Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge. Themed like a South African wildlife reserve lodge, this resort is built around two Savannas that are home to giraffes, zebras and 100 grazing animals and over 130 birds.
Jumbo House is the main resort featuring both regular rooms and Disney Villas. Kidani Village opened in 2009 and only has Disney Villas.
As you walk through the lobby of Jumbo House, you are surrounded by authentic architecture and African inspired design. There is a large mud fireplace and a huge picture window that looks out at the savanna.
Kidani Village has it’s own lobby for those staying in this area of the resort. It also features authentic African artifacts. There is a picture window that looks out onto it’s savanna as well.
Resort type: Deluxe
Price: $417 to $604 and up
Room size: 344 square feet
Sleeps: 4 adults + one child in a crib under 3 (first 2 adults are free, each additional is $25)
Room Types: Standard View (Parking Lot); Pool View; Savanna View; Deluxe Pool View; Deluxe Savanna View and Concierge
Room Features: 2 queen size beds or a queen size bed and bunk beds, wall safe, hairdryer, small coffee maker, iron and ironing board, crib and small refrigerator.
There are also Disney Vacation Club Villas available in both Jumbo House and Kidani Village (this one is only DVC rooms).
Studio – 316 – 366 sq ft room that sleeps 4 (plus a child under 3). There is a queen size bed and a full size sleep sofa, refrigerator, wet bar, microwave, coffeemaker, flat panel TV with DVD player.
One Bedroom – 629-807 sq ft villa that sleeps 4 (value rooms only) or 5 plus a child under 3 in a crib. The villa has a master bedroom with king size bed, whirlpool tub, queen size sleeper sofa, flat panel TV with DVD player, fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer.
Two Bedroom – 1173 sq ft villa that sleeps 9 plus a child under the age of 3. The villa has a master bedroom with king size bed, whirlpool tub, queen size sleeper sofa, bedroom with queen size bed and sleeper sofa, flat panel TV with DVD player, fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer.
Grand Villa – 2201-2349 sq ft villa that sleeps 12 plus a child under 3. The villa has a master bedroom with king size bed, whirlpool tub, queen size sleeper sofa, two additional bedrooms with 2 queen size beds, flat panel TV with DVD player, fully equipped kitchen and washer and dryer.
Restaurants: There is a quick service restaurant, 3 table service restaurants, a lounge and a pool bar.
Mara is the quick service restaurant in Jumbo House. It is open from 6 am to 12 am.
Jiko – The Cooking Place is a casual table service restaurant in Jumbo House that offers an abstract view of Africa.
Boma is a table service restaurant in Jumbo House with a buffet. The dining area is located under a thatched roof.
Sanaa is a table service restaurant located in Kidani Village. Known for their bread service and dips, this restaurant offers a number of African and American favorites.
Victoria Falls is a lounge that serves specialty teas, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
There is a poolside bar called Uzima Springs.
Pools: The Uzima Springs Pool is located at Jumbo House and is the largest pool on property at 11,000 square feet. It is a zero entry pool with a slide. Nearby is a children’s wading pool, jacuzzi hot tub and Uzima Springs Pool Bar. There are also lockers available near the pool.
The Samawati Springs Pool is located at Kidani Village. It features a 128 foot waterslide and a zero entry. Nearby is the Uwanja camp, a water playground, that has 3 different play zones including a slide and water cannons.
Playground: Located beside the Uzima Springs Pool
The Savannas: There are 3 separate savannas that are open 24 hours to day. Their names are Sunset, Arusha and Uzima. Each savanna has different animals and plant life. At night, the savannas are illuminated by artificial moonlight. There are also Safari Guides located outside the public viewing areas.
The Sunset savanna and Sunset savanna viewing room and balcony were specifically designed to be viewed at sunset.
Throughout the day, you will find animal guides located along the Savanna viewing areas that can tell you more about the animals you might see.
There are multiple viewing areas around the savannas. You can either stand and watch or grab one of the rocking chairs to relax while you watch the animals graze.
Activities: Cultural Programs (African Wonders, Medallion Rubbing, Meet a Lobby Greeter, African Face Painting, Pin Trading with “King Pin”, Cultural tour of Sanaa, African-Inspired, Disney Designed, Music of the Savanna, Drum Cafe, African Folktales, African Journey, Cultural Safari, Primal Parade); Culinary Programs (Dine with Animal Specialists, Cookie Decorating, Inkoma, Wine Tasting, Miniature Cake Decorating, Culinary Tour); Animal Programs (Meet a Savanna Guide, Flamingo Activity, Animal Tracking, Animal Enrichment, Wildlife Games, Have You Heard? Big Blocks, Night Vision Animal Viewing, Night Safari); Wanyama Safari ($); Children’s Crafts; Poolside Activities from 1- 4:30; Campfire; Pool Movie; Video games, arts and crafts (check the schedule), rentable sports equipment, board games and DVDs at Community Hall
Amenities:
24-hour front desk
atm
check-in and guest service
childcare service
complimentary wifi
daily mousekeeping
designated smoking area
dry cleaning
fridge
gift shop
hair dryers
handicap accessible rooms
ice machine
ironing boards
irons
kiddie waiting area in lobby
laundry facilities
luggage service
Magical Express
mail services
merchandise delivery and pickup
online check-in
outdoor smoking areas
resort airline check-in
safe
wake- up call service
Parking is $24 per night.
Transportation: Bus only
Distance from parks by bus:
- Animal Kingdom – 2 miles
- Hollywood Studios – 6 miles
- Epcot – 8 miles
- Magic Kingdom – 12 miles
Shopping:
The Zawadi Marketplace in Jumbo House sells African art, clothing, toys and specialty souvenirs. It also carries traditional fares including autograph books, pins, stuffed animals and more. You can buy snacks and small grocery items.
Johari Treasures: Find at Kidani Village, this store sells African crafts and more. Also selling Animal Kingdo Lodge merchandise, small necessities, pins and more.
Note: Animal Kingdom Lodge does not allow balloons in the resort. If you purchase a balloon in the theme park, you will have to check it in at the front of the resort with Bell Services and you will get it back when you depart.
When you complete your online check-in for Jambo House, you can choose up to 2 of these options:
- Ground Floor
- Upper Floor
- Near Lobby
- Near Elevator
- Sunset Savanna View
- Highest Floor
- Kudu Trail View
- Lower Floor
- Near Transportation
*I would personally choose near transportation and upper floor. If you are paying for a Savanna View, you will receive it.
Kidani Village is all DVC properties.
Address: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830
Phone: 407-938-3000
Featured Reviews:
This review comes from my reader Jessica…
My family and I stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge a couple of years ago and enjoyed every second of it! the rooms were very spacious and quite comfortable. we had a room with a bunk bed for the kids and then a king size bed. the bathroom was also very spacious. The balcony over looking the Savannah was incredible, we would wake every morning and just sit and watch the animals. it was so peaceful and every morning there were different animals to see. the swimming pool was one of the best I’ve been to at a Disney resort (not that the rest aren’t wonderful) this one was just better ;) We loved the slide and the hot tub that is hidden away in the landscape. We only dined at one of their many restaurants for breakfast once- Boma it’s buffet style. The fruit was really fresh and delicious as well as all the breads, they also had some juice that was super good. they had some things that we have never tried before, which we loved :) they also had the basics eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc. All and all it was one of our families favorite breakfast buffets. they also have paths and places were you can walk along the savannah, the landscape is breath taking. they also have a place near the lobby with rocking chairs to overlook the animals, it’s cool to go from one part of the hotel to another just to see animals you can find and how different they are from one part to another.
My only complaint about this hotel is the walk from the parking lot to your room, it’s so long. My brother timed it and with kids it took 18 minutes to walk from his car to his room.
I wish we could afford to stay at this hotel more often, but I am glad my family was able to stay their once.
You might consider staying at Wilderness Lodge.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Resorts and contact Destinations in Florida to help you book your perfect resort.
I’ve stayed at this resort a few times while vacationing with my parents in my teen years. The resort rooms were great! The first time we went, it was my parents, my brother, and I. The second time, my friend came with because my brother was in college. We LOVED our room. My friend and I are both huge animal nuts, so having an African-themed room with a view of some Savannah animals was absolutely a perfect fit.
During the first trip, my mother had recently been diagnosed with a wheat allergy, and was struggling to find foods that she could eat. Disney being Disney, of course, they did everything they could to accomodate her allergy, and she not only came home with great memories and a stuffed belly, but also names of brands that Disney uses for things like gluten-free rolls and breads. At the time I was a very picky eater, so I wasn’t a big fan, but the treatment was enough to make me like the Boma. Now that I’m a bit older, I’d love to go back and try it again.
This is by far my favorite resort, and I would love to go back. My friend and I tried to stay there again this summer when we went, but we were able to stay a bit longer in Saratoga Springs, so we took the opportunity to gain an extra day.
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Why did you choose this resort? We were going to Walt Disney World for our honeymoon in 2005. Since it was our honeymoon we decided to splurge a little. I heard great things about the Animal Kingdom lodge and wanted to try it out!
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? The rooms were very nice. We stayed in a savannah-view room which had a balcony overlooking the animals.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? This resort didnt really need amenities, all the animals were cool enough for us. But I will say that the pool was one of our favorite things. It had a tiki-type bar right there and was very relaxing.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? There wasnt a food court. But they do have a few restaurants. We ate at Boma one of our nights and really enjoyed. Totally different food then you would get anywhere else on property. Lots of unique spices and flavors.
How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time? The lines for the buses were not long at all. The only criticism I had was the walk to the buses. We stayed on one end of the resort and had to go quite a ways to the buses on the other end.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. Im not sure that we would stay there again unless we got a great deal. The prices have increased a lot since we stayed there and it just wouldnt be in our budget to spend that much.
This was the first place we ever stayed on property and my son nailed the phrase for it within 30 seconds of entering our room ~ “This is the life!”
We booked a standard view room and upon check in; we were upgraded to a Savannah view room. We had a very friendly giraffee that greeted us each morning as it enjoyed breakfast.
We tried both of the sit down restaurants and enjoyed each. Boma is great with the kids & worth sneaking over to even if you are not staying here. Jiko is a fabulous date night restaurant.
The pool was beautiful and great fun. The setting here is so beautiful that you must just take a stroll around the lodge’s grounds to see the many animals and the amazing views in and around the lodge.
We loved that the hotel is mostly staffed by Cast Members actually from Africa. You can learn a great deal from them.
All in all my then 5 year-old son definitely got it right, “This is the LIFE!”
We stayed at AKL on our first Disney trip in September 2008 and LOVED it. The hotel is GORGEOUS! My kids loved hanging out in the lobby. The cast members were exceptional. The fire pit outside was a nice place to hang out in the evenings. At night they had night vision goggles you could look at the animals on the savannah.
The pool is really nice – zero depth entry is a great feature if you have small children. The zebra domes at Boma and also available in the quick service restaurant, are the best dessert in all of Disney!
We stayed at Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Lodge in April. We don’t want to stay anywhere else again!!!!!! The rooms were wonderful, we had a queen bed with bunk beds (the bunk beds gave us alot more room than another queen). We faced the Savannah and woke up and went to bed with giraffes, zebras, antelope and many other animals. Their service there was impeccable. Anything we needed was immediately taken care of. The food was wonderful, especially at Boma’s, we ate there twice during our visit for dinner. We payed a little extra for club level and that also was well worth it. We had a light breafast there every morning. We ate and watched the morning news and the children ate and watched Disney on a seperate TV that was provided. Also, with club level, you get snacks and drinks all day until 10 pm with no added charges and a concierge was on duty all the time at that level along with the front desk concierge. My children went to Simba’s Clubhouse for one evening and loved it, in fact, my son wanted to go back the next night. The grounds, pool, walkways were all beautiful. Even the walk to the buses was not bad and the wait was not long at all. One of the main things I liked about the lodge was I felt safe, no hussle and bustle like the resorts that are closer to Magic Kingdom and that was so important with my children with me. I give this place a 5 star plus rating!!!!
My Mom and I stayed in August 2005 for 1 night. It was so nice. Great to see the animals so up close and learn so much about them. The rooms were gorgeous and so was the entire hotel. It is great for kids because of the animals and there are experts out there at the observation area that can tell you anything you want to know. Worth the money!
This is our home resort for the Disney Vacation Club. It’s always our first choice!
We have stayed in a 2 Bedroom lockoff (with 3 adults, 1 teenager, 2 kids) and a 1 Bedroom villa (2 adults, 2 kids)
Both rooms came with full size kitchens and Washer/Dryer. We had a balcony and stayed in a value room. You can ALWAYS see animals so, don’t pay for an upgrade. We’ve stayed in all kinds.
I liked the buses coming to ONE side at Jambo House and ONE side at Kidani. You line up, it’s covered and they come frequently.
*Why did you choose this resort?
We were on honeymoon, so we wanted one of the more luxurious hotels and were hoping to avoid the larger groups that sometimes stay at the value hotels. We’re also animal lovers, and the atmospheric savanna theme of Animal Kingdom Lodge really appealed to us.
*What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
The rooms were lovely: the carved appearance of the furniture added to the African theme established so beautifully in the lobby. We were upgraded to a savanna view, and we could see zebras from our balcony at many times throughout the day. We originally wanted a king bed but were given two queen-sized beds; they were very spacious and comfortable, however. The room was certainly large enough for my husband and myself, and I liked having a vanity separate from the bathroom. The only issue was dim lighting in the room.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods?
There were several activities scheduled at AKL, but we were at the parks everyday and didn’t get to experience any of them. I really enjoyed the scenic trails behind the lodge, and the large pool and hot tub were very refreshing after a long day walking the pavement. We had dinner at one night at Boma, and it was one our favorites– one of the most unique buffets I’ve ever visited, and the food was hot and delicious.
The Mara was a decent food court for breakfast. I liked the pastries, especially the cherry danish.
*How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time?
We were both impressed with the bus service. I’ve read many complaints, but our buses were prompt and we rarely had to stand. This was at the beginning of August, so the crowds were still pretty heavy, too. The layout of AKL makes it a bit of a walk anywhere, however. It took at least ten minutes to walk to the bus stop from our room and, from what I understand, we were comparatively close to the lobby.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
I would definitely stay at AKL again. The gorgeous theming really makes it an experience in itself, the cast members were friendly and accomodating, and Boma is the best and most unique buffet on property.
* Why did you choose this resort? My husband and I chose this resort for our honeymoon since it was one of the nicest ones and we figured on this one trip we should really live it up.
* What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? there was just the two of us so there was plenty of room. We had a savanna view room but the first one they put us in had a view of nothing. We asked them if we could have our room switched so that we could see the animals and they we willing to give us another room. If this happens to you don’t be afraid to ask to change. Someone told us this before we went so we knew to check for it. Overall the room was not real fancy or luxurious feeling like we thought it would be. The theme was present but besides the view it was a pretty basic room.
* What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? We spent some time walking around in the afternoon looking at all the animals. We didn’t use the pool but it looked nice. Kids were in it from 7am till closing time. The people at the resort were friendly and willing to help. We had an issue with the airport express bus people leaving our bags out in the rain at the airport and our clothes getting wet. When we called to tell them they quickly sent up someone to take our clothes to be washed and returned them to us the next day.
* What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? We ate at the Mara a few times. Quick easy and pretty yummy. We had reservations for the Boma but ended up canceling to eat somewhere else.
* How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time? The bus system to the parks was great. Always on time. The resort was far from the main park so you were on the bus for a while but nothing you can do about that.
* Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason. I don’t know if I would stay there again only because of what you get for the price. It is one of the most costly options but I don’t think you get much more for the price besides theme. If we head back there again it wont be till we have kids and for them we will just stay at the All Star Resorts and save our money for more food at Epcot!
We are DVC members, so free room, kinda. We had a 1 bedroom w/ savana view last time, it was awesome! I love getting to try out different hotels at Disney, it’s part of the fun. However this one is great we will be staying here on our next trip, and maybe until the awe of having the animals right outside the balcony wares of a little.
Our family stayed at AKL for our 2010 Disney trip. We chose this resort for the rooms with bunk beds, the pack and play (which is guaranteed, not upon request like moderate resorts), and the Queen size bed for my husband and I. Little did we know that the resort was MUCH more BEAUTIFUL in person than the pictures online. As soon as we walked into the lobby, we were totally hooked and knew it would be great. As a family who has stayed at mostly moderate resorts on our Disney trips, we will be staying at more Deluxe resorts because this experience was so good…and there is a huge difference, I think, between a Moderate and a Deluxe.
I appreciated how clean our room was everyday, as well as how spacious the bathroom area was. Also, we actually had a closet in our room, not a rack like in most Moderate resorts. The balcony of our room overlooked the main pool. It was so gorgeous to look out at the exotic plants, and have a pool peeking through. The pool was fabulous. I loved the zero entry area for my young daughter (who was 10 months at the time), and my 8 year old twins loved the slide. Also, the resort had fun crafts everyday for the kids. One afternoon, on the way to the bus, my son stopped and made two pirate masks and was so excited about that.
The room was very acceptable for our family size. In fact, that’s why we chose this resort-so the twins wouldn’t have to share a bed. Natalie had plenty of room to crawl and walk around, and the boys were able to relax on their own beds to read or color during some down time.
We always do QSD, so the Mara restaurant was perfect for us. It wasn’t a far walk from our room, so we filled our cups a lot. The food was great, and since it has an African theme, we were able to try a few new things. The staff at AKL is the best by far-we’ve stayed at three resorts, and of the three they were the most courteous and helpful.
The buses were great. The only complaint I have is that the rides to MK, HS, and EPCOT seemed long compared to the other resorts we’ve stayed at. However, since we don’t typically go to Animal Kingdom, the rides would be longer because AK is the closest park :). The bus rides are not enough to keep us from staying at AKL again.
Would we stay there again? Absolutely. Of our three trips so far, it was the best resort-decor, theme, food, rooms, everything was great. Loved it!
Why did you choose this resort?
We chose this resort because since it opened it has been my dream to stay there. On my last trip my parents, sister and I had dinner at Boma and I swore that someday I would be staying at the hotel. For my boyfriend’s first trip, I managed to score a really good deal, and could justify booking a room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We both love animals so this was the perfect place for us.
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
For this past trip it was just my boyfriend and I traveling, so we didn’t really have requirements for a large room. That said, I found the rooms to be very spacious. We had booked a standard view room, but were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Savannah view room (officially considered a partially obstructed view and off to the side of one of the sections, but still an incredible view). The room had two queen size beds, a small table with chairs, a small refridgerator (which was very nice, since we often picked up a bottle of wine to enjoy in the evenings and we were able to keep it cool until the next evening, plus we picked up breakfast snacks in the park some days and wanted to keep them cool until the next morning). The bathroom sink area was quite large with plenty of room for all of our stuff, as were the closet and dresser. The decorations were perfectly themed to the hotel and we loved them. The best part of the room, however, was stepping through the curtains and glass doors onto the balcony with chairs and a small table and a view of the animals on the Savannah. I’ve always been a park opening to park closing kinda girl. Eat breakfast in the park after you’ve gotten in, etc. This trip, I learned to relax and really savor my time. We spent most mornings with breakfast from Mara sitting on the balcony watching the animals. There were some Ankole cattle that made daily appearances, zebras, ostriches…and the giraffes!! There’s something that just can’t be topped about stepping out onto your balcony the first night of your trip, totally exhausted but not quite ready to say goodnight to your first day, planning to sip some wine and fall exhaustedly in to bed, only to discover 6 giraffes eating 100 feet from you.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
The amenities at the AKL are great. Clearly from my talk about the room, my favorite was the Savannah and the animals themselves. We spent a decent amount of time hanging out outside wandering the overlooks. The pool, although we didn’t swim, looked incredible! The hot tubs were delightfully tucked away in trees and fairly quiet. Those were great after a long day of walking around. Plus the lobby itself could be considered an amenity, it’s so wonderfully themed and decorated and comfortable that it was great to spend some time just wandering around looking at things.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods?
There are three restaurants at AKL Jambo House where we stayed. Jiko, a signature restaurant, which I have not eaten at, Boma, a buffet and Mara, a quick service. Boma is, hands down, one of my favorite restaurants on property. It’s a large open space with high ceilings up towards the lobby a level and a half above, so it can be quite loud, especially during peak dining times. The food and the service, however, more than make up for any noise. The selection of items is pretty extensive (the soups alone are worth the trip) and I have yet to try something there that I didn’t love. Next trip we are definitely making a Boma reservation for breakfast, as well, just to try that out. We ate at Mara, or went to Mara and picked up and brought back to the room, breakfast most mornings our trip. They have pretty standard breakfast fare. Eggs, waffles, potatoes, sausage, etc. That said it was always quite good. We had dinner there one night after a late trip to the parks when we couldn’t find anything we wanted for dinner. There were your standard burger options, but also other items like flatbreads, falafel pitas and African stew. Plus, despite the fact that I got a burger, I was able to have couscous as my side instead of your standard french fries. There’s a great grab and go section and an amazing selection of wines. Plus the painting in the seating area if great. Some neat hidden Mickeys in here.
How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time?
The ride from the hotel to the parks and vice versa (with the obvious exception of Animal Kingdom) is a bit longer than from other hotels. It took about 25 minutes to get to the Magic Kingdom, which was the longest ride. We didn’t find the buses to be overly crowded and in the evenings when there was a line at the parks, bus service was usually more frequent and we never had to wait long. Even though it is more out of the way, and the walk from the bus stop to the hotel enterance and then to your room can seem long in the evenings, we felt that the themeing, amenities, and animals, plus the level of comfort we felt there more than made up for any downsides.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
Unequivocally yes! In fact we were discussing that we’ve probably spoiled ourselves now and won’t want to stay elsewhere again. We LOVED this resort. From the second we walked in, it felt comfortable and like we were “home”. And every morning when I’m sipping my coffee I wish I was back on that balcony enjoying my breakfast.
Why did you choose this resort?
We wanted to stay in a deluxe resort on Disney property because of all the perks of staying on disney property (free transportation, etc.). My husband loves exotic animals, so I thought staying at the AKL was a great fit for our family! I also happened to find a GREAT deal. :)
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
The resort rooms were like a typical hotel room; however, everything was decorated in the AKL theme. the room was definitely big enough for our family! They were more than acceptable. We had a balcony, so we’d sit out there and watch the animals. The room was always clean.
What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one?
The pool was awesome. It felt like we spent every spare second in the pool. There was a water slide that the kids loved! My daughter spent hours and hours going down that slide. There were always activities scheduled for the kids. There was a parade in the lobby every night for the kids.
What was the food court like? Any favorite foods?
We only ate at the food court – we never made it to the sit down restaurants. The food court was great though. I thought there was a decent variety of foods and they were all delicious!
How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time?
I loved the free transportation to the parks. We did sometimes have to wait a little while for buses to come, and depending on the park we were going to, the ride was sometimes fairly long. I did often think they needed MORE buses (to reduce the wait time AND to reduce the amount of people riding on each one – it was always packed). The walk to the gates was not far at all – that was VERY nice.
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
We would absolutely LOVE to stay at this resort again!!
My husband and I stayed at ALK for our honeymoon and again three more times with out family. It is a spectacular resort. The rooms are spacious, but the real attraction are the views. Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee overlooking a herd of Giraffes eating breakfast too! I have had this experience several times. Spring for the savanna view room. It’s worth it, as the animals are trained to move around the property, so you always get a view. The pool is awesome, with a flamingo habitat right by. The gym and sauna are always well maintained. The lobby is spectacular and features beautiful African art. Boma and Jiko are great, but Boma breakfast is the BEST. Get a reservation at Boma for your morning before Animal Kingdom, even if you are not a resort guest. You will still be able to see animals after your meal and explore the lobby. After rating at other resorts, we always come back to ALK. It is farther from other parks, but Disney compensates with a lower room rate. And you’re three minutes from AK, if your family loves it like we do. I would recommend ALK for families with older children and couples. You get the excellence of a Disney experience without feeling like you’re sleeping in It’s a Small World :)
My husband and I stayed for our anniversary, and three more times after. I had read in Brides Magazine it was like being on Safari without leaving the US and they were right. We wanted a unique experience and AKH delivered! The rooms are spacious, but the real feature are the views. Splurge for the savanna view and you won’t be disappointed. Imagineers planned rotated feedings throughout the day so the animals know to move to different spots. One time, I enjoyed my coffee while gazing at a herd of Giraffes by our balcony. The savanna is the big showstopper, but the lobby, restaurants and pool are also fantastic. There is a flamingo habitat right by the pool…there is so much to see, its almost like a mini park of it’s own. I have used the gym and sauna every visit and it is always well maintained. We have dined at Boma snd Jiko. I personally love Boma breakfast best. The quick service meals are also convenient and tasty. The only “downside” is that it is farther from the main parks, so your bus ride is longer than any other resort. However, you are three minutes away from AK, so it’s easy to revisit with Park Hopper if your families love animals like My husband and I stayed for our anniversary, and three more times after. I had read in Brides Magazine it was like being on Safari without leaving the US and they were right. We wanted a unique experience and AKH delivered! The rooms are spacious, but the real feature are the views. Splurge for the savanna view and you won’t be disappointed. Imagineers planned rotated feedings throughout the day so the animals know to move to different spots. One time, I enjoyed my coffee while gazing at a herd of Giraffes by our balcony. The pool is beautiful, the gym and sauna is well maintained. Boma and Jiko are both wonderful, but I recommend Boma breakfast. Even if you aren’t staying, schedule a meal at Boma before or after a visit to Animal Kingdom. The food is delicious and you still can walk out and see the animals without being a resort guest. The only downside to this resort is that it is farther away from the main parks. But, you’re only three minutes or so from AK, if your family loves animals like we do. Disney compensates by lowering the rate slightly. After staying at other resorts, I still pick ALK as my all time favorite. I would recommend this resort to families with older children or couples. It’s a romantic resort that gives you the excellence of the Disney experience without making you feel like you’re spending the night in It’s a Small World :)
We stayed at the Lodge on our trip last July. We picked the Lodge because we had never stayed “on property” before and wanted it to be a memorable on in case we were not able to do it again. We have a savannah view room in the Arusha Savanna with a queen bed and bunks for the kids. The room was more than large enough for the four of us (me, DH, DS, 8 and DS 11). Bathroom was very nice and large, Mousekeeping was wonderful and the front desk staff very helpful when we decided last minute to add an extra day to our trip. If I remember correctly, during our 5 days there, we were able to see all the animals that the Lodge has listed on their guide. Some were in the mornings and some at night but they are all there! We also participated in the night viewing and the 2 CMs were really knowledgeable and helpful. We had noticed one of the animals seemed like he had a problem with one of his horns and they took the time to explain to us what the problem was, what caused it and how they were working on getting him healed. The kids LOVED it!! The walk to and from the parking, restaurants and pool at times did seem at little far but as with all of our trips, we just take the walking as part of it! Also, while you are making the trek, you pass by many windows where you are able to stop and view the animals and see what they do at different time of the day especially if you do not have a savannah room. The kids absolutely loved the pool…some days it was hard to decide whether to go swimming or to the parks!! LOL!! The only restaurant we tried was the Mara because we just didn’t want to spend time sitting down when we could be out doing something! We never had any trouble there while either filling up our resort mug or grabbing breakfast or even a quick snack. It was busy in the mornings but never cost us any time with lines or anything like that. We drove so we did not take advantage of the free transportation system. We would DEFINITELY stay again. As a matter of fact, while planning our trip that is coming up in 10 days. my DH almost booked again at the Animal Kingdom Lodge but I said since we were going back I wanted to go somewhere different and we wound up picking Port Orleans Riverside. I hope that even if you don’t get a chance to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, please at least take the time to resort hop and take a trip there. The decor and CMs are just the best!! The resort always looked very clean and well kept, always seem to be someone around to help if you needed it. All in all, a definite A+!!
We picked AKL because of the theme. Disney did a wonderful job integrating the animals into the resort.
The rooms are amazing. We loved the storage the bathroom provided. We loved the balcony, it was nice to have a place to sit and talk after the kids were asleep.
We loved talking with the cast members while watching the animals. They were very knowledgeable and interacted with the kids. I love it that Disney brings in cast members from the countries/continents that are represented by the themes of the hotels/attractions in the World Showcase.
We loved eating at the Mara. The desserts are wonderful, especially the Zebra Domes.
The walk was short to the bus stop. We never had a problem getting on a bus, usually had a seat. The walk from the drop off point to the park entrance was not bad at all.
We will stay at this resort again! The one draw back is that the bus ride to Magic Kingdom is long, but the very short ride to Animal Kingdom makes up for it!!
We have stayed at AKL 3 times in the last 10 years…2003, 2004, and 2010..IT WAS AWESOME…We have always loved this resort and it is by far our favorite..There is just something “different” about it..We have stayed at ASMovies, Coronado, Carribbean, AKL, and this year we are trying OKW..I am kinda sad that we are not going “home” to AKL, but the rest of the traveling wanted to try a different place and with OKW having the biggest 2 bedroom villa available for less money it was an easy decision. So on to my review….
Why did you choose this resort?
We originally chose this resort bcuz it just looked cool..I know that sounds funny, but on the website it looks so different than other resort there, it was almost a MUST do…My husband really prefers rooms with doors on inside (a security thing) so this fell in line with that..
What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable?
We have stayed here as a couple with no kids and as a family with 2 kids and Grampa along for the ride..it was PLENTY big enough..We did get upgraded to the bedroom, corner suite when Grampa was with us so there was no doubt we would have plenty of room..Even as a couple with no kids the rooms were plenty big enough for all the luggage and I can see how they would accomadate a famil of 4 easily..
What were the amenities of the resort like?
Wow, where to start..There are so many to choose from at this resort..The pool is gorgeous, although we have yet had time to swim in this pool, it looked so comfortable and relaxing..I love the idea of Simba’s club..my children were too young for it when we were there, but when they are older the idea is golden..
What was your favorite one?
My favorite one would have to be the night vision goggles to watch the savannah..you can see so many different things at night that are not visible during the day..
What was the food court like?
The food court to me was okay…I believe the food court at Coronado to be a lot better and is in fact our favorite food court..They had a decent selection of things, but nothing to brag about..We only eat breakfast at the resorts so that’s all I am really familiar with..I was a little dissapointed with the a la carte variety..I am not a big breakfast eater so am happy with a bagel or danish, but that isn’t really an option here..
Any favorite foods?
The zebra cake/pie..I forget the name, but it’s this chocolate ooey-gooey concoction that you can only get there..yummy !!!!
How were the resort buses?
The buses were great..that is a HUGE factor for my husband..the bus wait..He HATES All Stars bcuz there are sooo many people cramming onto the buses and he feels like cattle..with AKL they were full, but not obscene (keep in mind we always go in September and once at the beginning of May)
What was your walk to the bus stop like?
The walk depends on where your room is..most times it is fairly close, with the 2 bedroom suite it was little further bcuz the room was at the end of the hotel on a corner looking at two savannahs…other than that, it was pleasant..
How were the resorts bus stops at the parks?
The resort bus stop was fine..always clean and this last time we found some kids games posted that kept the kiddos entertained while waiting..my favorite part of the day was the ending..getting off the bus and walking through the resort gift shop to get to our room…although nothing normally changes from day to day, it’s nice to unwind and wander a little bit before heading to room and this one is AWESOME
How far was the walk to the gates?
This bus stop always seems to be fairly even to the gates, not to far and not the first..we noticed this more this last time bcuz my dad walks with a cane and we had to gauge distance (something we never thought about when it was just the two of us)
How crowded were the buses at any given time?
I would say the buses were not really that crowded…a very few times one of us had to stand, but I was raised to give my seats to elder travelers..with the two kids, hubby normally stood in the back with the stroller, my dad would have one and I would have the baby..If it was crowded I did notice that most people would offer me a seat so I could hold the kids and my father being who is normally refused to sit if a lady was present..never mind he used a cane..men..lol..but, normally we didnt’ have a problem with crowds..
Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason.
Are you kidding?!?!? LOL..We love this resort and defintely plan on going back when the kids are older so we can do the extra safaris and what not..I just wish it wasn’t so much more than the other resorts..I understand the cost is higher to run, but being a one income family now makes it a little harder to pay what they want…
My family stayed @ Animal Kingdom Lodge the year it opened and by far is my FAVORITE! This place is absolutely beautiful! We had a room overlooking the Savannah and I wouldnt do it any other way! It is very quite and is a great learning experience for all! I would stay up late with binoculars and watch the animals. It was very cool. The pool is awesome too! I loved how it was like a beach and got deeper as you walked in. If I remember correctly, it has a waterslide and you can also see the animals from here too. The Mara cafe we used quite a bit. It is a handy quick service eatery as well as a grab n go. Now BOMA is my absolute FAVORITE place is the whole world!!!! This buffet is expensive but totally worth it! The flavors are so unique! I just cant say enough about it!!!! They do add a gratutity to the bill though. The gift shop in this hotel is big and I loved it as well. My daughter went to the kid club twice and she loved it and met a friend there. She was happy. The lobby is cool and the walk out Savannah is breath-taking! You will see giraffes,gazelle,zebra,wildabeast and cattle! I love that there is also a zookeeper on hand to talk to you about the animals and answer any questions! Dont forget your camera!!!!!<3
■Why did you choose this resort? We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in December 2007 because I insisted on staying at this hotel. Our business was doing well at the time so we splurged and went.
■What were the resort rooms like? Were they big enough for your family? Did you find them to be acceptable? We got a surprise upgrade which overlooked the Safari. Out on the balcony we could giraffes, gazelle and zebras. The view and the room was amazing. Every morning I would wake up and have coffee on the balcony and watched the African animals graze and relax. The experience was sureal. The comfort of the room was also incrediable. The plush bed with down comforters – ahhhhhh – it was exciting just to crawl in under the warmth of those covers every night.
■What were the amenities of the resort like? What was your favorite one? The best amenity was the African safari view – it was breathtaking. Near the lobby you can sit out on the deck in a rocking chair and watch the animals. It is just such an amazing expereince.
■What was the food court like? Any favorite foods? We had breakfast every morning at the The Boma restuarant. It had a nice buffet to get us started on our day.
■How were the resort buses? What was your walk to the bus stop like? How were the resorts bus stops at the parks? How far was the walk to the gates? How crowded were the buses at any given time? The buses were great. We did not have to wait long for a bus except during peak times e.g. when the parks were closing and Disney was trying their best to get everyone back to thei hotels.
■Would you stay at this resort again? If not, please provide a reason
.YES! It has been my dream to take my 2.5 year old back to the hotel. Although we are waiting till he is older and can appreciate the experience (considering the cost). It really was a magical vacation for us.
I have stayed at both AKL resorts.
We choose the AKL because we were entertained by the idea of the animals outside our window. We were also planning on going to AK, which is closest to this resort. We also do not have kids, so the no balloons rule did not affect us. Nor are we smokers, so we enjoyed a completely smoke-free resort.
The resort rooms were spectacular. My husband and I stayed both times in a 1 bedroom villa, and we still can not get over how luxurious the place was. When we first walked in we forgot we were even at Disney, until we started to actually look closely. For example, the king size bed had Nala and Simba carved into the head boards. The dining area was HUGE but was the perfect place to lay out all of our planning materials for the trip. The bathrooms were also wonderful. Between Jambo house and Kidani, the only difference we saw between the rooms was here. In Kidani we had an extra small bathroom, while we only had the one large bathroom at the Jambo house. Besides the grandeur of the room, the disney touch makes this room one of our favorites.
There were many amenities in both places, however the only thing we really took advantage of was the purchase-room-drop-off. While this is not exclusive to AKL, it really made our trip easier and hassle-free. Everyday, we’d stop in at the gift shop and pick up our purchases before heading to our room. No worries about breaking that coffee cup!
Besides the given amenities, AKL has something else to give you: the food. You have not had breakfast at Disney unless you have had the buffet at Boma. They had traditional African fare, along with bagels, cereals, and the like. *My only complaint, is that both times we went, they put the wrong label on the butter and cream cheese! They also have a house juice blend that is wonderful to start the day with. I would also highly recommend Sanaa over at the Kidani village as well. It is a more subdued dining experience, but the food and even the visuals of the restaurant are amazing.
While I love AKL, the most important part of our trip is always the actual Disney Parks. However, getting the parks can be a bit of hassle. As I mentioned before, getting to the AK park is almost just a hop and a skip away. However, to get to the magic kingdom, it takes a bit longer. The buses were fine, unless we were going to Magic Kingdom, in which we waited longer, and the buses were more full. It also important to note that the buses will go to one AKR than the other. In the morning, MAKE SURE THEY DO! We had a breakfast reservation at Boma one morning, and we got on the first bus that came, because they go straight to the Jambo house. Unfortunately, the bus was to full to take on more passengers, so they went straight to the Magic Kingdom. It took us a while to finally make it to where we wanted to go.
The walk from the bus stops to the hotel were not that bad. They were longer at the Jambo house, but it is a fair trade off, as the Kidani village has a bit of a walk to get to the pools.
All in all, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is wonderful. You will not be disappointed if you stay here. Just remember that you are more likely to see animals earlier in the morning, and they won’t be /that/ close to you either. They have perfect watching points along the hotel, and really strive to give off that African safari feel. Even if you do not like “Themed” resorts, you will enjoy your stay. This is the only hotel my husband and I will stay at…. until we have kids.
My family stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in May 2009 & May 2010. This is our FAVORITE Disney resort. In 2009 my husband chose AKL as a Mother’s Day gift to me and I’ve been hooked every since. My son was 2 on our first visit and we had a queen bed with bunk beds which he thought was neat!. We booked a Savannah-view room and were placed on the Zebra side. When you check-in, the clerks tell you “welcome home.” It truly does feel like home. The beds are very comfy, each room has central air conditioning which is a nice change from the typical a/c units in most hotels. Bathroom is spot less every day! The cleaning staff is very friendly and even makes a towel animal everyday which my son loved! When you stay in the Savannah-view rooms, you will wake up with an amazing view of animals every morning. The small balcony is nice and quiet. In the mornings, we liked to start our days early and head downstairs for breakfast at the Mara, a quick-serve meal. They have delicious (and large) croissants that they fill with your choice–we like bacon, egg, and cheese. They are pricey ($3.99 I think) and my husband and I would share it since it was so large. My son enjoyed the Mickey Mouse shaped waffles and there were tvs playing old Mickey Mouse cartoons. My son really got a kick out of that since all he knew was the newer Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
The buses are super clean and run like clockwork. My husband’s favorite part is that the Animal Kingdom buses are never jam-packed like some at the value resorts. Everyone has a seat and people are much happier not having to rush to get on or avoid standing next to sweaty stinky folks. Our 2-year old walked to and from the bus stop on his own and we did not take a stroller, but we thought the buses picked up and dropped off close to the parks.
There are 2 “houses” to Animal Kingdom Lodge–Jamba and Kadani. We stayed at Jamba both times and enjoyed the pool and hot tubs. However, guests can use the pools at either one. When my son was 3 we took him to the Kadani pool and wish we had gone sooner. The slide is HUGE and there is a water playground for the kids. They also had more events like Bingo with prizes, a karaoke party, and other games for kids and adults. Nothing beats a Mickey Mouse ice cream while playing Bingo (and I mean for myself).
At night we would walk around outside and view more animals. The staff has events planned everyday and we were in the right place for the night-vision goggle event. Each person took turns viewing the animals through the goggles and the kids really seemed to enjoy it.
We stayed at another resort and there’s no turning back. We LOVE the Animal Kingdom Lodge!