If you’re looking for a hotel that immerses you in a more rugged atmosphere or are traveling with animal lovers, then you’ve probably narrowed down your Disney World Resort choices to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge vs. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Both Deluxe Resorts offer some of the most luxurious accommodations in Walt Disney World but which one is right for you? We’re putting these two resorts head-to-head to help you determine what hotel you should book for your next vacation!

Wilderness Lodge vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge: What’s These Two Resorts Have In Common

Before we break down their differences, there are a few important things that apply to both resorts. Both resorts are Disney World Deluxe Resorts, meaning they are two of the nicest hotels on Disney property. That also means that they’re two of the most expensive to stay at. However, with the higher price tag comes additional amenities, dining options, larger rooms, and more that might make it worth it for you and your family.

Both deluxe resort lodges feature a grand lobby with rooms extending outward from the interior (meaning that there are NO outside hallways). This makes them great options if you’re traveling during hurricane season and want to play it safe with your hotel choice. And, if the weather is nice, all of the rooms at both resorts have balconies or patios.

Additionally, both resorts qualify you for Disney’s Extended Evening Theme Park Hours perk, allowing you to stay an extra two hours in select parks on select nights of the week. This Deluxe Resort guest benefit is in addition to Early Theme Park Entry, allowing you to enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes before they open any day of the week. So, all in all, that’s A LOT of extra time in the parks just because you’re staying at one of these resorts!

Finally, both lodges are on the “cheaper” end of deluxe resorts, and are priced relatively the same. Guests can expect standard rooms (which are approximately 344 square feet) at both resorts to start at approximately $400 per night, with rates increasing depending on the preferred vacation dates. Both hotels also serve as Disney Vacation Club Resorts, meaning that you can also find suite-style room types.

Wilderness Lodge vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge: Key Differences

We’ve pointed out some of the similarities between the resorts, but this is a battle, after all! Both resort lodges are fantastic places to stay (spoiler alert: one of them is actually my favorite resort hotel on property!), but there are some vast differences between the two you need to know about before you book.

Let’s break them down!

Hotel Theme and Atmosphere

While both Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge offer a “lodge” feel, the theming and atmosphere at each cannot be any more different!

Animal Kingdom Lodge

At Animal Kingdom Lodge, guests step into the heart of Africa on an inspirational (and educational!) journey.

The resort is the most unique on the Disney property, perhaps even one of the most unique hotels ever! In addition to immersive decor and design, Animal Kingdom Lodge features multiple viewing savannas with real, live animals. Guests will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of animals, including giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, pelicans, gazelles, flamingos, and more! Viewing areas are set up around the resort, and certain room types have savanna views from the balcony as well!

The lodge also hosts cultural representatives from all around Africa, with education stations set up throughout the resort, teaching guests through art, history, and personal stories. Of course, we are at Disney, however. So, you’ll be able to find all things Disney’s The Lion King here!

The lodge comprises two main buildings — Jambo House and Kidani Village. Both house rooms, dining options, pools, savannas, and shops. Kidani Village is primarily home to Disney Vacation Club villas, although anyone can stay there.

Wilderness Lodge

At the Wilderness Lodge, guests trade the sights of Africa for the U.S. Pacific Northwest, stepping into a lobby themed after some of America’s most famous national parks.

The main focus of the grand lobby is the 82-foot-tall fireplace, inspired by the Grand Canyon. Throughout the resort, guests will find immersive nods to nature, including redwoods, creeks, national artifacts, and even a working geyser. The multistory lodge will have you forgetting that you are in the middle of Florida.

There are also two main buildings at Wilderness Lodge — Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge. Disney Vacation Club villas are located throughout the resort. And, while the Wilderness Lodge won’t have guests sleeping next to the animals, it does offer a unique room type that you can only find there — the Cascade Cabins.

These cabins are multi-bedroom lodges located directly on Bay Lake. They offer private accommodations for large families, featuring bedrooms, a full kitchen, a fireplace, and a screened-in porch with a private hot tub. Additionally, most rooms offer guests the opportunity to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks directly from their own balcony or porch!

Location/Transportation

Disney transportation is a massive part of the overall Disney experience! Let’s compare the lodges in terms of transportation options.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom resort area. It is one of the most secluded resorts, due to its proximity to Animal Kingdom and the vast area of its multiple savannas.

One downside to Animal Kingdom Lodge is its limited transportation options. While all the other deluxe resorts offer multiple modes of complimentary Disney transportation, Animal Kingdom Lodge has only one — bus transportation.

Disney bus transportation is offered for guests to and from all Disney Parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Magic Kingdom is the farthest theme park from this lodge and is a roughly 15- to 20-minute bus ride away.

Wilderness Lodge

On the other hand, Wilderness Lodge is the place you want to be if you plan to frequent Magic Kingdom! The lodge is situated directly on Bay Lake, offering direct access by boat and stunning views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

However, while the Wilderness Lodge is a Magic Kingdom resort, it does not have access to the iconic Magic Kingdom monorail. Instead, the lodge offers boat transportation to and from Magic Kingdom. Disney bus transportation is available to and from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, as well as both water parks and Disney Springs.

Pools

Whether sitting by the pool to relax is your thing, or you’re wanting the thrills of water slides and splash pads, both lodges have something for you. Is one better than the other?

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge’s main pool, the Uzima Springs Pool, is an 11,000-square-foot tropical, zero-entry pool surrounded by trees. It features a 67-foot water slide, a whirlpool spa, and poolside activities, games, and music.

Kidani Village has a separate pool area, including the Samawati Springs Pool and the Uwanja Camp. Uwanja Camp is a three-zone water playground for kids of all ages. Sections are designed for toddlers up to tweens.

Wilderness Lodge

Copper Creek Springs Pool is the main pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge located just outside the lobby. The pool offers views of Bay Lake and the Fire Rock Geyser, an active geyser that erupts every hour. This large pool features a 67-foot water slide built into the rocks, as well as hot and cold whirlpools, and a children’s aquatic play area complete with slides, water buckets, and bubblers.

The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool is the laid-back option of the two, located in a more secluded area. It features a whirlpool spa, a zero-entry pool, and first-come, first-served shaded seating areas, similar to cabanas.

Resort Activities

The pools aren’t the only fun activity that the resorts have to offer! Does one resort offer more than the other?

Animal Kingdom Lodge

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.

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 available to guests aged 14 and older 24/7. Simba’s Clubhouse is a community hall geared toward children (but open to all ages) with free and additional activities, including crafts, games, coloring, and more.

Inside the main lobby is the Zawati Marketplace, a shopping center for classic Disney and African-themed clothing, toys, and souvenirs.

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!

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. Cast members are stationed throughout the savanna viewing areas to answer any questions guests may have about the animals and provide some fun facts.

Wilderness Lodge

Similarly, the Wilderness Lodge offers its guests a nightly campfire and movie under the stars, along with complimentary marshmallows and s’mores kits. Plus, every night, guests can watch the Electrical Water Pageant, a nighttime water parade that makes its way through Bay Lake directly in front of the lodge.

Guests can enjoy outdoor games, including pool, cornhole, and ladderball, among others. Further, fishing excursions are available on Bay Lake from the Wilderness Lodge Marina.

The Buttons and Bells Arcade and the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile are inside the main lobby. Guests can ask cast members at the front desk for a map of the jogging trail around the resort and a special resort scavenger hunt! Once you complete the scavenger hunt, you’ll turn it back in for a surprise!

Lastly, Sturdy Branches Health Club is a full-service fitness club available 24 hours a day for guests 14 and older. An adult must accompany guests under 18 years of age.

Dining

Both lodges offer a variety of quick service and table service dining options. Let’s see how they compare.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Mara is Animal Kingdom Lodge’s quick service option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Standard quick service breakfast options include Mickey waffles, egg platters, potato hash bowls, and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch and dinner, the menu is spiced up a bit compared to other Deluxe Resorts! While there are standard American fare options, such as burgers and chicken tenders, African-inspired dishes like shrimp, chicken bowls, and falafel platters stand out on the menu.

And, inside the pool gates is Uzima Springs Pool Bar, a walk-up bar with outdoor seating that serves beers, wines, cocktails, and grab-and-go snacks. Or, you can stop by Victoria Falls Lounge if you want a more up-scale bar atmosphere inside.

Additionally, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a variety of table service options for its guests including Boma — Flavors of Africa (which offers an all-you-can-eat buffet style breakfast and dinner) and Jiko (which is a Disney World signature restaurant) located in Jambo House. And, over in Kidani Village, is where guests can find Sanaa, another famous table service restaurant in Disney World.

Wilderness Lodge

Over at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Roaring Fork is the quick service option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Standard breakfast offerings include pastries, sandwiches, Mickey waffles, and hash brown bowls. Grab-and-go options, coffees, and other beverages are also available here. Lunch and dinner offer basic burgers, barbecue sandwiches, subs, and salads.

For table service options, there are several to choose from including Whispering Canyon Cafe (where your meal is served with a side of fun antics), Geyser Point Bar & Grill (where you can eat with a view of Bay Lake), and Story Book Dining at Artist Point (which is a character dinner where you can meet Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and even the Evil Queen.

And, if you just want a quick bite or drink, there is the Geyser Point Bar & Grill walk-up window or Territory Lounge.

Overall Winner

As cliche as it sounds, there really isn’t one “clear winner” when comparing Wilderness Lodge vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge. The best choice depends on what is important to you!

While the Wilderness Lodge is conveniently located near Magic Kingdom and offers more transportation options, Animal Kingdom Lodge provides a more secluded and relaxing atmosphere that may be better suited for couples and adults-only trips.

And, while Animal Kingdom Lodge may have some of the best restaurants on Disney property, the menu offerings are unique and may not suit everyone’s palate if you’re traveling with picky eaters. Additionally, there are no character dining options here, unlike the Wilderness Lodge.

As far as amenities go, on paper, Animal Kingdom Lodge is the clear winner. Between the savannas, cultural representatives, art classes, and more, there is more to do here than at Wilderness Lodge. However, if the Electrical Water Pageant is something you are interested in seeing, you’ll only find that at Wilderness Lodge.

So, one could say that Animal Kingdom Lodge has a slight edge overall, but, honestly, both resorts are fabulous. Having stayed at both, I would recommend them time and time again! The great thing about Walt Disney World is its ability to satisfy everyone’s needs, and resorts are no different! We recommend choosing the one that best suits your needs based on what parks you plan to frequent, what type of food you like to eat, and if being able to se live animal exhibits is important to you.

Comments

So, which do you think is better: Wilderness Lodge vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge? Let us know in the comments which lodge you would choose for your next vacation!