I love Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village

[boyd2284]

I absolutley fell in love with AKL in Kidani Village, My daughter says she never wants to go anywhere else. ( even though id love to try others ) . Anyone else feel the same way?

I feel AKL is the absolute best resort when you have younger children. not only is it quite luxurious and a deluxe DVC resort. but it is filled with childrens activities as well.

 

[jjb1974]

I absolutley fell in love with AKL in Kidani Village, My daughter says she never wants to go anywhere else. ( even though id love to try others ) . Anyone else feel the same way?

I feel AKL is the absolute best resort when you have younger children. not only is it quite luxurious and a deluxe DVC resort. but it is filled with childrens activities as well.

Took my family there 2 years ago based on it being more of a "resort" than the other Deluxe facilities and the price couldn't be beat. I prefer Jambo House for the "wow" factor of the lobby (it seems custom made for those Booking.com ... Booking dot YEAH ads) but my kid had a blast there. Food is best on property as a collective, pool is second best. While I appreciate people's issues with the bus rides to the parks, we're a small family and the kiddo is an early riser so building in for more transport time is not an issue for us, thankfully. Rooms are a bit long in the tooth on DVC side but nothing horrible as the other amenities still make value for price.

Have booked again for summer 2020. Was tempted to go over to Beach Club but got out voted by family.

 

[quandrea]

We own at and love Kidani. Just booked a grand villa there. I’ve been wondering about switching at seven months, but for the points, kidani is the absolute best. Bus service is great. No sharing.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

We also own and love Kidani. DH doesn't care for any of the other deluxe resorts. We love the vibe, quietness (after busy day in the parks), food and staff.

 

[NikkiDP]

Another Kidani lover right here! We stayed there last year and never wanted to leave. It was the warmest resort to come home to after a long day (that we have thus far experienced) and loved that it was a bit tamer than Jambo House. We never felt that it was too far away and never had issues with buses, especially since you can easily hope on a bus to Jambo if it is there first.

It is someplace that we will absolutely be going back to as just the two of us and when we have kiddos!

 

[malissa99]

We fell in love with AKL several years ago and ever since that stay we haven't booked anywhere else. There are many other places we want to try but in the end it's always AKL. It's an amazing place.

 

[Leahc117]

We just booked a standard studio at Kidani - I’ve been back and forth a bit worried that I should have booked at Jambo. My deciding factors were the pool at Kidani and the more laid back vibe. My husband and I prefer walking places and I don’t see an issue with walking over to Jambo- I am having a difficult time judging the distance as some people describe it as very long and others as minutes. I was planning to request an obstructed view if possible and either a room near the pool or a room at the end closest to Jambo- any thoughts? Thank you!!

 

[NikkiDP]

We just booked a standard studio at Kidani - I’ve been back and forth a bit worried that I should have booked at Jambo. My deciding factors were the pool at Kidani and the more laid back vibe. My husband and I prefer walking places and I don’t see an issue with walking over to Jambo- I am having a difficult time judging the distance as some people describe it as very long and others as minutes. I was planning to request an obstructed view if possible and either a room near the pool or a room at the end closest to Jambo- any thoughts? Thank you!!

DH and I personally preferred the Kidani pool much better. It was quieter and once you were inside you could get everywhere easily. At Jambo, you have to keep going in and out of the fenced in area if you want to get to a different spot which is just bizarre to me.

We only walked the distance between the two resorts once because there was construction going on so they detoured us through the parking garage. It really wasn't a bad walk, but if it's warm it can be unpleasant. The shuttle between Jambo and Kidani was awesome and we never waited more than 5 minutes for it. We utilized that a lot.

If you like to walk, that is good, because Kidani hallways are loooooooong. We were in room 7736 (Savannah view) and it was a hike from the elevators. It was never really a problem but honestly at the end of a long day it could be tortuous lol. The plus side was that we were really close to the pool and that was a great plus.

If you like a more laid back atmosphere Kidani is totally for you. The lobby doesn't have the huge wow factor that Jambo has but it is absolutely gorgeous and so warm and welcoming especially at night. You will be happy wherever you are but I personally think Kidani is totally worth it! Have an amazing trip!

 

[TWINKLETWINKLE]

Love AKL Kidani village. We stayed in 2016 in a one bedroom villa.
My family refuse to stay anywhere else. I am not a DVC member, so we a stayed on cash.
Wish I could afford to stay here all the time. I have been purchasing the African Lodge candle
from magic candle company. I will keep burning that candle till we get to go back home.

 

[Wild4Walt]

Stayed in AKL in September ( but in the Jambo House ) and I will find it hard to stay elsewhere.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just booked a standard studio at Kidani - I’ve been back and forth a bit worried that I should have booked at Jambo. My deciding factors were the pool at Kidani and the more laid back vibe. My husband and I prefer walking places and I don’t see an issue with walking over to Jambo- I am having a difficult time judging the distance as some people describe it as very long and others as minutes. I was planning to request an obstructed view if possible and either a room near the pool or a room at the end closest to Jambo- any thoughts? Thank you!!

The path between Jambo and Kidani is about a half mile long. So for most people it takes about ten minutes to walk.

 

[jlundeen]

Hi, everyone. We will be celebrating our 45th anniversary with a WDW trip, and have our first AKL Kidani reservation coming up in Sept (first AKL but numerous other trips and resorts... We're really looking forward to the quiet atmosphere, especially now with the increase in crowds due to Star Wars opening earlier than we anticipated.

Question for the group. While we are not DVC, we're staying in a Studio, so will have a good sized coffee pot But is there anywhere in the Kidani lobby to get muffins/bagels/breakfast sandwiches, or should we try buy packages at the store and just plan to use the toaster in the room?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi, everyone. We will be celebrating our 45th anniversary with a WDW tripm annd have our first AKL Kidani reservation coming up in Sept (AKL but numerous other trips and resorts... We're really looking forward to the quiet atmosphere, especially now with the increase in crowds due to Star Wars opening earlier than we anticipated.

Question for the group. While we are not DVC, we're staying in a Studio, so will have a good sized coffee pot But is there anywhere in the Kidani lobby to get muffins/bagels/breakfast sandwiches, or should we try buy packages at the store and just plan to use the toaster in the room?

They sell muffins and other items at the store in the lobby. Plus they have a pretty full line of all sorts of food items to prepare in your villa.

 

[NikkiDP]

Hi, everyone. We will be celebrating our 45th anniversary with a WDW tripm annd have our first AKL Kidani reservation coming up in Sept (AKL but numerous other trips and resorts... We're really looking forward to the quiet atmosphere, especially now with the increase in crowds due to Star Wars opening earlier than we anticipated.

Question for the group. While we are not DVC, we're staying in a Studio, so will have a good sized coffee pot But is there anywhere in the Kidani lobby to get muffins/bagels/breakfast sandwiches, or should we try buy packages at the store and just plan to use the toaster in the room?

It is my understanding that there is are also a few items at Sanaa in the morning. I never utilized this when we stayed so if someone can confirm that is still a thing that would be great!

 

[jlundeen]

They sell muffins and other items at the store in the lobby. Plus they have a pretty full line of all sorts of food items to prepare in your villa.

It is my understanding that there is are also a few items at Sanaa in the morning. I never utilized this when we stayed so if someone can confirm that is still a thing that would be great!

Thank you. I'm not sure how you even understood my question with all the typos I had in there,... I edited it to be more readable.

Your answers are exactly what I was hoping for! Thanks again... we're really looking forward to staying here...even have the Wanyama Tour and Dinner booked... And are hoping for a little pixie dust with at least a partial savannah view.

Everyone I have talked to that has stayed at Kidani, or AKL, have raved about how I will never want to stay anywhere else.... Sounds like most other posters on this thread are in agreement!!

 

[buzznina]

Our family has had 2 great trips there and really like AKL, but we would only want to stay at Jambo, that lobby is fantastic. With that said, we still like to stay and try other resorts.

 

[clutter]

It is my understanding that there is are also a few items at Sanaa in the morning. I never utilized this when we stayed so if someone can confirm that is still a thing that would be great!

If they are still offering this, it was a great benefit. Ate there last August.

 

[NikkiDP]

If they are still offering this, it was a great benefit. Ate there last August.

When we were there in November, I had wanted to try it out one morning but I think I got down there too early lol (not a great sleeper)! When we walked down there later in the morning there was a sign out front but didn't pay much attention to it.