Refurbishment Timeline Announced for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas!

[erionm]

We just booked a 1BR in May so I'm hoping for a refurbed room. Love the way the rooms were themed, and pray they keep the Lion King decor and maybe add Jungle Book or something if anything. I also liked our new BRV after refurb so if they stay on those same lines, I'll be happy. Just do NOT touch my bathroom, it's my sanctuary.

Kidani Village is currently targeted to be complete in May 2026. The Kidani VIllage refurbishment would have to be significantly delayed for you to not get a refurbished room at that time. The Jambo House refurbishment starts after Kidani Village is complete.

 

[Girlstar30]

We just booked a 1BR in May so I'm hoping for a refurbed room. Love the way the rooms were themed, and pray they keep the Lion King decor and maybe add Jungle Book or something if anything. I also liked our new BRV after refurb so if they stay on those same lines, I'll be happy. Just do NOT touch my bathroom, it's my sanctuary.

I would love jungle book

 

[MyDogTink]

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/ani...dani-village-begins-months-long-refurbishment

 

[davidhr]

Can’t wait to see how the update looks. I’ve been postponing stays there for the past year but can’t wait to go back.

 

[PlutoNotPlanet]

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/ani...dani-village-begins-months-long-refurbishment

Short summary:
Now under construction: all villas on all floors on the south side of the Kidani lobby (the side closest to Jambo House)
Tentative plan: release some refurbed room early 2026 Jan, then start on the north side

 

[MyDogTink]

I wonder if refurbished rooms will be available early April.

 

[erionm]

I wonder if refurbished rooms will be available early April.

Yes. The Kidani Village refurbishment is currently targeted to be complete in May 2026. Any rooms not yet finished in Kidani Village would be blocked out and only refurbished rooms available for occupancy.

 

[MyDogTink]

Yes. The Kidani Village refurbishment is currently targeted to be complete in May 2026. Any rooms not yet finished in Kidani Village would be blocked out and only refurbished rooms available for occupancy.

That’s what I was thinking. Only concern is getting bumped for an unforeseen refurbishment event. I’m thinking of the BWV refurbishment; although the BLT refurbishment seemed to go smoothly.

 

[Brian Noble]

I admit, I am surprised that they took out an entire wing all at once, rather than going floor-by-floor. Maybe the hard goods work is too disruptive to allow it to go on above or below an occupied floor? But still---having half of the resort offline for three months is a *lot*.

 

[sndral]

Wow, half of Kidani down at once for the refurb., now I understand why we always got a seat on the park buses we caught at Jambo last week - Kidani was at 50% capacity . The Kidani pool also wasn’t overly crowded the one hot afternoon we ventured over there to swim.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

So agree. We would like to see the Murphy Beds, but please don't ruin the theming by brightening the rooms too much. It's not supposed to be the beach/shore feel like at BCV......

I remember when it opened and people complained about it being dark. We were told then it was for the animals. The rooms around the savannah need to be more dark, the light interferes with the animals natural circadian rhythms, etc. That should still apply. I think all the dark wood, and hand carved doors and furniture is beautiful.
I don't want them to change any of that. I am for the Murphy beds.

 

[muppets3d]

I admit, I am surprised that they took out an entire wing all at once, rather than going floor-by-floor. Maybe the hard goods work is too disruptive to allow it to go on above or below an occupied floor? But still---having half of the resort offline for three months is a *lot*.

They probably want to use the parking areas as a staging area, and the only way to do that without really inconveniencing guests is to shut down an entire wing. The good thing is this means they can get it done faster because the workers won't have to work around guests.

 

[nuhusky123]

Wonder how they will handle jambo. Work around guests or follow kidani and shut jambo down entirely.

 

[muppets3d]

Wonder how they will handle jambo. Work around guests or follow kidani and shut jambo down entirely.

I would guess they shut down half the building at a time. The DVC rooms are only on the 5th and 6th floors. The rest of the building is cash rooms and have already been recently refurbished.

 

[PlutoNotPlanet]

How are guests at Kidani accessing pool and food at Jambo. (I know there is an internal shuttle.) Is there another walkway?

 

[Hubalorian]

How are guests at Kidani accessing pool and food at Jambo. (I know there is an internal shuttle.) Is there another walkway?

Yes, you can outside from one resort to the next

 

[MattB2G]

I hope they don't start on Jambo House early, we have an April 2026 reservation for the middle of the month.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Wow, nearly half the rooms down for refurb at once? That's not the approach I thought they'd take, but it's good to know. Not going to make for the most memorable stay at Kidani in December this year, but we knew this was coming - and welcome the refurb. Glad it has finally started - that much closer to finishing.....

 

[juxtapose]

Do we think the Jambo refurb will make getting club level almost impossible next fall? I'd love to go in October, but we want a 1-bedroom club level. We can push it to January or February if that is easier. March would be my preferred time as the refurb should be done but we lose 14 points if we don't use them be end of February. We've never gone for club level at 11 months so I'm not sure what to expect.

 

[erionm]

Do we think the Jambo refurb will make getting club level almost impossible next fall? I'd love to go in October, but we want a 1-bedroom club level. We can push it to January or February if that is easier. March would be my preferred time as the refurb should be done but we lose 14 points if we don't use them be end of February. We've never gone for club level at 11 months so I'm not sure what to expect.

AKV Club Level can already be difficult to get. There are only FIVE 2-bedroom lock-offs that make up the DVC portion of Club Level at AKV.