Should I stay at Jambo or Kidani?

[helloconnie]

I am a new DVC member with a home resort of BLT. We are planning a big family trip next Fall to BLT but I wanted to take my two young sons (4 and 1 at the time of travel) and my sister and stay at AKV for a long weekend in the Spring. So, the question I have is which house should we request, Jambo or Kidani?

Which has the best views of the Savannah?

What animals do you see at each?

Can you request lower floors for best viewing at each?

Which has the best pool?

Best Dining?

What is the walking distance to get to transportation for each? Is it bus service to MK? How long of a ride?

Any feedback / recommendations you have to offer would be greatly appreciated!

 

[dizfan]

Best Dining?

Jambo has better dining choices:
Jiko's for fine dining.
Boma's for great breakfast and dinner buffets.
Mara's for counter service.

Kidani is rather limited for restaurants:
Sanaa for a table service restaurant
I think people have mentioned a few sandwich/snack options at the Kidani pool bar.

 

[DebbieB]

Are you staying in a 1 or 2 bedroom? Kidani's rooms are much larger and have an extra bathroom. All the DVC rooms at Jambo are on the 5th floor except conceirge which is on 6. Rooms at Kidani are on 2 to 5. The bus stops first at Kidani, when I was there in June some people were left at the curb at Jambo at peak times. If you have a car, the garage at Kidani is very convenient, it's on the ground level under the rooms, you can take an elevator straight up to your floor without going to the lobby.

 

[Donald is #1]

First the qualifier: I have only stayed at Jambo, so my Kidani knowledge is from reading posts.

Which has the best views of the Savannah?
They both have excellent views. You can get a lower floor at Kidani. So if you prefer to be closer than the plus goes to Kidani. If you prefer a higher view, then either building will be good.


What animals do you see at each?

I can't remember the list, but there are giraffes, zebras, anakoli cattle, gazelles, ostriches, etc. However, not all animals are on all savannas. There are 4 different savannas:
Uzima - Jambo
Arusha - Jambo
Sunset - Jambo & Kidani
Pemble - Kidani


Can you request lower floors for best viewing at each?
You can only do this at Kidani since the AKV rooms at Jambo are on the 5th floor (or 6th if you book CL). Also it is only a request so you many not get it.


Which has the best pool?

I don't know this one.


Best Dining?

Definitely Jambo since there are more choices


What is the walking distance to get to transportation for each? Is it bus service to MK? How long of a ride?
All parks have bus service from AKL/V. The ride to MK is probably 20 minutes not counting the time that you are loading the bus at the 2 stops.

 

[Glite]

I heard Jambo has the best view of the animals. I heard that it is best to reuest a room closest to the lobby or to the right of the lobby which I believe is called Timon Building. Have fun!

 

[CapeCodFam]

Jambo and Kidani both share a savanna. But, Jambo also has its' own that we looked out from too. They're both comparable and animals roam free to wherever they please.

Kidani has a wonderful children's water play area that Jambo doesn't have. It also had shaded seats for parents watching their kids play.

Jambo dining options and lobby are better. There is no counter service at Kidani and the pool bar, while the food is good, has limited choices.

walking to transportation is about the same. But, park buses stop at Kidani first and then Jambo. Chances of getting a seat from Jambo are less.

Kidani has some great balcony viewing spots from community hall and the library.

Kidani rooms are slightly bigger.

 

[helloconnie]

Thanks everyone for your relpies. Another question...

How far is the walk from Kidani to the restaurants at Jambo?

 

[MagicMouseketeers]

It depends on what part of Kidani your in. My children (DS15 adnd DS 15) make the walk from lobby to lobby in about 5 minutes. This would be less if you were in the wing of Kidani that's closer to Jambo house.

 

[maznorm]

Can you use the children's water play area at Kidani if you are staying at Jambo?

 

[simmons_m]

Yes, you can use both pools.

Does anybody have a recommendation on room location requests for Jambo? We have a Savana view planned in '10, with a request for Arusha on the zebra trail. Is this the right request?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[yandbfan]

Qualifier: Stayed at Jambo club level and explored Kidani area. I did not see inside Kidani rooms.

Jambo's public areas seem much more alive and active. Jambo's lobby was much bigger, and has a much nicer gift shop. Kidani has a more intimate lobby area.

Jambo has more places to eat.

Kidani has some very nice art in niches throughout the hallways. Jambo as some very impressive large art pieces.

Both public animal viewing areas are very nice and you have several choices.

 

[jodifla]

I think Kidani's rooms are nicer than Jambo's, since Jambo's had to be retrofitted.

BUT, we are getting ready for our first Jambo viisit. I wanted to be where the ACTION is....the kids' club, the restaurants, the bars.

We'll try Kidani down the road.

 

[jerseygal]

Already have Jambo Concierge booked for spring 2010!

Were you pleased with Concierge food? This is a tough one..Would love to try Concierge, but Kidani appeals as well!

Any thoughts would be appreciated! We don't mind walking and are planning to go mid April so hopefully the weather won't be "dripping with humidity"..

Have already seen pics in the past of concierge food selection! Looks awesome, so I'm leaning toward trying that! The "newness" of Kidani appeals also though.. Thoughts?

Thanks so much for any input!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I have stayed in Jambo several times, and will stay in Kidani for the first time in October.
That said, I have explored Kidani and it looked as though the views of the animals were much better. I can't really put my finger on why. They both look directly at the savanna, but the giraffes (and other animals) at Kidani seem to walk very close to the viewing areas. At Jambo they always seem to be in the distance.
The viewing areas at Kidani seem to be "part of the savanna" vs "looking at the savanna".
I know it sounds strange, but we think Kidani is better for viewing animals.

MG

 

[yandbfan]

Already have Jambo Concierge booked for spring 2010!

Were you pleased with Concierge food? This is a tough one..Would love to try Concierge, but Kidani appeals as well!

Any thoughts would be appreciated! We don't mind walking and are planning to go mid April so hopefully the weather won't be "dripping with humidity"..

Have already seen pics in the past of concierge food selection! Looks awesome, so I'm leaning toward trying that! The "newness" of Kidani appeals also though.. Thoughts?

Thanks so much for any input!

Hi Jerseygal:


We especially enjoyed the "African Smoothie" which was off to one side near the fridge for the beer, wine and soda. It was great with ice. I think there was banana and maybe coconut milk in the drink.

We had breakfast there before hitting the parks and the oatmeal and some something that reminded me grits was very good as well with some brown sugar and blueberries. The fruit and the pastries were very fresh.

I can't comment on the mid-day servings but the late night snacks were very good as well. The desserts were very good.

We were on the top floor and the only thing that bothered my wife was that there were hornets in the thatching of the roof that were buzzing around on the balcony. The hotel service was very attentive and sent someone up to spray less than a 1/2 hour after the call was made.

We had a one bedroom with only the one bathroom. We are used to BCV one rooms so we were surprised at the extra space in the kitchen area. I have walked through the display of the Kidani one bedroom so I know that is very large and for a family that extra bathroom is great.

We could look down on the lobby from the open hallway to our room. It is a really nice view. The eating area is very nice as well and there seem to be enough tables and chairs for everyone.

Having the private check-in service is terrific.

We took a walk to the Kidani pool. It was quite a hike.

Hope some of this helps. And have a great time.

 

[yandbfan]

PS:

Hi Jeserygal:

One other thing. There was this lamb or goat ground sausage thing on a stick with a dipping sauce. My son and I loved it. My wife and daughter were totally grossed out. If you are adventurous try it. It tastes better than is sounds