Do you know the difference between Kidani Village vs Jambo House?
When deciding where to stay on your next family vacation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, it’s important to understand the differences between these two resorts.
Jambo House is more traditional with luxurious African decor, while Kidani Village has a more modern design with bright colors and fabrics.
Both resorts offer amazing amenities, but there are a few key distinctions that may help you decide which one is right for your family. Keep reading to find out more!
Animal Kingdom Lodge Overview
Nestled in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a truly unique hotel.
Guests can choose to stay in one of the lodge’s many standard rooms or opt for a more luxurious suite.
Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the resort’s lush landscaping and wildlife. In addition to its beautiful accommodations, Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers a variety of on-site amenities, including several restaurants, a gift shop, and an outdoor pool.
And best of all, the lodge is just a bus ride away from all the fun and excitement of the Animal Kingdom theme park.
Kidani Village Overview
Kidani Village is one of the two properties at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
It opened in 2009 and consists of 358 vacation villas across three buildings. Guests staying at Kidani Village have access to all the same amenities as those at the lodge, including the restaurants, gift shop, and outdoor pool.
In addition, Kidani Village also features a separate pool area with a kid-friendly water play area, a full-service spa, and a fitness center.
Jambo House Overview
Jambo House is the other property at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It opened alongside Kidani Village in 2009 and also consists of 358 vacation villas across three buildings.
Like Kidani Village, guests staying at Jambo House have access to all the amenities offered at the lodge. Jambo House also has a separate pool area, and fitness center.
Kidani Village Pros
Kidani Village is one of the most luxurious resorts at Walt Disney World. The villas are spacious and have all the amenities you need, from a full kitchen to a washer and dryer.
The resort is also kid-friendly, with a separate pool and water play area perfect for little ones. And don’t forget about the spa! Kidani Village offers a full-service spa where you can relax and rejuvenate after a long day in the parks.
Bigger Rooms
Studios vary in size from 316-365 square feet, depending on room category and location.
Disney’s Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge provides families with more space than the standard resort room. All studios are a solid 366 sq. ft., whereas other comparable resorts only offer smaller rooms. As you move to larger villas, the size gap becomes even more prominent. For example, Kidani One-Bedroom Villas are 87-178 sq. ft. larger than those at Jambo House and 98-228 sq tickets when they don’t need to be!
Except for the Three-Bedroom Grand Villas at Jambo House, which are 148 sq. ft. larger than Kidani’s rooms, all Kidani rooms are larger.
Multiple Bathrooms
In addition to having bigger bathrooms, guests staying in the One-Bedroom and larger units will have an extra bathroom when compared to Jambo House. For example, One-Bedroom Villas have two bathrooms, and Two-Bedroom Villas have three.
Dedicated 2-bedroom villas
If you’re debating between staying at Jambo House or Kidani Village, know that Kidani offers two-bedroom lock-offs or dedicated villas. The latter can benefit families who’d appreciate an extra queen bed as opposed to another sleeper sofa.
Two Story Grand Villas
If you have a large family, it might be a benefit or a drawback. However, a two-story Grand Villa has two stories of balconies and a lovely two-story window.
It should also be noted that Kidani has both standard and savanna view Grand Villas, whereas Jambo House only has savanna. The standard view allows you to have a Grand Villa for fewer points.
Pool
Between the two, Kidani’s pool is a little more kid-friendly. The Samawati Springs Pool includes a 128-foot water slide, zero-depth entry, and the Uwanja Camp – a water playground with three distinct zones.
Parking
Kidani Village has the only covered parking garage on Disney property, this is fantastic if you want to keep your car from the weather or prevent it from becoming too hot in Florida’s sun.
Views
Kidani has two savannas, The Pembe and the Sunset Savanna.
The Pembe is a tiny savanna in the resort’s front area, which is home to uncommon Okapi.
The primary savanna is the Sunset Savanna. Despite it being shared with Jambo House, we have had some of the finest animal sightings on the Sunset Savanna near Kidani. Giraffes, in particular, seem to like hanging out near the Kidani structure.
To top it all off, the Kidani rooms begin on the second floor, allowing you to get a very close room to the animals.
Sanaa
Sanaa has rapidly become one of my favorite restaurants at Disney since I first visited it some time ago. I would consider it to be in my top five right now. I enjoy the food and atmosphere, and Sanaa is the only restaurant on the property with a view of the savanna. Moreover, being ground level to the savanna makes it even more picturesque.
Jambo House Pros
There are many things to love about Jambo House, but here are just a few reasons:
-The rooms are clean and comfortable, with all of the amenities you need.
-The pool is a great place to relax and cool off, and offers a water slide for kids.
-The restaurant options are varied and delicious, with something for everyone.
-The savannas offer great wildlife viewing opportunities.
And so much more! But where does Jambo House overall win?
Grandeur
I can’t help but inform people about Jambo House’s beauty and grandeur, especially since I now have a dollar for every time I’ve said it. It’s just my nature to do so. When you walk in, there are simply two other resorts on the premises that compare.
The polished concrete floor and exposed brick walls provide a warm atmosphere throughout the year, especially at Christmas. It has a way of pulling you into the African feel so that you’d want to stay there forever.
Bigger Pool
The pool at Jambo House is not only bigger, but it also has a hot tub and kid-friendly slides. If you have kids, this is going to be a big win for you. 11,000 sq ft compared to Kidani’s 4,700. It’s also more wide and open.
Multiple Savannas
Sunset Savanna, Arusha Savanna, and Uzima Savanna are the three savannas at Jambo House. Giraffes may be seen in all three savannas, as well as their vantage points.
There are a ton of animals to explore at Jambo House.
Dining
Jambo House has some of the finest dining available on the property. I would say that The Mara is one of the finest DVC quick-service restaurants in terms of menu and seating capacity. There’s also Boma and Jiko, which are both well-liked and popular.
There are also numerous dining choices available to guests staying here, including lounges/pool bars and restaurants.
Hotel Shop
The Zawadi Marketplace is one of the largest hotel gift shops on site, with a vast selection of mementos, as well as food.
Standard View
Every standard view at Jambo House offers either a pool or a part savanna perspective. When you book standard (value rooms have a small chance of parking lot views), there are no parking lot views available. This is in stark contrast to Kidani, which has numerous parking lot-facing standard views.
Single Story Grand Villas
The Grand Villas at Jambo House are all single-story for those of you who don’t like stairs, and the balconies are significantly larger than Kidani’s Grand Villas. All of the Grand Villas have a view of the savanna, and they each have four bathrooms.
Bus Stop
I say it all the time, and I’m sure it sounds insane to rate a bus stop. Jambo House has the best bus stop section in all of Disney World, in my opinion. It’s big, there are plenty of seats, and it stays covered from beginning to end.
This is due to the fact that transportation is only available by bus, however no resort is free of buses. All main bus stop locations should look this nice.
Winner:
Jambo House
If you’re looking for a big, beautiful resort with more to offer than Kidani Village, then Jambo House is the winner. It’s my favorite, and I think it’s the best choice for most families.
Winner: Rooms
If you’re looking for the best rooms on the property, I would choose Jambo House. The standard rooms offer more amenities than Kidani’s, and the Grand Villas are stunning. You can’t go wrong with either choice, but Jambo House is my pick.
Winner: Pool
In my opinion, the pool at Jambo House is better, but Kidani’s pool is no slouch. It’s still a great choice for families with kids who want to splash around and have fun. I love the bigness of the Jambo House pool and the ambiance.
Winner: Dining
Jambo House has some of the best dinings on the property, hands down. If you’re looking for a resort with great dining options, Jambo House is the way to go.
Winner: Transportation
Jambo House has the best bus stop on the property, in my opinion. It’s big, has plenty of seats, and stays covered from beginning to end. Jambo House is the winner if you’re looking for a resort with great transportation options.
What is the difference between Jambo and Kidani?
So, what’s the difference between Kidani Village and Jambo House?
The biggest difference is that Kidani Village offers more on-site amenities, including a second pool area, a spa, and a quick-service restaurant. Jambo House is more focused on dining and offering a great resort experience.
Kidani Village is also smaller, with only 474 rooms compared to Jambo House’s 944. Jambo House is also more spread out, with a wider variety of room types.
Jambo House also offers a better bus stop, in my opinion. It’s big, has plenty of seats, and stays covered from beginning to end.
The bottom line is that both are great choices for families who want more dining options and a more spacious resort. You can’t go wrong with either one.
Is Boma at Kidani Village or Jambo House?
Boma is located in Kidani Village. It’s a quick-service restaurant that offers African-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
If you’re staying at Jambo House, you can either take the bus to Kidani Village or walk. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Jambo House to Kidani Village.
Is Jiko at Kidani or Jambo?
Jiko is located at Kidani Village. It’s a table-service restaurant that offers African-inspired cuisine for dinner.
Is Kidani Village only DVC?
Yes, Kidani Village is part of the Disney Vacation Club. To stay at Kidani Village, you must stay in a DVC room. You can do so as a member or by renting points from a member.
If you’re trying to decide if Kidani Village or Jambo House is the right choice for your family, we hope this comparison has helped.
Both resorts are beautiful and offer amazing amenities, but Kidani Village takes it up a notch with its unique African theming. Jambo House is perfect for guests who want to be in the heart of all the action, while Kidani Village is great for those looking for a more relaxed and secluded vacation experience.
Whichever resort you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll have an incredible time at Walt Disney World Resort!