Just got back...AKV....Kidani village

[quentina]

Just did our first stay at Kidani Village. We had a 1 bedroom on the Rafiki Savannah (I think that was the name). 5th floor, 7939. Room was in great shape however, I don't think it was worth the extra points for the savannah. It was on the edge of the savannah and close to the pool. I thought, it would be the final "savannah" room however, I asked our neighbor to the left of us (clearly pool view) and he said he was savannah also?????

I loved the tile in the bathroom....why don't they sell that??? Decor was nice, right up my alley. My husbnd felt it was the low end of DVC. When I asked why, he said it felt cheap to him compared to others and it was his least favorite. Oh well......

One piece of advice that is very important......if you are going from Kidani to Jambo, you will be told to jump on any bus or walk. If you choose to take a bus....DO NOT get on the one to downtown Disney....it DOES NOT stop at Jambo house. So, you will take a very long ride to Typhoon lagoon and then to DD. At this point, you need to get off, sit in the cold (without a coat since you left it at the room) and wait for the AK bus...

While you are waiting for the AK bus, your husband will be anxiously looking for you......

Yes, that limited edition stand of DVC pins is important (Kidani sold out, Jambo had 2 of them)....just remember, take your coat!

All in all a great trip. We are staying at AKV in September for a short 3 day trip after our cruise. Points are great for this location and you can't beat the extra bathroom.

We went down to go to the Budweiser shootout.....JR did not have a good night however; we had the fan ticket so, we were nice and close to him

 

[bobbiwoz]

That's a shame about the view. Maybe they will be rethinking them again while they are still selling points. We were at BLT in January and had a "lake view" that was more, much more pool view. You looked out the window and saw the tops of trees and the slide....if you strained your neck and looked to the right, you saw a bit of the lake. In fact, MS did return the extra points to me, so they agreed. If I were you, I would send a note to Member Service, give them the room number and see what they say. My DH didn't think I had a prayer of getting any satisfaction, but he was wrong.

Bobbi

 

[disneynutz]

We stayed in the same area in December and we were on your left.

When I contacted the Front Desk about the room category, the Cast Member told me that everyone complains about those rooms. They also told me that DVC assigns the categories.

When I contacted the DVC, they told me that our contractor, Disney Resorts, assigns the categories.

Bill

 

[BEASLYBOO]

So, by the sounds of it you took in a little free sight seeing this trip!

Thanks for the trip report!

 

[ead79]

Thanks for your review! I too love the decor at AKV--I'm sorry your husband didn't. But hey, that's why it's nice to have so many options.

I had a savannah view way at the end of the building, and I too was let down by it. I could see mostly a path (for animal care trucks), only a few animals, and the animal care barn. In the future, I plan to request sunset savannah view. I know it's not guaranteed, but it's worth a request in my book.

 

[JasonDVC]

I'm glad to hear you like Kidani. How did you like being on the 5th floor? Did it seem to high up?

 

[quentina]

I'm glad to hear you like Kidani. How did you like being on the 5th floor? Did it seem to high up?

It didn't, we liked it up there. If you are looking to be close to the animals, I would go 3rd floor, if possible.

 

[CruznLexi]

We don't do the Savanah as you can see animals along the corridors and we just don't spend a lot of time in the balcony.

 

[justjudy]

We were just a few doors to the right of you in 7945. I remember looking to the left and thinking "those people really have a pool view, not savannah." Our view wasn't bad, but the walk to the room seemed endless. And this was after requesting to be near to the lobby for medical purposes. DH even called Member Services and explained to them about me seriously injuring my back two weeks before we left. Oh, well. We loved Kidani too, and can't wait to go back.

 

[quentina]

We were just a few doors to the right of you in 7945. I remember looking to the left and thinking "those people really have a pool view, not savannah." Our view wasn't bad, but the walk to the room seemed endless. And this was after requesting to be near to the lobby for medical purposes. DH even called Member Services and explained to them about me seriously injuring my back two weeks before we left. Oh, well. We loved Kidani too, and can't wait to go back.

We had a car so, we didn't do the trek in the hallway. We parked underground and I would say we had a 2 minute walk to the room from the elevator. It was the closest I have ever been.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Just did our first stay at Kidani Village. We had a 1 bedroom on the Rafiki Savannah (I think that was the name). 5th floor, 7939. Room was in great shape however, I don't think it was worth the extra points for the savannah. It was on the edge of the savannah and close to the pool. I thought, it would be the final "savannah" room however, I asked our neighbor to the left of us (clearly pool view) and he said he was savannah also?????

Does it seem that there are quite a few of these posts??????? This is making me really go to Jambo, who wants pay for a savannah view to be dissapointed? It is the whole purpose of staying there.......
Thanks for the TR!

 

[SamSam]

Sounds like the view we had last year...it definitely should be re-classified. If you were using points for a pool view, I think it would be fine. If it was classified Standard view, I think it would be great. Savannah view...very disappointing.
I love AKV though and will continue to stay there, and we stay in a Savannah View because we enjoy sitting out on the balcony watching whatever animals are around. (not in that location however).

 

[smjj]

We are going to try and switch resorts at the 7 month window to Kidani but I have a question. The walk to Jambo house, is the only walkway in front of the resort(parking lot side). It seems a long long walk but if it was at least on the savanna side it might be a little more pleasant...smjj

 

[schewy]

We stayed at AKV in December for one night. We stayed in the one bedroom standard view. We were overlooking the parking lot. The bus dropoff (at the time) was right under our window at the valet parking drop off.(the bus stops may be completed by now). Suprisingly, it was really quiet. We stayed one night before moving over to BLT. I think I heard a bus one time. It was the kids getting off the bus excited more than the transportation.
We loved the AKV and next time we are going to stay there for a week instead of BLT. Seeing the fireworks from the top of the tower was great, but I like the atmosphere of AKV more.

 

[stopher1]

We are going to try and switch resorts at the 7 month window to Kidani but I have a question. The walk to Jambo house, is the only walkway in front of the resort(parking lot side). It seems a long long walk but if it was at least on the savanna side it might be a little more pleasant...smjj

Yes, you are correct, the only walkway is on the parking lot side. We stayed at Kidani for 5 nights in January, and walked several times between Kidani & Jambo. It really only took us about 5-7 mins each time from lobby to lobby... and depending on where your room is located in Kidani, it could be shorter. i.e., if your room is on the south side of Kidani, then you could use the garage access stairs or elevators and pop out to the walkway much sooner than if your room were on the north side as ours was.

 

[smjj]

Yes, you are correct, the only walkway is on the parking lot side. We stayed at Kidani for 5 nights in January, and walked several times between Kidani & Jambo. It really only took us about 5-7 mins each time from lobby to lobby... and depending on where your room is located in Kidani, it could be shorter. i.e., if your room is on the south side of Kidani, then you could use the garage access stairs or elevators and pop out to the walkway much sooner than if your room were on the north side as ours was.

Thanks for the info. Maybe it is just me but I would have thought Disney/DVC would have designed it so that folks walking from Kidani to Jambo house would be able to walk there without having to go thru the parking lot or wind there way around the front of the building. A more pleasant walk would be on the other side between the resort and the savannah or some other way. Maybe after I get there and see it first hand I will change my mind but for now, it seems a little more advance planning on their part was in order..smjj

 

[princessbride6205]

Does it seem that there are quite a few of these posts??????? This is making me really go to Jambo, who wants pay for a savannah view to be dissapointed? It is the whole purpose of staying there.......
Thanks for the TR!

I have had a horrid savanna view at Jambo as well (in a Lodge room not villa). I suppose now that I think of it, are all the villa SV in Jambo the Arusha one?

Thanks for the info. Maybe it is just me but I would have thought Disney/DVC would have designed it so that folks walking from Kidani to Jambo house would be able to walk there without having to go thru the parking lot or wind there way around the front of the building. A more pleasant walk would be on the other side between the resort and the savannah or some other way. Maybe after I get there and see it first hand I will change my mind but for now, it seems a little more advance planning on their part was in order..smjj

I agree this would have been nice. But being there, I see how it would have been difficult. The only area currently on the savanna side is right next to the animals. Walking through the parking lot to Jambo wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. The worst part was that cars did not always stop at the stop sign coming down from Jambo, so we had a minor safety concern there. Did not stop us from enjoying our stay at Kidani, but I agree that it would be nice if there had been a shorter planned walkway.

 

[dismedvc]

Does it seem that there are quite a few of these posts??????? This is making me really go to Jambo, who wants pay for a savannah view to be dissapointed? It is the whole purpose of staying there.......
Thanks for the TR!

In a different thread, bookwormde looked at the 2011 points chart for AKV and concluded 42 2 bedroom units and 2 Grand villas must heve been reclassified from Savanna view to standard view. (It is the only way the total points for AKV could stay the same) However, for 2010 those rooms are still Savanna view, and those are almost certainly the ones that people posting in this thread are complaining about.

 

[delaneyc52]

Hi all!!! I've done AK Jambo and we had a decent savannah view. (Wasn't crazy about the dark studio/tiny bath...but I digress). I'm trying a studio at Kidani with my daughter in June. Can anyone direct me to a Kidani hotel map with room numbers? It might help me at check in to accept or reject a room. This is a very special occasion (grad from college) and I do not want anything to ruin or detract from our celebration!

 

[dianeschlicht]

One piece of advice that is very important......if you are going from Kidani to Jambo, you will be told to jump on any bus or walk. If you choose to take a bus....DO NOT get on the one to downtown Disney....it DOES NOT stop at Jambo house. So, you will take a very long ride to Typhoon lagoon and then to DD. At this point, you need to get off, sit in the cold (without a coat since you left it at the room) and wait for the AK bus...

While you are waiting for the AK bus, your husband will be anxiously looking for you......

LOL! Too funny! Yes, the DTD bus is the ONLY one the starts at Jambo first and then goes to Kidani. All the others start at Kidani!