Kidani pool

[Anal Annie]

Just starting to think about maybe going down for 4 or 5 nights over spring break... Our schools are off the week before Easter... I called yesterday to ask about studio availability...surprisingly there was availability at several of the DVC resorts. Wondering about the new Kidani pool... We love AKV but DH wants to be sure we're convenient to stuff if it's a short trip during a busy time... I am not in love with the idea that there's no CS at AKV...although that's not a deal breaker. They had both a std. view and a savanna view avail. at Kidani.

NOW, DS judges ALL resorts by their pool. So for example he does not like VWL so much 'cuz the pool doesn't "hold" him. He is 12. We just tried BCV for a week in August so that is still fresh on his mind...and of course tops his list. Looking for opinions of the Kidani pool area & slide for an active 12 yo who swims a lot (he does year round swim team). He is unimpressed with the slide at Jambo House... Who here has made the rounds between most of the DVC resorts & can compare?? So far his next choice of pools after BCV is SSR...which is also available...but a std. villa at Kidani would use the least amount of points....I"m sorta in the mood for VWL tho...

Decisions, decisions...

TIA for any & all reviews!!

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi Annie!

We just stayed at Kidani this July with edk35. I have a DS11 (who also has been on a year-round swim team for the past 5 years) & he loved Kidani! Now keep in mind that he also had a buddy to hang with....Denise's DS10.

The pool area was great...better than Jambo. The slide wasn't anything special. The boys did go down several times, but then again, our boys aren't even really thrilled with the slide at SAB. They would rather throw a splash ball around there, and they also love that whirlpool area of SAB, the one that is near where the slide drops off.

Our boys REALLY enjoyed the Community Hall at Kidani. Everything in there is brand new. There's a pool table, awesome Foosball table, Wii, & Playstations.

We have been discussing our vacation plans for next summer & DS11 said he wants to stay 4 nights at Kidani & 4 nights at BLT. So you see, he really did like our stay at Kidani (and I think he's a little tired of BCV).

About the counter service....at the Pool Bar, you can get a good Club sandwich. You can also order fine dining & they'll deliver stuff right to the pool. We ordered DS11 a kid's pizza.

We were in a Savannah View Studio Room 7330. Good room, but I'd rather be closer to the lobby. We were in the exact middle of the "U".

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We were just there in August also and my DD 10 and my DD 12 loved the pool and slide. They thought the slide at Kidnani rocked over Jambo house. They both are on our USA swim team.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks for the replies guys... I guess swim team has nothing to do with it other than they are like fish these swim kids. My DS loved SAB but not the slide so much, although slides are important in his ranking I guess. I don't know...he just really enjoys the chance to go a good pool to "play" rather than have to swim butterfly for an hour!

We also really, really enjoyed the Grandstand section at SSR...but we were just there in May...and DH wants to keep trying new places. We've done Jambo but not Kidani... The biggest plus to it REALLY is that they have a std. view studio for 5 nights for only 88 points. That's not too shabby for spring break. Since we haven't made our summer 2010 plans yet I want to conserve points so that we might have enough to do 10 nites again in August - thinking about a split stay with BLT and __________ (maybe BWV). Either 5 n & 5 n or 4 & 6. We're thinking we'd like BLT but not sure about the studios there - they look awfully small so that's why we're thinking of a split stay. But so if we do Kidani we'd have enough pts to do that...

Can you smell the sawdust burning yet?!

 

[deva]

Definitely go to Kidani. You will not be disappointed. Pool slide is quite nice and, according to lifeguards we chatted with, the "fastest" at WDW if you really dig in your heels and push down on your shoulder blades. I have not been to SSR so I cannot compare, but the rooms at Kidani are quite nice, and as mentioned the community room is great. We, too, stayed in a standard to save points (although we were in a 1BR) and we'd probably go standard again if we went back. There are many decks/windows to view animals.

 

[Anal Annie]

Alright ya'll... I gots me a new ticker!! Ain't it purty?!

 

[daisyduck123]

Alright ya'll... I gots me a new ticker!! Ain't it purty?!

Well done!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Where's my new ticker!? It's gone!!! Arrrggghhh!!!

ETA
LOL...great. Now it's back...makin' me look STOOOPID!!!

 

[Hunclemarco]

Love the new ticker! Congrats on your next trip. We've got our spring trip in planning...still trying to decide on our next one after that. August was bearable, but not sure if i'll do that again. Maybe mid autum....but that's too long a wait for me.