Hi Megan,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for asking us a question about my absolute favourite Resort: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge!
If I understand your question correctly, you're torn between choosing
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) and
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village. I have a giraffe-obsessed friend too, and she MADE me check and double-check where the giraffes were located before booking her vacation a few years ago! The good news is that giraffes can be found in all of the savannas (Sunset, Arusha, Uzima and Pembe) that surround these Resorts, although I've seen them less frequently in Pembe. If I had to pick, my favourite savanna for giraffe and general animal watching is probably Sunset savanna.
As an aside, if you're a family of 5 and you're able to splurge a little bit, I would highly recommend looking into staying in a 1 Bedroom Villa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas (in either
Kidani Village or
Jambo House). You may appreciate the extra space and amenities that come with these Villas, considering how far you'll be travelling and especially if there are young children in your party. If you're interested in Villas but they're a bit out of your price range, another option would be to look into renting points from a Disney Vacation Club member via a reputable reseller. A quick Google search will give you more information/options in that regard.
I hope my answer helps you plan your upcoming visit! Please don't hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions.
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne