Kidani Villas - few questions

[wammers2003]

Staying at Kidani 2bdrm villa Jan 2-4. I have a few questions:

1. Any recommendations of which level and where in the complex to request a room?
2. Can you use the Jambo House pool?
3. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[NoTime42]

Standard or Savanna view?
Prototypical savanna request is Sunset Savanna (70% of savanna view rooms), low floor (closer to animals) and near lobby (Kidani has the longest hallways at WDW. Not so bad if you drive because parking is under the resort and there are many elevators up from parking)

You can use the Jambo pool. It had a large water area, but probably the most boring slide, and no dining at Jambo is open.

 

[wammers2003]

Standard or Savanna view?
Prototypical savanna request is Sunset Savanna (70% of savanna view rooms), low floor (closer to animals) and near lobby (Kidani has the longest hallways at WDW. Not so bad if you drive because parking is under the resort and there are many elevators up from parking)

You can use the Jambo pool. It had a large water area, but probably the most boring slide, and no dining at Jambo is open.

We have a Savanna view. It sounds like we should try to be as close to the Kidani lobby as possible. I was thinking we shoudl try to be closer to Jambo lobby b/c I've heard its nicer and would be a better place to hang out. Any truth to that?
Regarding food options, is there a pool bar and food service available now?
Thanks!

 

[NoTime42]

Based on this thread, the Jambo pool bar is open with limited hours:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/jambo-house.3817851/#post-62451384
While I normally prefer the impressive, large lobby of Jambo, and it’s dining options, Most reports say Jambo will be very quiet and dead with no dining options. There is also a pool bar and food service at Kidani. (At the pool bar and some carry out at Saana)

 

[wammers2003]

This is super helpful. We will stick with Kidani and request a room close to the lobby. Thanks!

 

[bakerworld]

We just enjoyed a short stay in a 2Br at Kidani. The villa was spectacular along with the large long veranda. Extremely roomy bedrooms and bathrooms however the kitchen is definitely a one man show. If you can find a way to cut down the distance from the lobby. It was nice there are 3 elevators to choose from as far as cutting the distance to the pool but the lobby and Saana are a trek.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have your own car, you can park under the building at KV closer to your villa since there are several elevators from the parking garage. There are multiple viewing areas where you can sit and watch the animals. We were just there two weeks ago in a standard one bedroom and were very close to the Port Cochere. KV pool will probably be more convenient, especially if the weather stays cool. If you plan on dining at Sanaa, you need to make sure you have an ADR on the books already. At least with a two bedroom villa, you'll have a full kitchen to prepare light meals or snacks. Or full meals if you are up to that. We brought breakfast foods and some snacks and ate our lunch/dinner in the parks.

Your bathroom products are mounted to the wall in the shower or tub/shower at KV. No smaller bottles are available. If you don't like the ECOS detergent and want to do laundry, bring your own from home. I find the ECOS products not very good. If you don't care for Joffrey's coffee and plan on drinking coffee, you'll need filters as well as coffee of your own. The coffee pot is a standard Mr Coffee 10-12 cup coffee pot (with flat bottom basket style coffee filters).

 

[brockash]

Standard or Savanna view?
Prototypical savanna request is Sunset Savanna (70% of savanna view rooms), low floor (closer to animals) and near lobby (Kidani has the longest hallways at WDW. Not so bad if you drive because parking is under the resort and there are many elevators up from parking)

You can use the Jambo pool. It had a large water area, but probably the most boring slide, and no dining at Jambo is open.

To be fair theres also barely any dining at Kidani open either. It's rough right now.

 

[Skywalker3]

We just stayed at AKV Kidani a few days over Thanksgiving week. I LOVE Kidani, hubby not as much, but I love sitting on the balcony, watching all the animals, just the whole feel and atmosphere. we stayed in a 1 bedroom, LOVE the extra bathroom. Definitely make a room request. A few years back, we didn't, and our room was one of the very last ones north of the lobby. It was a hike after a long day in the parks, and while we enjoyed our few regular animals, there were not nearly as many in that area. THis trip we used Touringplans to request a room, and we got the one we requested. I wanted a 3rd or 4th floor, and we ended up in room 7416. TP has you pick the exact room. I LOVED this location. Great views
Usually we don't judge resorts on food. We bring a lot of groceries, but if you don't do that, and you don't have a car, you are very limited on food options. We did very much enjoy to-go bread service 2 nights from Sanaa. Also, if you do have a car, it's very easy/quick to get to offsite restaurants/grocery. But you're leaving the bubble. The tiny little store is also not great. We needed some personal items, and they didn't carry any of what we needed, and there was no store at Jambo. Usually we dont' need the store, but still something to keep in mind.
Bus service was mostly good, especially to AK. But if you're rope dropping like we were at HS and MK, you will probably not make it there well before opening. Like we didn't get to HS until about 9:40 (for 10AM opening,) and they let folks in early, so we were not at the front of those lines. AK is so quick tho. Hubby and son ended up being the first group on FoP one morning!
Hope you have a wonderful trip!! I loved our Kidani stay.