Through the first 25 years of Disney Vacation Club's existence, all thirteen of its resort developments have been within the United States. But The Walt Disney Company also operates theme parks and resorts in numerous foreign locales including Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. A destination in Europe or Asia may hold appeal for both current members and those who have not yet committed to DVC.
Kidani Village and Jambo House are the two easiest Disney Vacation Club resorts to compare. They essentially share the same location, same decor and same amenities. And both resorts clearly have their pros and cons.
Disney Vacation Club Member Services fields hundreds of inquiries from owners on a daily basis. Included are room reservation questions & modifications, waitlist requests, special events being celebrated by guests, dining inquries, DVC-sponsored member gatherings and much more. Occasionally DVC is asked to go the extra mile for members. Perhaps a member made a mistake in a room reservation or waitlist request. Or maybe they helped alter vacation plans to include a last minute guest.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas is actually two resorts in one; the Jambo House villas occupy the top two floors of the original lodge while Kidani Village is an entirely separate building which opened in 2009. Highlights of Jambo House include the elaborate lobby, signature restaurant Jiko and the Uzima pool. However, the DVC villas can be a mixed bag due to the fact that they are all converted hotel rooms, many with unique design idiosyncrasies.
Universal Studios Florida has been very aggressive in trying to attract tourists to its resort complex; new attractions, new hotels, new waterpark. But there are challenges to guests looking to venture beyond the "walled garden" that is Walt Disney World. Ticket prices favor extended visits to the Disney Parks. Transportation can be an issue, particularly for those using Disney's Magical Express. And Universal's front-of-the-line service is only available to those staying at their hotels...or willing to pay a steep price.
