Just back from AKV-Kidani and won't want to stay there again.

[pyrxtc]

We were down there for the record cold spell and snow in Oscala. Wasn't Disney's fault so i can't hold that against them ... HaHa !

The room was gorgeous with tons of space. It was nice to have a dedicated 2 bedroom to fit everyone and we got a room close to the lobby which we asked for and was also nice. Underground parking was kinda ugly but we drove by someone vaccuming it ! Lots of animals on the Savannah, weren't out early though since it was soo cold for them, I guess !

The Tv's don't have the Disney cartoon channel on them, the only way to watch it is to go to the lobby. It is usually always on if we are in the room. Community Hall didn't check for membership ID's and anyone could come in and use everything in there including getting the crafts for free. I really hate that there is no counter service like the Mara. Had to wait in line in the store to get tea bags or hot chocolate for the refillable mugs. they don't even have a sign saying it is available, someone mentioned it to me while they were filling their mug up. They saw I just had hot water and I said I was going back to the room for a tea bag, what a nice person! Not enough transport between the two resorts to make it easy to eat at Mara either. Forget about getting it to go and getting it back to the room while it was still hot. The lobby is way too small, many times trying to get through it to get a drink was crazy cuz it was packed. The pool is hard to get to and although nicey done it was not well placed. If I am going to go in an outdoor pool in the winter, then I want a door to inside fairly close so I can quickly warm up and get to my room. If you have to walk across the parking lot and through the lobby soaking wet, it will be very uncomfortable and cold as well. Getting there is not handicap friendly either.

I was also not happy that all the Christmas stuff was still up everywhere. Yes, it loks pretty but I don't want it in all of my photo's from January. Also, Disney charged $8 for a pair of magic stretch gloves (plain black, not disnified) and that was the only option for gloves most places. $20 for a winter hat is crazy too especially when I washed it once and most of the desing washed off. you can't even tell it is Disney anymore.

i'll be making my future bookings at Jambo, I'll take the lock-off VS the dedicated just to be in a resort that has it all. I don't see Kidani as a Deluxe resort or even DVC worthy.

last thing is that the maids were awesome ! Place was clean and nicely kept and when my DS got really sick they were quick to gt us many extra sheets so we could do a quick change. Also there was a recycling bin in the kitchen so we we recycled everything we could. I don't know what Disney recycles but we did, paper, plastic, and cans.

 

[wildernessDad]

To each their own.

Personally, we enjoyed staying there very much. Did have the work around the lack of quick service. But we loved the Pembe savanna with the Okapis and Red River Hogs.

 

[emlutz23]

I'm sorry your stay was not as you imagined! We are staying there in Aug for the first time.

As far as the gloves, I bought some cute striped ones last year and they very quickly got a hole in some of the fingers. I think Disney does it so you have to buy new gloves on your next trip!

And as far as the recycling, Disney recycles a lot! I learned on the Keys to the Kingdom tour that every trash bin in the MK is hand sorted. So when you throw away a water bottle in the regular trash container, it is still recycled. We even saw the CM's sorting it on the tour! I hope they're paid well for that job!

Here's some so your next trip is magical!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We were at Jambo during the cold snap ourselves but went with a friend to Kidani to meet with a DVC guide. Kidani is a great place except for not having counter service. You would think someone would have thought of that. Jambo was great except there was no detergent in the villa so we had to buy our detergent to do laundry. Also, the dryers were not hot so we didn't completely dry our clothes after washing them. Mara was great and, like I said, Kidani needs counter service bad. They took down trhe Christmas decorations the night before we left. We enjoyed ourselves there but it will be awhile before we return to AKV. We are more Boardwalk/Beach Club people.

 

[spiceycat]

hey DIsney is under the false impression that all DVC members are rich and can afford (time as well as money) the restuarant.

so plan on that and get food for your kitchen. then no ones needs to go anywhere (after you buy the groceries)

speaking of - is there a way to walk over to Publix at Orange Lake shopping center - that one you can see from Kidani.

 

[pyrxtc]

we bought soe groceries but there are only so many things you can make in the villa wihtout havig the basics around to use and to either pack it or buy new, it can be a lot. Different seasonings and butter, all the things you use when you cook at home but just aren't there in the villa. Even things like tin foil and plastic bags. Or even Ketchup !

Or you buy things to eat (like sausage) and you pay for them and somehow they don't ever make it into your car or room ??? We emptied the grocery cart into the car but never saw the sausages after I put them up to pay, well except for the cost on my receipt....

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's funny, but I always wanted AKL to be DVC. Now that it is and I own a few points there, I find there are some things I don't love about it. Don't get me wrong....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the savannas and the animals and the African theme etc, but I HATE the long hallways and the dark bathrooms, high vanity that keeps you too far from the mirror, and strangely arranged kitchen. I'm glad we only have 69 points there, because my practice of staying there just a few days at a time is just right for us. Then we can spend the lion's share (pun intended) of our trips at our favorite OKW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We stayed at BLT last week, and I thought that going to the Contemporary to eat was just about as convenient as going to the Mara from Kidani. We've done both now, and of the two, I think we'll have more Kidani stays than BLT stays.

I agree that it's hard to cook without the little things! I bring baggies from home and salt/pepper. We could have used some other things, but just made do. The Publix did sell a package of 2 sticks of butter which I appreciated, because we did make grilled cheese sandwiches, and used most of the 2 sticks.

I like Kidani so much that I made a special trip over there last week with DDiL and DGS. I was thrilled to see the okapi and red river hogs. Can't wait to have a 4 night Kidani stay in March!

Bobbi

 

[famsen]

All our points are at AKV and I LOVE Kidani.
I miss that there is no counter service there but hopefully that will be addressed in the future. We buy groceries so it doesn't affect is too much. I only wish the gift shop was larger with more variety.
I love the underground parking.
I used to love Jambo, until out visit last May were we had littler visitors in our kitchen in the form of cockroaches.

 

[ToddyLu]

Just bought 210 pts at AKV in June 09. First trip was 10/28-11/06. Absolutely loved everything about the place. Our home is a similar decor. We do not have children and were on the dinning plan. We loved the Mara and Boma. The transporation seemed to always be there....we are so looking forward to our Dec.trip this year. I guess we used up all the pixie dust there!

 

[Brave teacher]

That's what makes DVC so great though! There's something for everyone. What you don't like about Kidani, we absolutely loved.

 

[drusba]

We were there January 1-9, 2BR dedicated and one of the main thoughts we had there during that time period was that we were not ever coming again to WDW until Orlando comes out of the ice age. Coldest time I ever spent there (been many times in Jan and had some days just as cold as ones we had but never before where every day and night was cold).

Except for the endless hallway to nowhere (the hallway walk to the end of the north wing -- the wing the pool is on --over 1/4 mile, where our room was), we were impressed. Particularly liked Sanaa as to atmosphere, comfort, service and food. We are not big on quick service places so the lack thereof did not affect us. That the Christmas decorations stayed up so long (both in hotels and parks they were all still up when we left Jan 9) is unusual. Typically, when we have been first week of Jan, hotel decorations are gone by the 5th and park ones start coming down the 5th and are mostly all gone by the 8th. One CM (don't know if he can be believed) told us it was because of the cold. Most outdoor decorations come down during overnight hours and it was too cold for Floridian workers to survive that.

Very much liked the room, with its larger size than most others (except OKW) and having three baths was great. Did not see as many animals as usual and the ones we saw generally had a look about them that said what the heck to the cold weather and lack of seeing as many may have been a weather issue. The underground parking is ideal and despite the standard warning about "limited spaces" there were always plenty of spaces all times of day fairly close to one of the wing elevators.

As Q above, there is no way to walk to that Publix

 

[Dean]

The TV's had the Disney channel last fall when we had 2 rooms at Kidani. It may be that someone deleted the channel from the TV and it needed to be added back in. No doubt there are compromises which includes the pool location for many parts of the resort and CS options. And the distances are quite long for some situations. The location is also not for everyone. Each resort has it's plusses and minuses and we could tally them up and even then what one person saw as a plus would be someone else's minus.

 

[franandaj]

we bought soe groceries but there are only so many things you can make in the villa wihtout havig the basics around to use and to either pack it or buy new, it can be a lot. Different seasonings and butter, all the things you use when you cook at home but just aren't there in the villa. Even things like tin foil and plastic bags. Or even Ketchup !

I have a little spice kit that I take with me on trips. I got one of those screw/nail containers from the hardware store, and then I got some tiny baggies (for beads and things) at the crafts store. I have all my standard spices like basil, oregano, chili powder, cumin, etc. in there. For the past two months, we've been saving our ketchup packets at the fast food restaurants since we don't like ketchup on our fries. That will be for the Hot Dog night.

It makes everything so much nicer and homey when I can cook my favorite dishes on vacation. We'll be checking into Kidani in 10 days in a dedicated 2 bedroom with my folks. I am looking so forward to the trip because we will move to Kidani from the Threehouses!

 

[pyrxtc]

The TV's had the Disney channel last fall when we had 2 rooms at Kidani. It may be that someone deleted the channel from the TV and it needed to be added back in. No doubt there are compromises which includes the pool location for many parts of the resort and CS options. And the distances are quite long for some situations. The location is also not for everyone. Each resort has it's plusses and minuses and we could tally them up and even then what one person saw as a plus would be someone else's minus.

I asked at the front desk and they said the rooms at Kidani don't have it.

 

[Dean]

I asked at the front desk and they said the rooms at Kidani don't have it.

I'm pretty certain it was there when we were there but then again I wasn't looking specifically for it, who knows.

 

[BCV23]

I fear the cartoon channel (96?) showing Disney cartoons is not available in the rooms now. Even though it was a loop, our son loved watching it. We've not been able to find it this Fall or Winter at several resorts. In fact, we could not get it in Jambo House concierge last March.

The Disney Channel was available everywhere we've stayed.

Sorry your stay wasn't magical, pyrxtc. It seems that many things went wrong this trip especially having your little one ill. In my experience that really affects my memory of a trip.

Hope your next stay is better wherever you book.

 

[AKV707]

The beauty of DVC is that there is a resort for everyone. Sorry that the OP didn't like Kidani. We love love love the place. We order from Garden grocer and eat breakfast in the room. We really don't need a counter service. I believe that the pool can be accessed from the north wing. I could be wrong.

 

[enigmaMN]

We stayed at Kidani at the end of Sept. for the first time. It's a beautiful resort, our 1 BR (not a savannah view) was spacious and incredibly clean, but we just felt something was missing. We've stayed numerous times at SSR and loved it. We've decided that a full week at Kidani was too much for us but for a quick trip we'd be perfectly fine. We still regret our add on at AKL, though.


Now.. don't even get me started on the little piece of hell called Jambo House. That was the most chaotic experience we've ever had at Disney. I wanted to leave literally 5 minutes after we left. There were people everywhere, kids running and screaming at the top of their lungs. Not for me. I couldn't enjoy the scenery, etc. as it was just too chaotic. I was actually grateful to be staying at Kidani after our one and only visit (hopefully ever) to Jambo House.

 

[ToddyLu]

Now.. don't even get me started on the little piece of hell called Jambo House. That was the most chaotic experience we've ever had at Disney. I wanted to leave literally 5 minutes after we left. There were people everywhere, kids running and screaming at the top of their lungs. Not for me. I couldn't enjoy the scenery, etc. as it was just too chaotic. I was actually grateful to be staying at Kidani after our one and only visit (hopefully ever) to Jambo House.[/QUOTE]



Ditto!....but that is my life 41, no children. Loved Jambo for the food but when it came to reservations we decided we wanted to relax at Kidani. Both beautiful.....thank the Lord I am not the only one that felt that way when we were there.........Anyone who has children is very fortunate, however at 41 when you have no children the place can be chaotic.