Jambo House vs Kindani Village

[suncup1225]

We are booking a last minute trip for October to Animal Kingdom lodge. We have never stayed here before. Which is better AND why...Jambo House or Kindani Village...we will be getting a savanah view. Thanks Guys!

 

[RachaelA]

We like Jambo because we like being right by the Mara, but Kidani is much quieter which is also nice.

 

[DebbieB]

We are booking a last minute trip for October to Animal Kingdom lodge. We have never stayed here before. Which is better AND why...Jambo House or Kindani Village...we will be getting a savanah view. Thanks Guys!

What size room? The 1 bedrooms at Kidani are larger than at Jambo and have an extra bathroom. Studios are about the same size at both.

Will you be using counter service at the resort? Jambo has a counter service (Mara), Kidani does not.

Will you have a car? Parking is better at Kidani.

 

[PrincessMom4]

Does Jambo House have parking under ground like Kidani??

 

[Deb & Bill]

Does Jambo House have parking under ground like Kidani??

No.

October is going to be hard.

 

[lilpooh108]

No.

October is going to be hard.

Is it still hot In oct?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Is it still hot In oct?

Yes.

 

[Pat817]

It depends on what you think is hot. We are Orlando residents and I think April and October are the best months here in Florida. It's warm but not hot.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And compared to where I live, WDW gets downright COLD in October, at least at night.

I'd be interested in the answers to this. I've always stayed at Jambo house, loved everything about it. I've often thought of trying Kidani, but I just can't tear myself away. They're closer to Mara, I prefer the lobby for sitting in one of the seating areas and reading, like the gift shop (I've been to the one at Kidani and it just didn't seem to have much), like the activities offered, and find the pool area more "natural-looking". So I just can't think of any reason to try Kidani other than to tick it off my list of DVC resorts to stay at.

 

[Bell30012]

My DD8 and I have stayed in a studio at both Kidani and Jambo. We both preferred Kidani easily. My daughter says the pool is (roll eyes here) far better. On the room, I liked Kidani much better. Our room at Jambo had a shower instead of a tub. Not good when traveling with DD8 and her 2 year old sister. I've been told that some studios have a tub but ours didn't on TWO separate occasions.

Kidani also has the parking under the building. This allows you a short walk to the elevators. Jambo, you'll be parking across the street and walking on up.

 

[Simba's Mom]

On the room, I liked Kidani much better. Our room at Jambo had a shower instead of a tub. Not good when traveling with DD8 and her 2 year old sister. I've been told that some studios have a tub but ours didn't on TWO separate occasions.

Kidani also has the parking under the building. This allows you a short walk to the elevators. Jambo, you'll be parking across the street and walking on up.

That's strange about the lack of tub in your studios in Jambo. I've had about 8 different studios and all of them had a tub. One didn't have a freezer, which for me was a first. but I've always had a tub.

 

[RachaelA]

And compared to where I live, WDW gets downright COLD in October, at least at night.

I'd be interested in the answers to this. I've always stayed at Jambo house, loved everything about it. I've often thought of trying Kidani, but I just can't tear myself away. They're closer to Mara, I prefer the lobby for sitting in one of the seating areas and reading, like the gift shop (I've been to the one at Kidani and it just didn't seem to have much), like the activities offered, and find the pool area more "natural-looking". So I just can't think of any reason to try Kidani other than to tick it off my list of DVC resorts to stay at.

This is how we feel. We might buy an add-on at some point at AKV, but we'll still only use the points or our current points to stay at Jambo house. The extra bathroom in the 1 or 2 bedrooms (is it both or just one type?) are not worth it to us.

Plus we've never had that big of an issue with parking at Jambo and we drive to every single park including MK. We also go back for naps so we were parking 2-3 times a day! Once in a blue moon we couldn't find a spot (in May and June) and DH just dropped me off at the top of the parking lot so I didn't have to walk if I was feeling lazy.

 

[drusba]

Oct is one of WDW's best weather months; hot but evenings and nights are not stifling.

For choosing between Jambo and Kidani. Either is fine. Jambo gives you the larger pool with more shade, larger lobby and store, and a table service (Jiko), buffet (Boma), and counter service (Mara) restaurant. Kidani's smaller pool has the longer slide and the elaborate water play area for kids, the lobby area is very nice though smaller, and the store is small but useful. All DVC rooms at Jambo are 5th floor (and 6th for concierge). Many like a lower floor view of animals which you can get only at Kidani. Kidani has only one restaurant, Sanaa, which is table service (but is one of the best at WDW). The under-building parking at Kidani is ideal if you have a car; Jambo's lot is a short walk from the front entrance. Park busses stop at Kidani first and then Jambo and thus at Kidani you have no risk of standing in the earfly morning rush (and actually only a small one at Jambo)

MY view: if you have a studio do Jambo. The studios at both are about the same size and having three restaurants including CS is better than the one. However, 1BRs (and thus 2BRs) at Kidani are much larger than Jambo, have an extra bathroom, have a separate shower and tub in master bath (Jambo's is combined tub and shower) and to us those Kidani rooms are decisive and win everytime when deciding between the two when getting a 1BR or 2BR.

 

[PrincessMom4]

Good to know about Jambo house. We've stayed a few times at Kidani Village in either a 1 or 2 bedroom. We personally don't care about the extra bathroom.

I have been trying to figure out where the rooms are at Jambo house for the DVC members. We booked at value 2 bedroom for our upcoming trip so it shall be interesting to see it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Good to know about Jambo house. We've stayed a few times at Kidani Village in either a 1 or 2 bedroom. We personally don't care about the extra bathroom.

I have been trying to figure out where the rooms are at Jambo house for the DVC members. We booked at value 2 bedroom for our upcoming trip so it shall be interesting to see it.

All DVC villas are on the fifth and sixth floors (sixth floor is concierge only - five two bedroom lockoffs) of Jambo House. Kidani is 100% DVC.

Value villas might be savanna, pool or parking lot view. All two bedrooms at Jambo House are lockoffs. None are dedicated.

 

[PrincessMom4]

Here's praying for a Savannah view. Either way we are at Disney so it really doesn't matter.

 

[LilGMom]

We've stayed at both and prefer Kidani. For use having that second bathroom is wonderful (I travel with three males so for me that second bathroom is almost a must) and I really love the under-building parking. I do wish that Kidani had a CS but the walk to Jambo isn't bad or if it is timed just right you can hop on the bus. My kids prefer the pool and water play area at Kidani over the one at Jambo. I also wish that the gift store at Kidani was bigger but the fact that it isn't just keeps me from spending more money.

mamaprincess just reminded me of the master bathroom in a one bedroom at Kidani. I love, love, love, love the master bathroom. The shower is huge and the tub... wow, the tub! I am 5'11" and I was able to completely stretch out in the tub and have everything but my head sticking out of the water without having to turn sideways and curl my legs in. Loved it!!! Wonder if I could convince DH to take the kids to a park and let me soak in the tub all day?!?!?!

 

[mamaprincess]

We stayed at Jambo last trip and our older dd's stayed with their grandma at Kidani. We all thought Kidani's one bedroom was far superior to Jambo's. We also discovered the shuttle (van not resort bus) between the 2 resorts runs constantly so no need to worry about getting from one resort to the other. We used it quite often. I really loved how exclusive and private Kidani feels and it is gorgeous. Jambo's lobby is epic but is really busy. This trip we decided to stay at Kidani because we are a family of 5 with 3 girls and we require the extra bathroom, plus the extra space. The master bath is also amazing. The girls really liked the community hall at Kidani. We all really enjoyed Sanaa. It is a gorgeous restaurant. We also enjoy Boma and eat there every trip. We all had counter service for breakfast at Mara which was really convenient. Can't speak on the pools because it was to cold to use them.

Jambo is our 1st love and the reason we bought in, but if we were to ever stay there again, it would be in a 2br value and we'd have to be doing great point wise in order to do that over the great 1br at Kidani. If you need a studio I'd probably go with Jambo but if it's Savanna view Kidani has 1st floor views, so there's that to consider.

 

[kid-at-heart]

We "adults" preferred Kidani, our 12 year old preferred Jambo. I think it just depends on what the individual needs to make an enjoyable vacation. Our child liked being near Mara and being able to sit in the lobby drawing while all the folks walked about. Crowds make her happy. We adults like the quietness of Kidani. We adults prefer to be away from the crowds. Both places are great.

 

[mousefan1972]

Standard view at Jambo is pool view, correct? I was able to switch our ressie (beginning 1 week from today!) from SSR to AKV Jambo (standard view) today. To say I'm excited would be an understatement.