Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t the only spot to hang out on the safari at Walt Disney World. You can sleep with animals lingering just outside your window too at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort! Here’s everything you need to know before you book a stay at this wild Disney World hotel.

About Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World located within the Animal Kingdom Resort Area. It is separated into two separate resort buildings: Jambo House and Kidani Village. Kidani Village is the resort’s Disney Vacation Club property (Disney’s timeshare program) and, while Jambo House does have some vacation club rooms, it is the main building for traditional Disney guests.

Regardless of which building you stay in, guests are transported into the heart of Africa once stepping into the grand lobby. For the fans of Disney’s The Lion King, this resort is for you. You’ll find touches of Disney magic throughout the resort featuring some of your favorite characters like Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is full of unique features, but the most noteworthy is that the resort is home to not only one but FOUR savannas with over 200 free-roaming animals! Inspired by traditional African designs, the savannas are set in horseshoe patterns to give the best views from anywhere around the resort.

Beyond the stunning views of the savanna, Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort also houses some of the country’s largest collections of African art and wines! From award-winning dining, many room styles, recreation, and more, you’ll find everything you need for a fun and memorable trip when you stay here.

Accommodations

Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort has some of the most unique room accommodations on the property. There are a variety of rooms to choose from, including rooms that feature balconies located directly on the savanna!

Unlike value and moderate resorts, this deluxe resort offers indoor accommodations meaning that there are indoor hallways and room entry, so you don’t have to take a step outside to get to any of the hotel’s amenities like activities and dining. Additionally, all rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge have a balcony, though not all of them have a view of the animals. The rooms are all located off the main lobby, as the building wraps around the savanna in a horseshoe shape.

Room options include:

• Resort View
• Resort View – King Bed
• Water View
• Water View – King Bed
• Savanna View
• Savanna View – King Bed
• Deluxe Studio – Standard View
• Deluxe Studio – Savanna View
• 1 Bedroom Villa – Standard View
• 1 Bedroom Villa – Savanna View
• 2 Bedroom Villa – Standard View
• 2 Bedroom Villa – Savanna View
• 3 Bedroom Grand Villa – Savanna View

King bedrooms sleep up to two adults, while rooms with two queen beds sleep up to four adults. Deluxe resort rooms are the largest of the three main categories, hovering around 350 square feet for standard rooms compared to the roughly 260 square feet of value resort rooms.

Club-level rooms offer access to the exclusive Kilimanjaro Club, which provides complimentary light refreshments and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages daily. Guests also gain access to Disney Signature Services, a personal assistant who is just a call away to make any reservations, accommodations, or special requests during their vacation.

The multi-bedroom villas are an excellent option for families wanting to stay in the same room. In fact, the three-bedroom villa can sleep up to twelve adults. All multi-room villas include a washer and dryer, a full kitchen, multiple bathrooms, and a dining area. While most of the villas are located inside Kidani Village, some can also be found in Jambo House.

Dining Options

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort has some of the best variety and most diverse dining options of any resort in Walt Disney World! From quick service to fine dining, there is something for everyone, including your pickiest and most adventurous eaters!

Quick Service

The Mara

The Mara is a quick service option located inside Jambo House that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is themed after a river that flows from Kenya to Tanzania and is located right outside the pool gate.

Standard quick service breakfast options include Mickey waffles, egg platters, potato hash bowls, and breakfast sandwiches. Grab-and-go options include pastries, fresh fruits, yogurts, and coffees. For lunch and dinner, the menu is spiced up! While there are standard American fare options like burgers and chicken tenders, African-inspired shrimp, chicken bowls, and falafel platters stand out on the menu.

One of the most famous menu items at The Mara is actually a dessert – the Zebra Domes! Be sure to try them; you won’t regret it!

Table Service

Boma – Flavors of Africa

Boma—Flavors of Africa is located on the lower level of the Jambo House main building. The thatched roof in the design of the restaurant gives it the theme of an African Market, and this all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet breakfast and dinner buffet will immediately immerse you in the space.

For breakfast, you’ll find American classics of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and pastries. Plus, you’ll also find some of Africa’s finest treasures. Oak-grilled vegetables, turkey bobotie, and carved hams are just some of the unique breakfast options you’ll see.

Dinner options include open-grill oak-fired meats, pita and chickpea salads, black-eyed peas and chakalaka, and lamb and beef bobotie, just to name a few of the one-of-a-kind options here! Familiar foods such as chicken nuggets, pasta with marinara, and macaroni and cheese are also available on the buffet line to satisfy the picky eaters.

Boma is one of the best-value buffets on Disney property. Though there are no characters for either meal, the food quality and diversity are hard to miss!

Jiko – The Cooking Place

Jiko is Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House’s fine/signature dining option open only for dinner. Combining African, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines, Jiko is known for its wood-burning ovens, quality spice collections, and vast collection of South African wines.

There is a dress code for Jiko with guests required to “dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat, and in good condition. Please no swimwear.”

For appetizers, menu options include wild boar tenderloin, diver scallops with pork belly, and duck confit flatbreads. Some popular menu items for entrees are oak-grilled filet mignon, seafood tagine, Moroccan spiced lamb shank, and venison loin. For desserts, Malva pudding, African milk custard tarts, and chocolate sorbets round out the menu.

Sanaa

Sanaa is the only restaurant located inside Kidani Village and offers one of the most unique dining options at Walt Disney World, as you dine directly on the savanna! Floor-to-ceiling windows line the dining room, where the animals will roam right outside, sometimes even coming up to the windows!

Sanaa is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While breakfast is a quick service option featuring a more elevated menu than The Mara, with items such as eggs benedict, banana brulee french toast, and avocado toast, lunch and dinner are table service dining experiences that require a dining reservation.

The lunch and dinner menu is best known for its most popular appetizer: the Indian-inspired bread service. Five variations of pita bread and nine dipping sauces send the whole table on an adventure, perfect for sharing! Chicken and vegetable curries are offered for entrees, and Potjie inspired (the most popular item). With this dish, guests have the opportunity to mix and match a variety of African proteins and side dishes to make their perfect meal.

Lounges & Bars

Victoria Falls Lounge

Open for evening service, Victoria Falls Lounge is located on the second level of the main lobby in Jambo House, hidden within the lobby’s design. South African wines are the main feature here, but you’ll also find a variety of specialty cocktails and beers. Small bites are available in the evenings, though no set menu exists. Instead, the menu is on a daily rotation.

Uzima Springs Pool Bar

Inside the pool gates at Jambo House is Uzima Springs Pool Bar, a walk-up bar with outdoor seating that serves beers, wines, cocktails, and grab-and-go snacks.

Amenities & Recreation

Pools

The Uzima Springs Pool is an 11,000-square-foot tropical, zero-entry pool surrounded by trees, and it is Jambo House’s only pool. It features a 67-foot water slide, a whirlpool spa, and poolside activities, games, and music.

Over at Kidani Village is the Samawati Springs Pool and Uwanja Camp (a three-zone water playground for kids of all ages). Guests staying at either Animal Kingdom Lodge building can use all the Kidani facilities, they’re just a short walk apart.

Playground & Fitness Center

For the little ones, Hakuna Matata Playground is outside the pool gates, and Pumbaa’s Fun & Games Arcade is next to The Mara. Poolside games such as table tennis are also available.

The Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center is also available to guests ages 14 and older 24/7. While spa services are currently unavailable and have no timetable for return, guests can utilize the state-of-the-art fitness center to get a workout in — even on vacation!

Shopping

Inside the main lobby is the Zawati Marketplace, a shopping center for classic Disney and African-themed clothing, toys, and souvenirs. Additionally, the marketplace offers a small selection of snacks and frozen meals that guests can purchase to cook in their rooms if they are capable.

Activities

Movies Under the Stars are held each night near the Uzima Springs Pool, and the Jambo House Campfire is held nightly outside the main lobby. Complimentary marshmallows and s’mores kits are available for purchase!

Wild About Painting offers guests the opportunity to create their own masterpieces. Classes are held once a week for $35 per person at Jiko —The Cooking Place. Guests paint their canvas with an instructor and take home a souvenir!

And, of course, Animal Kingdom Lodge’s most obvious recreation source is just taking in the savanna! Four savannas throughout the lodge’s property are home to over two hundred animals. Guests can find zebras, giraffes, birds, gazelles, flamingos, bongos, and more throughout the savannas. Cast Members are stationed throughout the savanna viewing areas to answer any questions about the animals guests may have, and even give some fun facts!

Transportation Options

Transportation is known as one of the resort’s only drawbacks. While Walt Disney World offers four modes of complimentary transportation including buses, boats, monorails, and the Disney Skyliner, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge only has access to buses.

The main hub for all bus transportation is in front of the resort, outside the main lobby. Bus service is typically shared between Jambo House and Kidani Village, so expect an extra stop based on where you’re staying.

Additionally, guests can always drive their own vehicles or hire a ride-sharing service such as Uber, Lyft, or Minnie Vans for transportation around Walt Disney World.

Pricing

Being a Deluxe Resort, the room type you choose to book can impact the overall price of your stay drastically.

Standard resort view rooms cost around $675 per night, while savanna view rooms run around $900+ per night.  Multi-bedroom villas start at $1,200 per night, while the three-bedroom villa can reach up to $4,000 per night.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort is usually included in discounts such as Florida Resident, Annual Passholder, and any other discounts Disney may offer near your booking time. Be sure to check back for discounts even after you have booked your room — you never know if a deal might pop up! Standard resort view rooms can be dropped down to around $400 per night with a discount, making staying here a bit more affordable.

Guest Benefits

As one of Disney World Resort hotels, you’ll be able to access some extra perks that make your vacation a bit more magical (and convenient). This includes:

• Early Theme Park Entry (allowing you to enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes before)
• Extended Evening Theme Park Entry (allowing you 2 extra hours in select parks on select nights)
• Free Disney transportation
• Extended dining reservation window (60 days + the length of your stay)
• Early booking window for Disney’s Lightning Lanes services
• Ability to purchase a Disney Dining Plan
• Discounted MagicBands
• Staying in the “Disney Bubble”
• Free water park admission on the day you check-in

Who Should Stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge

So, is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge the best resort for your next vacation?

Guests SHOULD stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge if:

• You love animals and wildlife
• You want a quiet, secluded resort
• You don’t mind using Disney’s bus transportation system
• You enjoy diverse dining options

Guests SHOULD NOT stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge if:

• You want access to multiple transportation options
• You want an over-the-top “Disney” theme
• You’re traveling with picky eaters
• You want to be close to multiple theme parks

Comments

Have you stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort? Let us know what you like or dislike about it in the comments!