Skip to main content

Walt Disney World Resorts, Featuring: Animal Kingdom Lodge


Where is it and what is it?

When you pull into Animal Kingdom, there is a fork in the road. If you go to the right, you will drive to the park. However, if you go to the left, you will arrive at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge! This Disney Deluxe Resort is one of my favorites! Why? The giraffes, as well as the other animals, but especially the giraffes! 

What does it have to offer that is special? 

Well, for one thing, it is a beautifully ornate lodge with a decidedly African flair. Everything from the Cast Members costumes to the gift shop to the lobby décor to the dining is unique to this location! Yes, you can still buy a mickey T-shirt or some ears, but they will have some items for purchase there that you will not see anywhere else!

Do I have to purchase a Savannah View room to see the animals?

No, you do not! There are viewing areas throughout the resort that will allow you to see the animals. Some of these locations even have rocking chairs and telescopes to make your experience more pleasurable. However, if you want to have maximum viewing time, I recommend the Savannah View Rooms. The video above was taken from the balcony of our room, which also had chairs for us to sit while we enjoyed visiting them. I was able to see animals morning, noon, and night! If however, you only plan to take quick peaks at them, you might want to get a less expensive room and use the viewing areas for all guests.

Are there any Table Service or Signature Dining locations here?

All Disney Resorts have a Quick Service dining location and Animal Kingdom Lodge is no exception. But, in addition to this, Animal Kingdom Lodge also has 3 Dining experiences: Boma: Flavors of Africa; Jiko: The Cooking Place; and Sanaa. All of these locations accept reservations and often they are booked solid.

Sanaa is a Table Service Restaurant located at Kidani Village, which is the Disney Vacation Club portion of the resort. If you are staying at Jambo House, or the main building, you can take a bus to Kidani Village to eat at Sanaa. What's on the menu? This location serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. it is noted for it's Zanzibari Vegetable Curry that comes either alone or with chicken or shrimp. And don't forget the African Triple Chocolate Mousse for desert!

Boma is most famous for it's breakfast buffet, but also offers a delectable dinner seating with crowd favorite notables, such as Tunisian Couscous and Shrimp Salad, Sweet Corn Pudding, Oak Roast Pork Ribs and more!

 Jiko  is a Signature Dining Experience! Serving dinner only, they offer Cocoa-crusted Venison Loiin, Sorghum Chicken, Botswanan Seswaa Short Rib and more!  

More... 

What else is special here? Animal Kingdom Lodge has rooms to fit from 2-12 people, depending on the lodging you select. They have Savannah, Pool, and Standard Views. Club Level accomodations are also available if selected at the time of booking.

Recreation includes Jambo House Campfire Activities, Movies Under the Stars, Hakuna Matata Playground, and Pumba's Fun and Games Arcade. Also available are the Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center, as well as Wild About Painting, all of which require an extra fee.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is like no other Disney Resort! I love it! If it doesn't sound like your cup of tea, click here for other Deluxe Resorts.




Comments

Most Popular Blog Posts

What is Pixie Dust?

  First Time Magic   When I was Young…and so was Disney World  My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth.  What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip? Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of...

Signature Dining at The Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things I have a confession. While it is true that I love all things Disney , the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, the characters, the thing I love most at Disney is the dining! Whether I am on a Disney Cruise or visiting the Theme Parks, the dining is my favorite thing! You may not be aware of this, but Disney offers several different types of dining experiences: Table Service, Quick Service, Character Dining , and the coveted Signature Dining!  Why is it called Signature Dining? Disney's Signature Dining locations are named as such because they are each a one of a kind, dining experience. Walt Disney talked about taking an experience and "plus-ing" it. In other words, taking something great and then taking it up another notch. That is exactly what the Signature Dining experience is! What do I need to know? Each of these unique locations is available by reservation and they tend to fill up very quickly! Reservations can be made 60 days bef...

Disney Value Resorts: Which one is Best?

 Why are they called Value Resorts?  Pop Century The Disney Value Resorts are called that because they are the least expensive resorts that Disney has to offer. In other words, staying at one of these will stretch that Disney Budget farther. Currently, there are 5 Values: Pop Century , The Art of Animation , All Star Music , All Star Movie s, and All Star Sports .   What amenities and entertainment can I expect at a Value Resort? All of these resorts will have a counter service restaurant, a pool bar, a gift shop, a themed pool near the main building, guest laundry, Movies Under the Stars, and special resort activities at the main pool. In the rooms, you can expect beds for 4 people (2 to a bed) or if you book a suite it will sleep up to 6 people. In the standard rooms and suites you will have a coffee pot with coffee service provided and a cooler/fridge perfect for keeping drinks cold, but not much else. The suites also have a microwave as well as a small supply of p...

Some of My Favorite Things: Hollywood Studios Edition

  Hollywood Studios: What can I expect? Hollywood Studios, like Epcot , is not like the MagicKingdom . It is not like Epcot either. So what is it? Originally, Hollywood Studios was a small theme park named MGM Studios. The theming of the park was a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Everything that was originally there had to do with the making of movies. Though it was my favorite park, it had a problem. It earned the reputation of a half-day park. Through the years, it has changed significantly. Today’s version of Hollywood Studios is definitely a full day park. It still has a movie theme, but the newer attractions are more of immersion into those movies than experiencing a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Is it still my favorite? Absolutely! Maximizing Your  Let’s get right down to it! You could spend your whole day and only experience a few things if you’re not careful. Pixie Dust Tip: If you only buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes one day of your trip, I would con...

Why Should I Stay at a Disney Resort?

 Discounts! There are many reasons to choose a Disney Resort for your upcoming Disney vacation! It is true that there are tons of resorts in the Orlando area. It is true that you might find one that is cheaper, though I would double check that that is true because you can sometimes get some super good deals at Disney.  Probably one of the biggest reasons to pick a WDW Resort is the discounts. If you book last minute, you might not be able to find a discount, but if you plan ahead when the deals are first coming out, the savings can be anywhere from a little to a lot! To find out how to make sure you are getting the discount you think you are getting, click here . What kind of discounts can you get? Most often they have room discounts from 15-35% depending on when and where you book your stay. Some of the bigger discounts are attached to having an Annual Pass or a Chase Disney Visa or sometimes even having Disney+. What else? Occasionally, you might find a ticket discount, espe...