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Post by oldhalfelf on Apr 21, 2023 12:50:37 GMT -5
I endorse most of the foregoing comments. Here are a few other things I feel first-time Kidani visitors should know: 1. The African art collection at Kidani is really interesting, and non-duplicative, floor-to-floor and along the hallways. 2. Sanaa is one of the best places from which to see animals. 3. Sanaa has a fast, not-exorbitant, informal (i.e., order at bar, sit, your food will be brought to your table) breakfast that is easy to overlook. 4. Sanaa chefs are very accommodating to folks with food allergies, whether at table, in the bar, or for carry-out back to your room. If needed, ask. 5. On foot, the distance from Kidani rooms to Jiko, Boma, or the Mara at AKL ranges from longer-than-you-might-think to nearly interstellar.  6. If on arrival you have a chipped windshield from a drive across our glorious country, there is at least one windshield repair service owner with an annual pass (!) who will fix your windshield at Kidani more-or-less independent of weather, due to the ability to do it in covered parking. (Personal experience.) 7. Your balconies, and hence your rooms if you leave the drapes open, will be surveilled by long-range security cameras, as part of the wildlife protection. Shut the room drapes when you are undraped. (Not personal experience.) 8. Also part of the wildlife protection: balloons are not supposed to be allowed at Kidani (which I support), although a Nelsonian "blind eye" is sometimes turned. 9. If someone is on the fence about renting an ECV, the length of the hallways should tip the balance to the affirmative. 10. The interpretive staff members in ranger suits know a lot about the animals -- it is great for both adults and kids to ask questions. Obviously, I am a Kidani fan, as well as owner. YMMV, etc.  |
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Post by tomandrobin on Apr 21, 2023 13:10:17 GMT -5
For kicks and giggles.....I went to Google Earth and measured some DVC resorts. The numbers I am listing below are from Lobby to furthest room/villa.
AKV Kidani - 1085 feet
BWV - 700 feet
BCV - 967 feet
SSR to Congress Park - 2300 feet
VGF - 1240 feet
BRV - 853 feet
BRV Cabins - 1650 feet
Poly - 1500 Feet.
As see above, is no where near the farthest. Surprisingly, Poly is almost 50% longer then AKV, yet you don't hear the complaints. SSR has extensive use of golf carts and internal buses, so its really not a practical issue....no more then staying at OKW.
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Apr 21, 2023 13:19:52 GMT -5
Standard or Savannah? Room size? Just standard studio this time. Trying to save some points for a Christmas trip also. Me, the wife, 4 yr old daughter and 11 yr old son. Not renting a car this trip. We have done Kidani standard too. Save points and time of year due to less light. Sometimes I like standard because I worry too much about what I’m missing with my view. We often had no car as well. |
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Post by mcd on Apr 21, 2023 13:25:50 GMT -5
YES! No offense to the AKV lovers in here, but I stayed at Kidani last year and it SUCKED!! The pool was closed. My room was 2 away from being the farthest possible from the main lobby. My "Savannah View" had a metal fence running across with a gravel road behind that which gave me 1/3 of an actual Savannah View. I had to take a minibus to the main lodge to pick up breakfast for my family each morning (I did find out later that the sit down restaurant at Kidani would allow me to order the same takeout that they had at the main lodge; Oops). It was my worst experience ever staying on property. Even worse than the All Star Reports on our first trip (probably a difference in expectations as well). I am sorry to be so negative. I am used to staying at PVB and BLT. We stayed at AKV because we were with a group of friends. Our family is not big on AK in general other than a couple rides. And things like the pool being closed at Kidani were temporary issues for anyone staying there. Just not my cup of tea and not conducive to how our family does Disney. Kidani's pool is the better of the two. It would be bad not to have it. The view would make me mad too. Though I loathe the All Stars myself but i could see how both things made for a bad stay For sure. It was a combination of bad luck, bad timing, and a difference in what we like when we stay at Disney. But it was enough of an experience that I won't be going back anytime soon. To each their own. I see plenty complaints about the blandness of BLT or the overpricing of PVB for what you get. We all have our preferences. |
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Post by FessParker1 on Apr 21, 2023 13:49:46 GMT -5
There is one row of rooms , standard view, on Pembe Savannah. 7655, 7755, 7855, 7955 a little bit of a walk but you get some animals. We had the 7655 and they slept under our balcony.  |
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Post by oldhalfelf on Apr 21, 2023 14:02:01 GMT -5
For kicks and giggles.....I went to Google Earth and measured some DVC resorts. The numbers I am listing below are from Lobby to furthest room/villa. AKV Kidani - 1085 feet BWV - 700 feet BCV - 967 feet SSR to Congress Park - 2300 feet VGF - 1240 feet BRV - 853 feet BRV Cabins - 1650 feet Poly - 1500 Feet. As see above, is no where near the farthest. Surprisingly, Poly is almost 50% longer then AKV, yet you don't hear the complaints. SSR has extensive use of golf carts and internal buses, so its really not a practical issue....no more then staying at OKW. Great information. Thank you. It would be interesting to know the maximum distance by foot from a Kidani room to Jiko, so I could share it with complaining group members . . . . It would also be interesting to know each resort's maximum distance by hallway to a public restroom! |
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Post by ermindy1133 on Apr 21, 2023 14:10:35 GMT -5
Our first time to stay at Kidani, our room had a different zip code than the lobby...  We've been to Kidani three times; twice we had great locations, and once we were in Jacksonville, or maybe Atlanta. That's how the walk felt after a long day in the parks. Our last visit was a 1BR, and we absolutely loved it. My daughter and I both used the pool, and enjoyed the common areas. I love the lobby and the marketplace more at Jambo, but the animal views are arguably better from the DVC rooms at Kidani. Em had only stayed at Jambo, and she loved Kidani. I'll be there in October for my birthday weekend with a couple of my mousepeeps... |
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Post by johnb on Apr 21, 2023 14:19:43 GMT -5
We've been to Kidani three times; twice we had great locations, and once we were in Jacksonville, or maybe Atlanta. That's how the walk felt after a long day in the parks. Our last visit was a 1BR, and we absolutely loved it. My daughter and I both used the pool, and enjoyed the common areas. I love the lobby and the marketplace more at Jambo, but the animal views are arguably better from the DVC rooms at Kidani. Em had only stayed at Jambo, and she loved Kidani. I'll be there in October for my birthday weekend with a couple of my mousepeeps... We got spoiled our first time at Kidani. 2 b/r, savanna view, lobby level; it was the first 2 b/r off of the lobby. I think it was the most perfect room we've had in all of our trips. |
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Post by capeokw56 on Apr 21, 2023 15:06:42 GMT -5
We just got home yesterday from a week long stay at Kidani. We have stayed at Jambo in the past and I have to say that we liked Kidani better. We had a 2BR villa, #7218, and the location was just perfect. It was close to the bus transportation, close to the lobby, and the savannah view was beautiful with feeding stations nearby. Bus service was great all week, the longest we waited was 5 minutes. I'm not a pool person but the Kidani pool area was spectacular. Lots of tables with umbrellas and rows/areas of chaise lounges all around and plenty of them with shade for us people that burn easily. A pool bar that also serves food, hot tubs, slides, a splash pad for the kiddos, and ping pong. I'm sure that I have left stuff out but I would highly recommend Kidani!
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Post by stellabutterman on Apr 21, 2023 15:17:57 GMT -5
I'm so glad you asked this because it's our first stay at Kidani in October, and I don't know much about Kidani other than what we've seen eating at Sanaa. We've stayed many times at Jambo. We have a savanna studio (it was all that was available, and I was lucky to get it). I'm glad to hear the pool is nice because spend a lot of time at the pool. We've eaten at Sanaa several times, and we always get the bread service. Thanks for asking what I was thinking!
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Post by pooh bears mom on Apr 21, 2023 19:36:07 GMT -5
Love Kidani. not sure what your room size is, but the 1 bedroom has two bathrooms, and the two bedrooms have three bathrooms. The only thing is the hallways go on forever. If you have a car, park as close to the stairway to your room as possible. (I have always had a car when we stayed there) The savannah views are beautiful there!
The bread and different spreads at Saana is the best I have had anywhere!
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Post by FessParker1 on Apr 21, 2023 20:18:36 GMT -5
Another good thing about Kidani is your not restricted to the 5h floor.
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Post by FessParker1 on Apr 21, 2023 21:35:22 GMT -5
If you need to get to Jambo just get on the first bus or shuttle that's not disney springs and it will bring you there.
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Post by eegram on Apr 22, 2023 4:35:21 GMT -5
Kidani is our favorite resort. We love the savannah views. There is nothing better than sitting on the balcony after a long day with a cocktail or beverage and watching the animals.
The pool is our favorite of all the resorts. We also love Sanaa. It is our tradition to have dinner there our first night and the bread service is a must.
We always ask for a room close to the lobby and usually get our request but if not we enjoy the walk anyway.
There is a shuttle that goes between Kidani and Jambo if you don’t want to walk.
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Apr 22, 2023 5:41:44 GMT -5
Value Studio at Jambo on the pool side to the fitness center at Kidani was a 10 minute walk for DH. When Jambo first opened, the fitness center there was not open yet. And, yes, transportation is available. If DH can find his way, I think just about anyone can. I often walk to Kidani to see the animals.
I would always clarify with the bus driver that they are going to the other AKV resort. They can make mistakes.
Some of the bus drivers clarify at the parks that you're going to the resorts and not AK park.
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