Questions on animal kingdom resort

[Dznypal]

Even though we haven’t yet took our 2024 trip it’s never to esrly to start thinking of 2025. We go the end of Jan.

Anyways we’re just started thinking of switching to animal kingdom lodge.

But as usual I have questions like what is the difference between Jambo. And kindi


Is one better then the other. We’d like of course the savanna view.
Any other tips would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[SL6827]

Jambo has more food options. Kidani has a better pool to me.

 

[aokeefe]

1 and 2 bedroom villas in Kidani have an extra bathroom; which is the sole reason we will pick Kidani over Jambo

 

[john7994]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...rs-thread-come-and-chat.1815576/post-65098722

 

[Simba's Mom]

Boy, can you get different answers from different people-and even the same people at different times! Fortunately the two resorts are close enough to each other to walk to in a few minutes, probably as close as outer rooms are to the main lobby at some resorts. Except for the Disney Springs bus, buses pick up at Kidani before Jambo.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Love the extra bathroom in the Kidani 1BR/2BR. Some of the best resort restaurants on property are located in Jambo. But as mentioned above, you'll have access to both buildings, lobbies, and pools. The underground parking at Kidani near the elevators is really nice, too. Hope you decide to stay there - our favorite resort....

 

[meekey7197]

My 2 cents for this convo is always this: we are AKV owners and always try to book value or club at 11 months. If we can’t get it, we choose Jambo for studio stays and Kidani for larger rooms.

Jambo standard studios will never have a parking lot view and the bathroom is just set up better (IMO). I prefer The sinks outside of the toilet/shower room because I often Stay there with friends.

 

[CarolynFH]

We prefer Kidani because we stay in 1BR, not studios, unless we're short on points. The Kidani 1BR have 2 full bathrooms, which DH loves because he can have a bathroom all to himself. And I won't stay in a Jambo 1BR because of the tub/shower - the rim is too high and too wide for me to get into and out of safely. I have to sit on the rim and swing my legs over, and even that is difficult for me.

I insist on savanna view, too. We move slowly in the mornings, and I love sitting on the balcony with my coffee, watching the animals! If you book Kidani, ask for Sunset savanna to see zebras and giraffes. Pembe savanna has Red River hogs and various antelopes, no zebras or giraffes.

 

[KPeterso]

Love staying at either one. Both have pros and cons that others have shared. When I go solo, I tend to stay at Jambo because I stay in a studio and want extra food options. When I have my mom (and possibly dad), we stay in a 1 bedroom at Kidani. I like staying there with them since the buses (if they are sharing - they don't usually early in the day) picks up Kidani first (except Disney Springs when it picks up Jambo first) and we have mobility devices so it is easier to be first on the bus. Just something to consider if you have a scooter or wheelchair.

 

[crisi]

I believe Kidani is a little easier to book at seven months - but most often you get your choice.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I believe Kidani is a little easier to book at seven months - but most often you get your choice.

Good point. Definitely more DVC rooms at Kidani than Jambo, and that is sometimes important at 7 months.

 

[sndral]

I believe Kidani is a little easier to book at seven months - but most often you get your choice.

Good point. Definitely more DVC rooms at Kidani than Jambo, and that is sometimes important at 7 months.

Although OP’s end of January trip shouldn’t be especially challenging at AKV, Jambo does have fewer villas than Kidani, & it can be especially challenging to get a 1 or 2 br. savanna view villa at Jambo because there are only 33 of them (and only 34 standard views) & they are all lock offs. If you want a studio at Jambo there are an additional 24 dedicated savanna view studios there (but only 14 standard view dedicated studios) - so 57 possible savanna view studios & 33 possible savanna view 1/2 bedrooms are available to book at Jambo.
V. Kidani which has no dedicated studios, but does have 105 savanna view lock offs, so 105 possible savanna view studios/1 br.s/2 br.s and an additional 102 dedicated savanna view 2 br.s.

 

[Simba's Mom]

There's another reason why some may prefer Kidani over Jambo-if you have a refillable mug. At Kidani the refillable mug station is in the gift shop near the exit/entrance to the bus stop. So if you're going to or coming from the park and want to pick up a cold drink, it's almost on your way to stop off and refill your mug. At Jambo, the refill station is much further out of your way.

 

[Princess Merida]

Jambo for a studio because of the lobby and access to restaurants. We still prefer Jambo for a larger room unless we have extended family and need the extra bathroom and then we will choose Kidani. If there is a toddler in my travel party, Kidani has an amazing splash area and that would be my choice. If not, Jambo's pool is very pretty and I love sitting out there with a drink.

 

[Hubalorian]

Buses pick up and drop off first at Kidani

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We plan on staying there next year and are also trying to decide which one to book. The lobby at Jambo is possibly the best in all of Disney World and I keep coming back to that. We’ll be in a 2br so the extra bathroom would be great but coming into that lobby every time we come “home” from the parks would be amazing too.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We plan on staying there next year and are also trying to decide which one to book. The lobby at Jambo is possibly the best in all of Disney World and I keep coming back to that. We’ll be in a 2br so the extra bathroom would be great but coming into that lobby every time we come “home” from the parks would be amazing too.

That lobby really is amazing. What we have usually done, and you might consider - get the 2BR at Kidani and ask for a room in the Zazu area of the resort (closest side of Kidani to Jambo House) - then you have a 5-10 -minute walk to that spectacular lobby!

 

[sndral]

Buses pick up and drop off first at Kidani

Park buses usually pick up & drop off at Kidani first, Jambo second - although @ times they’ll have park buses running directly from Kidani & from Jambo w/out stopping at the other. Disney Springs buses stop at Jambo first, Kidani second. I’ve even occasionally had confused bus drivers coming back late night from the parks reverse the order .
There’s also a small shuttle bus that continuously runs from lobby to lobby between Kidani & Jambo.

 

[Simba's Mom]

That lobby really is amazing. What we have usually done, and you might consider - get the 2BR at Kidani and ask for a room in the Zazu area of the resort (closest side of Kidani to Jambo House) - then you have a 5-10 -minute walk to that spectacular lobby!

I did that once and I was a couple rooms past the Zazu elevator. I think it's closer to the Jambo lobby than the Kidani lobby. I'm not complaining-that's what I'd asked for.
However, this year I'll ask for something a little closer to the Kidani lobby. The order of the bus pick-ups is a higher priority to me.

 

[peabody58]

Kidani has parking under the building!!