When Are Kidani Rooms Being Updated?

[Sparrow'sLady]

Some articles said it was to start late this year, others said it is to be finished by December 2025.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I am waiting with breathless anticipation and hoping new furniture isn't as dark

 

[eticketplease]

Some articles said it was to start late this year, others said it is to be finished by December 2025.

I don’t recall any articles that stated it would be finished this year. There are some older articles stating that the permit was going to expire in December 2025 but I’m sure that will get extended.

@pkrieger2287 article stated it will begin in October 2025 and last 8-9 months to complete

https://dvcfan.com/news/refurbishment-details-announced-for-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/

 

[juxtapose]

I keep hearing they're starting in October. Based on availability when I was booking for November, I'd say they definitely have rooms blocked off in November.

 

[pkrieger2287]

I don’t recall any articles that stated it would be finished this year. There are some older articles stating that the permit was going to expire in December 2025 but I’m sure that will get extended.

@pkrieger2287 article stated it will begin in October 2025 and last 8-9 months to complete

https://dvcfan.com/news/refurbishment-details-announced-for-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/

Funny this conversation happened... I just updated that article. Notice of Commencement was filed yesterday for Kidani with completion for that part anticipated for May 2026.

Work is officially set to begin on the scheduled hard goods refurbishment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village!​

A newly filed notice of commencement confirms the project is underway, with completion expected by May 28, 2026. Jambo House will follow in 2026.

Full details on what's coming to this fan-favorite resort, including brighter rooms and Murphy beds, are in our latest update:
https://dvcfan.com/news/refurbishment-details-announced-for-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/

#DVC #DisneyVacationClub #AnimalKingdomVillas #KidaniVillage #DVCFan #DisneyNews #RefurbishmentUpdate

 

[nlenguyen]

Cannot wait to see the rooms. I am waiting again before trying out at my home resort

 

[Chefnerd]

Our next trip is in September 2026. Looking forward going back to our home resort and trying out these new rooms

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I really hope they improve a few things (like new carpeting and Murphy Beds), but don't go and mess up the amazing theme and feel of the place. It's one of the best themed resorts left.....

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I am waiting with breathless anticipation and hoping new furniture isn't as dark

In the articles I read, it said the plan was to lighten up the rooms.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I really hope they improve a few things (like new carpeting and Murphy Beds), but don't go and mess up the amazing theme and feel of the place. It's one of the best themed resorts left.....

What I read, and of course anything is subject to change, they will have a Murphy bed, get rid of that nasty carpet, lighten up the room and a few other things, but the theming will stay true to Animal Kingdom Lodge/Jambo/Kidani.

 

[nlenguyen]

I am sure they do not want to brighten up the rooms too much. If they are too bright, can't it impact the animals at night?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I am sure they do not want to brighten up the rooms too much. If they are too bright, can't it impact the animals at night?

I don't think it will impact the animals, but I'm afraid it could impact the theming. Hope they find a solid middle to 'brightness' and AKL theming.....

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I am sure they do not want to brighten up the rooms too much. If they are too bright, can't it impact the animals at night?

What animal is going in your room at night?

 

[eticketplease]

What animal is going in your room at night?

I think PP might be thinking of a situation like at VB where we are asked to turn lights off and make sure to draw the curtains so that the baby turtles don't come up towards the resort.

 

[sndral]

At the condo association meeting for AKV held in Dec. 2024, the board said Kidani was tentatively scheduled to begin refurb. in Oct. 2025, & it is expected to take 9 months. https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/ani...illas-december-2024-condominium-meeting-recap
Because both Kidani & Jambo are way overdo for refurbs - it’ll be 9 years since Kidani had it’s soft good refurb & it’ll be 10 years for Jambo - when a permit for general construction at Kidani was pulled late last year w/ an end date of Dec. 2026 I read speculation that AKV’s refurb was starting soon, however that didn’t happen & to finish by 12/25, they should have started last month which they didn’t.

Funny this conversation happened... I just updated that article. Notice of Commencement was filed yesterday for Kidani with completion for that part anticipated for May 2026.

Work is officially set to begin on the scheduled hard goods refurbishment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village!​

A newly filed notice of commencement confirms the project is underway, with completion expected by May 28, 2026. Jambo House will follow in 2026.

Full details on what's coming to this fan-favorite resort, including brighter rooms and Murphy beds, are in our latest update:
https://dvcfan.com/news/refurbishment-details-announced-for-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas/

#DVC #DisneyVacationClub #AnimalKingdomVillas #KidaniVillage #DVCFan #DisneyNews #RefurbishmentUpdate

This is the 4th general construction permit Barton Marlow has pulled for Kidani in the last 8 months, so they must be doing something there, I’m just not sure it’s the Villas refurb since that’s not due to start for another 4 months .

 

[aoconnor]

I have faith they will do a decent job in the rooms but what scares me is the mention of renovating the lobby to "match the refreshed look and feel of the rooms". The lobby is so goregous, it would be awful if they paint it all beige and add modern furniture.

 

[Cfabar1]

I have faith they will do a decent job in the rooms but what scares me is the mention of renovating the lobby to "match the refreshed look and feel of the rooms". The lobby is so goregous, it would be awful if they paint it all beige and add modern furniture.

I am hopeful they don't mess with it too much as well...

Personally I don't mind the dark furniture, and I suspect many people would buy second-hand the Lion King Themed Dining Chairs...

The bigger issue I have noticed with the hard-goods renovations is that they're not willing to usually take a look at floor plans and meaningfully adjust/modify. I think that is likely to impact the success of this renovation more than anything as the bathroom off the master feels oversized and like there is a waste of space in the current configuration. The Kitchen could use some adjustment too...

 

[Leight19]

My wish list is for them to upgrade the studio with the little bed under tv so they can sleep 5. My understanding is beach club, boardwalk, and boulder ridge were originally 4 person studios but when the hard goods refurb was conducted years ago they upgraded.

Akv is bigger sq ft then these and this is first hard goods refurb so my fingers are crossed (im actually questioning myself now, did akv really go 18 years without hard good refurb? That’s absurd if true).

That said Disney today isn’t exactly classic disney so I’m not optimistic they go out of way to improve rooms this way. Howeve they did upgrade ssr and okw 1br to 5 recently so….. haha

 

[eticketplease]

My wish list is for them to upgrade the studio with the little bed under tv so they can sleep 5. My understanding is beach club, boardwalk, and boulder ridge were originally 4 person studios but when the hard goods refurb was conducted years ago they upgraded.

That is correct.

That would be nice if that happens but I'm not holding my breath.
Kidani is 10 SQ Ft larger than BCV & BRV and Jambo is 9 SQ Ft larger.
SSR is 1 SQ Ft less than BCV & BRV but did not have it added to that resort during its refurb (Although it was added the the 1 bedroom)
HHI which is the largest studio at 455 SQ ft also did not receive the flip down twin although it did swap the pull out couch for the flip down murphy as we have come to expect with the refurbs.