Is There a Difference Between Kidani Village and Jambo House

Here’s a question I get asked a lot. Is there a difference between Jambo House and Kidani Village? When you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, you’ll book a room at one of these sections. Does your choice matter? Let’s evaluate the subtle distinctions between the two locations.

Is There a Difference?

I’d invite you to go to Disney Vacation Club’s online site and try to book a room. Those of you who have never stayed at Animal Kingdom Villas may be noticing something for the first time. You can check availability at two different Animal Kingdom Villas hotels!

Here’s the strange part. Now, let’s check the DVC Resale Market Points Chart for Animal Kingdom Villas. Similarly, here are the resale listings for Animal Kingdom Villas. What has changed? DVC doesn’t separate its Points Chart or contracts into Jambo House or Kidani Village. One size fits all, so to speak. 

So, if DVC doesn’t distinguish between the two resorts, should you? The answer to this question is entirely in the eye of the beholder. When we first stayed at Animal Kingdom Villas, we were only vaguely aware of the difference. Soon afterward, we learned of the great schism among DVC members. 

To some very passionate owners, there IS a difference between these two options. Anyone who chooses poorly is branded a heretic. I’m mostly joking…but not completely. It’s a very big deal to some, while hardly a consideration to others (like me). 

For the sake of transparency, I’ll go ahead and express my bias in advance. We’ve stayed at both, and I vastly preferred Jambo House. Mine may not be the majority opinion, or if it is, I tend to run into Team Kidani a disproportionate amount. 

The underlying current of all these discussions remains the same, though. DVC members are perhaps more passionate about Animal Kingdom Villas than any other resort, which makes sense. It’s widely considered the family resort in the DVC lineup, meaning that families have made a lifetime of memories here. Since many of them occurred when their children were young, you can imagine how protective they are of their favorite side of the resort. 

What’s the Difference?

Let’s start with the acknowledgment that there are differences between the two sides of Animal Kingdom Villas. You’ll recognize the most obvious one when you enter each lobby. Here’s the one at Kidani Village:

That’s one of the tiniest official Disney hotel lobbies in America, which is fine. When you’re tired and don’t want to walk as much, you’ll appreciate its modest scale. Then, we have the opposite end of the spectrum, the majestic lobby at Jambo House:

We aren’t scoring this particular prize fight, but if we were, Jambo House’s lobby is objectively better. That’s the fascinating part about this debate, though. Some people legitimately prefer the smaller area. 

Along those lines, opinions are divided on the pool front. Kidani Village hosts Samawati Springs Pool, a massive 4,700-square-foot pool, complete with a 128-foot waterslide. You’ll also find a toddler slide and the Uwanja Camp water play area here. 

One thing the video highlights is how colorful and lush the scenery is at this pool. Once again, the Jambo House side makes the Kidani Village one look small, though. Here’s Uzima Springs Pool, which is 11,000 square feet. 

Comparing the Two Options 

I suspect we’ve already hit on the key reason why people are so emphatic about their preferred side of the resort. Jambo House’s amenities dwarf those of Kidani Village in terms of scale. 

For people who prefer a smaller, more measured aesthetic, Kidani Village is superior. Conversely, people who prefer plenty of elbow room may favor Jambo House. I clearly fall in the latter camp, but I’m fine with either one.

As a DVC member, you can enjoy the amenities at both. So, when you want to spend time in the serene Jambo House lobby, feel free! Similarly, the Pool Hopping rules don’t apply to Animal Kingdom Villas guests. You can swim at either Samawati Springs or Uzima Springs. Similarly, you can and should dine at both locations. The fine dining options at Jambo House consist of Jiko – The Cooking Place and Boma – Flavors of Africa. The DVC favorite, The Mara, is also here. Meanwhile, Kidani Village hosts Sanaa, arguably the best of the bunch. Once again, it’s quality vs. quantity, depending on your preference. 

On the hotel room front, opinions are all over the place. In my experience, I give a slight nod to Kidani Village, whose rooms feel a bit more spacious. Also, the Villas feature an additional bathroom, a huge deal to larger traveling parties. 

Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani vs. Jambo 1 Bedroom Villa

Is There Really a Difference?

Finally, we have the savannahs, which are the end-all, be-all of an Animal Kingdom Villa stay for me and mine. Jambo House hosts three distinct savannahs, while Kidani Village houses two of them. This is one spot where I think most would agree that Jambo House is a bit better, as it offers more viewing spots. 

Even that statement is up for debate, though. Some people defiantly favor one hotel option over the over in all categories. Personally, I find the differences largely overblown. As long as you’re staying at this resort, you can enjoy all the amenities. That fact alone separates Animal Kingdom Villas from most other options at Walt Disney World. Your hotel stay becomes a two-for-one combo. 

So, the conversation shouldn’t be about which is the preferred choice, Jambo House or Kidani Village. The better conversation is, “Can anything else in the DVC program match Animal Kingdom, Villas?”

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