Kidani "near the lobby" request success?

[missycj96]

Hi - for those who have requested rooms near the lobby what have been your results?

 

[bobbiwoz]

5th floor, Timon elevator area. It wasn't that bad, but we did have a car, and we did use it to go to the pool. I have walking issues. We had savannah studio.

However, requesting our DS to be near us, he was put on the other side of the lobby, also on the 5th floor, and there was no way to walk from their villa to ours and stay on the 5th floor. It was not convenient.

I had the same request for a standard view 1 bedroom in January and we were very close to the lobby, on the side away from the pool. It was much better.

After my last stay 2 weeks ago, I realized just how big Kidani is, and it's harder for me to stay there, without a car.

 

[NoleFan]

standard view studio literally about 5 rooms away from lobby & same floor as lobby. did online check in. view was of valet area but did not care. lobby viewing area was seconds away. very close to bus & pool.

 

[cbnsoul]

I've had reasonably good luck with this request. Once I was the second building over. Last time we were 4 buildings from the lobby. Not great but could have been a LOT further.

 

[crazybones27]

Our most recent trip in May/June we had a 1bdrm Std view and I requested close to lobby and I believe the CM I spoke to also put close to elevator to help it along. My family got a room 2 rooms from the elevator on the 5th floor and it was wonderful! My husband and I could easily run down to the lobby to fill our mugs and be back to the room in no time. We also weren't that far from the elevator to the car. With it being a standard view room we were more then happy with being on the 5th floor since we overlooked the lobby entrance. We never heard any road noise though. Only on occasion could you hear some noise from the buses, but then I think one of the kids may have left the balcony door cracked open a little lol.

 

[Bullseye]

I've requested it the last two years and have gotten it both times. It's well worth it too if you want to be near the pool. Love Kidani, what a great resort!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

5th floor, Timon elevator area. It wasn't that bad, but we did have a car, and we did use it to go to the pool. I have walking issues. We had savannah studio.

However, requesting our DS to be near us, he was put on the other side of the lobby, also on the 5th floor, and there was no way to walk from their villa to ours and stay on the 5th floor. It was not convenient.

I had the same request for a standard view 1 bedroom in January and we were very close to the lobby, on the side away from the pool. It was much better.

After my last stay 2 weeks ago, I realized just how big Kidani is, and it's harder for me to stay there, without a car.

Which elevator is the Timon elevator? Now I'm kinda nervous! I've got my first stay at Kidani in a savannah studio coming up in October and I also requested "near lobby". Long walks aren't my friend either.

 

[Bullseye]

Which elevator is the Timon elevator? Now I'm kinda nervous! I've got my first stay at Kidani in a savannah studio coming up in October and I also requested "near lobby". Long walks aren't my friend either.

Just for the record we we're in Rafiki area the last two years and were very close to lobby. I think Pumba's also close the lobby also.

 

[DenLo]

Just for the record we we're in Rafiki area the last two years and were very close to lobby. I think Pumba's also close the lobby also.

Dorothy, I would call MS and have them add a remark for medical reasons you need to be close to the lobby. I'm not sure bobbiwoz told them that it was a medical necessity or not, but DVC is pretty good on accommodating people when it's a health issue.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Which elevator is the Timon elevator? Now I'm kinda nervous! I've got my first stay at Kidani in a savannah studio coming up in October and I also requested "near lobby". Long walks aren't my friend either.

If you face the lobby and head right, the first elevator goes to Sanaa, then you pass the Community room, and the next elevator you come to is the one we used. I think it was Timon. There were certainly farther from lobby, pool rooms, but this time the walking really "got" to me.

 

[drusba]

We have requested close to lobby three times with savanna view and each time got within two beads (building units) of the lobby, twice on the south wing where the Community Hall and bus station are, and once on the north wing where the pool is. Those were ideal rooms that avoided the death march that one can have from the rooms toward the end of the wings.

As to the Timon elevator, it is one on the south wing between the second and third bead from the lobby, near the rooms on the south wing that we got, and close to the bus stop and community hall. Walking to the pool from the there is not a long distance and the lobby is quite close. I guess one could feel even that elevator is a long distance from the lobby because each of those beads is 50 to 60 yards long but in the overall scheme of things at that building, where there are nine beads on the north wing and seven on the south wing, the Timon elevator is much closer to everything than most of the alternatives.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We requested close to lobby last time because of my DH's knees, and we got close to lobby...BUT....We also got a handicapped unit and it was less than desirable in many other ways. We had great animal viewing though!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We have had success only 1 out of three stays, but we did not have a medical request with it.

 

[Brandis]

Until now always had great success with requests (knocking on wood).

At Kidani, we were staying in a standard view studio and I requested "Close to Lobby" and "High floor". We had the first room right after the elevator on the top floor, great location. Didn't notice any noise from the elevators. With the balcony door open, we could hear the drum music which plays at the hotel entrance.

There was some bus noise from the Magical Express busses which stop in front of the entrance, but the stop for the park busses is farther away and I didn't notice any noise from them.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

We request close to lobby for our say this past June and I could not have been more happy with our location! We were in the first bead on the 4th floor right off the south Elevator which is the first bank of elevators you come to on the right hand side of the resort past Johari treasures. We were so close to the lobby, community hall and bus stops I could not have been more pleases with the location!

 

[Sammie]

Did not ask for it, got it and wish I hadn't, very, very noisy. Everyone will walk past your door. I prefer about halfway down the hall.

 

[bman388]

We stayed there July 23rd (our first DVC stay). We requested our 1br villa to be close to the lobby and Sunset Savanna. We checked in early (around 1pm) and our room was to the left and in the last bead away from the lobby. Also, it did not face the Sunset Savanna. We were facing a fenced area where there were just a few longhorns walking around. With it being our first stay, I could see it was really bothering my wife. We had watched countless videos of the giraffes roaming the Savanna and this looked much different. Now we are not snobby people by any means but I went ahead and asked the front desk if they had any rooms closer to the lobby and facing the Savanna. My thought was that since we checked in early, they may just have given us what was available at that time. Sure enough, they said if we wanted to wait until 4pm, they would have one available facing the Savanna and 5 beads away from the lobby (almost twice as close, room 7650 I believe). We walked into that room at 4pm and my wife's face lit up, it was exactly what she was hoping for and we LOVED our stay. So my only point here is that even if you don't get exactly what you are looking for, it never hurts to ask

 

[twinklebug]

Did not ask for it, got it and wish I hadn't, very, very noisy. Everyone will walk past your door. I prefer about halfway down the hall.

Yes... The stampede feels like it's coming right though your room if you're too close. Add to that, if you're 'lucky' enough to be at the start of the hallway, the kids and parents alike all feel it's still ok to yell to each other.

it never hurts to ask

That's what I tell everyone. Don't be afraid to politely ask. I've found the room assigners for Kidani to be among the best. They'll do what they can to fit your visit in with the room availability.

 

[CruznLexi]

We only stay at KV and that is what we stay in only 1 time out of 5 have we not gotten close to the lobby. The room was all the way at the end I asked to be moved I had my 79 yr mom with me who had a scooter but still. Even when they moved me it was not very close.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Did not ask for it, got it and wish I hadn't, very, very noisy. Everyone will walk past your door. I prefer about halfway down the hall.

Oh, Oh-made that request, which is OK for me, since I sleep like a rock. But DH is joining me for a couple days and he's a very light sleeper. Has anyone tried the rolled towel at the base of the door trick? I guess I'll tell DH to bring his earplugs!