booking? That would make a difference to me whether I'd book Kidani or Jambo.

 

[Cloe Colton]

You'll only be on the sixth floor of Jambo House if you booked one of the five Concierge level two bedroom lockoffs or sections thereof, What size villa did you plan on booking? That would make a difference to me whether I'd book Kidani or Jambo.

Not CL, would just be looking at a savanna view studio for my Mom, sister and I. We normally stay at Pop so we are used to less space in the rooms. I'm mostly concerned about view!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not CL, would just be looking at a savanna view studio for my Mom, sister and I. We normally stay at Pop so we are used to less space in the rooms. I'm mostly concerned about view!

The villas at Jambo House are all converted hotel rooms. So the studios are not that different from the hotel rooms other than the queen bed and double sleeper sofa instead of two queen beds and the addition of the small kitchenette. Kidani are all new from scratch.

 

[NikkiDP]

We stayed at Savannah view at Kidani last year and loved every second of it. We haven't stayed in Jambo for comparison but we loved that Kidani was a bit quieter. The lobby in Jambo is stunning, but Kidani's is just as amazing, albeit smaller. Sanna does a quick service breakfast and you are able to refill your mugs from the gift shop so if you are in a pinch there is food and drink.

The shuttle that runs between the two is really quick and is always either waiting outside the resort when you need it or no more than 5 minutes off. We spent a day at both pools and personally liked Kidani much better. At the Jambo pool you had to keep going in and out of the gates to get to different areas which I just find odd.

I would say the downside of Kidani is that he hallways are LONG. The good part though is that there is Savanna viewing in between the blocks of room so you can stop and enjoy the view on your way to and from your room. If you don't want to walk try and request a room close to the elevators. Not gonna lie, at the end of the night it feels like you will never get back to your room!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed at Savannah view at Kidani last year and loved every second of it. We haven't stayed in Jambo for comparison but we loved that Kidani was a bit quieter. The lobby in Jambo is stunning, but Kidani's is just as amazing, albeit smaller. Sanna does a quick service breakfast and you are able to refill your mugs from the gift shop so if you are in a pinch there is food and drink.

The shuttle that runs between the two is really quick and is always either waiting outside the resort when you need it or no more than 5 minutes off. We spent a day at both pools and personally liked Kidani much better. At the Jambo pool you had to keep going in and out of the gates to get to different areas which I just find odd.

I would say the downside of Kidani is that he hallways are LONG. The good part though is that there is Savanna viewing in between the blocks of room so you can stop and enjoy the view on your way to and from your room. If you don't want to walk try and request a room close to the elevators. Not gonna lie, at the end of the night it feels like you will never get back to your room!

But if you have a vehicle of your own, you park under the building at KV and take an elevator up to your area instead of walking in from the parking lot and then going down the hallway.

 

[RangerPooh]

This is our home DVC resort so we've stayed in both. Like the PP mentioned, the Kidani hallways are long. They seem to go on forever. The Jambo lobby is nicer, and I prefer their QS option. Our family has enjoyed both pools. The savanna views are nice, but keep in mind that the animals that you may see might vary depending on what section you're in. We've had some trips where the view and animal activity was great, other trips not so much. Personally I don;t think you can go wrong with either location.

 

[Cloe Colton]

Lots of great points!! I have stayed at Kidani before so I was familiar with their setup. I was disappointed our first night because they put us on a savanna with wart hogs and antelope and I could see the fence. Not exactly what I'm looking for when paying for a savanna view, I think we'll try for Jambo and if we can't get that we'll go with Kidani!

 

[NikkiDP]

But if you have a vehicle of your own, you park under the building at KV and take an elevator up to your area instead of walking in from the parking lot and then going down the hallway.

Good point! We didn't drive so that wasn't even on my mind haha.

 

[Wild4Walt]

We just stayed at Jambo House in a Studio with a Savannah View on the 5th Floor. We loved it! We had fencing but it was also where the feeding stations were set up so we still got to see a lot of animals.

 

[stinkpickle]

...
I would say the downside of Kidani is that he hallways are LONG.
...

This ^^^

 

[jo-jo]

Lots of great points!! I have stayed at Kidani before so I was familiar with their setup. I was disappointed our first night because they put us on a savanna with wart hogs and antelope and I could see the fence. Not exactly what I'm looking for when paying for a savanna view, I think we'll try for Jambo and if we can't get that we'll go with Kidani!

Were you by the pool? We had a 2 bedroom savanna view like your's but by the pool. We hated it. Noise from the pool all the time and very few animals even with feeding stations.

 

[Cloe Colton]

Were you by the pool? We had a 2 bedroom savanna view like your's but by the pool. We hated it. Noise from the pool all the time and very few animals even with feeding stations.

No we were pretty far in the opposite direction! I actually called and asked if there were any other rooms on the other savanna that we could switch to. There wasn't anything the first night but they were able to move us the second night. I don't even understand how those can be called savanna rooms...