***The Official AKV Owners And Lovers Thread***. Come And Chat

[Baldy]

If standard view at Kidani, the request to make to have chance of getting a savanna view room is for a room near the Pumbaa elevator, the last elevator on the north wing (the KIdani front entrance faces west). That elevator is between the fifth and sixth building units on the north wing and all the rooms in those two building units on the Pembe savanna side of those building units are standard view but have a direct savanna view of the Pembe savanna. Just note that if you actually get the request, your room will be very far from the lobby area and bus stop. Also, do not expressly request a savanna view room if you have standard view. Just request room near that Pumbaa elevator (if you actually request savanna view with a standard view room, it is likely MS will just reply that you need to reserve savanna view to get it).

Thank you. That is very helpful. We are only going into the parks on one day so that would work for us. We will use the public viewing areas too, but I would be a little disappointed if we had the parking lot view (not that I would say anything because I know it’s a possibility).

 

[pwdebbie]

Hi all, new here. I am not a DVC owner, if that matters. My trip group is myself, my son, my dil, and two grandsons (16 and 9). I have a 2BR Savana view in Kidani reserved in December. My dil's only request when we talked about doing a Disney trip was that she heard there was a resort where you could see giraffes out your window, so I booked our last three nights here. After a week at a moderate resort, I think their family will be happy to spread out a little.

I've watched a number of videos and I see so many varying opinions. I figure everyone here must love the resort, so I'd like to hear from you why you like Kidani. I initially wanted Jambo, but every available 2BR unit was Kidani.

One question: I see a shower stall in the videos, and I see a shower stall on the floorplan and in some of the pictures on the Disney site. Am I 100% assured of getting a shower stall?

 

[CarolynFH]

Hi all, new here. I am not a DVC owner, if that matters. My trip group is myself, my son, my dil, and two grandsons (16 and 9). I have a 2BR Savana view in Kidani reserved in December. My dil's only request when we talked about doing a Disney trip was that she heard there was a resort where you could see giraffes out your window, so I booked our last three nights here. After a week at a moderate resort, I think their family will be happy to spread out a little.

I've watched a number of videos and I see so many varying opinions. I figure everyone here must love the resort, so I'd like to hear from you why you like Kidani. I initially wanted Jambo, but every available 2BR unit was Kidani.

One question: I see a shower stall in the videos, and I see a shower stall on the floorplan and in some of the pictures on the Disney site. Am I 100% assured of getting a shower stall?

First of all, yes, you’re guaranteed a shower stall in the primary bathroom, which has the shower and separate soaking tub. The two secondary bathrooms (in secondary bedroom and off the living room) have the combination tub/showers.

We love Kidani for that extra bathroom, which Jambo doesn’t have, and also for being able to park under the building, near the elevator closest to our room, out of sun and rain. We can use either pool, Kidani or Jambo, and we can travel easily between Kidani and Jambo by using the shuttle or the park buses, if we don’t want to walk.

The big drawback to Kidani is that the hallways are very, very long, literally a third of a mile from the farthest end of each wing to the lobby in the center. Fortunately there are four elevators, so if you have a car you can shorten the walk when you get back from the parks, but if you’re limited to the buses, it can be quite the trek after a long day.

 

[bluecruiser]

My dil's only request when we talked about doing a Disney trip was that she heard there was a resort where you could see giraffes out your window, so I booked our last three nights here.

Make sure you put in a room request for a Sunset Savanna view if you want the opportunity to see giraffes from your room. The odds are with you since the only other savanna at Kidani (Pembe) is much smaller, but it doesn't have any giraffes.

For more information about which animals are on each savanna, here's a good link: https://dvcfan.com/general-dvc/getting-to-know-the-savannas-of-animal-kingdom-villas/

 

[sndral]

Make sure you put in a room request for a Sunset Savanna view if you want the opportunity to see giraffes from your room. The odds are with you since the only other savanna at Kidani (Pembe) is much smaller, but it doesn't have any giraffes.

For more information about which animals are on each savanna, here's a good link: https://dvcfan.com/general-dvc/getting-to-know-the-savannas-of-animal-kingdom-villas/

If staying at Kidani I’d likely make Sunset savanna view my only request, indeed it’s fear of getting a Pembe savanna view that always makes me hesitate to book Kidani .
Interesting link, I’m surprised there’s no mention of the Hartmann’s zebras (part of the AZA breeding program) which are usually on Sunset savanna. Also, there is a Pembe savanna overlook, it’s next to the Kidani pool, you can’t see the entire savanna but you can see part of it.

 

[skier_pete]

Hi all, new here. I am not a DVC owner, if that matters. My trip group is myself, my son, my dil, and two grandsons (16 and 9). I have a 2BR Savana view in Kidani reserved in December. My dil's only request when we talked about doing a Disney trip was that she heard there was a resort where you could see giraffes out your window, so I booked our last three nights here. After a week at a moderate resort, I think their family will be happy to spread out a little.

I've watched a number of videos and I see so many varying opinions. I figure everyone here must love the resort, so I'd like to hear from you why you like Kidani. I initially wanted Jambo, but every available 2BR unit was Kidani.

One question: I see a shower stall in the videos, and I see a shower stall on the floorplan and in some of the pictures on the Disney site. Am I 100% assured of getting a shower stall?

Personnally I think Kidani is better for Savannah views because you can get a lower floor. While overall I prefer Jambo, all the rooms are on the 5th (and 6th) floor so you aren't so close to the animals. Kidani I would suggest requesting Sunset Savannah as others have said and also "lower floor". And yes I would agree seeing Giraffes (and Zebras, and Antelope, and Ostriches) outside your window is one of the coolest things.

One thing to be aware of - they feed the animals in such a way to move them around the savannahs, so while you will get animals outside your windows at some point, they are not ALWAYS outside your window - but on the Sunset Savannah the giraffes will often be in view.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Personnally I think Kidani is better for Savannah views because you can get a lower floor. While overall I prefer Jambo, all the rooms are on the 5th (and 6th) floor so you aren't so close to the animals. Kidani I would suggest requesting Sunset Savannah as others have said and also "lower floor". And yes I would agree seeing Giraffes (and Zebras, and Antelope, and Ostriches) outside your window is one of the coolest things.

One thing to be aware of - they feed the animals in such a way to move them around the savannahs, so while you will get animals outside your windows at some point, they are not ALWAYS outside your window - but on the Sunset Savannah the giraffes will often be in view.

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge at Jambo in August for the first time. I was thinking a higher floor would be easier for views (especially for my Littles), but your comments do make sense

 

[CarolynFH]

I always request low floor at Kidani. This was our Sunset Savanna view from the lowest floor:

 

[Girlstar30]

I always request low floor at Kidani. This was our Sunset Savanna view from the lowest floor:
View attachment 955775

Amazing!!

 

[CarolynFH]

Let me add that because the parking garage is under the building, the lowest floor, where the lobby and the lowest villas are, is actually the second from ground level. But it’s low enough that the tree canopy doesn’t get in the way of viewing the animals.

 

[NVDISFamily]

For the few people who are asking about room locations and requests I'd highly recommend using a interactive map such as - https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-villas

Find the room type you have booked and call the hotel or guest/members services to add a range of specific room requests (room numbers) you want. I've found that after I started to do this I was way happier with the results as as long as I gave enough options (I usually give about 5 room numbers that would work for our family) I 99% get one of those numbers. I will note that this does tend to get you a somewhat later check in from time to time but for me, it's worth it

Before I would do this, my results with give me a room near X were less successful.

 

[Girlstar30]

For the few people who are asking about room locations and requests I'd highly recommend using a interactive map such as - https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-villas

Find the room type you have booked and call the hotel or guest/members services to add a range of specific room requests (room numbers) you want. I've found that after I started to do this I was way happier with the results as as long as I gave enough options (I usually give about 5 room numbers that would work for our family) I 99% get one of those numbers. I will note that this does tend to get you a somewhat later check in from time to time but for me, it's worth it

Before I would do this, my results with give me a room near X were less successful.

Thanks for the advice! Your encouragement before did make me realize that with my points at 3 bedroom grand villa IS possible.

Something i would have never looked at or thought possible before! I am very excited about the possibility a family reunion there in the future

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've never dared request Sunset Savannah at Kidani, although I've always been lucky enough to get it. However Kidani is the one place that always seems to give me the exact opposite of my requests. Twice I requested "near lobby" and of those, once I got the last "pod" on the pool side, the other time I was on the top floor, past the Zazu elevator. Once I asked for "near Timon or Zazu elevators" and got the top floor past the Pumba elevator. They don't have a good record with me and requests.

 

[VGCgroupie]

What is the current policy on grocery delivery? Will they hold it for me if I am at BB?
I don't think they will transfer cold groceries over to BWV for me right? So I was planning I on just ordering shelf stable items.

 

[Doingitagain]

What is the current policy on grocery delivery? Will they hold it for me if I am at BB?
I don't think they will transfer cold groceries over to BWV for me right? So I was planning I on just ordering shelf stable items.

They will transfer shelf stable items. They will store shelf stable, frozen, and refrigerated items. Some people transfer their own cold and frozen foods before going to BB.

 

[VGCgroupie]

They will transfer shelf stable items. They will store shelf stable, cold, and refrigerated items. Some people transfer their own cold and frozen foods before going to BB.

Awesome, thank you

So delivery just delivers to the bell desk?

 

[Doingitagain]

Awesome, thank you

So delivery just delivers to the bell desk?

Yes. Same as grocery delivery. But no guarantee on how late it will get there, so if you need it that day, you may want to transfer yourself.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Me again. My stay is next week so I’ll be done pestering you all with my questions.

Kidani pool vs Jambo pool which is better? Also I got to thinking, if I’m staying Kidani going to the Jambo pool isn’t considered pool hopping right?

 

[bluecruiser]

Me again. My stay is next week so I’ll be done pestering you all with my questions.

Kidani pool vs Jambo pool which is better? Also I got to thinking, if I’m staying Kidani going to the Jambo pool isn’t considered pool hopping right?

You can use either pool regardless of whether you're staying at Kidani or Jambo. I can't speak to which is better since I'm not a big pool user.

 

[drusba]

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge at Jambo in August for the first time. I was thinking a higher floor would be easier for views (especially for my Littles), but your comments do make sense

If you have a reservation through DVC, do not request high or low floor at Jambo. That is pointless because at Jambo all DVC rooms are on the 5th floor, except for club level which are on the 6th floor. At Jambo, our usual request is for a room on the Zebra Trail side of the building, overlooking the Arusha savanna (the one in the middle of the u-shaped building), and away from the lobby (rooms near the lobby do not have the best views). If you get that request, you will have a good savanna view and your room will face west, meaning blinding sun will not be coming into the room in the morning, your balcony will be shaded until afternoon, and you will see pleasant sunsets in the west in the evening. Also, you will be on the side of the building nearest the pool.

Any such requests should be made through MS and then ignore the request page in the online check-in system that you can do before going, because in that system requests are limited, include the pointless high or low floor, and if you make requests through MS and then also do a request through the online check-in system, doing so will wipe out the requests you made through MS.