Kidani request questions

[hthrbells]

Hello all,
We are getting close to our trip and I just wanted to review my room requests with you experts! This will be our first stay at AK and our first trip as DVC owners. We have a two bedroom lock off savanna view booked. I know we want to be near the lobby so we are not out in no mans land and we would like early check in. Do they do early check in? What specifically should I request? I want to call in the next couple of days and put in the requests and maybe do the online check in. Which leads me to another question, do you all like doing the online check in?
Thank you so much for your feed back!

 

[lions1995]

I would pick close to transportation( lobby not that far away) and lower floor. The view of the animals is better on lower floors. There are less trees to get in your view.

 

[SamSam]

I would request Sunset Savannah. That's normally all we request because only so many people can be close to the lobby, etc. Nothing wrong with requesting them, but remember it is only a request and they may not be able to honor the request.

Kidani is our favorite resort, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

 

[DisReno]

Hello,

If you look at my post from today, you will see that I just got done staying at Kidani in a one bedroom. Based on info from this board, I requested, Sunset, lower level, closer to lobby. I even requested room 7720, which someone told me on this board was a great room.

So, I did that, and I got it! It was a great room. I think all of the walks at Kidani are long...it's just the way it is. But this was only sort of long.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Msmithmd]

There is no DVC early check in, but there is an option when you do online checkin to ask for a first available room.

Be aware that if you choose this, it automatically negates all other requests and they literally will just give you the first one that pops up as clean. There is a possibility if you choose this of the room being available quite early- maybe even before noon. But no guarantee. It still could be after 4p, it just depends on the cleaning timetable.

Also be aware that IMO asking for "close to lobby" is equivalent to no request at all, as probably 75+ percent of people staying at Kidani make this request, due to the very impressive hallways.

My personal requests when staying there are Sunset Savannah, low level room. So far that has worked out. Good luck with your trip...

 

[hthrbells]

Thank you everyone. I think I remember seeing to request to be near an elevator or a hallway? Or does that not work?
Thanks for the heads up on the first room available versus early check in. I would rather wait and take our chances.

 

[hthrbells]

Anyone?

 

[Syndrome]

Anyone?

The problem with "close to elevator" is that Kidani has several elevator areas serving all the different areas. So you could wind up anywhere with that request .
Just request a low floor, and close to transportation .........that should get you pretty close to the lobby, and a good view of the savannas.

Have fun !

 

[hthrbells]

The problem with "close to elevator" is that Kidani has several elevator areas serving all the different areas. So you could wind up anywhere with that request .
Just request a low floor, and close to transportation .........that should get you pretty close to the lobby, and a good view of the savannas.

Have fun !

Thank you!

Odd question, do the rooms have cookie sheets?

 

[drusba]

As to early check-in, that is actually a request you can make when doing online check in which is not guaranteed and I am not sure it even applies to DVC (the online check-in was created for cash paying guests). However, the online checkin also tells you that you should choose that request only if you do not care where your room is.

Request Sunset savanna view (80% of the savanna view rooms at Kidani overlook Sunset) if you want to see giraffes and zebras. Do not request "close to lobby." It has in the past been the key recommended request because the walk to rooms at the end of the wings at Kidani can take forever (there is no longer walk down an internal hallway in any hotel in the world, and I mean the global world not just Disney World). The problem with the close to lobby request now is that everyone and his brother makes it with the result that many don't get it and instead end up near the end of the wings (when they cannot meet a location request, they just assign you to any room available and do not make any effort to give you something similar to your request). Use a different request to get get fairly close to lobby such as one of the the following: (a) close to community hall (it is near the lobby on the south wing and also close to the door closest to the bus stop); (b) close to the Timon elevator -- elevator requests can work if you name the partiular elevator; the Timon elevator puts you on the south wing fairly close to lobby and very near the door that is closest to the bus stop; (c) close to the bus station (it is about the same as the Timon elevator request); (d) close to the Rafiki elevator (puts you on north wing not far from lobby and gives you the shortest possible walk to the pool via that elevator); (d) close to the pool (similar to but not as specific as close to the Rafiki elevator).

Make your requests through MS and not on-line; you can make those I mentioned above through MS but not in the request area for online check-in.

 

[Syndrome]

Thank you!

Odd question, do the rooms have cookie sheets?

The one bedroom side of the lock-off does include a cookie sheet !

Hope the following lists will help you !


Here are the one bedroom amenities ..........

Room amenities include:

Bedroom
King-size bed
Pack-n-play crib
Nightstand
Stereo clock radio with CD player
Lamps
Chair
Flat-panel TV
Ceiling fan
Telephone
Master Bathroom
Whirlpool tub
Shower massager
Hair dryer
Towel package
Toiletries starter pack
Second Bathroom (Kidani Village only)
Tub/Shower
Vanity
Toilet
Hair dryer
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Electric stove/oven
Microwave oven
Sink with disposal
Coffee maker and starter pack
Toaster
Electric blender
Dishware, glasses, coffee cups and flatware service for eight
Serving platter, vegetable bowls, salad serving bowl, sugar bowl, pitcher and cream server
Eight-piece cookware set (pots, pans and lids)
Casserole dishes, measuring cups and spoons, colander, cutting board and cookie sheet
Paring knife, cook's knife, tongs, serving spoon, serving fork, can opener, bottle opener and corkscrew
Teakettle
Dish towel
Sponge
Potholders
Living / Dining Area
Queen-size sleeper sofa
Pull-out sleeper chair
Flat-panel TV
DVD player
Lamps
End table
Coffee table
Chair
Dining table and chairs
Ceiling fan
Telephone
Laundry Room / Closet
Washer and dryer
Vacuum cleaner
Iron and ironing board
Broom and dustpan
Laundry detergent (starter box)
Private porches or balconies
Chairs
Patio tables
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the Studio amenities ..........

Room amenities include:

Queen-size bed
Double-size sleeper sofa
Pack-n-play crib
Nightstand
Stereo clock radio with CD player
Lamps
Small dining table with two chairs
Flat-panel TV with DVD player
Iron and ironing board
Bathroom
Tub / shower
Shower massager
Hair dryer
Towels for four (4) guests
Toiletries starter pack
Kitchenette
Microwave
Mini-refrigerator
Wet Bar
Coffee maker
Toaster
Paper / Plastic dinnerware for four (4) guests
Private porch or balcony
Two (2) chairs
Table

 

[Syndrome]

As to early check-in, that is actually a request you can make when doing online check in which is not guaranteed and I am not sure it even applies to DVC (the online check-in was created for cash paying guests). However, the online checkin also tells you that you should choose that request only if you do not care where your room is.

Request Sunset savanna view (80% of the savanna view rooms at Kidani overlook Sunset) if you want to see giraffes and zebras. Do not request "close to lobby." It has in the past been the key recommended request because the walk to rooms at the end of the wings at Kidani can take forever (there is no longer walk down an internal hallway in any hotel in the world, and I mean the global world not just Disney World). The problem with the close to lobby request now is that everyone and his brother makes it with the result that many don't get it and instead end up near the end of the wings (when they cannot meet a location request, they just assign you to any room available and do not make any effort to give you something similar to your request). Use a different request to get get fairly close to lobby such as one of the the following: (a) close to community hall (it is near the lobby on the south wing and also close to the door closest to the bus stop); (b) close to the Timon elevator -- elevator requests can work if you name the partiular elevator; the Timon elevator puts you on the south wing fairly close to lobby and very near the door that is closest to the bus stop; (c) close to the bus station (it is about the same as the Timon elevator request); (d) close to the Rafiki elevator (puts you on north wing not far from lobby and gives you the shortest possible walk to the pool via that elevator); (d) close to the pool (similar to but not as specific as close to the Rafiki elevator).

Make your requests through MS and not on-line; you can make those I mentioned above through MS but not in the request area for online check-in.

Great info .........thanks for this !

 

[hthrbells]

You guys are the best! Thanks a ton!
Not related to the room question, well not really..... WHat do you guys make for food in the kitchens while you are there? I am now working on a grocery order I was also going to try ordering from Giordano's pizza that I saw someone mention on the boards.

 

[Jennasis]

Giordano's is AMAZING and just around the corner from AKL.

Do whatever you have to do to not wind up at the end of the hall. We just spent a week out at the end of civilization (in a beautiful room) at Kidani and it really did tarnish my impression of the resort. The walk was just awful.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Giordano's is AMAZING and just around the corner from AKL.

Do whatever you have to do to not wind up at the end of the hall. We just spent a week out at the end of civilization (in a beautiful room) at Kidani and it really did tarnish my impression of the resort. The walk was just awful.

How long does it take? We are considering staying here and I noticed those halls look awfully long!

 

[Jennasis]

To get to the bus stop from our room...close to 10 minutes? And it took us ages to find the pool. I was actually starting to get upset wandering around trying to figure out how to get to it.

 

[supersnoop]

How long does it take? We are considering staying here and I noticed those halls look awfully long!

I saw someone say they counted their steps, and it was farther from their room at BWV to Epcot than from the bus stop at Kidani to their room. Yes, it's very long!

 

[Homemom]

(d) close to the Rafiki elevator (puts you on north wing not far from lobby and gives you the shortest possible walk to the pool via that elevator); (d) close to the pool (similar to but not as specific as close to the Rafiki elevator).

Just to verify, since I want to be as close to the pool as possible I should request to be by the Rafiki elevator? TIA!

 

[PlutosFriend]

To get to the bus stop from our room...close to 10 minutes? And it took us ages to find the pool. I was actually starting to get upset wandering around trying to figure out how to get to it.

So we fill up the mugs at the gift shop? (sorry don't know the name of it off hand).

 

[hthrbells]

So my request has been made! Savanna view near the community hall on a lower floor. My fingers are crossed! Thank you everyone!