Just back from Kidani - AWESOME time!

[momof2disprincesses]

My DH and I just returned yesterday from a trip just the two of us to celebrate our anniversary. We stayed 5 nights at Kidani in a standard-view studio. We had an awesome room location - on the second floor just 3 rooms from the Rafiki elevator. We had a car, so it was awesome to just ride down the elevator to our car.

We did many of the activities at the resort that we hadn't done before, including:

• The Africa presentation - one of the cast members from Africa does a presentation from their home country nightly in the Kidani library. Our presentation was done by Mutitti (Fortune) from Zimbabwe. He was very knowledgeable and it was quite interesting - a true highlight of this trip.
• Arts & crafts at Jambo House - my DH and I painted a ceramic cereal bowl for one daughter and made an African-themed necklace from beads for the other. It was fun and they loved the unique gifts!
• Movie night at the Kidani pool. Each night at dark they show a movie at the pool.
• Talk to the animal experts at the savannas. They know so much about the animals and we got the best photos from going down by the fire pit (first floor, near Saana).

Also one night, just for fun, we bought a small container of vanilla ice cream from the store off the lobby and got root beer in our refillable mugs and had root beer floats.

We also enjoyed lots of time alone relaxing in our room and enjoying the wonderful air conditioning (it was HOT & HUMID last week). Overall, it was one of the best DVC stays we've ever had. By the way, this was our 4th stay at Kidani (first without the kids).

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations on your anniversary! The CM's cultural safari is something I always try to do at least once on every AKV visit. I'm glad you enjoyed your presentation. It sounds like you had a super time.

Bobbi

 

[goofystitchfan]

Glad to read this. DH and I are going in September and will be staying in Kindani for the first time. Very excited!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Happy Anniversary! Did you find out in advance which movie would be showing which night? When I was there, they announced the movie around 4:00 (they said it would be 2:00, but then told me to call back). Then when I showed up for the movie, it was different than what I'd been told. That's OK-the experience was 99% of the fun.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Somewhere I did see the pool movie schedule but I truly cannot remember where it was right now. The lifeguards always seemed to know as I heard others asking them.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Trying Kidani for the 1st time in Aug, 2br savana!

Thanks for the trip report!

 

[Cheshire_Jenn]

It sounds lovely!

Glad you had such a great time!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Congradulations on your anniversary. We stayed at Kidani in 2009 and loved it.

 

[amyy]

We were at Kidani until Sunday for our anniversary too. Our first stay and we loved it but didn't get around to taken advantage of a lot of the activities. I did enjoy reading on the balcony and in the library though.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi momof2disprincesses,
That sounds like a fantastic trip. AK is one of my favorite resorts. Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing.

 

[pixie08]

Us too! We just got back a few days ago (after a trip on the Dream). I have always stayed at Jambo, and this was our first stay at Kidani. I was hesitant after some things I read but I absolutely loved it. It far surpassed my expectations and I love it! We were even in one of the "far" rooms way at the end and we liked in because we were close to Jambo. I think I prefer Kidani to Jambo for it's intimacy, pool and service.

 

[lugnut33]

Us too! We just got back a few days ago (after a trip on the Dream). I have always stayed at Jambo, and this was our first stay at Kidani. I was hesitant after some things I read but I absolutely loved it. It far surpassed my expectations and I love it! We were even in one of the "far" rooms way at the end and we liked in because we were close to Jambo. I think I prefer Kidani to Jambo for it's intimacy, pool and service.

You really need to be careful with what you read. Kidani has been the #1 rated resort for a couple of years now in the Unofficial Guide. It far surpasses other resorts on property.