Kidani Village Lobby Refurbishment: Full Closure Schedule

The lobby at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village is getting a significant refurbishment starting August 17, 2026, and this one runs into November. The Kidani Village lobby refurbishment happens in phases, with different areas closing at different times.

This is a larger project than the previously announced Johari Treasures closure. Check-in relocates. Community Hall closes. The arcade, the laundry room, and lobby restrooms all go offline for stretches.

If you have a Kidani stay booked between mid-August and early November, here’s the full breakdown of what’s closing and when.

Quick Summary

• The Kidani Village lobby refurbishment starts August 17, 2026 and wraps in early November
• Main lobby and primary entrance close August 17 through October 9
• Check-in moves to the Palace Library during that stretch
• Johari Treasures closes August 17–28
• North side lobby corridor closes September 28 through October 9
• South side lobby corridor closes October 26 through November 6, taking Community Hall, the arcade, laundry, and restrooms with it
• Expect visible and audible construction during the day

Main Lobby and Entrance: August 17 – October 9

The main lobby and primary entrance close for this stretch. Check-in moves to the Palace Library during this time.

Nearly two months without the main entrance is the headline. If you’ve stayed at Kidani before, you know the lobby is a genuine highlight — the carved detail, the lighting, the sense of arrival. Losing it for most of your stay is a real subtraction from the experience.

The Palace Library is a smaller space and a functional substitute, not an equivalent one. Expect check-in to feel more like a desk transaction and less like an arrival moment.

Practical note: confirm your arrival instructions before you drive up. Bell Services and valet routing may shift during the entrance closure.

Johari Treasures: August 17 – 28

The gift shop closes for these two weeks. Normal hours return August 29.

Johari Treasures carries Animal Kingdom Lodge merchandise, snacks, and sundries. During the closure, Zawadi Marketplace at Jambo House is your nearest alternative — a walk or an internal shuttle ride away.

North Side Lobby Corridor: September 28 – October 9

This closure includes:

• North side lobby elevators on the second floor
• Outdoor terrace observation deck

The elevator closure is the one to plan around. If you’re assigned a room on the north side, confirm your walking route from the working elevators before you haul luggage down a long corridor. Kidani is a long building.

The outdoor terrace observation deck is one of the better savanna viewing spots at the resort. Losing it for twelve days in early October is unfortunate timing, since that’s some of the best weather of the year for standing outside in Florida.

South Side Lobby Corridor: October 26 – November 6

This is the phase that affects the most guest amenities at once:

• Community Hall
• Safari So Good Arcade
• The laundry room
• The Palace Library
• Lobby restrooms
• Outdoor terrace observation deck

This Phase Is the One to Avoid

Read that list again. Community Hall, the arcade, and the laundry room all closing simultaneously is a meaningful hit for families on a longer stay.

Community Hall is where you check out DVD movies, board games, and pool equipment, and where kids’ activities run. Families with young children use it constantly.

The laundry room matters for anyone staying more than a few days. Kidani villas have in-unit washers and dryers in the one-bedroom and larger villas, but studio guests rely on the shared laundry room. If you’re in a studio during this window, plan accordingly.

The Palace Library closes here too — which is notable because it served as the check-in location during the earlier phase. Check-in arrangements will shift again for this stretch.

Note the outdoor terrace observation deck appears in both the north and south corridor phases. Between September 28 and November 6, expect limited access to that viewing area.

What to Expect During Your Stay

Disney says guests may see or hear construction in the lobby area during the day, including periods of noticeable noise, until the project finishes in early November.

That’s more direct than Disney’s usual language on refurbishments. “Periods of noticeable noise” is a warning, not boilerplate.

A few things that help:

• Request a room away from the lobby at booking. It costs nothing to ask, and Kidani is long enough that distance genuinely helps.
• Plan savanna viewing from your room balcony. Every Kidani villa has one, and the terrace deck is unavailable for chunks of this window.
• Sanaa is unaffected. The restaurant, the pool, and the savanna viewing areas along the trail remain open.
• Consider Jambo House. If you’re booking new and flexible on which side of Animal Kingdom Lodge you stay, Jambo House avoids all of this.

Should You Cancel a Kidani Booking?

Probably not, but be honest about your situation.

Stay if you’re there primarily for the savannas, the villa itself, and Sanaa. All three are unaffected, and the animals are why people book Kidani.

Reconsider if you’re traveling with kids who’ll use Community Hall and the arcade, you’re in a studio and need the laundry room during the late October window, or you’re a light sleeper booked near the lobby.

Definitely check your dates against the phases. A stay entirely in mid-September dodges the worst of it. A stay in the first week of November hits the heaviest closure phase.

The Bottom Line

The Kidani Village lobby refurbishment runs August 17 through early November 2026, closing the main lobby and entrance until October 9, relocating check-in to the Palace Library, and taking Community Hall, the Safari So Good Arcade, the laundry room, and lobby restrooms offline from October 26 to November 6.

Match your travel dates against the phase list, request a room away from the lobby, and know that the savannas, pool, and Sanaa are all still running normally.

20% Off site-wide, plus Free Shipping on all orders of $65+

Over 75+ Designs! Your next park shirt is just a click away

Looking To Book Your Dream Disney Vacation?

Save time & money on your vacation

Your Disney vacation should create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney vacationer or looking to plan your next magical adventure, it isn’t enough just to go on a Disney vacation. We want you to talk about your vacation for years to come and create memories you’ll cherish forever. Vacation is calling! Are you ready to answer?

REQUEST QUOTE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jonathan Cotton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m no stranger to Disney planning, as a Disneyland magic key holder and DVC member. I’m the person people ask for trip planning advice. But I had never been on a Disney cruise, and had heard great about Nate and decided to reach out. I’m so glad I did because we could not have been happier with our experience. His tips and insights were incredibly helpful, and he was incredibly responsive any time we had a question. Who do the Disney experts turn to when they need help? Nate, that’s who.

We’ll definitely be using him again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Andria Skornik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience working with Nate as our Disney vacation planner was exceptional. He was responsive and thorough. He gave us insights that made the trip go much more smoothly. We were able to really relax and focus on quality time as a family and have so much fun doing it! I will definitely reach out for any future trips.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 rpwoodjr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Could not have wanted or expected more from Nate, our Distrips and More agent as we planned our 2025 Disney World trip. Nate was VERY responsive to emails and texts and more than willing to do whatever he could to guide us and answer our questions.  On several occasions I emailed him over the weekend not expecting a response until Monday but each time he responded before the weekend was over.  He even participated in a Zoom session with our group of five seniors as we planned our trip. He also helped us at the 11th hour when we added a family member to our travel group less than a month before our trip.  Without a doubt, I will reach out to Nate when I'm ready to plan my next trip to Disney World!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Homero Rendon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are so thankful we used Nate to plan not only our first Disney trip, but also our second. He made the process so easy for us, especially for us since it was our first time going. There was a lot to consider and many decisions to make, such as where to stay, when to go, and what to experience. Nate really helped us narrow down what we wanted to do overall, but he didn’t stop there. He provided detailed guides to help us navigate the airport and find our transportation to the resort, as well as a guide to explore the resorts and make sure we saw the best Christmas decorations. One of the many amazing things he also did was set up our dinner reservations for us. This saved us so much stress and allowed us to get some of our top choices. From the moment we landed in Orlando to the moment we headed back home, he made sure everything went smoothly. You truly can’t go wrong with going to him for your next trip.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Lee Mathes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate was absolutely the best planner I have ever had.  Will most definitely be using him again.   He took care of everything and kept me on track.  Was so very helpful in making all the dining reservations and everything.   Can't thank him enough.   He made our trip completely stress free!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Amanda Moran 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nathan has been an amazing trip planner for me! So helpful and responsive. I am a very type A person -- so someone who is even more on top of their game than me -- is so so appreciated! Nathan has booked 3 trips for me (1 completed 2 pending) and it was perfection. Thanks again!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Hyperion Adventures Podcast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate has helped us with our vacation planning for the last couple of years and we couldn't be happier with his service and expertise. We've used other travel agents in the past and none of them have done as phenomenal a job to make sure every detail is taken care of as he has. Switching to Nate was one of the best decisions we've ever made. He's always quick to answer questions and works tirelessly to make sure we get everything we want from our trips. Plus, he's just a genuinely great person who is wonderful to work with. Whether you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a Disney Cruise, or any other vacation, Nate is the guy you want putting it all together! Five stars across the board!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 7 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!