Kidani Lovers & Experts - Need your Knowledge!

[SuzGM84]

DH and I recently got back from a week long stay at WDW. We did 3 nights at SSR, 2 nights at Poly and 2 nights at Kidani. When we checked into Kidani, it seemed the ONLY savannah studio in the WHOLE resort was 7976 (the signs said the last room was 7982 - so literally we were at the end of the hallway). Needless to say, we were a little perturbed about walking .25 miles from the lobby to our room (yes we did count it with the fit bit).

However, my question more lies in the pool. So we had to trek from our room, to the lobby, then backtrack (what seemed to be half the distance we just came) to get to the pool. However, we saw all these elevators randomly throughout the hallways which lead to the parking garage. So my question is, can you access the pool by going through the garage?

We're wondering this b/c that was a big factor in us not enjoying the resort as much as we would have liked to. Between the really long walk (seriously that hallway is insanely long), the very small lobby for the number of guests staying there (and having to pass through it b/c there is literally one door - the main one) and the lack of QS dining it just seemed lacking to us and unappealing if you don't have a 1BR or 2BR and a car.

Does anyone else have some tips on Kidani for studio stays w/o cars? I'd like to go back there some day, but based on this stay, and without having any insider tips, I'd be very hard-pressed to try it again.

 

[JETSDAD]

DH and I recently got back from a week long stay at WDW. We did 3 nights at SSR, 2 nights at Poly and 2 nights at Kidani. When we checked into Kidani, it seemed the ONLY savannah studio in the WHOLE resort was 7976 (the signs said the last room was 7982 - so literally we were at the end of the hallway). Needless to say, we were a little perturbed about walking .25 miles from the lobby to our room (yes we did count it with the fit bit).

However, my question more lies in the pool. So we had to trek from our room, to the lobby, then backtrack (what seemed to be half the distance we just came) to get to the pool. However, we saw all these elevators randomly throughout the hallways which lead to the parking garage. So my question is, can you access the pool by going through the garage?

We're wondering this b/c that was a big factor in us not enjoying the resort as much as we would have liked to. Between the really long walk (seriously that hallway is insanely long), the very small lobby for the number of guests staying there (and having to pass through it b/c there is literally one door - the main one) and the lack of QS dining it just seemed lacking to us and unappealing if you don't have a 1BR or 2BR and a car.

Does anyone else have some tips on Kidani for studio stays w/o cars? I'd like to go back there some day, but based on this stay, and without having any insider tips, I'd be very hard-pressed to try it again.

You can take an elevator down and exit through the parking garage to the pool area. No need to go all the way to the lobby and then backtrack. There's also more entrances than just the main one. There's one close to the bus stop (if you're on the opposite side of the resort you would still have to go through the lobby but just to cut across near the stairs that go down to the restaurants) or you could again walk through the parking garage and take an elevator up.

 

[SuzGM84]

You can take an elevator down and exit through the parking garage to the pool area. No need to go all the way to the lobby and then backtrack. There's also more entrances than just the main one. There's one close to the bus stop (if you're on the opposite side of the resort you would still have to go through the lobby but just to cut across near the stairs that go down to the restaurants) or you could again walk through the parking garage and take an elevator up.

That's what we thought! I wish we had tried out different elevators to figure it out but then I also didn't really want to waste valuable pool time We also thought they need to put in a peoplemover airport style. That walk is killer.

 

[bwbuddy5]

.25? I thought you were being sarcastic.

 

[DizDaD7]

DH and I recently got back from a week long stay at WDW. We did 3 nights at SSR, 2 nights at Poly and 2 nights at Kidani. When we checked into Kidani, it seemed the ONLY savannah studio in the WHOLE resort was 7976 (the signs said the last room was 7982 - so literally we were at the end of the hallway). Needless to say, we were a little perturbed about walking .25 miles from the lobby to our room (yes we did count it with the fit bit).

However, my question more lies in the pool. So we had to trek from our room, to the lobby, then backtrack (what seemed to be half the distance we just came) to get to the pool. However, we saw all these elevators randomly throughout the hallways which lead to the parking garage. So my question is, can you access the pool by going through the garage?

We're wondering this b/c that was a big factor in us not enjoying the resort as much as we would have liked to. Between the really long walk (seriously that hallway is insanely long), the very small lobby for the number of guests staying there (and having to pass through it b/c there is literally one door - the main one) and the lack of QS dining it just seemed lacking to us and unappealing if you don't have a 1BR or 2BR and a car.

Does anyone else have some tips on Kidani for studio stays w/o cars? I'd like to go back there some day, but based on this stay, and without having any insider tips, I'd be very hard-pressed to try it again.

I'm not sure if that's the northern wing or the southern wing that you stayed in?
If the northern wing, then you can do as the prior poster stated. Just walk halfway down that hallway, then take the elevator down and cut across as they stated...You'll be down by the pool in no time. If on the opposite side, then yes you'll have to either head to the lobby or go halfway down on that side & cut across by the buses.
The good thing about being on that side, is that if you want to head over to Jambo, then you can just grab an elevator down to ground level and it's a short walk over to there. The further down the halls you are mean that you are a shorter walk to Jambo.. Also it's very convenient to catch a bus to. Without having to go all the way to the lobby.

 

[disneynutz]

I read somewhere that the average WDW vacationer walks 6 miles just in the parks, what's a couple more miles for your room?



Bill

 

[drusba]

See this map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/Kindani_Village_Map.jpg The room you were in is in the next to last building pod on the left side of the map. That side is the north wing, the wing that also has the pool. Your estimate of 1/4 mile from your room to lobby is actually a little off -- it is closer to 1/3 mile.

Looking at the map you will see red AED signs in the building. The elevators are at the same places as those signs. The elevator that was closest to where you were was the Pumba elevator. From your room, you would go to that elevator, take it to ground/parking lot floor, walk to where you see a pathway and driveway coming out of the building between the third and fourth buidling pods on the north wing and take that pathway right to a gate that leads to the pool area.

 

[DenLo]

SuzGM84 did you know that a quick service breakfast is served in Sanaa until 10 am? They have to stop early to get ready for the lunch crowd at Saana which is a table service restaurant. And the pool bar serves some QS meals, mainly sandwiches. Otherwise you can take a shuttle or walk to Jambo House for the Mara QS.

 

[SuzGM84]

Thank you all for your insight! I knew Kidani was big but I guess I underestimated the size before I booked this for the last leg of the trip. I wish I posted more questions about the resort prior to going!

.25? I thought you were being sarcastic.

Ha Nope - it was actually .28 - we snyc'ed the fit bit in the lobby and then again when we got to our room, screenshotted both times to do the math...

See this map: http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/Kindani_Village_Map.jpg The room you were in is in the next to last building pod on the left side of the map. That side is the north wing, the wing that also has the pool. Your estimate of 1/4 mile from your room to lobby is actually a little off -- it is closer to 1/3 mile.

Looking at the map you will see red AED signs in the building. The elevators are at the same places as those signs. The elevator that was closest to where you were was the Pumba elevator. From your room, you would go to that elevator, take it to ground/parking lot floor, walk to where you see a pathway and driveway coming out of the building between the third and fourth buidling pods on the north wing and take that pathway right to a gate that leads to the pool area.

Thanks @drusba for that info! I can definitely see it being closer to 1/3 mile - it was long. And really I think what killed us was the monotony of it. It was probably about 1/4 mile from our room in SSR to the dining there, but it sure didn't feel it!

SuzGM84 did you know that a quick service breakfast is served in Sanaa until 10 am? They have to stop early to get ready for the lunch crowd at Saana which is a table service restaurant. And the pool bar serves some QS meals, mainly sandwiches. Otherwise you can take a shuttle or walk to Jambo House for the Mara QS.

Yes @DenLo we did know about Sanaa and I had every intention of trying it! That waffle looked amazing. We didn't make it down to bfast there on our first day b/c we rope dropped AK for Navi River and barely made it out of our room at a reasonable time. We tried to get bfast there on our check out day, but by the time we got all our luggage packed up (b/c I was NOT walking to bfast, then back to the room, then back to the lobby again), the airline check-in line was crazy long and taking over that whole section of the lobby. So we couldn't easily get to bell services to leave our bags while we got food; and then we couldn't get down to the first floor via elevator with our bags (elevator that we came down on didn't have access to the first floor). We figured there must be a way, but at that point, we we're going to bother finding it.

And we did eat the pool area, but it was either hotdogs or pre-packaged meals - which the salad we had was OK, but there weren't many options.

I'm not sure if that's the northern wing or the southern wing that you stayed in?
If the northern wing, then you can do as the prior poster stated. Just walk halfway down that hallway, then take the elevator down and cut across as they stated...You'll be down by the pool in no time. If on the opposite side, then yes you'll have to either head to the lobby or go halfway down on that side & cut across by the buses.
The good thing about being on that side, is that if you want to head over to Jambo, then you can just grab an elevator down to ground level and it's a short walk over to there. The further down the halls you are mean that you are a shorter walk to Jambo.. Also it's very convenient to catch a bus to. Without having to go all the way to the lobby.

Great tip on staying on the other side of Kidani for being closer to Jambo. We tried the walk to Jambo on our first day - big mistake - we took the shuttle back

 

[drusba]

Does anyone else have some tips on Kidani for studio stays w/o cars? I'd like to go back there some day, but based on this stay, and without having any insider tips, I'd be very hard-pressed to try it again.

As for possible future trips with a savanna view studio at Kidani and not having a car, You should make one of the following location requests through MS: (a) if you want a short walk to the pool and be within striking distance of the lobby and bus station, request a room near the Rafiki elevator (that is elevator between the second and third building pods on the north wing and you can go down that elevator to ground/parking lot floor and easily walk to the same trail I mentioned above to get to the pool: (b) if you want easy access to the bus station and within striking distance of the lobby and pool, request room near the Timon elevator (that is the elevator between the second and third building pods on the south wing and down that elevator to second floor, leaves you a very short walk to an exit door on the south wing that goes directly to the bus station); (c) if you want shortest walk to Jambo (about 1/4 mile compared to the 5/6 mile that you had from the room you were in), request a room near the Zazu elevator (which is between the fifth and sixth building pods on the south wing; you can down to the ground floor of that elevator, walk out to the sidewalk and go to Jambo); nevertheless, I would more likely request (a) or (b) because you can always take the shuttle bus that runs all day and evening between the Kidani front entrance and Jambo front entrance.

 

[Henwen88]

We are actually staying at Kidani near the Rafiki elevator right now! No requests... just luck of the draw. Pretty awesome location and would def request here for next time.

 

[cmwade77]

We are actually staying at Kidani near the Rafiki elevator right now! No requests... just luck of the draw. Pretty awesome location and would def request here for next time.

How is that location for getting drink refills and the buses? Currently we have requested near the lobby for our January stay, but wondering if this would be a better request.

 

[Henwen88]

How is that location for getting drink refills and the buses? Currently we have requested near the lobby for our January stay, but wondering if this would be a better request.

It is near lobby... we are between the lobby and rafiki elevators. Very close to lobby AND pool for refills. I have a feeling that a ton of people request near lobby, so most are likely to be disappointed. Not a bad walk to buses either, but you can request to be on the other side of the lobby if that's a priority (I think that's the Timon elevator... but may be wrong

 

[wdw4rfam]

Funny thing is, we discovered the “short cut” to the pool through garage on our check out Day the first stay. We were down at the end too. We made a game out of counting doors back to our room to the 99 bottles of beer song The next stay we coordinated our arrival to make sure we got there early so we’d have time to wait for a closer room if they put us there again.