Deciding between visiting Jambo House or Kidani Village for your next trip can be a difficult decision. Both are a part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas and both offer that classic Disney over-the-top vacation experience. On the other hand, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for, one section of the resort may serve your needs better than the other.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the differences between the two sections of this resort in great detail. We’ll provide you with a quick-glance comparison chart that hits all the highlights of the differences between Jambo House and Kidani Village for those of you in a rush to decide, then we will break down each criteria for comparison for those of you who need all the details. Let’s dive right in!
Quick Comparison Chart
We’ve added a comparison chart below that covers many of the main differences between these two sections of Animal Kingdom Villas, and provided some details for each comparison. Depending on the type of vacation you’re looking for, you may find these criteria make all the difference or no difference at all you. It’s completely up to you to decide how to value what each section offers!
Jambo House
Kidani Village
Animal Views & Savannas
Both Jambo House and Kidani Village provide guests with breathtaking views of animals on the surrounding African savannas, and a variety of wildlife for guests to observe from their balconies. For Jambo House, you will need to stay on the 5th or 6th floors, and you will be viewing the Arusha, Sunset, and Uzima savannas, whereas for Kidani Village any floor can offer views of the Sunset and Pembe savannas.
Dining
Both Jambo House and Kidani Village offer a variety of dining locations to choose from. Jambo House offers Boma – Flavors of Africa, Jiko – The Cooking Place, The Mara, and Victoria Falls Lounge. Jambo House is great for those looking to try authentic African dishes as well as traditional American dishes.
Kidani Village offers Sanaa, a restaurant with African-influenced flavors and a variety of Indian dishes, and Sanaa Lounge that serves up unique wines and specialty cocktails.
For those looking for more casual dining options, Jambo House has several quick service locations such as The Mara and the Uzima Pool Bar & Grill, whereas Kidani Village has only one quick service location – The Maji Pool Bar & Grill.
Pools
Between Jambo House and Kidani Village, Animal Kingdom Villas provides a variety of pools for guests to enjoy. Jambo House offers an Uzima Pool, which is the bigger of the two options on the resort, while Kidani Village has Samawati Springs Pool which features a twisting waterslide and a water play area for small children. Both options are great, but families may gravitate to the pool at Kidani Village, and adult-only parties will be better served at Jambo House.
Resort Amenities
Depending on what amenities you’re looking for, each section has their own merits. Jambo House has a much larger gift shop in the impressive Zawadi Marketplace, while Kidani’s Johari Treasures is much smaller. Kidani Village features barbecue grills, tennis, basketball, and shuffleboard, while Jambo House does not. Also, Kidani Village has a Community Hall that offers some affordable arts & crafts projects, pool table, and much more which makes it a great way to bring the whole family together.
Jambo House’s lobby is much larger, with many impressive artifacts to explore, but can get a little busy around check-in time, whereas Kidani Village’s lobby is much smaller with less to see, but is a much more consistently tranquil place to sit and relax.
Both offer an on-site fitness center of their own, but at Jambo House they also offer massage services if you’re looking to be pampered on your vacation.
Resort Maps
Jambo House Resort Map
View Animal Kingdom – Jambo House Resort Map PDF
Kidani Village Resort Map
View Animal Kingdom – Kidani Village Resort Map PDF
Room Types & Sizes
One big difference between the two sections of Animal Kingdom Villas would be the room types that are offered. Jambo House features value rooms which were previously converted from hotel rooms. While these rooms are smaller in square footage, and generally have lower maximum occupancy, they also cost fewer DVC points to book.
Jambo House
Kidani Village
| Section | Room Type | Villa Size (Square Feet) | Sleeps | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jambo | Studio Value | 316 | 4 | 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa |
| Jambo | Studio | 365 | 4 | 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa |
| Kidani | Studio | 366 | 4 | 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa |
| Jambo | 1 Bedroom Value | 629 | 4 | 1 King, 1 Queen Sofa |
| Jambo | 1 Bedroom | 720 | 5 | 1 King, 1 Double Sofa, 1 Chair |
| Kidani | 1 Bedroom | 807 | 5 | 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Chair |
| Jambo | 2 Bedroom Value | 945 | 8 | 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa, 1 Queen Sofa |
| Jambo | 2 Bedroom | 1075 | 9 | 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa, 1 Queen Sofa, 1 Chair |
| Kidani | 2 Bedroom | 1173 | 9 | 1 King, 2 Queens, 1 Queen Sofa, 1 Chair Or 1 King, 1 Queen, 1 Double Sofa, 1 Queen Sofa, 1 Chair |
| Kidani | 3 Bedroom | 2201 | 12 | 1 King, 4 Queens, 1 Queen Sofa |
| Jambo | 3 Bedroom | 2349 | 12 | 1 King, 4 Queen, 1 Queen Sofa |
Transportation & Parking
Both sections of the resort offer self parking and valet parking, and both feature it’s own stop on the bus route into the Walt Disney World theme parks. Jambo House’s self parking is a little farther away from the resort, while Kidani Village’s parking is much closer, which could make a difference if someone in your party has mobility issues.
Kidani Village’s bus stop is the first place on the resort the bus will stop, which means you will be first off the bus when returning as well, while Jambo House’s bus stop is second. Both bus stops are near the lobby of their respective sections, but the hallways at Kidani Village can be longer to traverse if you are not assigned a room that is close to the lobby.
Experience This Resort For Yourself!
Regardless of which one you choose, there’s no doubt that Jambo House and Kidani Village have something for everyone. Both experiences provide a unique way to enjoy the Disney magic and create memories that will last a lifetime. So why not try both? That way, you can get the best of both worlds!
Between the incredible dining, the impeccable service, and unmatched magic, you don’t ever need to second guess planning a trip to Animal Kingdom Villas. If you’d like to view confirmed reservations for rent at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village or confirmed reservations for rent at Jambo House, you can experience Disney’s Deluxe resorts for less, even without being a DVC member! If you’re interested in becoming a member, and joining the DVC family, you can save thousands by shopping from our current resale listings for Animal Kingdom.
Are there any of your favorite parts of this resort that we missed? What are some of your favorite things to do at this resort? Let us know in the comments! As always, stay tuned to the DVC Shop blog for all the latest developments for Disney theme parks and all the information you could ever need about the Disney Vacation Club resorts.
Jambo House
Kidani Village
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
Your article comparing Jambo House and Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was very insightful. The detailed breakdown of the differences between the two properties, including their theming, room types, and amenities, provided valuable information for anyone looking to stay at the resort. I appreciated the emphasis on the unique features of each property, such as Jambo House’s proximity to the main lobby and Kidani Village’s savanna views. This article is a great resource for anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World. Thank you for sharing your insights!