Our First Kidani Experience - Live

[AKV707]

First, let me say that Kidani is beautiful and we are having a great vacation.

Now the details. On the first day Kidani reservations were being taken, I booked a 2 br lockoff, standard view, at Kidani. We have brought down SIL, BIL, and our niece and nephew. Plan was to give them the 1 br side and DW and I would take the studio side.

So we check in on 6/17. Room not ready yet so off to Epcot we go. Get the text that the room is ready. Head back, to Kidani, and go to the room. Beautiful, but a dedicated 2 br! So I head downstairs. Front desk is helpful and nice. They explain that they were overbooked and gave us the dedicated. I explained that that was not what I had booked, and that the studio gave us more space, the kitchenette, and internet access.

They told us they could move us the next day. So we didn’t really unpack, kept all non refrigerated groceries in the bags, and went to sleep.

The next morning, out by 11, went to AK to stay close, and came back around 3 as they had told us they would put a rush on the new room and have it ready for us quickly. Well, not ready at 3. Finally at 4:10, I get the text, I am right there in the lobby. We get our new keys, go to room, all is well, and then we have to wait for our luggage, OL, and groceries to arrive. That happened pretty quickly. Then it was off to Epcot for dinner at Chef’s. So 3 magic fast passes, and a nice credit to our expenses charged on our room card, we were finally set.

We have a view of the front entrance, we are on the 5th floor, and having a great time. The buses have been very reliable, but they get really crowded once we go over to Jambo. And Kidani is only a little more than halfway open. Anyone else think that they might have to look at separate bus service?

I will add some pics in the next few days. Dinner at Jiko tonight. Incredible! I will be happy to answer any questions.

Did I mention that we love this resort?

 

[DebbieB]

I just got home tonight from 6 nights at Kidani. I had a savannah view studio, 7336 (Timon section). Loved it! I was disappointed the first 3 days, didn't see too many animals. But starting Wednesday there seemed to be alot. The giraffes usually wandered over between 4:00 and 5:00. Loved the easy parking. Could use some more food options.

 

[AKV707]

We haven't eaten here yet. Maybe lunch at the pool bar tomorrow.

 

[AKV707]

Good morning from Kidani. Lazy morning today. Breakfast in the room and then we will be off to the pool. Record high heat today. Later today DW and I will head to Epcot and then to the BW for dinner at the Flying Fish.

 

[AKV707]

Dinner at The Flying Fish was great. I had the snapper and DW had the scallops. Excellent experience.


Some thoughts on standard view at Kidani:

• while ours is not bad, I can see where some may not be the best
• in our opinion, DVC should consider a separate category for pool view, even though there are only about 3 "beads" that have a pool view
• the bus stops are too visible from the standard rooms.
• the DHS stop is not covered. (Not limited to standard view but I think thus us strange.
  
  As I said, out view is not bad, (pics coming soon) but I can see where some mught not be the best. The pool views are pretty good, but the points required are the same as ours.
  
  Our 2 br L/0 is beautiful and roomy. The resort is beautiful and quiet. Even though we face the entrance, we hear nothing from outside. But I thought I would post these few comments. More to come.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Knowing what you know now would you have gotten a savana view instead?
Have a great trip and eagerly awiting pics.

 

[disneyistheone]

I too had a stay at Kidani this month. We felt the standard view was ok. We were in the Timon area as well just across from the BBQ area.
Since the resort buses stop at Kidani first before Jambo House, we always had a seat regardless of who got on at Jambo house. I was very concerned about the bus service before I went but I thought it was outstanding, especially when compared to my previous stays at SSR.
I was apprehensive before our first stay and concerned that we had made the right home resort choice.I no longer feel that way and just did another add-on at AKV. I appreciate the spaciousness of the rooms and the overall quiet at the resort. It never took us more than 15 minutes for the ride to any park. The lack of a CS restaurant concerned me but the walk to Jambo House is no worse than the walk we had to the CS at SSR from our room in CP.

 

[RLRDA]

It sounds like you are enjoying your stay overall! Hope you continue to have a great time - looking forward to your pics.

The buses have been very reliable, but they get really crowded once we go over to Jambo. And Kidani is only a little more than halfway open. Anyone else think that they might have to look at separate bus service?

Did I mention that we love this resort?

I thought the bus service at Jambo was great when we stayed there before Kidani opened. Maybe they'll add more bus runs at the resort - I doubt they'd ever have separate bus service. Think of BWV/BC (if you've stayed there) - they share bus service with each other, YC and the S/D sometimes. SSR is a large resort and gets crowded by the end of the route as well. Hopefully they haven't added all the buses they're going to need b/c the entire Kidani resort isn't open yet.

 

[NSL]

We just returned a week ago from a split stay between SSR and AKV. We loved AKV (Kidani)! It was great. But I have to echo, they need a counter service option. It is very inconvenient while at the pool and no counter service options. I know you can get food at the pool, but the selection of ready-made was not appealing and you can also call and order but it is not in comparison price wise. Also, we tend to using the dining plan and you can not use it at the pool bar. Nlow if I compare Kidani counter service to SSR, I guess Kidani is not so bad. I liked SSR quick service but the lines were unbelievable! One morning the line had wrapped all the way through the gift shop and was over 20 minutes long, just to order!

 

[JoEllen]

We are looking forward to our first visit to Kidani next month. We usually hit the Publix by the premium outlet mall when we stay at the BWV is this still the closest Publix to go to? Is there grocery shopping closer?
Thanks and have a wonderful time this week!

JoEllen

 

[DVC Mike]

I'd enjoy seeing some pictures. Have fun!

 

[helenk]

We are looking forward to our first visit to Kidani next month. We usually hit the Publix by the premium outlet mall when we stay at the BWV is this still the closest Publix to go to? Is there grocery shopping closer?
Thanks and have a wonderful time this week!

JoEllen

There is a nice brand new Super Target not far from Kidani, it was really a neat store.

 

[helenk]

the DHS stop is not covered. (Not limited to standard view but I think thus us strange.

We thought the same thing. I wonder if they are going to cover it? Why have cover over the other stops and not the last one.

 

[AKV707]

Knowing what you know now would you have gotten a savana view instead?
Have a great trip and eagerly awiting pics.

No. We didn't have the available points. So just like at BWV, the standard view rooms put you in this beautiful resort for less. It will be savanna view on the next trip though.

BTW, we received a voice mail yesterday that they will be testing the fire alarm system at 10 AM this morning.

 

[holcomb-mania]

BTW, we received a voice mail yesterday that they will be testing the fire alarm system at 10 AM this morning.

We received about 15 messages while we were there 6/6-6/12 that the electricity would go down between 3-5am one night.

Got a little stuffy.

 

[marvali]

Thanks for the updates. We will be checking in at Kidani on Sunday. I requested a pool view for our Standard View room. Even though I considered something more in the direction of Jambo, I think I will stick with it since DW will probably spend a majority of this trip at the pool and it will make the trip shorter for her. My concern had been the noise from the buses, including the ME buses, that someone mentioned in an earlier review, but it sounds like you haven't noticed this to be a problem.

 

[JoEllen]

There is a nice brand new Super Target not far from Kidani, it was really a neat store.

Thank you Helen. I love Super Targets and thought the only one was off of Orange Blossom road. We'll check it out!

 

[LisaS]

Thanks for the updates. We will be checking in at Kidani on Sunday. I requested a pool view for our Standard View room. Even though I considered something more in the direction of Jambo, I think I will stick with it since DW will probably spend a majority of this trip at the pool and it will make the trip shorter for her. My concern had been the noise from the buses, including the ME buses, that someone mentioned in an earlier review, but it sounds like you haven't noticed this to be a problem.

On our 2-night stay in early May we had a Standard View room, not far from the main entrance. The DME bus was never a problem. The DME luggage truck was noisy but we only heard it if we were out on the balcony. We were in the first room of the second "bead" in the north wing (pool side of the lobby), so that put us a few rooms away from the luggage unloading area. If you were in the first rooms in the first bead, you might be able to hear them unloading luggage because it would be going on right below your room.

 

[AKV707]

When I post the pics, (as soon as I have time) you will see how close we are to the front entrance. We are in the first bead to the right of the front entrance and we hear nothing unless we are on the balcony.. Very peaceful.

 

[marvali]

On our 2-night stay in early May we had a Standard View room, not far from the main entrance. The DME bus was never a problem. The DME luggage truck was noisy but we only heard it if we were out on the balcony. We were in the first room of the second "bead" in the north wing (pool side of the lobby), so that put us a few rooms away from the luggage unloading area. If you were in the first rooms in the first bead, you might be able to hear them unloading luggage because it would be going on right below your room.

When I post the pics, (as soon as I have time) you will see how close we are to the front entrance. We are in the first bead to the right of the front entrance and we hear nothing unless we are on the balcony.. Very peaceful.

Great to hear! I guess I will stick with trying to get DW as close to the pool area as possible.