Day 21
Check-In Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian / Dinner at Jiko – The Cooking Place
September 24th, 2016

I take a lot of photos at Disney! I can never include them all!
All the photos from this day here | Florida 2016 photo collection on Flickr here
WDW-40, 2016: Trip Report Index | Pre-Trip Report



Day 21 of WDW-40 is here! Today we checked out of one Disney Resort, and checked into a different Disney Resort. We also had Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian, and dinner at Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge.


Today we said goodbye to our room at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as our two week stay here had come to an end. We were moving on to our third Disney Resort – Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village for a week. We moved one more time at the very end of our holiday, but more on that then.

When you switch between Disney Resorts you have the option for Disney to move your luggage for you, or you can do it yourself. Since we had some time between checking out at Poly and our Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian, we decided to just do it ourselves. Plus we wanted to have a chat with a Cast Member at Reception.


As I mentioned, we had one more Resort change during this trip – just one night at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. This was because I tacked on an extra day of our holiday quite last minute so that we could be at Walt Disney World for the 45th anniversary on 1st October 2016. I had tried to get the extra night at Animal Kingdom Villas, but they were all booked out. My friend who is also a Disney Vacation Member, suggested we ask when we checked in, as people do back out of their bookings. We asked, but sadly, still all booked. It wasn’t too big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but it would have been handy to save us the move.

My Resort Tour of Kidani Village is going to be so tiny, compared with that of my Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Tour, simply because we didn’t spend much time at the Resort. I think because my brother and his [now] wife would be going home in a few days, we wanted to cram in as much as we could. We didn’t even get a chance to go in the pool! There will be another time, I’m sure.


Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village is the Disney Vacation Club part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It opened in 2009 after the original DVC area in Jambo House (on the 5th and 6th floor) grew in popularity. Guests (DVC and regular) are able to use all the amenities – pools, restaurants etc., at both Jambo House and Kidani Village.

I am going to focus on Kidani Village since that is where we stayed. However, I will just mention about the savannas that surround the buildings of Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is these that really make this Disney Resort stand out from the rest. Across both Kidani and Jambo are four savannas – Sunset Savanna (which bother Kidani and Jambo share views of); Uzima Savanna (for Jambo House) and Pembe Savanna (for Kidani Village).

When booking, you can request a standard view (which is usually of the pool or parking area) or a savanna view. I had wanted to be able to see giraffes from our room, so requested a Sunset Savanna view, however we got a Pembe Savanna view. And while I was a bit crestfallen at that, it doesn’t really matter as there are viewing areas around the whole Resort anyway. That said, I have read that you can only see okapi on the Pembe Savanna, so that makes up for the lack of giraffes!

There was a Wildlife Spotting Guide in our room so that we could check off the animals that we did see – there over 30 different species to see across the four savannas!


Compared with the lobby at Jambo House, Kidani Village’s lobby is small, and a lot smaller than I remembered from our only other visit here in 2014, when we dined at Sanaa. I would also say it is intimate – Kidani Village is a lot quieter, and less busy-feeling than Jambo House.

There is a small gift shop in the lobby area – Jahari Treasures – where you can buy Disney merchandise, as well as groceries and snacks. It is here you can fill up your resort mug (if you have purchased one, or have it on the Disney Dining Plan)


Kidani Village is inspired by the traditional African kraal, the horseshoe-curved design. This gives the building really, really long corridors – and we had a room quite possibly the furthest away from the lobby you could get!

Here is our Resort map below – Kidani Village is on the left. The lobby is in the middle of the two horseshoe buildings, and where the Cast Member put a star next to the circle is where we were… I had requested a room close to the lobby as I knew it was a huge distance between the two, but I guess no rooms were available.

I’d estimate a good 5 – 10 minute walk back to the lobby if you are located at the far end like we were. We didn’t actually time it, but I know it felt like for-ev-er! And being that the laundry room and everything else was back here it does make me wonder why Disney don’t have something else either midway along, or at the other end. There are some vending, and ice machines en route so you don’t have to go far for that.

Bear this in mind when you’re back home from a long day at a park – especially with children, and tired little legs – and more so if you are using Disney Transportation. If you are driving, you should be able to park near to the elevator closes to your room, making the walk a bit shorter.


Parking at Kidani Village is underground, which is awesome in the Floridian heat as you get into a nice cool car when you leave. We parked near the Pumba elevator as that would be the closest to our room.


We stayed in Room 7865, which, as I mentioned overlooked Pembe Savanna. In the distance we could also see the tip of Expedition Everest over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. At night, we could also see fireworks from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – all very awesome!


The rooms have a lovely African feel to them, without feeling to garish or gaudy. White linens on the bed with tribal print accents on cushions and throws, plus the net backdrop behind the headboard. There is artwork on the walls, and the wood of the furniture is a lovely dark colour. The sofa folds out into a bed too. I slept on that a couple of times, as I found myself tossing and turning a lot on the bed and disturbing poor Steve’s sleep.


For some reason there is only one bedside table/unit – this seems to be standard at most Disney Resorts (that we have stayed in at least, except for Poly where there was actually one each!) and this really bugs me! We both wear glasses, and both tend to have a bottle of water next to have a drink during the night, so one of us has to fashion a bedside table with a chair usually.

A good amount of wardrobe and drawer space is available – but if you have a lot of clothes that need hanging up I recommend bringing some cheap hangers to use as there is never enough!

The bathroom has got a small tub with shower, a sink/vanity unit with a huge mirror, and the toilet is behind the door shown below.

Additionally, there is a small kitchen area – I don’t seem to have a photo of it, but the set up is much like we had at Poly with a fridge, microwave and sink.


Animal Kingdom Villas has lots of amazing artwork dotted around which is great to walk around and look at. It’s almost like being at a museum!


Venture outside, and you can view the animals on the savanna – in the evening too with the use of night vision goggles! There is a roaring fire, and rocking chairs dotted around the deck and I do wish we had explored the resort a lot more than we did. We didn’t even see the pool area, let alone go in it. And we didn’t dine here either.


Official check-in time for rooms at Disney Resorts is 4pm, but you can check-in early and leave your bags with the Concierge if your room isn’t ready. Or you might get lucky, and find that your room is ready. Which for us, it was!

According to the time stamps on my photos, we left Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at around midday, got to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village at about 12:15pm, and was in our room by 1:00pm. It was a bit of a whistle-stop as we had to head back to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for our Afternoon Tea reservation at 2:00pm!


Afternoon Tea is held daily from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Entering through the main doors of the Resort, you’ll find the lounge situated opposite you at the back end of the lobby.

I am an Afternoon Tea fiend – I love it! And being British I wanted to see what the American (and Disney) take would be on this most British of traditions. We were shown to our table, which was laid out with floral cups and saucers, as well as a sugar bowl.

We were given menus which laid out the different Afternoon Tea selections available, which were all named after British Counties.

They all had the same main components – a selection of sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and a selection of pastries – as well, of course, your choice of tea. But each selection had something slightly different:

The Yorkshire Tea starts with caviar and accompaniments, and includes two glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, as well as two pots of tea, and of course the main selections noted above. $175 for two to share.

The Berkshire Tea was the same as The Yorkshire Tea, but without the Champagne. $150 for two to share.

The Cheshire Tea starts with a selection of fruit and cheese, followed by the main components, and a pot of tea. $50 per person. You can add on a glass of Champagne for $65.

The Derbyshire Tea has the main components, a glass of Champagne and a pot of tea. $50 per person.

The Bedfordshire Tea has the main components and a pot of tea. $35 per person.

For children there is Mrs. Potts Tea which has assorted sandwiches, a jam tart and assorted pastries. They can have tea, or special “dark” tea which is chocolate milk. $23 per person


We decided to have The Cheshire Tea, and both chose our tea from the large selection available. I can’t tell you what we had now – I didn’t jot it down unfortunately. When our pots of tea arrived, the Cast Member poured our first cup and then placed a tea-cosy on the pot to keep it warm.


The Garden View Lounge » Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Cheshire Tea

First Course...

Selection of exotic fruits and imported cheeses

The fruit on this plate were kiwi, mango, melon and pineapple, as well as some raisins. The cheeses were Stilton, Brie, Cheddar and one more that I can’t remember or identify. We also had a little pot of honeycomb. Neither of us are fans of blue cheese – I should have thought to say we don’t like it as they may well have substituted it for something different.


Second Course...

Medley of Finger Sandwiches accompanied with Berries, Cheese and Lavosh

The sandwiches on this plate were: Egg Mayonnaise, Open Cream Cheese & Beetroot, Chicken Curry, Cucumber & Boursin. There was also a little onion tartlet, a couple of slices of cheese, a piece of lavosh, which is a sesame seed cracker, and a selection of fruit – blueberries, raspberries and red grapes.


The remaining two courses arrived on one of those cake/pastry stands that you always see at Afternoon Tea. There was a plate each with a jam tart, and a scone accompanied by a serving of apricot jam, cream, and lemon curd. The top plate contained a variety of pastries.

Third Course...

Buttery Scone and Jam Tart

I do love a scone with clotted cream and jam. The cream wasn’t clotted sadly, just tasted like ordinary whipped cream. But the apricot jam and the lemon curd were lovely. A bit mean on portion sizes I have to say! Especially as the scone is quite large. The jam tart reminded me of when I used to make jam tarts with my mum when I was a little girl – lovely!


The finale is your choice of pastries, strawberries and creme, or English trifle. We both decided to have the pastries which were some yummy macarons, swan-shaped cream puffs, and a huge chocolate-dipped strawberry (obviously not a pastry!)


Finale

Choice of delicate House-Made Pastries, Strawberries and Creme, or English Trifle

Accompanied by your choice of tea (charge for additional pots of tea)

$50 ($65 to add two glasses of champagne) per person



Afternoon Tea in the UK can be expensive, around the £35-£50 mark (and more) so at $125 total, was a good price. We had a lovely afternoon, and the food was good. It is something we would definitely do again.


After our Afternoon Tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, we headed out to Walmart as we needed a few things. You have to love Walmart because it’s the only place I know that you can buy groceries, aquarium fish, and air guns (and more!) under the same roof!


After our shopping excursion, we headed back to our Resort to unpack properly, and then get ready for dinner at Jiko – The Cooking Place over at Jambo House.

There is a walkway between Kidani Village and Jambo House, but we couldn’t figure it out, so we ended up just driving over there! There is a shuttle bus service between the two resorts if you don’t have a car, and don’t want to walk.


Jiko – The Cooking Place is a Signature Dining Restaurant. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, dining here will cost you two credits per person. We have dined here several times now and really enjoy it. As it is a Signature, there is a smart dress code. I tend to wear a tunic top with leggings, or a dress; Steve tends to wear a pair chinos and a shirt. Ultimately don’t turn up in tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics. Which is the direct guideline from the Disney website.

Because the restaurant is that bit more fancy than the regular restaurants at Walt Disney World, (and pricier too), it’s nice to dress up for the occasion.


Discover a delicious blend of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. Steak, chicken, seafood, vegan and vegetarian dishes are infused with a uniquely bold blend of tantalizing flavors and fragrant spices. – Walt Disney World

Jiko – The Cooking Place » Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House

Starters...

Me: Crispy Bobotie Roll – Beef, Boar, Buffalo, Cucumber Raita, Green Mango Atjar, Honey-Roasted Peanuts ($16)

Him: Charcuterie – Lamb Merguez, Smoked Chicken Rillettes, Mangalica Jamón, Duck Sausage, Accoutrements ($20)

We always seem to have a bread service when dining at a Disney Signature Restaurant – for this evening we had some Ethiopian Beer Bread with Wisconsin Butter.

Steve and I are sharers when it comes to starters/appetisers – and this was no exception. We have had the Bobotie Rolls before, and if a Charcuterie board is on the menu (which it often is) we will opt for that.


Main Course...

Me: Grilled Buffalo Ribeye – Rainbow Swiss Chard, Sweet Peppers, Smoked Bacon, Jiko Slap Chips, Port Wine Emulsion ($55)

Him: Nigerian-Spiced Pork Shank – Brussels Sprouts, Ancient Grains Risotto, Apple Butter ($40)

Side: Braai Macaroni & Cheese – Chakalaka, House-Made Boerewors Sausage, Provolone, Fontina, Gruyère, Asiago ($14)

The food was amazing, and full of wonderful flavours. A visit to Jiko for me isn’t complete without their Mac ‘n’ Cheese – it is so good, and in my opinion the best Mac ‘n’ Cheese at Walt Disney World!


We were too stuffed for dessert, so passed on that, although our server did bring us out a plate with a couple of coconut macaroons with our bill. Both for me since my husband doesn’t like coconut!


After paying our bill we headed back over to Kidani Village for an early-ish night. It was an early one in the morning for our day at Discovery Cove.



Read about the day after:
Day 22: Underwater World »
Discovery Cove

Read about the day before:
Day 20: Robots In Disguise »
Universal Studios / Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe

Read ALL the days!

Fab pictures! Yacht Club has a bedside table each, thankfully! I can't bear it when hotels don't!