waitlist dilema - BLT & AKV, Jambo vs. Kidani

[nuzmom]

Here's what we have booked (based on availability):
Sept 10-14: AKV, Jambo savanna, 2bdr L/O
Sept 14-15: AKV, Kidani std, 2bdr L/O
Sept 15-22: BLT, 2bdr ded

We would like to change resorts only once, so I waitlisted for the night of the 14 at BOTH Jambo (savanna) and BLT. We'll take whichever comes through first. That counts as my 2 waitlists.

I would really like to waitlist for Kidani (savanna) in lieu of the Jambo house, but I can only have 2 waitlists at a time. Any other options?
I am interested in Kidani because:
awesome pool and play area (kids 13 & 8)
might be able to get room close to car (we'll be using a car to get to/from parks)
it's "new"
it's pretty much just DVC (check-in and such)

So, do you think I should leave the waitlists alone and "maybe" try for a Kidani replacement after the night of the 14th comes through?
Will we be just as happy (or happier) with Jambo house?
Should I remove one of the waitlists (which one) and replace the other with a Kidani switch?
I'm really doubt that I will be able to get into Kidani for that chunk of time - what do you think?

Sorry for rambling - I'm just really questioning my plan at the moment.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would do what you're suggesting, hopefully get the one night set either at BLT or Jambo and then waitlist the whole AKV part of the stay at Kidani savannah.

I would call every now and then to see if the whole time at Kidani opens up. Maybe some new inventory will be declared.

Is the standard view available at Kidani for your whole time? You could take that and then just waitlist for savannah view.

Bobbi

 

[bookwormde]

I know calling takes time but if it were me, I would be calling regularly for a dedicated Kidani SV for the 10-15 since that are a lot of them. Also I would check on a 2br L/O for BLT from the 14-22 in what ever view is acceptable to you plus a dedicated in any other view other than the one you have that are acceptable

bookwormde

 

[annhad4]

I would stick with what you have and your wait list sounds like what I would do. We have boys the same age as yours and the pool area at Kidani wasn't that exciting for them. It's about the same size as Jambo's pool and the water play area didn't really hold their interest, the water slide was better though. We had a standard 2 bedroom at Kidani and I just wasn't that impressed. The room was awesome, but I missed the savanna view more than I would have thought. I also missed the lobby and The Mara at Jambo. So, I would say don't feel bad about waiting for another time to try Kidani (with a savanna view) and if you get the wait list for Jambo or BLT and only move once you're a winner. Also, don't forget that you can still use the Kidani pool if you want and there are parking spaces very close to the pool. When we were there I thought it was funny that people driving over from Jambo actually had less of a walk than we did from our room. You'll have a great vacation no matter where you end up.
Ann

 

[nuzmom]

Thanks for the suggestions on calling for the 10-15th for Kidani, savanna view. It really NEVER occurred to me to do that!!! Seriously, I figured, nothing was available when I called, so waitlisting was the only option.

I'm going to go read a bit on Kidani vs. Jambo

annhad4 - what did you miss about the lobby? We haven't stayed at AKVs yet, so we are definitely only doing savanna view - that's the "treat" for us this time. I think my family will really like it, but I'm also excited for my DM, who's 80. She doesn't sleep much and I can picture her spending a lot of time out on the balcony having coffee/reading a book and just enjoying the view/animals. My adult sister is also going with us and just wants to "hang at the pool" the entire trip.

Oh, when I was talking about driving, I meant that I'd like to park the car "close" to the room. I know sometimes it's a "hike" just to get to the car in the mornings/or after a full day at the parks. Seems like Kidani has a lot more "close" parking spaces. Again, we've never stayed there, I'm just "guessing".

Thank you all for your replies!!!!!!!! It really helps!!!!

 

[Claire L]

I was just about the suggest a WL for Kidani Savanna view for 10th - 15th as well, as if any one of the three comes in would only have one move.

Claire

 

[nuzmom]

I was just about the suggest a WL for Kidani Savanna view for 10th - 15th as well, as if any one of the three comes in would only have one move.

Claire

Sice I already have 2 waitlists, I didn't think I could add any more. Can I add a WL for Kidani for the 10-15? Or would it replace one of the others?

 

[bookwormde]

I did not pick up on you driving a car, that is one of the best things about Kidani typically your car is not mare than 200’ (in our case it was less than 100’) plus an elevator ride away and the best thing is that it is not roasting hot from the sun and it does not matter how hard it is storming.

bookwormde

 

[Sandisw]

Sice I already have 2 waitlists, I didn't think I could add any more. Can I add a WL for Kidani for the 10-15? Or would it replace one of the others?

No, 2 wait lists are all you are allowed, so calling to see if the days come through would be a good thing.

I did that for rooms I was waiting on for my August trip. After 2 full weeks of calling every day (since I had 2 WL's for BLT already) to see if anything had changed, they had 2 nights at BCV. So, things change all the time and calling can sometimes help.

Good luck!

 

[annhad4]

Hi Nuzmom,
The Kidani Lobby is beautiful but Jambo is breathtaking. When you walk through the door you just want to stop and take it in. We always spend time in the gift shop during our downtime or walk around and look at things, and Jambo has more to do in that way. It just feels more like a resort than a villa. I really did love both they just had a very different feel. Also the vegetation is full grown at Jambo so there is a more lush tropical feel around the pool. Kidani has the same attention to landscaping it will just take a couple of years for it to grow in like Jambo. I didn't mean to sound like a downer about Kidani I just thought you should feel good about Jambo because I think it is my favorite of the 2. It's true that parking is better at Kidani and there is the extra bathroom that is very convenient. If your DM has any mobility issues please request a room close to an elevator ahead of time because the halls can be very long. Hope I didn't ramble to much.
Ann

 

[nuzmom]

Hi Nuzmom,
The Kidani Lobby is beautiful but Jambo is breathtaking. When you walk through the door you just want to stop and take it in. We always spend time in the gift shop during our downtime or walk around and look at things, and Jambo has more to do in that way. It just feels more like a resort than a villa. I really did love both they just had a very different feel. Also the vegetation is full grown at Jambo so there is a more lush tropical feel around the pool. Kidani has the same attention to landscaping it will just take a couple of years for it to grow in like Jambo. I didn't mean to sound like a downer about Kidani I just thought you should feel good about Jambo because I think it is my favorite of the 2. It's true that parking is better at Kidani and there is the extra bathroom that is very convenient. If your DM has any mobility issues please request a room close to an elevator ahead of time because the halls can be very long. Hope I didn't ramble to much.
Ann

I really appreciate your comments. I don't have a lot of hope that Kidani will come through, so having positive comments about Jambo really help set my mind at ease. The lobby description and the point about the vegetation are good ones.

 

[Claire L]

No, 2 wait lists are all you are allowed, so calling to see if the days come through would be a good thing.

When did the waitlist of 2 maximum come in? I thought you could waitlist for as many as you wanted but as soon as one came through it cancelled any others for that same date? I had 4 waitlists running last year for days that I could not link up!

Claire

 

[bookwormde]

It was the end of february.

bookwormde

 

[Claire L]

It was the end of february.

bookwormde

Oh thats not good as if booking a longer trip sometimes find odd days not available Also cuts down on the chances of actually getting a full trip booked!

Claire

 

[annhad4]

I'm not sure when the wait list policy changed, but it was in place a month ago when we made reservations for November. We had AKV, wait listed BTL and were only able to wait list 2 of the views for BTL. They said we could call and check on the 3rd view if we wanted. BTL came through so now we currently have a res for friends at Jambo and have a wait list for 1 night that wasn't available. We also have a completely different res for us at SSR with a 1 wait list, but that is all we are allowed. So, it doesn't matter how many vacations are lined up you are only allowed 2 total wait lists at a time. Hope that makes sense. I'm not sure if I like it, but that's the new policy and it is the 1st time we have ever had a wait list come through after many times of trying with the old way. Not sure if it is coincidence or if the new system is better.

 

[bookwormde]

There is a lengthily thread about the change from earlier this year. It is clear that while the system of unlimited waitlists was cumbersome and time consuming for MS that instead of having IT design a “good” limited” or “prioritized: system which would have been broadly beneficial to members they did what “was easy” and are now living with the consequences of greatly increased daily calls for room categories that could not be asked for due to the 2 waitlist limit. Just not well thought through.

bookwormde

 

[nuzmom]

I'm so excited (update) - I check on-line and my waitlist came through for the night of the 14th!!!! So, we're now AKV, savanna, 2bdr from the 10-14 and then BLT.

My waitlist dilema is over (sort of). I can now call and waitlist for Kidani in lieu of Jambo - now only to decide it I WANT to do that

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm so excited (update) - I check on-line and my waitlist came through for the night of the 14th!!!! So, we're now AKV, savanna, 2bdr from the 10-14 and then BLT.

My waitlist dilema is over (sort of). I can now call and waitlist for Kidani in lieu of Jambo - now only to decide it I WANT to do that

I love it when things work out!
Bobbi

 

[awilliams4]

As far as Kadani versus Jambo.

Stayed in Jambo last month. One Bedroom.

Kadani's rooms are a little newer, the rooms are a little bigger and you get the extra bathroom.

Even with those advantages, we still plan to stay at the Jambo House the next time we try AKV. (BLT and BCV owners)

The convenience to the Boma and Mara outweighed the Kandani room advantages for us.

Jambo's rooms are also fairly new and we found Jambo's pool to be more enjoyable than Kandani's. We loved the fact that we had two feature pools and did do an entire afternoon at Kandani's area. But the pool is so much smaller and the Jambo pool area (scene really) was much more relaxing and beautiful to us and so much larger that we preferred the Jambo pool.

Walking to the pool at Kadani was no big deal to us. But having to walk to Jambo for breakfast each morning would have been a big deal to us. I doubt we would have been able to enjoy any Mara carry-out on our balcony as the food would have been melted, cold, whatever by the time we walked back to Kadani.

 

[nuzmom]

Well, I waitlisted for Kidani. What sealed it for us - my sister is going with us and will be staying in the 2nd bdrm with our mom. We'd really like a queen bed for her, not the pull-out sofa that the L/O 2bdrm in Jambo have. Her back will thank her and that will make for a happier sister and happier us.

Our boys will stay in the living area and a seperate bathroom for them would be nice!!!

I'm not really concerned with the location of the food options. We do have ADRs at Boma for our first evening, but this is a non-park day, so we're not in any rush. This will give us a chance to also scope out and compare the pool areas. We eat breakfast in our room and also our "light meals" instead of doing counter service.

My family probably won't spend a whole lot of time at the resort pool. We're doing 2 days at the water parks. But, I bet my boys will spend a little time there. My sister will be at the pool quite a bit, but she can try them both and, if she really likes Jambo's pool better, she can walk there.

Thanks for all the input!!! You guys rock!!!!