Animal Kingdom Lodge, Contemporary Resort, or Poly Split Stay?

[aleh021]

Hi everyone!

I am still trying to figure out where to stay for our trip in May - not sure why I keep over thinking it? Lol I just over think things in general anyways. But I am hoping you guys can help me narrow down my choices!

We are 2 adults looking for a 7 night stay - right now our options are...

Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) - Savanna View
Contemporary - Standard View (Garden Wing)
Pop/Polynesian Split Stay - Standard View w/ 2 nights at Pop & 5 nights at Poly

Last time we stayed at Kidani Village and we fell in love with the entire resort and especially wanted to stay at the Jambo House next time we went! But the Magic Kingdom resorts look just as amazing as well!

Also, seeing as how getting a full balcony can be a hit or miss staying at either the Poly or Contemporary is also something that might throw me off just a bit! Nothing to serious but who doesn't love seeing animals in the early morning or just relaxing out in their balcony after a long park day?!

Let me know your thoughts and thank you in advance!

 

[sxeensweet]

Me and DH absolutely love Kidani Village/AKL! The only monorail resort we care for is VIllas @ Grand Floridian that are absolutely gorgeous rooms etc.
We love to visit Poly and Contemporary for dining and shopping etc but that's it.
So my opinion would be out of those three to pick Jambo House/AKL w/Savannah view room. I prefer Kidani over Jambo but still would pick Jambo if my other choices were Poly and Contemp any day. Waking up to the animals on your large balcony can't be beat!! Nothing else like it. We loved the resort so much after staying at Kidani several times we joined DVC and made it our home resort. We do like to stay elsewhere too but not at Poly or Comtemporary usually.
Oh Bay Lake Tower is also an option too. Don't know if you thought of there.

 

[Bairstow]

Unless you've got some specific need for monorail transportation access to justify staying at the contemporary, Jambo House definitely gets my vote.

 

[MaryJaneP]

We see no reason for CR and we love CR. Also hard to see advantage of split stay since cost savings appear to be negligible. Been to poly too and now it sounds even worse. Kidani sounds like the winner to us.

Edit: we mean jambo rather than kidani.

 

[epcotisbest]

Another vote for AKL here. It is a simply beautiful resort with great restaurants and amenities.

 

[mouse_luv]

Jambo would be my first choice, then Contemporary.

 

[aleh021]

Me and DH absolutely love Kidani Village/AKL! The only monorail resort we care for is VIllas @ Grand Floridian that are absolutely gorgeous rooms etc.
We love to visit Poly and Contemporary for dining and shopping etc but that's it.
So my opinion would be out of those three to pick Jambo House/AKL w/Savannah view room. I prefer Kidani over Jambo but still would pick Jambo if my other choices were Poly and Contemp any day. Waking up to the animals on your large balcony can't be beat!! Nothing else like it. We loved the resort so much after staying at Kidani several times we joined DVC and made it our home resort. We do like to stay elsewhere too but not at Poly or Comtemporary usually.
Oh Bay Lake Tower is also an option too. Don't know if you thought of there.

Thank you for convincing me haha, it didnt take to much convincing - just needed that little push! I loved Kidani Village, it was always so quiet and peaceful when we returned from the parks, but our room was honestly the last last room on the loop, even then we didnt mind racing each other down the hallway sometimes (shhh) & enjoying all the art work and walking past those big windows! Just want to mix it up and try the Jambo House this time around

 

[sxeensweet]

Thank you for convincing me haha, it didnt take to much convincing - just needed that little push! I loved Kidani Village, it was always so quiet and peaceful when we returned from the parks, but our room was honestly the last last room on the loop, even then we didnt mind racing each other down the hallway sometimes (shhh) & enjoying all the art work and walking past those big windows! Just want to mix it up and try the Jambo House this time around

You will love it esp being you loved Kidani! We like to try different places too but it's so hard sometimes because we love AKV's so much! Lol. I don't think you will regret choosing Jambo at all. We always visit there even if staying at Kidani to go eat or shop several days. We love Boma for breakfast, Jiko for a signature restaurant, and we love The Mara for a wonderful quick service location. Just a tidbit of you are hungry late The Mara is now open until 1:30am serving flatbread pizzas for the late dining menu. They used to close earlier but it was a welcome change when we got back late and were hungry. Lol

 

[aleh021]

You will love it esp being you loved Kidani! We like to try different places too but it's so hard sometimes because we love AKV's so much! Lol. I don't think you will regret choosing Jambo at all. We always visit there even if staying at Kidani to go eat or shop several days. We love Boma for breakfast, Jiko for a signature restaurant, and we love The Mara for a wonderful quick service location. Just a tidbit of you are hungry late The Mara is now open until 1:30am serving flatbread pizzas for the late dining menu. They used to close earlier but it was a welcome change when we got back late and were hungry. Lol

We wanted to try something new this time around but we just got pulled back to AKV! We honestly love the food there! I know its not for everyone but we cant resist! Especially Boma for breakfast! I can officially say now we've been booked! Now the countdown!

 

[awheartsdw]

We've stayed at all of the resorts you mentioned with the exception of Pop. We stayed at AKL last year for our daughter's 12th birthday for the first time and we absolutely fell in love with it. We sat outside on our balcony and watched the animals have their breakfast or be fed for dinner, we watched the animals in the viewing areas just behind the main lobby, we watched the animals in different savannas in the viewing nooks within the hotel, we couldn't get enough. As grown adults (our daughter excluded) the excitement at seeing a giraffe walk by or a pack of zebras running through the savanna was a sight to behold. We loved The Mara-we ate there every morning. My husband loves Boma (especially on rib night) and as a family we all loved Sanaa-if you've not been I highly recommend. The buses were never an issue. So you sit for 20 minutes to get to MK-who cares, you're in Disney and everyone else you know is likely at work! Have a fantastic trip!

 

[s&k'smom]

I have to admit we stayed at CR last year and loved it. I totally get it's not for everyone but after a week there we rebooked for our next trip. We did go to Boma for dinner and once again dazzled by AKL but with teens wanting to do MK the majority of the time the walk over is awesome.