Kidani village studio ????'s

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

We are renting points from a friend for the first time at Kidani Village next June. AKL Jambo house has always been our favorite resort (never DVC). We will be staying in a Deluxe Studio Savannah View. Here are my questions;

1. I know there is a fridge and microwave in the room. But are there dishes and silverware, and is there a full size coffee maker? We dont plan on cooking, but as Mara is all the way at Jambo, I thought maybe we could do easy breakfast in the room. I am also assuming that the groceries available at the gift shop will include coffee, cereal, and maybe yogurt.

2. I thought I read somewhere that Sanaa might be offering breakfast as a counter service - any truth to that?

3. Laundry facilities - I understand that Studios don't have washers in the room, but in a separate facility, which is fine. I thought I read somewhere, that those machines are free - as in not coin operated - any truth to that?

My DH and DD are kinda bummed that we couldn't get into Jambo House. If anyone has any positive thoughts of Kidani for me to share with them, I would really, really appreciate it! DD is 17, so the kiddie play area at the pool doesn't excite her at all. Any DH is bummed about the smaller pool, and not having a lounge like Victoria Falls.

Thanks, as always - Jane

 

[DenLo]

We are renting points from a friend for the first time at Kidani Village next June. AKL Jambo house has always been our favorite resort (never DVC). We will be staying in a Deluxe Studio Savannah View. Here are my questions;

1. I know there is a fridge and microwave in the room. But are there dishes and silverware, and is there a full size coffee maker? We dont plan on cooking, but as Mara is all the way at Jambo, I thought maybe we could do easy breakfast in the room. I am also assuming that the groceries available at the gift shop will include coffee, cereal, and maybe yogurt.

DVC studios have a 12 cup coffeemaker (basket style), 4 glasses and 4 coffee cups, and paper plates and bowls and plasticware.

2. I thought I read somewhere that Sanaa might be offering breakfast as a counter service - any truth to that?

It has been offering a continental breakfast on a trial basis. I don't know if it will continue in 2012.

3. Laundry facilities - I understand that Studios don't have washers in the room, but in a separate facility, which is fine. I thought I read somewhere, that those machines are free - as in not coin operated - any truth to that?

The laundry machines are free for members.

My DH and DD are kinda bummed that we couldn't get into Jambo House. If anyone has any positive thoughts of Kidani for me to share with them, I would really, really appreciate it! DD is 17, so the kiddie play area at the pool doesn't excite her at all. Any DH is bummed about the smaller pool, and not having a lounge like Victoria Falls.

I've heard many people like the lounge at Saana, so that would be an option.

Thanks, as always - Jane

It's only a 10 minute walk to Jambo House and there is a complimentary shuttle. So you can easily go to Jambo House if you prefer it.

 

[Ln42]

Its a 10 minute walk to Jambo or you can take a bus if you miss those things. We love Kidani and its poolside bar. The kids like the larger pool slide at Kidani. Love the tennis court and bball court. Having a room on a lower floor is a nice change from Jambo.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Thank you both for your quick replies! I am sure we will love Kidani also - just a little fear of the unknown I guess. Last trip we stayed at Wilderness Lodge for the first time. Before the trip our teenange daughter was throroughly bummed, no interest in it at all - and Of Course, she ended up loving it even more than us, haha. So I am sure the same will happen again, for all of us. It looks so pretty online, and of course in person is always better! Thanks again, Jane

 

[LPnerd]

the pool at KIndani is MUCH better, the animal viewing is better at least it was this time. ( dec 10-15th) IN FACT, MANY SEEM TO VIEW jAMBO AS THE PLACE TO EAT AND not TO STAY, SO... opps, sorry for the caps/ I think you'll be fine. just be ready to walk as kidani is HUGE! try for a room on the 2 or 3 floor closer to the pool. just ask at check in. they show you whats available now and let you pick.

 

[dgaston]

I own at AKL, and go over to the pool at Kidani when we're at Jambo. That's how much I prefer the Kidani pool and slide. Their afternoon pool CMs are the best. And I think they'll have movies at the pool too (depending on the season).

You might want to bring a few plastic containers and lids as the bowls and plates are all paper. Plastic forks, knives and spoons are provided, a few glasses and ceramic mugs. Lots of people bring one sharp knife for cutting cheese, etc (checked bag of course). I have a knife and cutting board in my Owner's Locker as we most often stay in studios.

 

[Silver Queen]

We've stayed in studios at both Jambo and Kidani and love them both (with a slight edge to Kidani due to better animal viewing and a more relaxed atmosphere). Concerning breakfast, we're light eaters in the morning so we're fine with cereal or an English muffin, or yogurt. The bar at Sanaa is quite attractive and not as "bustling" as the lounge in Jambo. We also love the pool and the CMs at Kidani. We've had some very interesting conversations with the CMs in both resorts who are cultural representative from Africa. We've never been too far away from the lobby or bus stop so the walking hasn't bothered us at all. We'll be at Jambo in two weeks. We were happy to snag a value studio, but we'd be just as happy if we were in Kidani. Hope that you have a great time!

 

[dgaston]

A comment on the washers and dryers. I haven't used the ones at Kidani, but the laundry room may require your room key for access. Many of the DVC washers and dryers look as if they require quarters, but they DON'T!. Just push in the tray, and the appliance will start. Tricky that way

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

A comment on the washers and dryers. I haven't used the ones at Kidani, but the laundry room may require your room key for access. Many of the DVC washers and dryers look as if they require quarters, but they DON'T!. Just push in the tray, and the appliance will start. Tricky that way

Wow! Leave it to Disney to get every last quarter I have, lol! Thanks for the info. I usually bring rolls of quarters, which for some silly reason is always the last thing I remember to get, always at the very last moment - so no quarters is a nice surprise!
Thanks! Jane

 

[majortom1981]

Sanaa's bar rocks. tell your DH husband to go to that bar . You do not need a reservation at sanaa to sit at the bar. My wife and i skip lunch and have bread service as our lunch at the sanaa bar. Its small but has a cool atmosphere to it.
Its to the left after you pass the sanaa desk.

The kidani gift shop does have some groceries for purchase. if you dont mind the walk to the lobby if you get a room in the wing on the side of the park buses you are not that far of a walk from jambo house. Last time i think it took us 10 min to walk from kidani to jambo. So if you feel you will be at jambo to eat a lot it might be worth it to ask for a room as close to jambo as possible. You can get a room at the end of the wing and be pretty close to jambo. it will be a 5 min walk or so to the park busses but its not that bad.

Make sure at least one night skip the park fireworks and sit at the kidani fire pit at night. Its right inside the sunset savanah. its staffed by an african guide (they are from africa here on work visas). Its awesome talking to them about africa and listening to them talk about their country. I like it better then where jambo's fire pit is.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Hi all,
I will be staying in a Kidani studio on rented DVC points for the very first time this month. I know this is an old thread but hoping it will pop up in your feed. I was just wondering since the plates and bowls are paper/plastic are they replenished? Essentially can we get more (for free?) or should I plan to bring my own/extras? TIA.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Not sure if they are automatically replenished, but I have asked for more paper products and utensils many times, from the maids in the hallway. Their carts are stocked, and they will give you whatever you want. No charge for these items.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Sailormoon2,

So funny for me to revisit this thread! Since our first stay at Kidani in 2011, we have joined DVC, with AKL being our home resort, and have stayed at Kidani over a dozen times!! We absolutely fell in love with Kidani. We have also come to realize how close Kidani and Jambo are to each other, and how convenient it is to go back and forth between the two. Now we think of them as one perfect resort, with each side having special attributes. You can walk between the two resorts, or you can take the shuttle that goes back and forth from lobby to lobby. Recently they changed from a van, to a shuttle bus, which was a great improvement... made it much faster loading, and more passengers fit on the shuttle. If you have any other questions about the resort, please let me know!

 

[Denise W]

Hi all,
I will be staying in a Kidani studio on rented DVC points for the very first time this month. I know this is an old thread but hoping it will pop up in your feed. I was just wondering since the plates and bowls are paper/plastic are they replenished? Essentially can we get more (for free?) or should I plan to bring my own/extras? TIA.

They will be replenished on trash and towel day as well as on full clean day. If you are there for a week, trash and towel day is day 4.
Denise

 

[Simba's Mom]

The good news is that Sanaa, at least as of October, does have a CS breakfast. However, I can't tell you how it is because the bad news is that it ends at 10:00. We made the mistake of wandering down there at 10:10, and they were closed. Since Sanaa serves lunch, though, I should have expected they'd close a little early.

 

[Spartan86]

Understand your concerns as Jambo is so compelling. But you will love Kidani too. Great atmosphere. For us, cozy, quiet most of the time. We love them both. The Sanaa lounge is among our favorites. Not that many cozy bar areas at WDW but Sanaa’s is.

 

[Wakey]

Like reading this old post and the 'update'. I guess you did like it in the end then!
Reading this thread has certainly whetted by appetite for my Kidani stay at the end of July......

 

[Pluto80]

Me too, we have our first ever DVC stay there at the end of July, very excited!

 

[Wakey]

Me too, we have our first ever DVC stay there at the end of July, very excited!

We may pass in the lobby and never know we just met a fellow disser. Watch out for my magic band (see my avatar)

 

[Pluto80]

We may pass in the lobby and never know we just met a fellow disser. Watch out for my magic band (see my avatar)

Will do!