I'm not going to write a full "trip report" because all the details are really easily available by now, but I did want to share my opinions on Kidani. I've been there twice now, once in Oct with just me and my wife, and once last week with the whole family (3 kids, 15, 13, and 11). So this is a summation of those two trips.
Since I bought into AKV without ever staying there, I was glued to the internet during construction for info. So thanks to those who wrote up the early trip reports! But even before I had visited I formed opinions about certain things at the resort. It was really interesting to me to see what pre-conceived notions held up and what changed when I actually stayed there.
I thought I wouldn't like the smaller feeling of Kidani vs Jambo. The lobby is much smaller, you don't get that WOW when you walk in and look up. The store is much smaller. But I was happily suprised to find I really like that. Kidani is quiet and relaxing. Not quiet as in you are afraid your kids will annoy everyone, but quiet as in relaxing!
Along those lines, I thought I wouldn't like the walk over to Jambo for the services there. But again I was happily suprised. I timed the walk to be 8 minutes from lobby to lobby. No big deal to our family. We decided that if a bus (to Epcot, MK, or DHS) was at the stop when we went by we would take the bus to Jambo, but we wouldn't ever wait for one. Most the time we'd be at Jambo before we could've got a bus anyway. We went over there to eat at the Mara twice, to go to the gift shop twice, and to use the night vision at the savanah once.
I remember reading about the pool being small and I thought that wouldn't bother me, but it does. I usually go off-season when the pool isn't used heavily anyway, but I think especially at peak seasons when its hot, that pool will be very crowded. But hey, the Jambo pool isn't too far and its huge
I remember reading about the parking garage and how ugly it is without any theming. I didn't think I'd care about it. Well, I do and I don't lol. On our October trip, my wife and I walked through the parking level on our way to Jambo (due to bus stop construction), and I really didn't like it. It is ugly and very un-disney-like. On this recent trip we never went through it, because the sidewalk outside was open, and we don't drive to Disney. The path outside goes by, but there is landscaping that will grow and hide it. I do wish they'd do something with it though for people who are down there frequently.
Since I've bought, I was always wondering if the savanah view is worth the points. In October, my wife and I had a savanah view and I really liked it more than I thought I would. We spent mornings and evenings on the balcony watching the animals. This trip I booked a savanah view, but ended up with a standard view (bus stops are standard lol). Its a long story I wont tell here unless you ask, we could've complained, but we didnt and kept the standard view. Well I don't have to wonder anymore, for me, Yes! the points are worth the savanah view. I really enjoy the animals more than I thought I would, and I like the convenience of just going to the balcony in my own room with my moring coffee, or a snack at night.
So these are all just my opinions. I think the lesson here is when you read someone else's trip report, you can't really be sure about what you'll like or dislike till you see it yourself. I had a few of my expectations met, for good or for bad, and a few broken, for good or for bad.
Since I bought into AKV without ever staying there, I was glued to the internet during construction for info. So thanks to those who wrote up the early trip reports! But even before I had visited I formed opinions about certain things at the resort. It was really interesting to me to see what pre-conceived notions held up and what changed when I actually stayed there.
I thought I wouldn't like the smaller feeling of Kidani vs Jambo. The lobby is much smaller, you don't get that WOW when you walk in and look up. The store is much smaller. But I was happily suprised to find I really like that. Kidani is quiet and relaxing. Not quiet as in you are afraid your kids will annoy everyone, but quiet as in relaxing!
Along those lines, I thought I wouldn't like the walk over to Jambo for the services there. But again I was happily suprised. I timed the walk to be 8 minutes from lobby to lobby. No big deal to our family. We decided that if a bus (to Epcot, MK, or DHS) was at the stop when we went by we would take the bus to Jambo, but we wouldn't ever wait for one. Most the time we'd be at Jambo before we could've got a bus anyway. We went over there to eat at the Mara twice, to go to the gift shop twice, and to use the night vision at the savanah once.
I remember reading about the pool being small and I thought that wouldn't bother me, but it does. I usually go off-season when the pool isn't used heavily anyway, but I think especially at peak seasons when its hot, that pool will be very crowded. But hey, the Jambo pool isn't too far and its huge
I remember reading about the parking garage and how ugly it is without any theming. I didn't think I'd care about it. Well, I do and I don't lol. On our October trip, my wife and I walked through the parking level on our way to Jambo (due to bus stop construction), and I really didn't like it. It is ugly and very un-disney-like. On this recent trip we never went through it, because the sidewalk outside was open, and we don't drive to Disney. The path outside goes by, but there is landscaping that will grow and hide it. I do wish they'd do something with it though for people who are down there frequently.
Since I've bought, I was always wondering if the savanah view is worth the points. In October, my wife and I had a savanah view and I really liked it more than I thought I would. We spent mornings and evenings on the balcony watching the animals. This trip I booked a savanah view, but ended up with a standard view (bus stops are standard lol). Its a long story I wont tell here unless you ask, we could've complained, but we didnt and kept the standard view. Well I don't have to wonder anymore, for me, Yes! the points are worth the savanah view. I really enjoy the animals more than I thought I would, and I like the convenience of just going to the balcony in my own room with my moring coffee, or a snack at night.
So these are all just my opinions. I think the lesson here is when you read someone else's trip report, you can't really be sure about what you'll like or dislike till you see it yourself. I had a few of my expectations met, for good or for bad, and a few broken, for good or for bad.
