Jambo vs. Kidani

[tink_n_pooh]

Can anyone give me some input on the differences between Jambo & Kidani DH & I have never stayed (or even visited) AKL so I'm working with just about nothing

We are thinking of staying a few nights on points in January, probably going to book a studio to save on points for the weekend and then transfer to another resort (maybe BWV or BCV) one-bedroom for the rest of our stay. We don't mind transferring mid vacation, I actually kind of like staying at different resorts

Right now we are looking for input on value vs. standard vs. savanna vs. concierge, as well as anything else you can offer an AKL newbie

 

[drusba]

Value and concierge are only at Jambo. The value are "value" because they are smaller rooms than all others (for studio you are looking at Port Orleans size rooms). Also they are small in number and thus difficult to get close to a date. Those can have savanna, pool or parking lot view (and no guarantee for a request for view). There only 5 studios in concierge (3 facing a savanna and 2 the pool) and they cost more because you get concierge service and daily maid service. Those can be impossible to get even at 7 months.

All standard villas at Jambo face the pool and thus getting one there guarantees pool view. Those at Kidani face pool, road, or parking lot and no guarantee for a request. 80% of all rooms at AKV (both Kidani and Jambo) are savanna view and thus as far as availability goes, savanna view is the one most likely to be available this close to January if any rooms are. All DVC rooms at Jambo are on the top 5th floor (6th floor for concierge around the lobby). Kidani is all DVC. There are no rooms on the ground floor of either building except for some hotel rooms facing the pool at Jambo.

The savannas are huge and savanna view is a plus and yes you really do see animals and they can come pretty close to the building (about 20 yards away; there is an electric fence that you hardly notice-- looks like little bushes spaced out from one another). Resorts are excellently themed and AKL has the reality of isolation so that it accomplishes the goal of making you feel you are really on a savanna rather than in a busy area. Kidani ground floor is a parking lot under the building. Both pools are very nice, Jambo's is bigger and Jambo has far more trees and foliage in its pool area so shade is easier to find. Kidani has the new creative recreational area for kids. Both lobbies are impressive but Jambo's much larger and the more impressive. Both have stores, Jambo's is significantly larger. Jambo has three restaurants -- one upscale table service, a top-notch buffet, and a counter service; Kidani has only one restaurant, a table service. You can have long walks from lobby to room at both and at Kidani's northern wing that walk can be longer than any you may have ever experienced at any hotel (from lobby to end of wing gets close to 1/4 mile).

You can use facilities at both when staying at one but walk from one to the other is about 1/2 mile door to door. Park busses stop at Kidani first and DD bus stops at Jambo first. Bus system is generally good and beats the snot out of Boardwalk's where you have to stop at multiple resorts or SSR or OKW with multiple stops.

Studios (other than the small values) are about the same size at both buildings. Though you are obviously not considering it, Jambo has the most impressive GV's that exist, single story, pool table, huge porches.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Since this is your first AKV stay, even for a weekend...I would book savannah view if you are at all inclined to sit and watch the animals. With the subdued lighting you can often see animals even at night. I like the common areas and sometimes I have not booked savannah, but I especially like the privacy of enjoying AM coffee or a nightcap on my balcony watching the animals. I mostly go to the common areas when I've checked out or before my room is ready.

Bobbi

 

[Metsoskil]

After staying at Kidani and visiting Jambo quite often, I would definitely book Kidani again. The only drawback is the lack of a CS option, but we found the walk to Jambo to be short and not a big deal. We liked the feel of the resort - much more homey and less crowded, the scenery, and the pool better. I also liked that the parking was covered. Jambo feels more like a hotel, Kidani feels more like a resort IMHO. Maybe it's because it's only DVC rooms there.

 

[LiseG]

We just returned from a 3-day stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House and a 7-day Disney Cruise. This was our first stay at AKL and it was fantastic. The fabulous lobby lets you know you've arrived! It reminded us a bit of the California Grand Hotel ... which we throughly enjoyed last fall.

We stayed in a studio with a savanna view. There were animals outside our window all day. I loved stepping out on our porch late at night and seeing a giraffe sleeping just below. WOW!

Our studio and our friends 1-bedroom with pool view were both wonderful. With a family of 4 she really appreciated the extra space and even did a load of laundry. I'd go with the savanna, the animals just below your porch are just to wonderful to pass up.

We enjoyed the BOMA buffet so much we went twice for dinner. The rotisserie meats, sides, salads, soups, desserts... I'm making myself hungry!! We grabbed donuts and mini cereal boxes from the Jambo store so that and zebra watching was our breakfast routine. We enjoyed one lunch at The Mara. Along with the usual Disney quick serve options they had some excellent soups, flat bread pizza, African bread bowl stew and other fun items. We did the cuisine tour and will put Jiko on our list next time.

Both pools were enjoyable for all ages (for little ones check out the water features at Kidani). The kid activities were fun. We painted pottery, had a ducky race, made buttons, decorated cookies, enjoyed face painting, etc. DD8 enjoyed the 2-hour evening program at Kidani (there were 2 counselors and just her!!) We enjoyed some adult time.

We only used the bus to go to DTD and once to get back from Kidani to Jambo. You walk past the bus stop walking to Jambo and the bus was there...why not catch a ride!

Is there anything specific you'd like to know?

 

[jodifla]

We stayed in a 2 bedroom at Jambo, pool view. We really liked the location...it was great to be able to zip down to the kid's club, and be less than a 5 minute walk to bars and restaurants.

We drove over to Kidani. It's nice, but pretty isolated. Quiet, not much going on. Pool is nice but too small, Sanaa had excellent service and food.

But we were happy with all the buzz in Jambo.

 

[Robindianne]

OT. OMG you guys are making me so excited to go to our first ever stay at AK. We booked savannah view and that cereal and animals from the balcony sound like the best way to have breakfast ever!

 

[DVCTiff]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to try to book AKL at 7 months and totally didn't realize that Kidani didn't have counter service which may make Jambo our only option for our extended family with little kids. Guess I'll see what I can get before I start worrying about it.

 

[nu2dvc]

I've really enjoyed reading these AKL reviews. Especially Drusba's - quite thorough and informative. Thanks to all!!

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

We too our trying to decide between Kidani and Jamob for our stay next year.

We stayed at Jambo in Feb with a 2 bed pool view and we love love loved it!! The hotel was amazing and everything we had hoped for when we bought into DVC. OUr kids loved the pool, the shop, the kids club and meals were so convienent with CS when we ate at the hotel. We did breakfasts in our room each day but we often went down for take out for teatime.

We had planned on trying Kidani this time round with the slightly bigger villas and extra bathroom. However knowing there is no counter service, that the standard view always includes car park and that it can be a 1/4 mile walk from lobby to furthest rooms is making us think this is a bad idea. We will have a 6 and an 8 year old with us when we go and these little guys get pretty tired out walking around the parks all day. I keep thinking what if when we get back to the hotel at the end of a long day they have another huge walk ahead of them. I can't imagine DH and me carrying them that far after fireworks

So I guess it will be Jambo for us again but I can't help feeling like I am missing out on something not trying out the new place

 

[edk35]

We stayed two nights at Kidani in July. We had a 2 br savanna view and LOVED IT. The view is amazing, the animals come up so close. It is a resort that I could stay at for a few days and never step foot into the parks. NOW.....the only draw back for us was the lack of CS on the Kidani side, but that was about it. It is not a deal breaker by any means. You can hope a bus over to Jambo or walk. The layout of the rooms make them seem so much bigger too than other resorts. Kidani is beautiful and if I was only staying a few nights like you.....I would stay in a savanna view room.

 

[Muhlenberg]

We LOVED Kidani. We stayed in a Savanna View 1 BR. We actually felt like the 2 of us were drowning in the room. We LOVED the resort. We never once missed not having CS. We generally eat lunch in a park, and dinner at a TS, usually in another resort. There was only one day that we didn't eat at a CS...and quite frankly, we just snacked for lunch...didn't even attempt going to a CS.

Although we had SV, there are plenty of places to view animals, so booking Std. View wouldn't be bad, if you want to save points.

We would DEFINITELY stay in Kidani again. I'd be happy always staying there, but that would kind of defeat trying other resorts.

 

[BlueFairy]

I'm confused - we're considering value 1BR. I like the idea of being at Jambo, but I only see discussion here of value studio. Is there value 1BR? What are the views and drawbacks?

 

[drusba]

Yes, there are value 1BRs. Most values are 2BR lock-offs which can be 2BRs or a 1BR and studio; there also some dedicated studio values.

Mentioned above is that the 2BR at Kidani "seemed" so much bigger than other resorts. It is a lot bigger than all the WDW resorts save OKW which has the largest. The Kidani 1BR is about 812 sq ft compared to 710 at Jambo (which is about the size of 1BRs elsewhere on site except OKW). The studios are about 359 at both (in same range as other resorts). The 2BR at Kidani is thus about 1171, about 100 sq ft larger than those elsewhere (except OKW). It also has the extra bathroom in the 1BR, giving three bathrooms for a 2BR. The value rooms at Jambo are about 315 for studio, 620 for 1BR. The values are all in the front part of the Jambo building and can face savanna, parking lot or pool. You can request view but it is not guaranteed. The obvious drawback of the values is size, and they seem even smaller than they are because they put the same bulky furniture in them that they put in the regular rooms except that the value 1BRs do not have a sleeper chair and thus sleep 4 rather than 5. Otherwise, if you can accept smaller size (and possibly not getting the view you request), they are fine.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks Drusba! VERY helpful.