What is Kidani Village Missing?

[Mr_Potts]

An earlier post mentioned that the convenience store needs some help. Can anyone give a brief description of what can be purchased? We gave up CL at Jambo for a one-bedroom villa (not members). We really just need milk, cereal and juice. I'd hate to use the online grocery for just that.

Also, is coffee provided with the coffe makers in the villas?

TIA!

You will be happy to know that you can get all of those things and your Mickey coffee at the store. We also bought English muffins, eggs, butter, bowls of peaches--I could go on and on. I thought the selection of groceries was just as good at Kidani as it is at Artist's Palate at SSR. Trust me, during our five night stay from 7/8 to 7/13 we never HAD to walk over to Jambo for breakfast once. That being said, we did have a great breakfast at Boma one morning. The minute we arrived at Kidani we had lunch at Sanaa and loved it. Don't miss the bread service! Another cool thing is that the pool bar has a phone you can use to call Sanaa to get "pool" service of some of their salads and sandwiches. I had their yummy burger served poolside in a Bento box with mango pudding. So elegant I felt like I was at the Beverly Wilshire. Kidani rocks!

 

[Diznee4me]

No one mentioned this so maybe it is just me. As I drove up for the first time to Kidani I pulled in and parked in an unfinished parking garage with pipes along the ceiling. It felt very much "unDisney". Then walking into the lobby, it was so small. Maybe I just had totally different expectations, but... Lastly, the pool area just seemed so claustrophobic. It was so condensed together. I would have liked it to be more spread out. I don't know maybe I just compare it to AKL and I should not. I think I had my hopes up to high and when I parked in a garage it set a negative tone. I guess I should use this as an opportunity to go to Disney again sooner to give Kidani a two out of three chance to win me over. What do you think?

 

[disrailfan]

I agree the store has most things that you need milk, bread, etc. It is a decent slection, they even have beer and wine. More of my concern was the lack of Quick Service meals. We were on the QS Meal plan this last trip and not having any QS options at Kidani was a detrement and almost ended us with having 6 QS meals left over.

I agree with the other poster on the parking garage, also the lack of directional signage in the parking garage was a problem as well. As a DVC member we always do Valet parking, but had I self parked I think I would have been lost.

The pool area is nice but I agree it seemed cramped. Since there is construction still going on behind those big green walls maybe there are plans to open that area up a little better. I was very impressed with the health / workout center even though it is so far away from everything. I felt like I already had my workout before I even got there.

 

[Cmbar]

I have not stayed at Kidani. I visited it last time we were there a few weeks ago. I was very dissappointed with the small feeling and empty feeling. NOW... I didn't adventure enough to find the pool so I can't comment on that. I just gave up and went back to the buses. I was shocked at how small the store was. Also, I would never want to stay here because of lack of CS. If I can't get Jambo we won't be staying at AKL. It is ashame because the rooms and the savanah are beautiful. It just felt so cut off from Jambo and all the excitement of Jambo. I don't understand why they had to make it so separate. All the other DVC resorts that are attached to other resort hotels feel like an attachment as well, but they are not far from the other things.

I guess for us and our kids a Counter Service is vital. It is also one of the reasons we won't stay at Boardwalk. I don't want to cook on vacation at all and I don't want to clean up after my kids eating in the room, so for us we have to stay where there is a food court. That will have to be BLT, Jambo, SSR and VWL. We knew that buying in though. Having a sit down restaurant is great like Sanaa's but I do not want to have to wait to be seated and all that to get breakfast or lunch.

 

[magicaldisney]

Just got back on Saturday from a weeks stay at Kidani. I talked myself into liking it the first day, but when I let myself feel the way I really felt, here are my disappointments.

To echo what has already been said...No counter service and the pool is very nice with a great slide, but way too small. I have a hard time believing it will accomodate a full resort.

Now for other thoughts: (and please, these are only MY opinions)

What the heck is the deal with the bus stop to HS not being covered. Not only does it look weird, but what were they thinking? The look of the resort on the back side (the savanaah side) is very nice looking, however the front looks like an industrial plant (or a prison as I've seen others state . If you didn't have to see the eyesore of the parking area that might help. The walk to Jambo is not appealing. We were at the pool in the morning around 10:00 and in the evening around 9:00 and both times the refillable station for the mugs was closed. The pool is open 24 hours a day, yet the refillable station is open very limited hours. I understand it can't be open if no one can monitor it, but it limits where you can refill your mugs.

There were also many good things about the resort, but this particular thread is asking for things that are lacking. I wanted soooo much to love Kidani, but I will be honest and say it was nice, but I'm not in love.

As a side note. We were told by a couple of different cast members at Kidani that Kidani has more grocery options on site than Jambo does. Don't know if I can truly believe that, but that is what we were told.

 

[paulh]

when SSR first opened there was no TS,but after feedback they put in the turf club.think same will come about with the QS option at akl
Paulh

 

[disrailfan]

when SSR first opened there was no TS,but after feedback they put in the turf club.think same will come about with the QS option at akl
Paulh

We can only hope, but everyone needs to write DVC and let them know. I would have thought I would have gotten a survey in email from the resort by now but have not. I'll probably get left out of the surveys this time.

 

[domiii]

We recently stayed in a GV at Kidani and loved every minute of it. We did not require quick service, as I love to cook and took care of the meals (short order and lengthy meals) so I have no comment on that. But I can see how it would be missed.

My family did feel the pool was small, but I did not get there myself.

DD and I sat at the bar in Sanaa around 9:30/10:00 pm and enjoyed a few drinks, appetizers and dessert. The bartenders were fabulous and we were not rushed or told we could not be there. The kitchen closes at 10, however.

The CMs were all really fantastic. Perhaps since the resort is not 100% complete they scaled down on the amenities?

 

[sixcats]

We stayed at Kidani last week for two days. The room(a 2 bedroom) was the nicest size and layout of any we have stayed at in WDW. We are in a 2 bedroom suite at Boardwalk Inn right now and Kidani was much nicer.

We had no trouble using the bar at Sanaa.I would really love it if they added a small grab and go place. Even a little one! The walk is well marked between the two resorts, but it gets hot. It is super easy to jump on any one of the park busses at Kidani, except Downtown Disney, and go straight to Jambo house. From Jambo house you board a Downtown Disney bus to return to Kidani.

We were in Jambo house for a few days before moving to Kidani. In the future, our first choice will be Kidani.