Looking for Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews that are unsponsored and honest? Start with my guide to visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, a deluxe resort at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Does this pricey resort live up to the hype? Find out here!
Planning a trip to Orlando? Also, read my Top 20 Moments from the Animal Kingdom Lodge, including lots of fun candid photos from our trip.
Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews
Many Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews are sponsored, but this one is honest and unbiased, including pros and cons of staying at the Deluxe Disney World resort in Orlando. If you are trying to plan your trip to Disney and are trying to decide where to stay, this post will help you decide if this resort is worth it. This post includes real-life, unfiltered photos of everything at the resort to give you a feel of whether it's for you. This is one of the more expensive properties at Disney World, so you might be asking if it's worth it to splurge and stay here.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is a luxury resort in Disney World near the Animal Kingdom. The gorgeous resort has actual African animals on a 33-acre wildlife preserve spread around three savannas on the resort. You can see up to 30 different species of animals, without leaving the resort. There are views of the animals around the resort and from the Savanna-view rooms. The resort is full of African art and is a full cultural experience, without leaving Florida. They have unique restaurants ranging from fine dining to quick-service restaurants.
The resort has two buildings, including the Jambo House, which is the original building with mostly traditional hotel rooms. The resort is a large U-shaped building around three savannas (west, middle and east.) They have standard views, pool view rooms, and savanna-view rooms, where you can see the animals from your balcony. The huge lobby is stunning.
There is also the Kidani Village, which is the Disney Vacation Club property with similar theming and animals. You can rent rooms without a membership, and they have villas with separate bedrooms, small kitchens, and laundry. Staying at either property gives you access to all the amenities and activities at both resorts. They are a bit farther away from each other than you'd think, though. It's a good 10-minute walk or short bus ride.
Are the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna View Rooms Worth It?
I traveled with my family, including my 6-year-old twin boys and husband. We stayed in a double Savanna room view with queen beds at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Jambo House. This was the incredible view from our room.
And here are just a few animals we regularly saw from the balcony. I was surprised at the number of animals we saw and how frequently we saw them. As an animal lover, this is totally worth the cost for me and an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. If you are booking this room, though, make sure you are giving yourself time to enjoy it and even time to just enjoy the resort. We planned an entire resort day into our trip to just enjoy being here.
Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews - Honest Pros and Cons
I'll kick off my Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews and then dive into pros and cons for the resort, including what we liked and didn't like. I'll preface this by saying I had wanted to have kids and take them to this resort for a very long time. Getting a Savanna view room was something on my bucket list for years, and I had very high expectations for this trip. I was a little afraid that my expectations were too high and I would end up disappointed in this pricey room.
Somehow, though, Disney came through, and we simply loved this resort. Where else can you see giraffes and zebras in your hotel without actually going to Africa? We constantly saw beautiful animals from the room and around the resort. From the rich theming, cultural experiences, art, fabulous themed food, great kids activities, and fun pools, we had such a lovely time. We paired this hotel visit with a day at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park and went all in on the animal/ Africa theme.
Pros:
- The resort is beautiful and unique: I have to start this Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews by mentioning how beautiful the resort is. It's super unique and different with the African theming running through the entire resort and rooms. It's full of dark woods, rich colors, and art that pairs well with the animals.
- The animals. The animals are spectacular! I still can't get over seeing giraffes and zebras from my hotel balcony. It's such an experience.
- There is a rich history. This resort is a great place to learn, with cultural representatives from Africa located around the resort, giving kids and adults access to all kinds of information.
- The food is good. The food also goes along with the African theme and is very good. They have nice high-end restaurants and a quick-service restaurant for any type of meal you'd want.
- It didn't feel crowded. We even visited during peak spring break, and didn't feel overwhelmed by people. The wildlife preserves and animal spaces give this resort lots of space and openness that you don't get in a lot of places in Orlando. It's also pretty peaceful for a Disney resort
- Early theme park entry. Like other Disney resorts, staying here gives you early access to the parks, so you can get in a ride or two before the lines pop up. We visited Animal Kingdom on one of the days we stayed here and were able to fit in the Safari ride without a line.
- Quick online check-in. You can use your Disney app to skip the line and check in virtually, heading straight to your room.
Cons:
- It's expensive. Animal Kingdom Lodge, especially the Savanna view rooms, are some of the more expensive ones at Disney. They are around the same price as other deluxe resorts. If you are on a budget, this Walt Disney World resort hotel might not be a great pick for you. Also, if you don't plan to spend time in your room or at the resort on your Disney trip, it's probably not worth it to pay to stay here.
- Distance to parks. It's close to the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, but far away from the other parks, including Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
- You have to take a bus. Unlike other deluxe Disney resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge is not on the monorail or skyline, meaning you have to take a bus or your car to get to the parks. Animal Kingdom is 5-10 minutes away, Magic Kingdom is 15-20 minutes away, Epcot is 10-15 and Hollywood Studios is 10-15.
- The rooms could be updated. If you are used to and like bright, white hotel rooms, the dark wood in the rooms might seem a bit dated.
- The Jambo House and Kidani Village are far apart. The Jambo House and Kidani Village aren't as close as you might think. It's a solid, brisk 10-minute walk or bus ride to get between the two.
Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews & Highlights
Animals
The animals are by far one of the best parts of his Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews. The resort is built around a large wildlife preserve with 4 lush savannas and over 200 animals roaming. We frequently saw animals like this out our balcony window.
Even without a savanna view room, there are all sorts of animal overlooks at the resort where you can see and learn more about the animals.
Exploring the grounds and just seeing the animals feels like a visit to an exclusive zoo.
Pools
The fabulous pool area is another reason for the positive Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews. The resort has a main pool at both the Jambo House and Kidani Village, both with a slide and hot tub.
This is the Uzima Springs Pool with a nearby children's wading pool, pool bar, and spa. We visited during spring break, and it was full of people, but never felt too crowded. There was space to spread out.
There is also the Samawati Springs Pool, which is at the Kidani Village. They have a large pool and waterslide.
They also have a really fun kids' waterplayground with splash pad style games.
They also have a few more small slides and dump buckets. It does take a solid 10 minutes (adult walking speed) to walk or a bus ride between the two resorts, though.
Cultural & Kids Activities
The rich cultural and really fun kids' activities are another reason for my positive Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews. We just loved this full list of activities, and you got access to everything at the Jambo House and Kidani Village. We did the poolside art and also campfire s'mores. They also offered nightly movies under the stars.
One of the most unique activities we did was the String of Memories, which was almost like an all-day scavenger hunt around the resort. We did activities each hour, which included lots of fun, interactive learning experiences for the boys. They learned about everything, including the animals, the geography of Africa, the culture of Africa, and conservation. They are here finding clues about different animals that are in the savanna.
At each activity, we collected a bead, which made this really special necklace at the end. It was so fun and unique! I enjoyed it as much as the kids did.
African Art Collection
Another reason we love the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the extensive collection of African art located in the resort.
The authentic art gave the entire experience a richness that you don't find in many places.
My twins even liked walking around and learning about it. They actually have one of the largest collections of African art in the United States.
Hakuna Matata Playground
Another reason for my positive Animal Kingdom Lodge Review is the Hakuna Matata Playground. We loved this space for burning off some energy and appreciated the shade from the Florida sun.
Fun Disney Surprises
The Disney magic was rich at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. One of our favorite experiences during our entire trip was when the boys were picked to be guest drummers at the Boma restaurant. The sweet cast member from Africa showed the boys how to drum and made a wonderful lasting memory for them. They even picked drums out of the gift shop for their souvenirs.
They got to be honorary drummers and it felt like one of those special Disney magic memories. This is the kind of stuff you only get at Disney!
Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews- Restaurants
Curious about Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews for the restaurants? The dining at AKL is as unique as the rest of the property, and its rich theming goes all the way to the African-inspired dining. We loved trying the different foods, with lots of Disney touches. This is one of the best dining at at Walt Disney World resort hotel.
Jiko- The Cooking Place
Jiko- The Cooking Place is the fine dining restaurant at this resort and is one of the most delicious resort meals we've had. This unique menu is filled with African-inspired dishes, with an approachable twist. Reservations go quickly for it.
The decor is beautiful and transports you out of Florida. The menu changes seasonally, but we had this delicious salad.
We also had mussels and steak, both were incredible.
I had this gorgeous fish, and the dessert was also so tender and moist. The food was elevated and delicious.
We loved that even our kids felt welcome at this fine-dining spot with an extensive kids' menu with everything from fish and steak to pizza, mac and cheese, and chicken.
Boma- Flavors of Africa
Boma - Flavors of Africa is the widely popular buffet restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The restaurant feels like an open-air marketplace with lively African drums. They serve breakfast and dinner. We had dinner there and loved the variety of the food. The menu features lots of African flavors, but also has some American dishes if that's not your thing.
The Mara
The Mara is the counter-service restaurnt with quick service at the resort, featuring African-inspired dishes, plus lots of classic dishes. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can even get Mickey Waffles here. They also have quick snacks and drinks.
Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar
Located in Jiko-The Cooking Place, this spot is a perfect place for a drink or an easy meal.
Victoria Falls Lounge
The Victoria Falls Lounge is another great spot for a drink, with bar seats and lounge seats.
Sanaa
Sanaa is another unique dining experience at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Located in the Kidani Village, this spot offered counter service for breakfast and sit-down menu ordering for lunch and dinner. They are known for their views of the savanna and East African cuisine. Try their famous bread service, it's so tasty.
Maji Pool Bar Uzima Spring Pool Bar
Both the Maji Pool and Uzimi Spring Pool have pool bars with classic pool drinks.
Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews
If you are looking for honest Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge reviews, you've come to the right place. I had crazy high expectations for staying here. And this resort met and exceeded them. Our stay was nothing short of magical and something I'll remember for a lifetime. It's the kind of place that's rich with activities that fill the hearts of both kids and adults. If you love more authentic experiences, learning about other cultures, and especially animals, I could not recommend this spot enough. My only advice is to make sure you have time to enjoy the resort and room if staying here! This is a resort that you could come and stay at and not even see the parks. There is enough to keep everyone busy!
It's probably not where you'd want to stay every time you come to Disney, but it's worth the splurge at least once!
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