How About A Free Trip To “Africa”?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the first Disney hotel to be completely and consistently themed to a nearby theme park – in this case, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. This is one of Disney World’s deluxe resorts so you’re sure to find comfortable accommodations, an impressive pool, and great food as well as being a resort where you can have an incredible experience without ever going into a Disney theme park. A highlight of this resort are the cast members from Africa who serve as cultural ambassadors, giving guests a wonderful opportunity to learn about Africa in a very personal way.
Disney visited numerous African countries and over 20 African lodges in their quest to create a culturally relevant resort that celebrated the people, wildlife, art, and cultures of the vast African continent. The resort is beautiful and brilliantly themed to resemble a South African Wildlife reserve but also takes inspiration from African kraals, which are compounds with huts and stockades that surround livestock. The resort incorporates different building styles, colors and materials found throughout Africa including things like thatched roofs and mud fireplaces.
In many ways, the resorts four savanna areas (Arusha Rock, Uzima, Pembe and Sunset Savannas) take a starring roll with more than 200 African animals, encompassing over 30 species, on display both day and night. At how many resorts can you look out from your balcony and see giraffes or zebras? The resort’s landscaping emulates different types of African terrain: forested areas, river systems, grasslands and the bush.
Equally impressive is the extensive collection of African art throughout the resort – there are more than 380 museum quality pieces on display in the hotel’s public areas and over 4000 handcrafted works spread out through the guest rooms; in fact, Disney has the largest collection of museum quality pieces found anywhere outside of Africa.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge resort has two main areas. Jambo House is the original portion of the resort and has the largest lobby area; it is also where you’ll find standard hotel rooms as well as Disney Vacation Club studio and condo type units. The Kidani Village building was opened in 2009 as part of Disney Vacation Club and features studio units with kitchenettes, as well as multi-room villas. Reservations in this area are not limited to DVC members; the general public can reserve accommodations in either building, subject to availability. You do receive daily maid / housekeeping service when you reserve accommodations in the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa areas
Because this resort is so new and modern, both the Jambo House and the Kidani Village areas have beautiful pool areas. The Kidani pool deck has more to offer with an extensive wet play area tailored to different ages. Jambo House doesn’t have the wet-play area but its zero-depth pool is larger
Animal Kingdom Lodge Pros & Cons
Advantages – The animals, art and cultural representatives from Africa make this a very unique and special resort. The standard (non-view) rooms are often some of the lowest priced rooms of any Disney deluxe resort; though I do recommend upgrading to a pool or savannah view, if you can afford it. The resort has very nice pools – in fact, the pool area in the Kidani Village section is probably the best pool for young children anywhere on Disney property. The fact that this isn’t in a “multi-resort area” and is a bit off the beaten path means that you have less non-resort guests just wandering through the lobby. A stay here is both relaxing and exciting.
Disadvantages – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the only deluxe resort that offers only bus transportation to the Disney World theme parks. You are closest to the Animal Kingdom theme park but this deluxe resort is the farthest Disney hotel from the Magic Kingdom. This is a “stand-alone” resort, meaning that it isn’t in a cluster of resorts; while this definitely makes the public areas less congested by non-resort guests, it also limits your nearby dining options. There are three sit-down restaurants and a food court on AKLproperty.
Christmas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge
This has been our favorite time to visit Disney and the Animal Kingdom Lodge is no exception.
The Main Attraction: The Savanah and the Wildlife there
This video was recorded directly from the TV channel in the room but give a good idea as to what the Animal “Safari” on site is like.
SOURCE: BuildABetterMousetrap.com