The Expert
Has been to every Disney park in the world
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2009
- Messages
- 4,428
Just a little background... DH and I have been DVC owners since 2001. We've stayed at every DVC property on site and own at BWV, BLT and AKV. We go at least twice a year, usually just the two of us, but occasionally with our nieces/nephews and their grandparents.
Just got back from a 10-day trip, starting at OKW for three nights, moving to the Contemporary for two, then finishing up at AKV Kidani for five. Now on with the show!
OKW
Got a unit in building 16, close to HH. We hadn't made any requests and were quite pleased with the location. Room was in decent shape, though they desperately need the upcoming renovations. It just looks a little old. No problems with parking or transportation. Online checkin worked out great.
AKV Kidani
This was our first time in Kidani. We love AKL and were among the first to buy when they announced AKV (found our name on the tapestry!). We stayed in a one bedroom villa at Jambo last year and loved it.
The vegetation really needs to grow up around the outside of the buildings at Kidani. It looks like an industrial gymnasium when you drive up with all the green siding. Just awful.
We were worried about having no valet as we use it a lot typically (we always rent a car). However, we found we didn't need it with the convenience of parking under our room. We were very glad to have a car and drive to the parks, because the walk to the lobby was a full six minutes (we timed it) at a pretty brisk pace. We were in 7750, a one bedroom on the 3rd floor in Pumbaa facing the Sunset Savannah.
We went to Sanaa twice (LOVED it), the pool bar twice and made the hike over to Jiko once. Thank goodness for a nice bus driver who took us from Kidani to the Lodge for Jiko! We didn't want to drive as we were going to have wine but were running a bit late, so went by the stop as I had read the park buses go there. One bus was just leaving, empty, so we flagged him to wait. While he was going off duty for the night, he offered to take us to the Lodge. Big points for him! We walked back and it was actually quite pleasant. Took about 10 minutes.
We also spent a few late afternoons at the pool bar looking at the savannah there. It was cool and rainy so not crowded at all and the CMs were fun to talk to. Getting to the pool was pretty confusing the first time, going through the lobby and back outside. Once there we found the route back through the parking garage and that was much better, though they really need to add signage for that if it's going to be an official entrance.
The room was great, and bigger than the one at Jambo, but with just the two of us we didn't ever use the second bathroom. The savannah was just okay. We were smack in the middle and most of the time only saw Ankole Cattle. One afternoon we happened to be at the room and saw several giraffe, a few zebra, some ostrich and saddle billed storks - it was a veritable circle of life out there! But most of the time it was quiet.
Well, the animal activity is quiet. I don't know if it is the more exaggerated U shape of the rooms there or what, but we heard a lot more from our neighbors while outside at Kidani than we ever have at Jambo. People, please don't let your kids yell and scream or make stupid noises at the animals out on the savannah! It was impossible to sit out and watch the animals and just relax. Even people who were attempting to be quiet could be heard in full. I wished they had put out signs or something asking people to be respectful of the animals and their neighbors.
For our purposes, we'll probably stick with Jambo, though we'd go back over to Kidani to eat at Sanaa for sure. We just prefer the layout of the savannahs, having Jiko right there, etc.
I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have!
Kim
Just got back from a 10-day trip, starting at OKW for three nights, moving to the Contemporary for two, then finishing up at AKV Kidani for five. Now on with the show!
OKW
Got a unit in building 16, close to HH. We hadn't made any requests and were quite pleased with the location. Room was in decent shape, though they desperately need the upcoming renovations. It just looks a little old. No problems with parking or transportation. Online checkin worked out great.
AKV Kidani
This was our first time in Kidani. We love AKL and were among the first to buy when they announced AKV (found our name on the tapestry!). We stayed in a one bedroom villa at Jambo last year and loved it.
The vegetation really needs to grow up around the outside of the buildings at Kidani. It looks like an industrial gymnasium when you drive up with all the green siding. Just awful.
We were worried about having no valet as we use it a lot typically (we always rent a car). However, we found we didn't need it with the convenience of parking under our room. We were very glad to have a car and drive to the parks, because the walk to the lobby was a full six minutes (we timed it) at a pretty brisk pace. We were in 7750, a one bedroom on the 3rd floor in Pumbaa facing the Sunset Savannah.
We went to Sanaa twice (LOVED it), the pool bar twice and made the hike over to Jiko once. Thank goodness for a nice bus driver who took us from Kidani to the Lodge for Jiko! We didn't want to drive as we were going to have wine but were running a bit late, so went by the stop as I had read the park buses go there. One bus was just leaving, empty, so we flagged him to wait. While he was going off duty for the night, he offered to take us to the Lodge. Big points for him! We walked back and it was actually quite pleasant. Took about 10 minutes.
We also spent a few late afternoons at the pool bar looking at the savannah there. It was cool and rainy so not crowded at all and the CMs were fun to talk to. Getting to the pool was pretty confusing the first time, going through the lobby and back outside. Once there we found the route back through the parking garage and that was much better, though they really need to add signage for that if it's going to be an official entrance.
The room was great, and bigger than the one at Jambo, but with just the two of us we didn't ever use the second bathroom. The savannah was just okay. We were smack in the middle and most of the time only saw Ankole Cattle. One afternoon we happened to be at the room and saw several giraffe, a few zebra, some ostrich and saddle billed storks - it was a veritable circle of life out there! But most of the time it was quiet.
Well, the animal activity is quiet. I don't know if it is the more exaggerated U shape of the rooms there or what, but we heard a lot more from our neighbors while outside at Kidani than we ever have at Jambo. People, please don't let your kids yell and scream or make stupid noises at the animals out on the savannah! It was impossible to sit out and watch the animals and just relax. Even people who were attempting to be quiet could be heard in full. I wished they had put out signs or something asking people to be respectful of the animals and their neighbors.
For our purposes, we'll probably stick with Jambo, though we'd go back over to Kidani to eat at Sanaa for sure. We just prefer the layout of the savannahs, having Jiko right there, etc.
I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have!
Kim
