Savannah room locations at Kidani village - any choices?

[peacefrogdog]

I booked my first stay at AKV-Kidani for November 2009, requesting a dedicated, savannah view 2-BR.

The guide asked if I had any other preferences. I asked for a higher floor, but otherwise has anyone ever made any specific requests for stays at Kidani? For example, to be close to the pool area, should I ask for something close to the lobby? Or are there other areas worth requesting? Is there word that certain Savannah views will be more preferable than other Savannahs?

 

[ACDSNY]

I recently made our reservations and didn't put any requests in either so I'd like to hear what others have to say too.

We have a dedicated 2 bdrm savanna view for 11/8 - 11/15/09 with an additional studio on 11/14/09 for DS family. I was able to link the two reservations so hopefully we won't be too far apart.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No one is going to really know for sure until the resort actually opens and folks have stayed there.

I'm a little curious why you requested higher floor. We have always enjoyed being on a lower floor at AKL (assume Kidani will be similar) because it gets you closer to the animals.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I agree that I wouldn't ask for a higher floor at AKV.

Bobbi

 

[peacefrogdog]

I had thought that a higher floor would allow more of a broad view of the savannah and thus more animals. But I guess being just a few floors up would be enough, based on the comments here.

Perhaps 3rd floor would be enough?

 

[bobbiwoz]

The public savannah viewing areas in Jambo are on the main lobby floor which is the 3rd, and the outside sitting areas on the second floor. So, yes, I wouldn't go higher than the 3rd if I had the choice.

Bobbi

 

[peacefrogdog]

Does anyone know where the bus stop for Kidani village will be located? Will it be near the centre of the building (i.e. near the lobby)?

 

[spiceycat]

Does anyone know where the bus stop for Kidani village will be located? Will it be near the centre of the building (i.e. near the lobby)?

don't know for sure - but that is a best guess - center part will work for everyone.

 

[LisaS]

Or are there other areas worth requesting? Is there word that certain Savannah views will be more preferable than other Savannahs?

Since you will be going after Sep 2009, the new Pembe Savanna should be open. It is at the far end of Kidani. If I remember correctly, it will not have giraffes but will have some unique animals that no other savanna at AKL/AKV has such as okapi and horn bills. So if you want to be on a savanna with giraffes, request Sunset Savanna and if you want to see the okapi, request the Pembe Savanna. The Pembe Savanna is near the pool as well but will put you as far from Jambo House (walking distance) as you can be so if you plan to spend time there, it might not be the best location.

 

[peacefrogdog]

So to clarify, Pembe will be where the purple arrow is located in this picture, the the Sunset savannah is where the yellow arrow would be, right?

Also, in the image where I have the black X, could that be where the bus stop will be? It looks to be the only area on the picture where it looks like there are more than one driving lane. Although I realize this is just an artists rendering.

 

[LisaS]

So to clarify, Pembe will be where the purple arrow is located in this picture, the the Sunset savannah is where the yellow arrow would be, right?

The Pembe Savanna is on the outside of the curve of the upper end of the building (the same side of the building as the pool). It's a very small savanna that extends from the top of the pool area, around the upper end of the building. It ends where you see the line of trees on your map that touch the corner of the end of the building. The area marked with the purple arrow is part of the Sunset Savanna.

This map made by Monorail Purple&Gold shows the location of the Pembe Savanna:

 

[kristenrice]

I have a question about this map....

It looks like there is pavement right outside the entire "non-savanna" side of the building. Is this parking spacer or a driving lane? It almost looks like there is parking spaces right up to the building. If that is the case, I would certainly take my chances with standard view. I'd love the pool, but a parking lot (NOT a bus route!) would be somewhat tolerable. I wouldn't want a room that the buses are roaring past at 6am! (We're going over spring break so I'm sure that isn't too early).

Also, if those are parking spaces, it would be great to park that close to the building. We will be driving down for this trip so we will have a car. Hmmm...now there is more to consider....

 

[kenman]

There is parking under the hotel.

 

[drusba]

Having stayed in sunset savannah view at Jambo and seeing the Kidani building from that angle, my best guess is that the views from all of the sunset savanna rooms will be just fine. Requests (none of which will be guaranteed) should likely run along the line of lower or upper floor (many prefer the high view but many the the lower view because it is more of direct sight look at the animals). Another request may be to have a room closer to the lobby because I have seen the size of that northern wing and the walk from the end of it to the lobby is going to be more than a 1/4 mile. Depending on what they do with stairways and mid-wing point elevators and access to street in front, another request might become the south wing (the one at the bottom of the picture above that comes closest to Jambo) away from the lobby. If there will be access to the front road/sidewalk area by stairs or elevator in that wing towards Jambo, it may become a requested area because it puts one closer to Jambo (for a walk to its restaurants).

 

[Dizney73]

I booked a 2 bedroom standard lockoff at Kidani this July. Obviously, we will have a great view of the parking lot. There are 7 of us. Looking at all of these maps I just hope I made the right decision to book Kidani based on newness and an extra bathroom. It looks very out of the way from the buses (unless a new stop is put in) and any visit to the Mara is a pretty good walk. Even the new pool seems rather not centrally located for Kidani. I am wondering if I should have booked in Jambo. If I had booked a value in Jambo I might have even had a shot at a better view, right? I hate making decisions. What would you have done???