Just Back - Kidani

[BLLB]

We just returned from a 7 night stay at Kidani, our home resort is BWV, but the family wanted a change.

We were in room 7638, directly off the lobby on the sunset savannah. It was about half-way around the arc. We like the room location, no elevator required, great view of the animals, and close to the Rafiki (parking deck) elevator for a short cut to the pool.

We liked having Mara as a counter service option. Didn't mind the walk at all.

As many others have noted, the food throughout WDW is not what it once was. We decided we will be doing less table service next time, and we didn't do that many this time. The worst was Yak and Yeti table service. My DS picked it. It was really expensive for essentially Chinese take-out.

Once again, we had issues with Typhoon Lagoon transportation. They do not run busses to the water parks until half-hour before the park opens. At TL they have those premium cabannas (which can be reserved ahead of time) and the walk up umbrella spaces. As you can imagine when you cannot catch a bus until 9:30, you have zero chance of getting a space (the non-reserved ones). I will try to remember to take a cab next year!

Had flight delay coming into Orlando. When we returned home, I found an email with a voucher for each of us. Totally unexpected, I love Southwest.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to try and answer.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for the report! Glad you had a good time, except of course for the transportation issue, but it sounds like Southwest took care of that!

Besides SSR, AKV is our other home resort, but we will have our first stay at Kidani this summer, and we can't wait.

Just upgraded to Savannah view, and the kids don't know, so they are going to be thrilled. Normally, they love sitting on the balcony at Jambo House and watching people at the pool. They are going to love seeing animals from our balcony!

Did you use the pools at all? How were they?

I agree about Disney dining too. We have gone from spending thousands on Deluxe Dining or DDE/TIW, to cooking pretty much all meals (except for a few favs) in our villa. We love eating in our villa now, but I think we will eat lunch at Sanaa, as it sounds nice, and the savannah view looks great too.

Thanks for your report! Tiger

 

[BLLB]

Pool was great. First, it is zero entry, which is so nice with little ones. My boys are older, 11 and 9, but I remember how hard it was when they were small. Second, it has a really big splash area for little ones. Wish that was an option at all the DVC pools.

I think the boys may have liked the slide at BWV a little better. For me, I loved that it has really lush landscaping, so there are opportunities for shade and sun. I prefer the shade and there are equal spots for both. There are some nice secluded areas with tables and chairs. I cannot say enough about the pool area.

I think Sanaa would be a nice place to eat, we did not get a chance, it seems a little secluded which may make it a best kept secret.

 

[Tiger926]

Pool was great. First, it is zero entry, which is so nice with little ones. My boys are older, 11 and 9, but I remember how hard it was when they were small. Second, it has a really big splash area for little ones. Wish that was an option at all the DVC pools.

I think the boys may have liked the slide at BWV a little better. For me, I loved that it has really lush landscaping, so there are opportunities for shade and sun. I prefer the shade and there are equal spots for both. There are some nice secluded areas with tables and chairs. I cannot say enough about the pool area.

I think Sanaa would be a nice place to eat, we did not get a chance, it seems a little secluded which may make it a best kept secret.

Awesome! Thanks so much!

We are doing our first non-park stay, but we are going to Water Parks and Disney Quest, so we plan on spending quality time at Kidani. Especially the pool area. Our little guy just had another set of ear tubes put in, so the splash area at Kidani is ideal, as it means no submerging in a big pool of water.

We can't wait for our savannah view room either! Glad you had a great trip, and thanks for sharing the info!

Tiger

 

[pequele]

pics pics pics

 

[BLLB]

I took over 300 but I have no idea how to post.

 

[joxer1014]

How did you get a voucher just for your flight being late? I have had my flights delayed by SW before and received no compensation. Did you contact them? I can't see how they would just send you the vouchers out of the blue. Can you be more specific?

Thanks

 

[pequele]

I took over 300 but I have no idea how to post.

you can put em on something like photobucket with a link or post a few here by using the insert image button up where you type your reply (looks like mountains with a sun?)

I can't wait to go to Kidani for our 1st DVC trip in December so I have to live vicariously though all you guys and your pics now!!

 

[BLLB]

How did you get a voucher just for your flight being late? I have had my flights delayed by SW before and received no compensation. Did you contact them? I can't see how they would just send you the vouchers out of the blue. Can you be more specific?

Thanks

Our flight was scheduled to arrive in Orlando around 2:30. Around 2:00 the pilot said that there were storms in Orlando so we would be flying to Ft. Myers (where our flight was continuing to) and that we needed fuel. Once we landed in Ft. Myers, the pilot said they thought our plane had been struck by lightning so we needed to get off the plane for an inspection.

After we were off the plane a gate attendant said we needed a new plane to fly back to Orlando and that the new plane would be arriving around 6:30.

We lined up around 7:00, it was a little chaotic, they started calling us by alphabetical order, which ticked off people who purchased EBCI (and previously had an A boarding pass) but had a last name that began with "Y".

We finally boarded and arrived in Orlando around 8:30. Fortunately, our car service (Tiffany) had been monitoring all of this and was there waiting for us. I was concerned because we really needed a grocery stop and I was afraid the store would be closed by the time we got there. but it wasn't. We finally got to Kidani around 9:30.

When we got home a got the email that Southwest gave us each a voucher. I wasn't expecting it because it was weather related.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the report. I'm on the waitlist for Jambo, with Kidani as my "backup", but these posititve reports have me thinking of dropping the waitlist. A big issue for me is the location of Mara. How often did you go over there? Another question concerns the pool area. I don't swim, but I love to lie in the shade with a good book. Last time I was at the Kidani pool, it seemed super-sunny, with not much shade. How is it now?

 

[look1angel]

We've stayed in both Jambo & Kidani GV w/SV & preferred Jambo because they had the pool table available. Sanaa was an unexpected delight. Great view & food was delicious. Mara was ok for a quick bite & the pools were great. Love BAMA's breakfast.
Whenever we stay at AKL we always get the SV, just so nice in the morning out on the balcolny with a cup of coffee & watch the animals roam

 

[BLLB]

Thanks for the report. I'm on the waitlist for Jambo, with Kidani as my "backup", but these posititve reports have me thinking of dropping the waitlist. A big issue for me is the location of Mara. How often did you go over there? Another question concerns the pool area. I don't swim, but I love to lie in the shade with a good book. Last time I was at the Kidani pool, it seemed super-sunny, with not much shade. How is it now?

We went to Mara 3 times, 2 for dinner and once for breakfast. We also went to Jambo once for Boma. For us, the walk was not an issue. There is a van/shuttle available for front door-to-door service.

It's funny that you thought it was super sunny, because for me, compared to BWV, Kidani had lots of shady areas. The vegetation is very lush, created lots of sunny spots and lots of shady spots. I love to read while the kids are swimming as well. I had no problems finding a shady lounge chair. Also, behind the pool bar, there are lots of tables with umbrellas and chairs. Those seemed to be shady most of the time.

They aslo have pool games and a ping pong table by the pool.

 

[DonnaL]

BLLB.....we had a similar situation with SWA a few years ago and they also sent us two vouchers. I think maybe it started as a weather situation with the storms, but, if indeed your plane was hit by the lightening..it became an equipment problem which necessitated a change of equipment to get you to your destination. In our case, we left PHL on time headed to MCO, got as far as the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and then because of equipment problems...pilot made announcement that we couldn't gain altitude .....it was a little scary for awhile until we landed....we were diverted back to Baltimore.....we needed to wait about an hour in Baltimore for SWA to get another plane there to continue to MCO. However, you mentioned your switch was a bit chaotic....our was very smooth and I was very impressed with how the ground crew/flight attendants handled the switchover. I did send an email to SWA customer service regarding how well it was handled and thought that was why we got the vouchers, but, maybe it is SWA policy when a flight is already enroute and disrupted in this way.......

 

[ramona]

Do you have a list of the activities offered at Kindani for April. Just trying to plan around doing a few things at the resort. Thanks!

 

[BLLB]

BLLB.....we had a similar situation with SWA a few years ago and they also sent us two vouchers. I think maybe it started as a weather situation with the storms, but, if indeed your plane was hit by the lightening..it became an equipment problem which necessitated a change of equipment to get you to your destination. In our case, we left PHL on time headed to MCO, got as far as the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and then because of equipment problems...pilot made announcement that we couldn't gain altitude .....it was a little scary for awhile until we landed....we were diverted back to Baltimore.....we needed to wait about an hour in Baltimore for SWA to get another plane there to continue to MCO. However, you mentioned your switch was a bit chaotic....our was very smooth and I was very impressed with how the ground crew/flight attendants handled the switchover. I did send an email to SWA customer service regarding how well it was handled and thought that was why we got the vouchers, but, maybe it is SWA policy when a flight is already enroute and disrupted in this way.......

That makes sense, didn't think of it that way. It was a nice surprise!

 

[BLLB]

Do you have a list of the activities offered at Kindani for April. Just trying to plan around doing a few things at the resort. Thanks!

I'm sorry, but I didn't think to write it down. If I remember, the pool activities were from 1:30-5:30 (trivia, water balloon passing game, a pitch-a-pop) there was some activity at 6:30 (maybe a wildlife speaker or campfire) then a movie at 8:30. There was also activities scheduled for Community Hall, crafts and such.

The DSs 11 and 9 had a blast at the pool.

 

[momof2cutegirls]

Do you have a list of the activities offered at Kindani for April. Just trying to plan around doing a few things at the resort. Thanks!

Check out this link for activities:
http://images.disneydestinations.com/ps/maps/13-JITDocs.pdf

It is updated each month as well, but hasn't changed too much lately.

 

[ramona]

Thank you very much!!

 

[theww228]

Our DD is fascinated the Okapis. We are planning to take a trip over to Kidani during our trip in May to see the baby Okapi. I was wondering you saw the baby and if so, where and when is the best time. My DD is 3-1/2, so is not at the age to reason with very well. I would like to avoid a meltdown if possible.

PS - Greetings from Ohio

 

[gracelrm]

About how long of a walk is it from Kidani to Jamba house? We are considering staying at one of these in early October. We've stayed at AKL (before DVC) and really like the pool at Jamba House - but is the one at Kidani considered to be better?

Sorry for the questions - we had planned our trip to VWL - but DD19 thinks she can join us and is asking for AKL or Kidani.