I’ve been to quite a few of the properties on-site at Walt Disney World, but I have to admit that one of my favorites is the Animal Kingdom Lodge – a resort I’ve been to numerous times. The coziness of the resort, combined with the animal viewing, makes it a fun stay – regardless of how old your kids are.
We stayed at this resort during our second family vacation to Walt Disney World, and my kids loved it. It’s a deluxe resort hotel, and a savanna-view room with a great view of the animals can be a bit expensive. But, it’s a fun splurge for families. Read our review of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and decide if it’s right for your family.
Disclosure: I paid for my first two stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but have also had two complimentary stays. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase and/or click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the deluxe Walt Disney World hotels, and as you may guess, it’s located closest to the Animal Kingdom theme park. As a result, it’s a little further from the other resorts and the other parks, which was one of our concerns before my family visited for the first time – and a concern I often hear from other families.
You’ll need to take a bus to all four theme parks, so you do give up some convenience that you may get with the other deluxe resorts. But it may be worth it to you because this is such a fun, unique resort.
So you’ll have to decide – is it worth sacrificing the convenience of the other deluxe resorts for the incredible views?
Animal Kingdom Lodge is an African-themed resort built on a 33-acre wildlife preserve with three savannas and over 30 species of wildlife. We always book a savanna-view room, which means that we can see animals outside our porch door.
This does not disappoint! I think our kids prefer watching the animals to going to the parks sometimes, so it’s good to do a little of both.
Rooms at the Animal Kingdom Resort
When booking your Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort room, you’ll have several options for rooms. Within Jambo House (the original building), you’ll find standard view rooms (with a king bed or two queen beds), pool view rooms, and savanna view rooms.
There are also bunk bed rooms, which include one queen bed and one set of bunk beds. If you have a family like mine, with a boy and a girl, these bunk bed rooms can be a fantastic option so that the kids don’t have to share a bed. It also makes the room seem a little more spacious because there’s less surface space on the floor utilized. Portable cribs are available, like at the other Disney resorts.
Club-level rooms are also offered at this resort. With these rooms, you’ll get access to the club level, which includes refreshments from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Although these rooms are more expensive, you can save some money by eating breakfast and other meals in the club.
Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers Kidani Village, which is the Disney Vacation Club property. This is a newer building within the resort, and it has a separate pool, check-in, bus stop, and restaurant.
This building offers villas, which have more room than the standard hotel rooms. While this is a Disney Vacation Club property, it can be booked by those without memberships to the vacation club.
The guest rooms at Jambo House are clean and nice, but a bit on the small side. I think they are somewhat smaller than those at the other deluxe Disney resorts – and the furniture is also larger, making the room seem smaller.
Let’s talk about the views. In general, I don’t recommend that families spend extra money on a good view if they aren’t going to spend time in the room.
But at Animal Kingdom Lodge, I recommend the opposite. If you can afford it, it’s worth paying for the upgrade.
If a savanna-view room isn’t in the budget, don’t worry – there are numerous animal-viewing locations throughout the resort. Depending on your vacation plans, it may not be worth the extra money to get the view, especially if you aren’t planning to spend too much time in your room. But if your kids love animals, it’s a nice splurge.
The rooms offer African-themed furnishings, refrigerators, safe, complimentary WiFi, an in-room coffee maker, an iron, and a hairdryer. Standard toiletries are also offered.
Restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge
One of my favorite things about the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the delicious restaurants on the property. There are several offered, in different formats/price ranges.
Even if you aren’t staying at the resort, you may consider booking at least one meal. You’ll be able to visit the restaurant and can even walk around the resort looking at the animals and decor.
The Mara is the food court-style quick service restaurant at the resort. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and this is where you’ll refill your mug if you purchase one. If you eat at the Mara while you are at the resort, definitely try the zebra domes dessert.
These are some of my favorite treats at Walt Disney World, and you can only get them at this one resort. They kind of taste like frozen cheesecake, and are delicious.
Jiko – The Cooking Place is the signature restaurant at the resort. It’s one of my favorite restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort and features African-inspired dishes and wines. The filet mignon is one of my favorite dishes of everything I’ve eaten at WDW.
If you’ve got picky kids, you can still dine at Jiko, despite the exotic menu. While there are some more adventurous dishes on the kids’ menu, there are also several kid-friendly items like macaroni and cheese and pizza.
I’d recommend this restaurant to those looking for a delicious signature dining experience. It’s worth the splurge.
Boma – Flavors of Africa is a buffet restaurant offering breakfast and dinner, located adjacent to Jiko. We’ve been there for both breakfast and dinner and have enjoyed it. Again, much of the menu is African-inspired, but there are some things on the buffet that will appeal more to those who are a bit picky. The food is delicious.
Over in Kidani Lodge, you’ll find the newest restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s located in the Sunset Savanna, so depending on your table, you may be able to see animals roaming around outside. I especially recommend Sanaa to those who aren’t staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, because it is a great restaurant to immerse yourself in the resort.
The cuisine at Sanaa is also African, but there is also some Indian influence in the dishes. If you like Indian food, you definitely should visit Sanaa during your Walt Disney World vacation.
If you go, be sure to order the delicious Indian bread service with bread and dips. It’s a must-have! We visited several years ago on Thanksgiving and enjoyed our meal.
In addition to these restaurants, there are some lounges and pool bars located throughout the resort. These include Victoria Falls, Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar, Sanaa Lounge, and the Maji Pool Bar. I especially love the atmosphere at Victoria Falls, which is located right off the lobby at Jambo House. Room service is offered, if you’d rather just stay in.
Amenities at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort
There are so many family-friendly amenities at the resort that you may consider spending a day at the resort without buying park tickets for the day.
Most evenings while staying at the resort, we wandered around, checking out the various animals. Each savanna has different animals to see, so even if you have a savannah-view room, it’s worth walking around.
We saw an amazing assortment of animals – every single day! I’ve even enjoyed walking around the resort on days when we stayed elsewhere but dined at the Animal Kingdom Resort.
In addition to the savannas, there are cast members located throughout the grounds who can answer questions and help you find specific animals.
The resort also offers the Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center. In addition to workout equipment, you can get a massage or facial right at the resort. There are also two pools – the Uzima Springs Pool and the Samawati Springs Pool (one at each part of the resort).
The Uzima Springs Pool includes a waterslide with a zero-entry pool, while the Samawati Springs Pool offers a waterslide, zero-entry pool, and a small water playground. Every time we’ve stayed at the resort, we’ve spent lots of time at the pool.
There’s also a playground, an arcade, and gift shops. The resort offers activities like outdoor movies and campfire activities. When you arrive at the resort, you’ll be able to get a schedule of these events.
Like other Walt Disney World resort hotel guests, those staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge have access to several benefits. There’s a concierge in the lobby that can help you make any additional reservations that you need.
Like the other Disney Resort hotels, there’s a direct-to-room service you can take advantage of. To do this, you’ll need to check in to your resort through My Disney Experience. Then, you’ll get a text when your room is ready. Once it’s ready, your resort room door can be opened with either a MagicBand or through the app.
You are also eligible for early theme park entry at the theme parks. With early theme park entry, guests at Disney resort hotels can enter the theme parks thirty minutes before the official opening. While not every attraction is open during these early 30 minutes, it’s a great way to get a jump start on your day.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is a fantastic resort, and your whole family will likely love the experience! You can read more reviews here.
Book your stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge here.
