Problem Solved - A New Year and an Old Problem

Not long ago I wrote about the same old problem. (Click here to read that post.) It is now 2015.  We had wonderful vacations with the Disney Vacation Club in 2014.  But those vacations are now in the past and we have nothing booked for this year.  Well, we now have reservations booked!!

In October, 2015,  we will be staying at a Disney Vacation Club resort for the first time.  We have reservations booked for Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village.

Disney Vacation Club Villas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge opened first as a re-purposed area in the original resort, now called Jambo House.  Two years later the first phase of Kidani Village opened May 1, 2009 with Deluxe Studios and one, two and three bedroom villas.  While we have visited both Jambo House and Kidani Village to dine in their restaurants, only Ridge has actually stayed at the resort.

For our October trip we have booked a Savanna view 2 bedroom villa as well as a standard view deluxe studio.  While the 2 bedroom villa will sleep 9, we booked the extra studio so no one has to sleep on the sofa.  And if we decide to bring an extra friend along there will be plenty of room.

The 2 bedroom villa at Kidani Village sleeps 9 with a king bed in the master bedroom and either 2 queens or a queen bed and sleeper sofa in the second bedroom depending on if you stay in a dedicated 2 bedroom or a 2 bedroom lock-off (a one bedroom villa connected to a deluxe studio).  The living room has a sleeper sofa and a chair that makes into a bed.  Both 1173 square foot 2 bedroom villas have 3 bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.

I have been researching dining choices at Animal Kingdom Villas and Animal Kingdom Lodge. There are several restaurant choices for lunch and dinner.  We have eaten at both Sanaa and Boma. Both are worth repeat visits.  Amy and Andy have been to Jiko and enjoyed dinner there.  There are also pool bars at both Kidani Village and Jambo House that start serving at 11:00 am and go through dinner.  Breakfast is counter service at the Mara or buffet at Boma, both in Jambo House.  So if you want to eat breakfast without venturing out from Kidani Village, you cook in your room or there is always room service.

I hope the weather is nice in October as the pool at Kidani Village sounds wonderful.  Samiwati Springs pool features a 128 foot long slide as well as a zero entry pool. The pool area include Uwanja Camp which is a water playground for kids 4 and up.  At Jambo House is the Uzima Pool, a 11,000 sq foot pool facing the Uzima Savanna.  There are bars and refreshments nearby both pools.

Travel to the parks from Kidani Village is by bus.  It's only about a 10 minute bus ride to the Animal Kingdom Park, but the other parks are about a 30 minute or more bus ride.  I'll probably load Mom's mobility scooter up in the car to go anywhere other than the Animal Kingdom Park.

The big attraction regardless if you are staying in Jambo House or, like us, at Kidani Village is the Savanna view from your room.  Ridge said he took hundreds of photos from his balcony when he stayed here.  Tink and Minnie will be 6 and 4 for this trip and will love watching the animals from the room.  And of course I'll love watching them watch the animals.

It doesn't get much better than being with family at Walt Disney World.

--DisneyDad

Have you stayed at Kidani Village?  Do you have any advice for someone staying there for the first time?