Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: the complete guide

Thinking about staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? Here’s everything you need to know!

The basics

Location of Animal Kingdom Lodge

This resort is, not surprisingly, right near Animal Kingdom. While the park is right next door, the only way to reach it is by bus or car. Luckily it’s a short ride; once the bus starts moving it’s usually around 5 minutes. It is also close to Blizzard Beach water park. The other parks are a bit further away, with Hollywood Studios being the next closest, followed by Epcot and then Magic Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom Lodge resort map

Rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge

There are a number of different room types at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, in terms of size and suites, as well as different buildings and locations. Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers the ability to book rooms with a specific view (standard view, pool view, or savanna view). They also have club level rooms with a variety of extra amenities and services. In addition Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney’s Vacation Club – you’ll find most of the DVC rooms in the Kidani Village section of the resort.

• Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)
  • Standard view
  • Standard view – king bed
  • Pool view
  • Pool view – king bed
  • Savanna view 
  • Savanna view – king bed
  • Savanna view – club level
  • Savanna view – king bed – club level
  • 1 bedroom suite – club level
  • 2 bedroom suite – club level
  • Value Studio
  • Deluxe studio – standard view
  • Deluxe studio – savanna view
  • Deluxe studio – club level
  • 1 bedroom villa (value)
  • 1 bedroom villa – club level
  • 1 bedroom villa – standard view
  • 1 bedroom villa – savanna view
  • 3 bedroom grand villa – savanna view
• Kidani Village
  • Deluxe studio – standard view
  • Deluxe studio – savanna view
  • 1 bedroom villa – standard view
  • 1 bedroom villa – theme park view
  • 2 bedroom villa – standard view
  • 2 bedroom villa – theme park view
  • 3 bedroom Grand Villa – savanna view

Animal Kingdom Lodge dining

Boma: Flavors of Africa
Breakfast, dinner
Table service meal, buffet
African inspired buffet with a wide variety of items with both breakfast and dinner.
Fan favorites: Zebra domes, Specialty soups, African spiced striploin, avocado/papaya/grapefruit salad

Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar
Dinner
Lounge
Appetizers and an extensive wine list plus full bar is available at this lounge located inside of Jiko.

Jiko: The Cooking Place
Dinner
Signature table service meal
A signature dining experience focusing on African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Fan favorites: Oak-grilled filet mignon, seasonal flatbreads, bobotie mac and cheese

Maji Pool Bar
Lunch, dinner
pool bar/quick service
A poolside bar located at Kidani Village with a drink menu and sandwiches, wraps, and select snacks.

The Mara
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Quick service
Classic entrees and some African/Indian inspired fare served in a quick service location.
Fan favorites: zebra domes, braai chicken flatbread, African stew

Sanaa
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Table service (lunch/dinner), Quick service (breakfast)
African cooking with Indian flavors and a view of the savanna, so you may see animals while you dine!
Fan favorites: Bread service, butter chicken

Sanaa Lounge
Lunch, dinner
Lounge
Located inside Sanaa restaurant, with access to the full Sanaa menu.

Uzima Springs Pool Bar
Lunch, dinner
pool bar/quick service
A poolside bar located at Jambo House featuring cocktails and frozen drinks, sandwiches, flatbreads, burgers, and more.

Victoria Falls Lounge
Dinner
Lounge
A beautiful bar and lounge area overlooking the Boma restaurant.
Fan favorites: Victoria Falls mist, African beers and wines

Price of Animal Kingdom Lodge

Pricing varies based on the season. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is considered a deluxe resort, but a standard room at the rack rate can range anywhere from $400-700/night. Savanna view rooms are priced higher than standard view rooms. Lower prices may be found is a discount is available. Here is some sample pricing for 2022 and 2023 for a savanna view room:

• Early September 2022: $615
• Late December 2022: $950
• Early February 2023: $670
• Early May 2023: $700
• Late July 2023: $630
• Early September 2023: $630
• Late November/early December 2023: $515
• Late December 2023: $980

Pool, Recreation, and Activities

Pools

There are two pools at Animal Kingdom Lodge – one at Jambo House and one at Kidani Village. The Uzima Springs Pool is the main pool and is located at Jambo House. It is quite large, has a zero depth entry, and a water slide. Over at Kidani Village you have the Samawati Springs Pool, which is slightly smaller but has a bigger water slide. Booth pools have a pool bar with drinks and refreshments nearby.

Near the Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village you will also find the Uwanja Camp, which is  a water playground area for kids. There is a splash area for those under the age of 4, another for ages 5-7, and a fun section with water cannons for those ages 8 and up.

Recreation

Hakuna Matata Playground – a small playground area with slides, swings, and more overlooking the flamingo area and the savanna.

Fitness Center – there is a full service fitness center available to guests of both Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Things to do

Campfire Activities – head to a campfire happening most nights. Bring your own s’mores ingredients or purchase a s’mores making kit there.

Cultural Activities – You can find the specific activities for your visit listed in the Activity Guide available in the lobby, but you may find offerings like African drumming, storytelling, face painting, crafts, animal info sessions, and more.

Movies Under the Stars – almost every evening a different Disney movie is shown on a large screen by the pool. An activity schedule is provided at the resort to let you know what movies will be playing and what other activities may be happening.

Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade – Near the Mara at Jambo house you’ll find an arcade with classic and new video games to play.

Trivia and pool activities – head poolside for some fun trivia games, scavenger hunts, dance parties, and more!

Wild About Painting – Join a painting class which will walk you through step by step how to create your own painting inspired by the beauty of Animal Kingdom Lodge. Extra cost associated.

Zahanati Spa – a spa specializing in massage and facials. Extra cost associated.

Transportation options from Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge has bus transportation to all four theme parks and Disney Springs. It is extremely close to Animal Kingdom and the bus ride between them is usually less than 5 minutes. 

Pros and Cons of Animal Kingdom Lodge

Benefits to staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge

• Theme park early entry
• included Disney transportation to/from the parks
• Magic bands available at discounted prices
• Disney dining plan can be added (not currently available)
• Book individual lightning lanes on Genie+ at 7am, before off-property guests
• More park pass reservation availability for Disney resort guests
• Can see live animals from the resort
• Numerous dining options
• Club level rooms available

Is Animal Kingdom Lodge a good resort?

Everyone’s definition of good is different, but I can tell you that Animal Kingdom Lodge is my personal favorite resort. It is extremely unique compared to any of the other Disney resorts, as there is a savanna and live animals right at the resort itself – if you have a savanna view room you can see them from your balcony, or you can go to any of the common viewing areas.

It has the amenities of features of many of the other deluxe resorts at a more affordable price than if you’re on the monorail loop or in the Boardwalk area. That being said, you are a bit far from other areas here. The restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge are some of my favorites. This resort is the one that really can be considered an “experience” and you might want to plan some downtime at the resort to see the animals. That being said, if you aren’t a fan of Animal Kingdom you probably won’t get the most value here.

Who is Animal Kingdom Lodge best for?

If you’re someone who is very interested in visiting Animal Kingdom and seeing the African and Asian animals, Animal Kingdom Lodge will absolutely be a highlight. People who value unique experiences on vacations will find a lot to love at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Does the thought of waking up in the morning and seeing a zebra on your balcony sound exciting? If so, Animal Kingdom Lodge is great.

However, Animal Kingdom Lodge may not be the best choice for you if you’re planning to spend most of your time in Magic Kingdom, or if you’re on more of a budget and would prefer more basic accommodations.

Compared to other Disney resorts

Animal Kingdom Lodge is a deluxe resort, so you will notice a lot of the extra amenities that it has compared the moderate or value resorts – things like bigger rooms, several table service restaurants, and balconies in the rooms. The theming is (of course) animals, and is inspired by African art and culture. There are some Lion King touches tied into some of the decor, but it is very subtle.

Compared to the other deluxe resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge stands out for its theming and unique offerings. In addition to just being able to watch the animals on the savanna, they also offer nighttime viewing, safari rides, cultural crafts, and other opportunities. It is closer to Animal Kingdom than any other resort, but further from the other parks than some people might prefer.

In terms of pricing, it is on the cheaper end out of most Disney deluxe resorts. If you’re looking at a day where Animal Kingdom Lodge costs around $400/night for a standard view room, a coveted savanna view room could be around $570/night. In contrast, a value like Pop Century costs around $170/night and moderate such as Caribbean Beach would be around $250/night.  To compare it to other deluxes, a place like Old Key West prices at $410/night, Beach Club is $500/night, and the main tower at the Contemporary is $700/night.

Best room numbers to request

Keep in mind that Animal Kingdom Lodge has a number of different room types, so typically if you want something specific (like a savanna view room) you need to pay for that room type. When you book your room you can make all sorts of requests, including which floor you’d prefer to be on, if you want to be near the elevators, etc. These requests are not guaranteed but Disney will do their best to honor them if possible. We recommend requesting a higher floor at this resort for the best views.

A few suggestions:

• There are several different savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and they have different types of animals. If you’re interested in seeing a particular kind, you might want to request a view of that savanna:
  • Arusha Savannah has Geese, Pelicans, Giraffe, Ankole Cattle, Zebra, Wildebeest, Eland and Gemsbok
  • Sunset Savanna has Male Giraffe, Bongo, Impala, Thompsons Gazelles, Ostrich, Stork, Blue Cranes, African crown cranes, Ankole Cattle, and Waterbuck
  • Uzima Savannah: Giraffe, Impala, Kudu, Bongo, Blesbok, and Thompsons Gazelles
• Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floors for the best views of the savanna.
• If you book a standard view room, try requesting a “partial savanna view” – some of the standard rooms overlook at least part of the savanna and you might get lucky. 

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Have you stayed at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? How do you like it?