Kidani vs. Jambo for first-timer?

[cgattis]

Not first time to Disney, but at AKL, that is! Coming for a short trip around Memorial Day to do SWW (first time!), see new Fantasyland, burn our last day on a US/IOA ticket, and maybe hit a waterpark (unless we feel the need to do MK again). Probably will spend arrival day at the resort and maybe the afternoon of that 2nd MK day (if we do that). So, won't be spending a whole lot of time at the resort, but do hope to enjoy it a bit.

So, trying to decide which place to stay (on rented points). From what I've read, here are the major differences:
-Maybe a better pool at Kidani
-Quick service only available at Jambo
-Awesome lobby at Jambo (plus we will definitely do Boma one night)
-Maybe less crowded at Kidani
-Savannah view at both
-Night vision viewing at both?

Any other things I'm missing that might help me decide between the two??

 

[chipper10]

We've done both. Jambo House wins for us because of the Mara. With little ones, we find that we need the quick access to easy meals.
The pool at Kidani is amazing though.

 

[drusba]

There is night vision at both. Some believe the Kidani pool is better. It has the longer slide and the kid's water play area but personal preference is Jambo pool which is larger and has a lot more areas to find shade. Jambo wins with number of restaurants including counter service but believe Sanaa at Kidani is the best of the restaurants there. Kidani has best parking (under-building) if you have a car. Jambo lobby and store are much larger and more impressive than Kidani's but Kidani's are nice. Both thus have factors that favor it over other and no real bad factors. For us the decision becomes room chosen. If studio or GV, Jambo is the choice. Its studios are the same size as Kidani's and Jambo's single story GVs are the best GVs on site. If 1BR or 2BR Kidani wins because the room is nicer, much larger, has extra bathroom, has separate shower and tub in master bath (Jambo's is a combined tub/shower), and more closet space.

 

[mousefan1972]

For 1 BR or larger, we prefer Kidani for the extra full bath and nicer master bath.

For studios, we prefer Jambo for the double sinks. Have fun!

 

[Disneypapa]

Interested in responses to these questions too! I've stayed in a 2 BR villa at Kidani (2009) and have reservations this summer for Jambo house.

Having the third bathroom was a big plus and two beds instead of a bed/sofa bed in the 2nd bedroom. May yet change reservations to Kidani.

What about the number of beds in 2nd bedroom at Jambo? What is the arrangement there?

 

[keaster]

Interested in responses to these questions too! I've stayed in a 2 BR villa at Kidani (2009) and have reservations this summer for Jambo house.

Having the third bathroom was a big plus and two beds instead of a bed/sofa bed in the 2nd bedroom. May yet change reservations to Kidani.

What about the number of beds in 2nd bedroom at Jambo? What is the arrangement there?

At Jambo there are no dedicated two-bedroom units.

You will have the 1-bedroom connected to the studio, giving you the master bedroom with a king bed, pullout sofa, and sleeper chair in the living room, and the studio with the bed and pullout sofa.

 

[magicaldisney]

Kidani is the first bus stop if that matters to you. Kidani also offers the ability to request lower level rooms for better savannah viewing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the studio arrangement at Jambo, and Kidani for the larger units. I've never stayed in a GV, and would probably prefer Jambo for that. I very much prefer the pool area at Jambo to the one at Kidani. The hot tubs just seem more private at Jambo, especially the one surrounded by bamboo. It is by a smoking area, that sometimes bothers me.

 

[joelp]

You didn't say how long your trip would be ...

We just stayed in a 1BR at Kidani for three nights, and it was great ...

But for our planned week-long stay next year we'll be staying in a 1BR at Jambo House. For the longer stay, the convenience of having Mara (and Boma!) close by was the deciding factor (even though it is only a 10 minute walk between Kidani and Jambo).

In addition to the other differences noted by previous posters, Kidani has a Community Hall ... while Jambo has Simba's Cubhouse ...

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Having the third bathroom was a big plus and two beds instead of a bed/sofa bed in the 2nd bedroom.

What about the number of beds in 2nd bedroom at Jambo? What is the arrangement there?

No dedicated studios in Jambo! We always book 2 br's, we travel w/ 6-8 people so the 3rd bathroom and the layout of the Kidani villa is much better for us than at Jambo! The master bath, though a bit on the dim side, is fabulous!

Beyond that, being a Floridian and often travelling in summer by car, I value the covered parking as well!

Other than the majestic lobby, I really prefer Kidani to Jambo, it's a true DVC, not converted hotel rooms!

 

[drusba]

Interested in responses to these questions too! I've stayed in a 2 BR villa at Kidani (2009) and have reservations this summer for Jambo house.

Having the third bathroom was a big plus and two beds instead of a bed/sofa bed in the 2nd bedroom. May yet change reservations to Kidani.

What about the number of beds in 2nd bedroom at Jambo? What is the arrangement there?

All Jambo 2BRs are lock-offs (combined 1BR and studio) and second bedroom has queen and couch/pull-out double (not queen). The 2BR is nice but not as nice as Kidani. Jambo's is 100 sq ft smaller than Kidani's and you can notice that difference particularly in the living room, master bedroom, and size of master bath. The living room has both the couch/pull-out queen and the sleeper chair like Kidani but less space for them with the result that when couch and chair are both pulled out there is little room left to maneuver in the living room. Also, Jambo's master bathroom has a combined rather than separate tub and shower and the stepover from floor into tub is quite high. Moreover, unlike Kidani where the master bath connects internally to the master bedroom, the Jambo master bedroom and bath are separated by a hallway and those in living room/kitchen can see those moving from master bedroom to bathroom. Kidani (which was built from scratch) has real in-wall closets and ample closet space. Jambo, which converted prior rooms, has less closet space and the one in the master bedroom is not built into walls but is a stand-alone unit.

Jambo 2BR is still nice, and about the same size as VWL, SSR, BWV and BCV 2BRs, but Kidani is just a better room in size and design. Jambo has DVC units only on fifth floor (6th for concierge) and some prefer having the ability of getting a lower floor savanna view of the animals that they can get at Kidani. If you have a car, Jambo parking is in a lot across from the front of the building whereas Kidani has ideal under-building parking. Nevertheless, Jambo has in my view the better pool, two excellent restaurants, Jiko and Boma, a good counter service, the more impressive lobby and a larger store than Kidani.

 

[nolanboys]

We just got back from a 2 bdrm stay at Jambo. DH and I had stayed in a 1 bdrm at Kidani before. Definitely prefer Kidani for a 1 or 2 bdrm room. The 2 bdrm at Jambo felt cramped. We couldn't open the master bdrm door all the way because of the nightstand. The living room felt narrow and we really missed the separate shower in the MB. The kids also preferred the pool at Kidani. I would pick Jambo for a studio stay. Otherwise, I would go with Kidani.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi

Saw this thread and trying to decide between the two as well! We are having a studio for 10 days in May 2013. I need an accessible room with roll in shower. The parking sounds better for us under the building at the village but is there an elevator please? I cannot climb stairs. Also in the main jambo house is there anywhere to buy those little plastic tubs of cereal of raisin bran, fruit loops etc that they do in food courts in other resorts?

Is the village close for bus stops ( limited mobility issues ) ? Can you walk between the two resorts ?

Thanks!

 

[drusba]

The under-building parking at Kidani, which runs the length of the building, is served by elevators along the wings that take you to and from room floors. You can usually find a parking space that is fairly close to your room via elevator regardless of where room is.

I do not know where the accessible rooms are in Kidani but you likely want to make a request for a room close to lobby or close to community hall (result is essentially the same although community hall request assures putting you as close as possible to bus stop) if they have such rooms in that area (I would assume they do). That would put you close to lobby, restaurant, store, bus stop, and pool area. The two wings of rooms (north and south with lobby in middle) at Kidani are very long and rooms at the end of the north wing give you the longest walk down an internal hallway from room to lobby that exists in any hotel on earth (I have run into guests there in the parking lot who told me they actually drive their cars to get to the lobby). Thus, you will want to avoid getting a room far from the lobby.

At Jambo you have similar concerns although furthest rooms are not as far away and requesting close to lobby there should be considered as that would put you close to store, restaurants, pool, and bus stop.

As to foods, there is a food area in the stores in both buildings that has milk and some cereals although i don't know which ones.

You can walk between the two buildings but the front door to front door distance is about 1/2 mile.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

The under-building parking at Kidani, which runs the length of the building, is served by elevators along the wings that take you to and from room floors. You can usually find a parking space that is fairly close to your room via elevator regardless of where room is.

I do not know where the accessible rooms are in Kidani but you likely want to make a request for a room close to lobby or close to community hall (result is essentially the same although community hall request assures putting you as close as possible to bus stop) if they have such rooms in that area (I would assume they do). That would put you close to lobby, restaurant, store, bus stop, and pool area. The two wings of rooms (north and south with lobby in middle) at Kidani are very long and rooms at the end of the north wing give you the longest walk down an internal hallway from room to lobby that exists in any hotel on earth (I have run into guests there in the parking lot who told me they actually drive their cars to get to the lobby). Thus, you will want to avoid getting a room far from the lobby.

At Jambo you have similar concerns although furthest rooms are not as far away and requesting close to lobby there should be considered as that would put you close to store, restaurants, pool, and bus stop.

As to foods, there is a food area in the stores in both buildings that has milk and some cereals although i don't know which ones.

You can walk between the two buildings but the front door to front door distance is about 1/2 mile.

Thank you that is really helpful. Decided on Kidani based on the good info here. But will ask for a room near the lobby or CH as you suggest.

 

[spiceycat]

For 1 BR or larger, we prefer Kidani for the extra full bath and nicer master bath.

For studios, we prefer Jambo for the double sinks. Have fun!

I agree completely.

also prefer Jambo House for easy access to Mara