Will we like Kidani?

[snoopy5386]

We own at AKV and have always stayed in the value category rooms at Jambo House. Due to a scheduling snafu we are booking late and there are no value rooms available right now. I figure if we are going to book standard view, we should book at Kidani to give it a try, plus the extra bathroom will be nice. We LOVE Jambo house though, love that the value rooms are all close to the elevator, that it only takes a few minutes to get to the lobby, bus stop, pool, Mara, etc. Kidani's size has be worried. Any other Jambo lovers enjoy their stay at Kidani?

 

[kirstenb1]

Our kids love the pool/splash area at Kidani. I also like that it's quiet, and smaller, and most everyone staying there is DVC.

Cons are a lack of fast food, and a smaller gift shop. But the extra bathroom is great, especially in the mornings.

 

[bobbiwoz]

You will also be at the first stop for the busses. That's a plus! For a larger villa than a studio, I have almost always booked Kidani.

 

[drusba]

You mentioned extra bathroom and that means you are getting a 1B or 2BR.That makes all the difference for Kidani. In comparison to the value rooms you have been staying in, you are going to feel you moved up to a palace.Those Kidani rooms are 200 sq ft larger than value 1 and 2BRs and that is a huge difference.

We orginally believed we would never regualrly stay at Kidani when we purchased AKV 6 years ago because we liked Jambo so much paritcularly for the restaurants and pool area which has many places to find shade. Then after Kidani opened we tried a dedicated 2BR savanna view at Kidani and we haven't looked back.The rooms are spacious, the extra bathroom is ideal, and since we usually have a carr, the under-building parking is ideal. The kids water play area is impressive at the Kidani pool and despite having only a table service restaurant, Sanaa is one of the best on site.

You can have very long walks at Kidani to amenities and lobby. That is much less of a risk with standard view than it is for savanna view. If standard, I suggest you request close to community hall or the Timon elevator if you want to be both near the lobby and have the shortest walk to the buses. Otherwise, if you want a better view and the shortest walk to the pool, and don't mind a little longer walk to the lobby, request close to the Rafiki elevator and high floor.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

The only think I like about Jambo is it's connected to the main lodge. I truthfully prefer Kidani, especially if you're comparing savannah views.

 

[southerngirl528]

Another thing some folks don't know is that there is a big AKL van that runs about every 8 minutes between Kidani & Jambo House, free of charge. That extra bathroom is great if you have a 1 bdrm or larger, and all you have to do to get to Jambo is go out and hop on the van!

It is true that Kidani is very large, and some rooms you may feel like you've walked halfway to the Dark Continent before you get to your villa!

 

[chrylaser]

If standard, I suggest you request close to community hall or the Timon elevator if you want to be both near the lobby and have the shortest walk to the buses. Otherwise, if you want a better view and the shortest walk to the pool, and don't mind a little longer walk to the lobby, request close to the Rafiki elevator and high floor.[/QUOTE ] what do you mean about a better view in a Kidani standard? Do some have partial savanna views?

 

[AmyB2006]

What do you mean about a better view in a Kidani standard? Do some have partial savanna views?

I'm curious about this as well. We lucked out at Jambo and got a partial savanna view when we booked our standard.

 

[Jennasis]

We just booked a one bedroom yesterday. We requested to be close to Jambo house. That was our only request. Is that going to be a mistake? We have a1 bedroom Savannah view. We prefer the amenities at jambo house generally.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

We are going in may for the flower festival and it was a tough choice between Kidani For the extra bathroom or beach club for the convince. Ended up with a two bedroom at the beach club. We strayed at Kidani in dec of 2012 in a two bedroom and loved it.

 

[drusba]

If standard, I suggest you request close to community hall or the Timon elevator if you want to be both near the lobby and have the shortest walk to the buses. Otherwise, if you want a better view and the shortest walk to the pool, and don't mind a little longer walk to the lobby, request close to the Rafiki elevator and high floor.[/QUOTE ] what do you mean about a better view in a Kidani standard? Do some have partial savanna views?

Take a look at this map http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/Kindani_Village_Map.jpg The front entrance faces west and the pool is along the north wing. The south wing runs toward Jambo. The red AED signs also show where the six elevators are. A little under half of the standard views are along the south wing starting from near the lobby. All the standards on the south wing are in the first four building units starting from the lobby. Those rooms look out at the bus station, road leading to the front entrance and some small parking lots. The Timon elevator is the one between the second and third building units from the lobby on the south wing.

The standards on the north wing are in the first three building units running from the lobby, a portion and possibly all of the fourth building unit (the breakdown for that building unit has not been clarified), and in the the sixth building unit from the lobby and possibly some in the seventh (that building unit is not yet clarified). The ones in the sixth and possibly seventh building unit are converted savanna to standard view rooms. The outer fence to the savanna there comes close to the building and thus, though animals pass by there, they usually do not stay in that area. You can also see the southern part of the Pembe savanna from the fourth building unit when looking north, and third building unit if looking north but you need high floor to see it. The Rafiki elevator is between the second and third building units on the north. Even without seeing the savanna, those rooms, particularly high floor have a decent view of the pool area and actually a lot of grass and trees before and inside the pool area.