Jambo or Kidani?

[maraki527]

Both are available for Savannah view and we have never stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

[fmer55]

Both are available for Savannah view and we have never stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge

when are you going?

 

[dgaston]

Part of my answer will depend on the size of the room. Studios are better IMHO at Jambo, and 1 and 2 br at Kidani because of the extra bath. Here's my usual post:

Comparison of Jambo and Kidani

Jambo:
large impressive lobby, larger gift shop
busier atmosphere
larger pool, wimpy slide (IMHO)
steam room in workout area
counter service at Mara
value and concierge rooms
rooms retrofitted from existing hotel rooms
Master bath has shower/jetted tub combo plus toilet in one room (toilet is split off)
Parking in lots
Bus to DTD first stop
Rooms on 5th floor, except for 5 2br lockoffs on 6th for concierge

Kidani:
smaller, more intimate lobby and gift shop
quieter atmosphere
splash area at pool, and better slide (IMHO)
rooms designed for DVC
extra bath in one and two bedrooms
separate shower and jetted tub in master bath
community hall
Under building parking
Park busses first stop
Rooms on floors 2 through 5

I'm sure it will be a great trip at either location!

 

[backyardponder]

Haven't stayed at Kidani, but we loved our room and view at Jambo earlier this year.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like Jambo's studios better than Kidani's because the have a double sink outside the bathroom. Also, the Mara is very convenient at Jambo for counter service, for larger units with a savannah view, I prefer Kidani, because of the extra bathroom.

My exception is when I don't have to have savannah view, and I want to book a value unit.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I have never stayed at Kidani, but I just fell in love with Jambo on our last trip. It is so easy to walk to Mara and the fabulous pool there!

 

[AnnaS]

I stayed at Kidani and my son was at Jambo. I wish I could answer even though everyone has their opinions and everyone likes each one for different reasons and only you can decide.

My son is at Kiani - I was going to ask him when I speak to him again if I remember when he gets back. I was going to ask his opinion anyway since he has now stayed at both.

You won't go wrong with either one.

 

[lucyem]

We have stayed at both and love them both. What size room are you looking for? Do you plan to eat in the room or in the parks or depend on the resort options? Kids? If so how old? Will you be driving around property?

 

[draw]

doesn't Kidani have the pull out chair which makes a 1 bedroom sleep 5 where Jambo only sleeps 4? TIA

 

[dianeschlicht]

Both Jambo and Kidani have the pull out chair in 1 and 2 bedrooms EXCEPT that Jambo has the value rooms, and those rooms do NOT have the chair.

I much prefer Kidani to Jambo. I like the concierge level at Jambo, but that is the only reason I would ever choose it over Kidani.

Kidani is just a more intimate feel to it, and I love the interaction with the exchange people from Africa. Most of them start out at Jambo their first few months, but end up at Kidani after they are more comfortable here. I love all the interaction they have with people at Kidani and the exchange conversations and presentations they do in the library every evening.

Kidani also has the extra bathroom in the 1 and 2 bedroom units, and you can get lower floors so better animal viewing on the savanna view rooms. Also, Kidani has Sanaa....THE best restaurant in all of WDW! It's also much better for buses to the park at Kidani, since the buses stop there first.

FYI, I agree with Bobbi that the studios are better at Jambo.

 

[majortom1981]

I like kidani over jambo. My main reason is for the buses. The buses stop at kidani first then go to jambo. I have seen the bus fill up at kidani and have to pass jambo by because of the bus being full.

Kidani is also much quieter then jambo is. The walk to jambo from kidani is not that bad at all. especially if you walk down the hall to kidani and then take the last elevator and then walk to jambo from there. You can also take any bus except downtown disney to jambo.

also if you have little kids they mmight enjoy the kidani pool more because of they spray park there (heck I like it because of the spray park waterfalls great quick way to cool off).

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I prefer being in the main building of Jambo. I prefer that pool and I like being closer to the counter meal restaurant.

 

[job09]

We had an amazing stay this spring break at the Jambo House. Our room was ready at 11am and we were upgraded to a Savanah room. I enjoyed every minute of our stay. It was fun to let the kids run down the the gift shop to trade with "King Pin" or go get a pop at the Mara. We loved BOMA ate there 2 nights in a row. We didn't enjoy Saana as much as I thought we would, for us BOMA was much better. Have fun!

 

[Budahman]

I prefer spending relaxe time in the lobby at the Jambo House to chill and people watch in the evenings - over sitting on my deck.....so for me its Jambo House, over Kidani for that reason. We still do Kidani though and really enjoy it, but do it about once every 3 years and stay at Jambo all the other times. As a DVC'r though....we just love the AKL as a whole. BEST property in WDW!

 

[Anal Annie]

Another vote for Jambo over Kidani - especially if in a studio. No comparison for us. We prefer the layout of the Jambo studios better - more efficient bathroom and larger kitchenette area. The lobby at Kidani is very small and understated while Jambo's is simply beautiful and quite grand plus the store is larger AND there's 3 restaurant options, 1 being the Mara which is one of the best CS places in all of Disney. Kidani has no CS option which we missed it a lot when we stayed over at Kidani. The store at Kidani was like the size of my kitchen at home. We found ourselves schlepping over to Jambo to shop too. We would only stay at Kidani again if Jambo was full and we needed to stay at AKV to save on points...

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I just returned from 5 nights at Kidani with one afternoon/evening hanging out at Jambo.

The Kidani pool was quiet, not many people and plenty of lounge chairs available. The Jambo pool may be bigger, but felt much more crowded and I had to look around for a couple of lounge chairs in a good location. We did enjoy our afternoon there, it was just a busier atmosphere.

Since I spent most afternoons and evenings in the parks, I just ate there. I did eat at Mara the day we hung out at Jambo, but didn't really miss not having a CS at Kidani.

I don't buy a lot of souvenirs so the gift shop wasn't a big deal for me.

It was nice to be at the first bus stop for the parks.

It's hard to say which would be better for you, they both have different strong points. Either way, you can't go wrong.

 

[flagen2010]

Jambo

The pool at Kidani is small and being blunt smells like diapers....Even it staying at Kidani its worth going over to Jambo to swim

 

[dgaston]

Goodness, I do it the other way -- staying at Jambo, go to Kidani to enjoy the pool!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I prefer being in the main building of Jambo. I prefer that pool and I like being closer to the counter meal restaurant.

We REALLY preferred Jambo for those reasons.

Our non-Savannah room at Kidani was so far from the lobby that we always found ourselves taking the elevator to the car, and not enjoying the common areas of the resort at all.

I could have stayed at a Fairfield on 192 for that.

With Jambo on the other hand, we ate at Mara a few times, and ate at Boma once. The large gift shop had lots of interesting unique items that was great to just look at if not purchase. We were in there often. The lobby, lounge, and common areas were beautiful. It was great. I still prefer a resort closer to parks, but AKL-Jambo is a pretty neat resort.

 

[Simba's Mom]

With Jambo on the other hand, we ate at Mara a few times, and ate at Boma once. The large gift shop had lots of interesting unique items that was great to just look at if not purchase. We were in there often. The lobby, lounge, and common areas were beautiful. It was great. I still prefer a resort closer to parks, but AKL-Jambo is a pretty neat resort.

Yes, Mara and Boma are big draws for me too. I had originally booked Kidani for October. But after visiting last week, I changed to Jambo. Boma's breakfast is a last day tradition for us, and Mara's butternut squash soup is excellent. And there's the Sunset Lounge, a small room off the lobby, where I love to sit and read and view the animals. That room is always so quiet, and sadly rarely used during the day. Also, the CMs in the gift shop there are the best!