Kidani Request

[kevmag]

This Sunday morning (at my 7 month mark), I intend to change (or try to change!) the 1st few days of an existing reservation at BLT to a Kidani Savannah view studio.

Understanding its only a request, what do you think of this request:

Sunset Savanna
Close to Lobby
Lower Floors (2nd or 3rd?)

 

[vicki_c]

I requested 2nd floor close to the lobby (no particular savannah request) for our savannah view studio and we got a great room. We were about 4 doors down from the Community Hall and laundry, which are not far from the lobby, and about 4-5 doors in the other direction was the outside door to the bus stop. And our savannah view was fabulous.

Someone else here recommended that as a request and I am so grateful - it was great.

 

[kevmag]

TY Vicki!

 

[drusba]

Your request is fine except that you need not request sunset savanna if you request close to the lobby because all savanna views anywhere near the lobby are sunset savanna views.

 

[bugalug123]

I didn't realize you can request rooms. I'm sure you can't request specific rooms but I didn't know you could request floors, near lobby etc. Can you do this for all resorts?

 

[vicki_c]

I didn't realize you can request rooms. I'm sure you can't request specific rooms but I didn't know you could request floors, near lobby etc. Can you do this for all resorts?

Yes, but keep in mind that they really are requests - no guarantees and no recourse if you don't get what you ask for. You can actually request a specific room, but that is not really a good idea. You're better off to ask for the things you want (near elevator, for example) so the room assignors have multiple choices to try and meet your request. If you ask for room 1234 and someone else is already in it, they're just going to put you wherever.

 

[#1SonofMIannie]

when asking for Savanna view rooms I would strongly recommend the lowest floor possible for the best interaction with the animals. Top floors are great for overall views, but you miss some of the up-close-and-personal affect of the various species wandering around.

 

[anna08]

I'm just curious, but did anyone with that particular location (2nd floor, close to lobby) get bothered by what appeared to be heavy pedestrian traffic in the halls in that area? I'm thinking that maybe Kidani's doors keep the noise from the hall down more - is that true?

 

[kevmag]

Thanks all for replying, I'm pretty psyched about making the call in the morning!

Newbie question...is the 2nd floor actually the lowest level floor?? How many floors (levels) are there in Kidani? The maps I've seen indicate there are 4, I think.

 

[vicki_c]

The 2nd floor is the "main" floor. It's where the lobby is and where you enter the resort. 1st floor is the parking garage. (Note - I only know about that main front part of the resort, not the other further out pods or whatever they call them, but assume it's the same).

I never saw much traffic from the lobby - not sure why you would because no one is really walking from the lobby past your room unless they are headed to their own room -- so no different than any other hallway, in my opinion. People going to the bus stop mostly would exit through the lobby, I believe.

In fact, the smoking area is near the bus stop - and I was out there a number of times - and I didn't see many people using the hallway door that led to the bus stop at all.

 

[twinklebug]

We just got back from a Kidani stay very close to the lobby. This is the second time we stayed in this room.

Being close to the lobby is great with one exception: The noise from the hallways all morning and evening. There are many folk who pass by these rooms on their way to ones further down the halls and many seem to forget others may be in sleep-mode. Loud chatter, children running to the lobby, backtracking to the parents ( :repeat: ), yelling between family members who are ahead or behind, and telephone conversations just got to be annoying enough that I will request locations in the 3rd or 4th beads out on our next stay hoping to cut down on a bit of this.

Last stay in this same room the outer half of the wing wasn't finished off and so there wasn't nearly as much foot traffic. Big difference between the noise levels from that stay to this one.

Kevmag, will you have a car with you that you'll be using? If so I recommend you replace your request to be "close to the lobby" to one that is "near Rafiki elevator", the one just outside the pool area - a short cut to the pool and is shaded by the garage for a small bit of the walk This will cut down on the issues we experienced.

 

[drusba]

At Kidani 2d floor is the lowest floor with rooms. At Jambo all DVC rooms are 5th floor (and 6th for concierge). All hotel rooms at Jambo are 2d floor or above except for right around the pool area where there are some standard view hotel rooms on the 1st floor.

 

[La2kw]

Changing BLT to Kidani? Are you sure? BLT is so much better, IMO.

 

[vicki_c]

We just got back from a Kidani stay very close to the lobby. This is the second time we stayed in this room.

Being close to the lobby is great with one exception: The noise from the hallways all morning and evening. There are many folk who pass by these rooms on their way to ones further down the halls and many seem to forget others may be in sleep-mode. Loud chatter, children running to the lobby, backtracking to the parents ( :repeat: ), yelling between family members who are ahead or behind, and telephone conversations just got to be annoying enough that I will request locations in the 3rd or 4th beads out on our next stay hoping to cut down on a bit of this.

Last stay in this same room the outer half of the wing wasn't finished off and so there wasn't nearly as much foot traffic. Big difference between the noise levels from that stay to this one.

I just wanted to say I didn't experience any of this last month -- it was literally tomb quiet every time we were in our room (which is why I said what I said above). In my experience, every Disney hallway can have that issue with the guests heading to their rooms further down the hall, but we didn't hear any noise on our trip. The only way to avoid that I think is to ask to be near the end of a hallway so there's little traffic past your room.

And we were on the Timon parking side vs. the Rafiki side, so on the opposite side of the lobby from what I think the poster above is describing.

 

[kevmag]

Changing BLT to Kidani? Are you sure? BLT is so much better, IMO.

We own at BLT, and are finishing our trip with 4 nights at BLT. We're trying out Kidani at the start of the trip.

I just wanted to say I didn't experience any of this last month -- it was literally tomb quiet every time we were in our room (which is why I said what I said above). In my experience, every Disney hallway can have that issue with the guests heading to their rooms further down the hall, but we didn't hear any noise on our trip. The only way to avoid that I think is to ask to be near the end of a hallway so there's little traffic past your room.

And we were on the Timon parking side vs. the Rafiki side, so on the opposite side of the lobby from what I think the poster above is describing.

Well, I had no problem getting a Savannah View studio for a few days in September! For now, I made the request what Vicki recommended above, I'm not sure if we're going to have a car, or just use the Magical Express, so I guess I can always rethink the request in a month or so.

Thanks for the info, all!

 

[DenLo]

Thanks all for replying, I'm pretty psyched about making the call in the morning!

Newbie question...is the 2nd floor actually the lowest level floor?? How many floors (levels) are there in Kidani? The maps I've seen indicate there are 4, I think.

There are 4 floors for rooms (first floor is parking and the restaurant Sanaa). As vicki c said the lobby is on the second floor and that is as close as you can get to the animals.

 

[twinklebug]

I just wanted to say I didn't experience any of this last month -- it was literally tomb quiet every time we were in our room (which is why I said what I said above). In my experience, every Disney hallway can have that issue with the guests heading to their rooms further down the hall, but we didn't hear any noise on our trip. The only way to avoid that I think is to ask to be near the end of a hallway so there's little traffic past your room.

And we were on the Timon parking side vs. the Rafiki side, so on the opposite side of the lobby from what I think the poster above is describing.

Yes, we were on the Rafiki side, which to those who are still unsure what this means - the loop the pool is located on (is this the north wing?) I'm sure this had a lot to do with the noise.

I am embarrassed to say that just several months back when a poster noted the unruly noise levels at Kidani I defended it stating how my stay in July of '09 was extremely quiet. Well, I officially eat those words (pass the ketchup please?) I'd say the evening sounds were more annoying than the morning with emh some of the parks were open very late (3am for MK one day .... not that I hear anything at that time in the morning )

Next trip, if winter we will ask for the south wing - otherwise, if it's swimming weather, near Rafiki elevator.

 

[ugadog99]

Jumping in here as I was just about to post this very question. So, to be closest to the animals and near the pool, my request should be 2nd floor near Rafiki elevator, is that correct? Is there anything else I should ask for? Would that put me at Sunset Savanna, or do I need to add that in as well. And, for a second topic: What animals are found on the Pembe Savanna?

Thanks!

 

[kevmag]

Jumping in here as I was just about to post this very question. So, to be closest to the animals and near the pool, my request should be 2nd floor near Rafiki elevator, is that correct? Is there anything else I should ask for? Would that put me at Sunset Savanna, or do I need to add that in as well. And, for a second topic: What animals are found on the Pembe Savanna?

Thanks!

I'm the OP, i ended up asking for "Sunset Savannah...close to lobby..2nd or 3rd floor". I think someone said earlier if I got close to lobby, then by default it would be Sunset not Pembe...but I did not want to take chances (I'm not familiar with the Kidani layout...and I thought that maybe if I was not TOO close to the lobby, it would end up a Pembe view).