Kidani Room Preference

[EM Lawrence]

For a 1 BR Savannah view at Kidani, I know to request to be near the lobby or an elevator. But what is your opinion on being on a low floor vs a high floor. Specifically, which do you think has a better view of the animals, the lower floor, up close view, or the higher floor panoramic view?

 

[Minniesgal]

We always request close to the Zazu elevator, then it is a very short walk from there to Jambo so you get the best of both worlds and can get the bus from Jambo or Kidani

We always request lower floor.

 

[princesscinderella]

Definitely lower floor and not on the Pembe Savanna, it’s much smaller with a few different animals (Okapi) but no giraffes. The higher you are the more yo see the tops of the trees and not the animals hanging out under them. We have loved being at the very end of the line of Pumba section because they have the red river hog area and it’s close to the backstage holding area for the animals so you get to see them being released and fed in the morning and they all head back in the evening in groups.

 

[supersnoop]

Lower floor; near an elevator if you have a car, or near the bus stop if you don't.

 

[drusba]

Actually, You should avoid requests like "near the lobby" or "near an elevator." Over the years because of the incredibly far distances that many rooms are from the lobby (the building is about 2/3 miles long), near the lobby has become the most prevalent request with the result that many do not get it and are then just placed in any available room, which is often very far from the lobby.

As to elevators, there are three spread out over each of the two wings, so that every room in the building can be considered "near an elevator." Thus, if you request simply "near an elevator," you could be placed in any room in the building. What you need to do is request being near an elevator by specifically naming the elevator you want. If you want to be close to the bus station on the south wing and within reasonable distance from the lobby and pool, request "near the Timon elevator." If you want to have the shortest trip to the pool on the north wing and be within reasonable distance of the lobby and bus station, request room "near the Rafiki elevator."

As to the lower or higher floor, lower gives direct sight toward animals while higher more panoramic and personally I never request floor because either view is fine.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Actually, You should avoid requests like "near the lobby" or "near an elevator." Over the years because of the incredibly far distances that many rooms are from the lobby (the building is about 2/3 miles long), near the lobby has become the most prevalent request with the result that many do not get it and are then just placed in any available room, which is often very far from the lobby.

As to elevators, there are three spread out over each of the two wings, so that every room in the building can be considered "near an elevator." Thus, if you request simply "near an elevator," you could be placed in any room in the building. What you need to do is request being near an elevator by specifically naming the elevator you want. If you want to be close to the bus station on the south wing and within reasonable distance from the lobby and pool, request "near the Timon elevator." If you want to have the shortest trip to the pool on the north wing and be within reasonable distance of the lobby and bus station, request room "near the Rafiki elevator."

As to the lower or higher floor, lower gives direct sight toward animals while higher more panoramic and personally I never request floor because either view is fine.

Thank you! I was looking for a map that had the names of the elevators, and I could not find one. I’ve requested a room near the Rafiki elevator, since I want to be closest to the pool without being too far from the bus station.

 

[Skywalker3]

I used a room request/room finder on another site. I wanted 3rd or 4th floor. Got the exact room requested. Just 2 buildings south of the lobby, AWESOME location. Great views of all animals at various times of the day. Room 7416. Not too far of a walk from the lobby, and close to an elevator that would take us to the garage when need be.
Time before that , we didn't make a request, and we were in BFE...second to last building north of the lobby, and quite a hike after long park days....Loved our few little animals, but only saw 3 different ones while there.

 

[drusba]

Thank you! I was looking for a map that had the names of the elevators, and I could not find one. I’ve requested a room near the Rafiki elevator, since I want to be closest to the pool without being too far from the bus station.

See this map: https://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/Kindani_Village_Map.jpg. The lobby faces west and thus the north wing is on the left side of map, south on right. You will see along each wing three red AED signs. That is where the elevators (and stairways) are. The two on each side of the lobby are unnamed. On the north wing, Rafiki is the one between the second and third building pods from the lobby. Down that elevator to the ground/first floor parking-lot leads to a walkway to a gate to the pool area. Pumba is between the sixth and seventh building pods from the lobby.

On the south wing, Timon is the elevator between the second and third building pods from the lobby and Zazu is between the fifth and sixth building pods. The Timon elevator to the second floor quickly leads to a doorway that goes directly to the bus station.

Mentioned above by Skywalker3 is room 7416. That room is close to the Timon elevator.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Looking at the map, both times I've stayed at Kidani, I've been on the North Trail. Although it's closer to the pool, we don't swim (melanoma made us lose interest). I'm thinking of requesting the South Trail next time, to be closer to the bus stop and maybe a shorter trail (the south side looks to be a little shorter than the north). Any down sides?

 

[drusba]

Looking at the map, both times I've stayed at Kidani, I've been on the North Trail. Although it's closer to the pool, we don't swim (melanoma made us lose interest). I'm thinking of requesting the South Trail next time, to be closer to the bus stop and maybe a shorter trail (the south side looks to be a little shorter than the north). Any down sides?

Depends on whether you have savanna or standard view. With savanna view, the south wing is fine and to be near the buses, request near the Timon elevator. Standard view on the south wing is limited to the first four building pods from the lobby (the last three pods have only savanna view overlooking the Sunset savanna). Those south wing standard view rooms have mainly views of road, some parking areas and the back of the bus station, The north wing standard views look out toward the pool area and then some overlook Pembe savanna. If you have standard view and want to try for those standards that overlook Pembe, request room near the Pumba elevator (but you will have very long walk to lobby and bus station).

 

[DduzDis]

I used a room request/room finder on another site. I wanted 3rd or 4th floor. Got the exact room requested. Just 2 buildings south of the lobby, AWESOME location. Great views of all animals at various times of the day. Room 7416. Not too far of a walk from the lobby, and close to an elevator that would take us to the garage when need be.
Time before that , we didn't make a request, and we were in BFE...second to last building north of the lobby, and quite a hike after long park days....Loved our few little animals, but only saw 3 different ones while there.

I just looked up this room view in Touring Plans. This is what I am going to request for our trip next year. Looks great. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Depends on whether you have savanna or standard view. With savanna view, the south wing is fine and to be near the buses, request near the Timon elevator. Standard view on the south wing is limited to the first four building pods from the lobby (the last three pods have only savanna view overlooking the Sunset savanna). Those south wing standard view rooms have mainly views of road, some parking areas and the back of the bus station, The north wing standard views look out toward the pool area and then some overlook Pembe savanna. If you have standard view and want to try for those standards that overlook Pembe, request room near the Pumba elevator (but you will have very long walk to lobby and bus station).

Great! I have a savannah view. Also, if Mara's open at Jambo house. it will be a little shorter.

 

[wonderchica]

We have a savannah view upcoming and definitely don’t want the Pembe, so we should ask for South trail right?

 

[drusba]

We have a savannah view upcoming and definitely don’t want the Pembe, so we should ask for South trail right?

I believe it is just referred to as "south wing" (Jambo names its areas Trails, Kidani does not) If you just ask for south wing, and the request is granted, you could end up extremely far from the lobby and pool. If main objective is to have highest chance of avoiding Pembe savanna view, your likely lead request should be "Sunset savannah view." If granted that could put on the south or north wing but it is a request that is one of the easiest ones to get since more than 80% of the savanna rooms at Kidani overlook Sunset. I would suggest making two requests, the lead one being "Sunset savanna view," and the second one being "near the Timon elevator." If you get only the first you at least avoid Pembe, and if you get the second one, you will be in an ideal location on the south wing -- down that elevator to second floor leads quickly to a door that takes you directly to the bus station, and the room will be within striking distance of the lobby and pool.

 

[gisele2]

Lower floor and Sunset Savannah.

 

[JennSH]

What about the best room for the 2 bedrooms to be close to the animals? I have one booked in May and have never stayed there before.

 

[supersnoop]

What about the best room for the 2 bedrooms to be close to the animals? I have one booked in May and have never stayed there before.

Lower floor should be the only request you have to make, as long as you have a savanna view room.

 

[drusba]

What about the best room for the 2 bedrooms to be close to the animals? I have one booked in May and have never stayed there before.

Other than the Grand Villas, every room in Kidani is either a dedicated 2BR or 2BR lock-off, and the dedicated and lock-offs are spread out together throughout the building, so having a 2BR (dedicated or lock-off) simply means you can be anywhere in the Kidani building. If you have savanna view and want lower floor for a more direct view of the animals, simply request lower floor; nevertheless, I personally would still make the lead request "Sunset savanna view" to try and avoid avoid Pembe.