Jambo vs Kidani

[TheBigErn]

We will be 5 adults renting points for a trip May 2022. I keep going back and forth on several 2 BR options at several resorts including AKL. What are the differences between Jambo and Kidani. I honestly don't see much difference.

 

[JETSDAD]

A 2 bedroom at Kidani will have an extra bathroom and allows the option to book a dedicated 2BR vs lockoff.

 

[erionm]

In additional to the extra bathroom, the Kidani Village 2-bedrooms are roughly 100 sq feet larger than the 2-bedrooms in Jambo House (except values in Jambo which are even smaller). The master bath in the Kidani Village 1 and 2 bedroom units have a tub and a separate walk in shower. The ones in Jambo House have a tub/shower combo.

 

[BillPA]

Jambo 2 BR, all lock-offs, will only have 1 queen bed in the 2nd BR plus a sofa bed. At Kidani you can get a dedicated 2 BR with 2 queen beds in the 2nd BR and as mentioned, a 3rd full bathroom.

 

[kanerf]

You also have garage parking at Kidani. The one table service restaurant at AKL that is open is Sanaa which is at Kidani.

 

[sndral]

Kidani is all DVC, so you could be on any floor - which is good if you want more of an eye level view of the animals. Savanna views are of the Sunset or very small Pembe (no giraffes) savannas. Standard view may face the parking lot. There’s parking under the building, so if you drive it’s easy to park near the elevator closest to your villa. The hallways are very long. Sanaa is the only sit down option, no true quick service option. There is a pool bar w/ food. The pool is smaller, but the kid’s splash area is nicer. The lobby and store are much smaller. Park buses pick up and drop off at Kidani first. Kidani has a lot more villas & thus is easier to get.
Jambo’s villas are all on the 5th floor, except for the club villas on the 6th floor, so w/ savanna view you’ll look down on the animals. Savanna views are of Sunset, Arusha, or Uzima savannas - all nice & large w/ giraffes. Standard view will have a ‘lesser’ savanna view or a pool view (sometimes w/ roof) no risk of overlooking a street/parking lot except in a couple of value villas. Jambo has Mara - the quick service, Boma - the buffet, Jiko - the signature restaurant, Victoria falls - the indoor bar, and the pool bar. The lobby and store are much larger. Disney Springs buses pick up and drop off at Jambo first.
You can use amenities at both resorts, they’re about a 10 minute walk apart, could be longer depending on where you are in each respective building. There’s also a frequent small shuttle bus that runs between the front of the lobbies of the two resorts if you’re walked out.
Edited to add : all of the Jambo restaurants aren’t yet open - the above is assuming things are fully open.

 

[TheBigErn]

Kidani is all DVC, so you could be on any floor - which is good if you want more of an eye level view of the animals. Savanna views are of the Sunset or very small Pembe (no giraffes) savannas. Standard view may face the parking lot. There’s parking under the building, so if you drive it’s easy to park near the elevator closest to your villa. The hallways are very long. Sanaa is the only sit down option, no true quick service option. There is a pool bar w/ food. The pool is smaller, but the kid’s splash area is nicer. The lobby and store are much smaller. Park buses pick up and drop off at Kidani first. Kidani has a lot more villas & thus is easier to get.
Jambo’s villas are all on the 5th floor, except for the club villas on the 6th floor, so w/ savanna view you’ll look down on the animals. Savanna views are of Sunset, Arusha, or Uzima savannas - all nice & large w/ giraffes. Standard view will have a ‘lesser’ savanna view or a pool view (sometimes w/ roof) no risk of overlooking a street/parking lot except in a couple of value villas. Jambo has Mara - the quick service, Boma - the buffet, Jiko - the signature restaurant, Victoria falls - the indoor bar, and the pool bar. The lobby and store are much larger. Disney Springs buses pick up and drop off at Jambo first.
You can use amenities at both resorts, they’re about a 10 minute walk apart, could be longer depending on where you are in each respective building. There’s also a frequent small shuttle bus that runs between the front of the lobbies of the two resorts if you’re walked out.
Edited to add : all of the Jambo restaurants aren’t yet open - the above is assuming things are fully open.

great information

 

[CarolynFH]

The master bath in the Jambo 1 and 2 BR villas is across a hallway from the bedroom, and there's no private doorway from the master bedroom into that bathroom. The tub/shower combination is the most uncomfortable one I've ever had to deal with - the rim of the tub is extremely wide and tall, making it very difficult to step over - my DH was fine, but I really had to sit on the side of the tub and swing my legs over to get in and out. I won't stay in a Jambo 1 or 2 BR for that reason. Give me Kidani every time! Oh, and the Kidani living room has a twin size fold out chair in addition to the fold out couch, so an extra sleeping surface.

 

[herrmannpt]

We are AKV owners. DVC rooms are bigger and have the extra bathroom at Kidani,but we much prefer the ambiance and amenities at Jambo and almost always stay at Jambo. The lobby is much bigger and better and the fire pits (indoor and out) are amazing. The Mara is a great quick service location, and the drink refill stations are more convenient at Jambo. The hot tubs at the Jambo pool are bigger and have more vegetation around them making them seem more private. We love the value rooms at Jambo. They are extremely hard to get but possible. We stay in one almost every trip. Truly best value at all DVC resorts!

 

[sndral]

… Oh, and the Kidani living room has a twin size fold out chair in addition to the fold out couch, so an extra sleeping surface.

Jambo living rooms have the fold out sleeper chair as well, except for the value villas.

 

[Skywalker3]

We haven't stayed at Jambo, but have at Kidani 3 times, and love it. That extra bathroom is wonderful, and the large tubs are great! Also, the buses to the parks (except Disney Springs) pick up first at Kidani, Do try and make a request near lobby, or something like that, if you want to try to avoid a long walk. One trip we were all the way at the top of the resort,, and it was quite a walk at the end of the day, and we only had about 4 types of animals on our savannah, no giraffes. Still a great room, but our other 2 stays were closer to the lobby, and fabulous views. We love Kidani

 

[sticker231]

Good luck with your choice. Today’s view with my morning coffee!

 

[jcanary]

Good luck with your choice. Today’s view with my morning coffee!View attachment 593033

Is this jambo or Kidani?

 

[TheBigErn]

Do all Kidani rooms have a savanna view?

 

[erionm]

Do all Kidani rooms have a savanna view?

A majority of them do, but there are also standard view villas.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We will be 5 adults renting points for a trip May 2022. I keep going back and forth on several 2 BR options at several resorts including AKL. What are the differences between Jambo and Kidani. I honestly don't see much difference.

I don't know about the 2BR, but in the 1BR, Kidani has the extra bathroom. Jambo does not. That's a dealbreaker for me with two teen daughters. We always stay at Kidani for the more updated villas.

 

[erionm]

I don't know about the 2BR, but in the 1BR, Kidani has the extra bathroom. Jambo does not.

Both 1 and 2 bedroom units in Kidani Village have one more bathroom than the same size units in Jambo House.

 

[PsycProfPlum]

Kidani for room comfort and proximity to animals, Jambo for food (presuming they are all open), ambiance, fantastic lobby and gift shop.

 

[JanszLoveOswald]

We also own at AKV. We prefer to stay at Jambo. The lobby is amazing and the kids programs are top notch. We like Jambo for the ambiance, the museum pieces on every floor, proximity to food, and the pool/hot tubs.

If you ever get the chance, the Jambo Grand Villa is the best. It has three large balconies and a pool table room!

 

[sssteele]

A majority of them do, but there are also standard view villas.

We had a "savanna view" at Kidani once that was mostly parking lot and pool. We went to front desk and complained, and they moved us. Fortunately, we checked in early.