Value at Jambo or savannah at kidani?

[lovinpoohbear]

I am second guessing myself. I just changed my 2 bedroom villa value in Jambo to a 2 bedroom Savannah view in Kidani.
I think we will really appreciate the 3 bathrooms since my parents are also traveling with us.
I keep going back and forth thinking of how I used more points for the Savannah view. than I am thinking that I *might* have gotten Savannah view anyway by request if somehtihg was available.
BUT it is my 1st trip as a DVC member and also my DS (turning 6 this trip) birthday trip.
SO what are the pros and cons betwen Jambo and Kidani.
Also do you think the extra points are worth it for the savannah view?
Thanks in advance!

 

[drusba]

Note you can possibly get savanna view with a Jambo value although that is not guaranteed. Personal view: wouldn't stay at AKL without guaranteed savanna view so I consider the points not just worth it but a necessary payment for me to even stay there. Being able to sit out on the porch (drink in hand) and lazily watch the animals meander by is worth every extra point. Sure, you can go to places in the building including main lobby viewing area and see animals but who wants to put on shoes.

That Kidani 2BR is huge in comparison to that value 2BR (over a 200 sq ft difference). What I would recommend is making a request for close to lobby which puts you close to store, restaurant, pool, and bus stop. The reason: Kidani has two wings, north (furthest from Jambo) and south (closest to Jambo). If you have not been there you won't understand how long the building is until you go. I have never been in a hotel like Kidani where the rooms furthest from lobby are seemingly in another county. From the lobby to the end rooms on the north wing is the longest walk down a hallway to nowhere that you will ever experience in a hotel. It is over 1/4 mile and takes 5 minutes normal pace, longer with little ones, and deathly longer with little ones if coming back from a full day at the park; end of south wing is just under 1/4 mile. Close to lobby also means a sunset savanna view (80% of all Kidani savanna view rooms overlook sunset) which has giraffes; Pembe to the north does not.

If you have a car, Kidani is ideal for parking, ground floor under the building and you can park close to an elevator that is fairly close to your room no matter which room you have. Sanaa is a very good restaurant but the only one at Kidani with no counter service restaurant like Jambo. Pool is larger at Jambo and I actually personally prefer it because it has lots of mature bushes and trees and thus lots of shady areas. However, for kids, Kidani has the longer slide and Kids water play area.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Thank you for your response! I decided to keep the Kidani 2 bedroom villa and made a request to be near lobby.
I can't wait for my first DVC vacation, arriving April 12!

 

[ToddyLu]

You will love it. We booked 2 studios SV for DH and I and MIL last year and again this year. She was very impressed and really enjoyed the amenities. I was able to go with my parents in 2008 (stayed at Pop) and will take them to AKV next year--it is there turn. I like being able to do something really nice for them. We miss my FIL and I treasure everything I do with my parents. They are happy staying at Value resorts and will be so excited to see AKV. I just have to make sure they get on the right bus, not the bus to Pop.