Help me decide between Jambo and Kidani

[BensWife]

Our family is planning a June 2016 vacation. We have narrowed it down to AKV. We want a 1 bd villa savanna, but I can't decide between the 2. We are a family of 4 with 2 DSs one will be 9 and the other will be 6. Having a villa, we will most likely do breakfast and some lunches and dinners in the villa, but maybe some quick meals other places. I don't do well in the heat (fair skinned redhead here) so we will be spending afternoons back at the villa during the main heat of the day for swimming and hanging out. Can you help me decide? Here is what I have so far on my list of pros for each:

Jambo
Beautiful and impressive lobby (we love GCH in Disneyland for that lobby)
Bigger pool
QS Mara
Bigger gift shop
More happening - busier

Kidani
1 bd has 2 bathrooms which would be wonderful for a 10 day vacation
First bus pick up (we won't have a car)
Better pool for younger kids

The second bathroom and first bus pickup is really pointing me to Kidani, but the bigger lobby, pool, gift shop and QS is pointing me to Jambo too. I know there is a shuttle between the 2, but I am not big on going back and forth. Is there a place to refill mugs at Kidani or do you have to go to Mara? Does one have better savannahs? Most intereste in giraffes and zebras. Any info you can share would be great! Thanks!

 

[starryagain]

We did a studio in Jambo last year. We were at the very end of a hallway on the Kudu trail, as far away from the pool and Mara as possible and it was a long walk. Maybe 10 minutes and I'm not incredibly slow. So we rarely visited the Mara (2-3 times in the week) even though we were at Jambo.

I think I would stay in a 1 bedroom in Kidani due to the added bathroom and I like the bus / pool situation better there (my kids are younger).

We were overlooking the Arusha savanna at the end of the Kudu trail and honestly saw way more animals in my parents' standard view studio across the hall (was overlooking an animal feeding area and you could see Kidani from it). So the views seem hit and miss regardless of Jambo / Kidani.

 

[tarak]

You can refill mugs at the small shop in the lobby at Kidani and also at the pool bar. My kids vastly prefer the pool at Kidani. We've only stayed in a 1 BR there and not at Jambo, although we've stayed in regular rooms at Jambo house. The second bathroom alone would have me choosing Kidani. Our last stay there, we had a savanna room right near the transportation elevator (I think it was Timon). Perfect location. A bit more of a walk to the pool, but it was close to the buses, and the walk to Jambo house wasn't bad on the few occasions we went to the Mara.

We did a lot of the activities at Jambo house and had a great time. But after two trips, we realize we prefer the intimacy of the Kidani lobby.

Kidani does have the Pembe savannah with different animals, but I wouldn't request it. The savannah isn't nearly as nice as the other (Sunset, I think - its shared with Jambo House).

 

[rpcvpanama]

Kidani also has the sleeper chair that I don't believe Jambo has (I could be wrong). This would give your boys separate sleeping beds. I prefer Kidani for the extra bathroom. Also, the pool at Kidani has a better kids area. Ask for the Sunset Savanna if you want to see Giraffes. Rafiki section is near the lobby and near the pool.

 

[chalee94]

Kidani also has the sleeper chair that I don't believe Jambo has (I could be wrong).

both jambo and kidani 1BRs have the sleeper chair (except for the value 1BRs at jambo, which do not and only accommodate 4 people.)

i would vote kidani mainly for the extra bathroom. (DVC folks have said the 1BRs at kidani are also a little larger and have a better set-up in general.)

the lobby at jambo is nice - but you can still walk over there to see it (or hang out and read or whatever) without staying there. similarly, if you need to get to jambo from kidani to get to mara or the jambo house pool or something, just hop the first park bus that comes to kidani and use it as a shuttle to the other building if it's too hot to walk.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I'd go Jambo. Walking into Jambo gives me this big "wow" feeling, and I didn't get that walking into Kidani.

 

[sndral]

...
Does one have better savannahs? Most intereste in giraffes and zebras. Any info you can share would be great! Thanks!

Looks like all of your other questions have been covered, so I'll focus on this one - there are a total of 4 savannas at AKL:
From Kidani you will front either -
Pembe savanna which is very small and does not have giraffes, having Okapi, which are giraffe 'cousins' usually. It may or may not have zebras, depending on what's going on with the breeding herd. I personally would not want Pembe as my savanna view, or
Sunset savanna, which is the largest savanna. It has giraffes and usually several zebras, ie a small herd (depending on how the zebras are getting along with each other and the breeding program) as well as other animals, including Ostriches, I believe. The villas are on all floors and a savanna view on a lower floor might be very nice.
From Jambo - all DVC villas are on the 5th or 6th floor (club only up on 6th) so only higher level views as opposed to the more 'eye level w/ giraffes' possibility at Kidani. Possible savannas:
Sunset - see above.
Arusha - the middle savanna, has giraffes and usually a pair of zebra plus other animals. Is a separate more expensive booking category in the cash rooms. Does not have the dreaded people pen views.
Uzima - same size as Arusha, but different layout. Has giraffes and usually a pair of zebras plus other animals.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The bathroom at KV in the one bedroom has a separate shower and jetted tub. At JH, it is a combination. No separate shower.

 

[manicstreet]

We stayed at Jambo house last year. I don't know how I would feel not having a quick service restaurant. It was nice running down for a quick bite or getting back from the parks and stopping at the shop to grab a beer for the room. I say Jambo.

 

[disney2014plan]

I've only stayed at Kidani, but looking at your post, the stuff that is pushing you towards Jambo, you can still experience at Kidani - you can go to the lobby/gift shop etc (not sure about the pool, but assume so as it's the same resort).

The extra bathroom at Kidani you can't replace with anything ...and with 2 kids it will be great to have that! Also saw the point about the seperate bath/shower - 1 kid in main bath, 1 adult in the shower and still a spare bathroom for when the other kid wants to poop!

Just my 2 cents.

 

[princessap]

We had the same debate this past trip and so happy we picked kidani. The extra bathroom was great and we loved the pool and splash pad area for our kids. It was hard not to book there again for next year.

 

[chalee94]

I've only stayed at Kidani, but looking at your post, the stuff that is pushing you towards Jambo, you can still experience at Kidani - you can go to the lobby/gift shop etc (not sure about the pool, but assume so as it's the same resort).

just to confirm: it is one resort so you can stay at kidani and use jambo's pool and vice-versa.

 

[Fizban]

Our family is planning a June 2016 vacation. We have narrowed it down to AKV. We want a 1 bd villa savanna, but I can't decide between the 2. We are a family of 4 with 2 DSs one will be 9 and the other will be 6. Having a villa, we will most likely do breakfast and some lunches and dinners in the villa, but maybe some quick meals other places. I don't do well in the heat (fair skinned redhead here) so we will be spending afternoons back at the villa during the main heat of the day for swimming and hanging out. Can you help me decide? Here is what I have so far on my list of pros for each:

Jambo
Beautiful and impressive lobby (we love GCH in Disneyland for that lobby)
Bigger pool
QS Mara
Bigger gift shop
More happening - busier

Kidani
1 bd has 2 bathrooms which would be wonderful for a 10 day vacation
First bus pick up (we won't have a car)
Better pool for younger kids

The second bathroom and first bus pickup is really pointing me to Kidani, but the bigger lobby, pool, gift shop and QS is pointing me to Jambo too. I know there is a shuttle between the 2, but I am not big on going back and forth. Is there a place to refill mugs at Kidani or do you have to go to Mara? Does one have better savannahs? Most intereste in giraffes and zebras. Any info you can share would be great! Thanks!

Go for Kidani. And remember that Jambo house is only a 10 minute walk from Kidani. That way you can experience both.

 

[buzznina]

If just based on the room then Kidani, but for almost everything else we would pick Jambo. We have stayed at AKL twice and both times in Jambo, but we always went over to Kidani for the splash area and we would always walk around the lobby etc. It really is not that big of a deal to walk back and forth between the 2. We planned a trip for November and was thinking of doing AKL again, so I asked DW and our DDs if they would rather stay Kidani or back at Jambo and all of them without hesitation picked Jambo. They love the lobby and the extra activities they have there(parade through the lobby, shading, etc.) much better then Kidani.

 

[DizDaD7]

We just experienced our 2nd trip to AKV. Our 1st was a nice 8 niter at Jambo. We had a Standard Value.
Next was last Nov. Another 8 niter this time in a savannah Studio @ Kidani.

Like you posted previously, the pro's n cons between both. We wrestled w/ this too before booking..

Honestly I thought we'd be let down a lil, because yes the Lobby is more low key & subdued, but equally as beautiful.

The Mara was the biggest thing we missed having it so close, but by the 3rd or 4th day it wasn't that bad. The pool is grander at Jambo , yes but I found the smaller intimate pool at kidani to be much much better...A longer slide which was great for children of all ages. <----- Me included.LoL

Both sections that we were in ( on both JH & Kid. ) were great locations too.

At Jambo we were on the Giraffe trail. The first wing to the right when you enter from the outside... Like I said b4 it was a value too, & we were 5th floor facing the pool...A few trees but nothing crazy blocking the views. We also wer above Jiko's roof. Ideal spot. So close to their elevators, to get down to pool,Mara, & shortcut to the Buses too.

At Kidani, we were in the 3rd bldg/ closer to 4th on the south side of KV. So once again we were very close to elevators to tske us to shortcut to the buses, and if we wanted to walk to Jambo, we didn't have to walk all the way to the lobby & then back again...We discovered both of these tricks/tips by the 2nd day.

Either route you choose, I'm sure it'll be as magical as possible, for this place has a way of transporting you.

Sorta like a vacation within a vacation.

 

[Aerinha]

When I was deciding on villas for my April stay I looked at both. That second bathroom sounded great, but not having a QS for breakfast was an issue. Yes villas have kitchens, but there is no cooking on vacation for me. Ultimately my pick would have been Jambo, but I went with another resort for more overall convenience.

 

[JennyDrake]

Kidani has VERY limited QS options. I've also had *real* issues with in room noise during both stays at Kidani--and I am not a light sleeper.

 

[Disneychick75]

I haven't stayed at Kadani. When I was trying to decide, I went with Jambo because of the lobby pictures, lol. Seriously, at the other resorts, the lobbies are nice but every time I walked through the Jambo lobby, I was wowed. Having Boma downstairs was a plus. I am a finicky eater- most vegetable and grains- and Boma has a fantastic variety. Our savannah view was fantastic. Waking up for rope drop was a little easier because we were able to watch the CMs putting out food. Of course, the animals came around soon after.

 

[goofy friend]

I have had the 1 bedroom at Kidani and was very pleased with the first stop bus service and second bath. The Jambo does have a more impressive lobby, but if you like to spend time relaxing in the lobby, it is a fairly short walk from Kidani to Jambo or in my case a quick shuttle ride between the two.

 

[twinklebug]

The tie breaker for me between Jambo and Kidani are the buses. Although they both use the same, dedicated buses to and from the parks, the drop-off/pickup order makes a big difference if we're down there at a crowded time of year, which is almost always the case. Park buses drop off/pick up at Kidani first and then circle around to Jambo. This means those getting on at Kidani will always find a place to sit, where as I've seen people left on the curb at Jambo as the bus has filled up. Disney has done better by adding more buses to the route these days. Note, the Downtown Disney bus goes the opposite, dropping off & picking up at Jambo first, and then Kidani. But I have never seen one of those buses come close to filling up.