On-Site Magical Disney Stays: Animal Kingdom Lodge
- paigelandrum
- Mar 18
- 7 min read
Contributed By:
Becky Cain, A Mouse and A Beach Travel Advisor
Looking for a resort filled with culture, entertainment, education and wonder? Then let’s take a deeper look at my all time favorite, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Resort Theming
Animal Kingdom Lodge takes you right into the heart of Africa from the moment you step into the majestic lobby of Jambo House with its soaring ceilings that showcase massive chandeliers made to look like the shields of the Maasai warriors, you know this stay is going to be special. Throughout the resort you can find hundreds of pieces of gorgeous African artwork as the resort boasts the largest collection outside of the continent of Africa! One of my favorite pieces is a brass medallion covered with animal drawings that is built right into the floor of the entrance - once a day, cast members will bring out paper and crayons for you to make your own rubbing art from the medallion to take home.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is also home to over 200 animals who you can see living around the 4 savannas on property. There are 30 different species who call this gorgeous resort home, including zebras and giraffes!
Room Types
Animal Kingdom Lodge is split into two buildings - Jambo House and Kidani Village. Both areas of this resort offer a wide range of room styles, so finding the perfect one for your next trip should be a breeze with our guidance! All of the rooms have an African and Lion King style theming with dark wood and stone touches.
Standard rooms that sleep up to 4 adults are available in a variety of styles from Resort View (parking lot or uninteresting part of the hotel), Water View (pool or other body of water) and Savanna View (views of areas where the animals may visit). These rooms can either have 2 Queen beds or a King bed.
Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers DVC (Disney Vacation Club) studio and villa suites for extra space and convenience for your family. Studios offer a kitchenette with a small fridge and microwave, or if you really want to feel at home on your vacation, consider a Villa with a full kitchen, living room, dining room and washer & dryer! The Villas come in styles featuring 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms and are the perfect sport for large families to stay together.
If you are looking for some amazing extra amenities and elevated services, Animal Kingdom also offers rooms with access to the Kilimanjaro Club Lounge. This upgraded experience offers complimentary refreshments and drinks throughout the day including a Continental breakfast, snacks, evening wine and beer selections, and even desserts and cordials. The Club Level Concierge cast members will also help with trip services like park information, dining reservations, transportation, and ticket sales. We definitely recommend adding that pixie dust to your next vacation if you can!
Resort Facts: Dining Options, Pools, Transportation
Dining
Dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge is like an adventure for your taste buds. With award winning African inspired food options, 4 full restaurants, and 5 lounges/pool bars, you definitely will not leave a stay here hungry!
In Jambo House, grab a quick meal at the Mara for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Featuring American favorites like cheeseburgers, waffles, and pizza alongside fun African inspired additions like grain bowls, tamarind pork sandwiches and falafel platters. This location boasts Mobile Ordering and also has the Disney Rapid Fill Refillable Mugs that allow you to enjoy refills of fountain drinks, coffee and tea throughout the length of your visit.
Also located at Jambo House is Boma - Flavors of Africa. This buffet restaurant serves breakfast and dinner in a lively African Market style. Find traditional favorites like waffles and bacon while also exploring African treats like bobotie and bread pudding. My favorite tip is to ask for Jungle Juice as your beverage - a blend of passion fruit, orange and guava, this is an iconic Disney drink that cannot be missed! (Yes, it’s POG juice!). If you enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, stop by the Victoria Falls Lounge located just one floor up.
Across from Boma is a quieter, upscale restaurant called Jiko - The Cooking Place. Featuring an open show kitchen in the center, this Signature Dining experience is a must do to add to anyone’s bucket list. Entrees are oven fired, including fan favorite options like Bone Marrow-crusted Filet Mignon, Braai'd Wild Boar Tenderloin and a Four Cheese Macaroni that dreams are made of. If you want to enjoy a glass of wine after dinner, we recommend the Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar which houses an extensive selection of South African wines.
Hop over to Kidani Village to visit Sanaa, a quick service restaurant for Kuamsha Breakfast and a table service restaurant at dinner. Sanaa offers Indian and African inspired entrees including Butter Chicken, curries and the famous Indian-style Bread Service. This restaurant also offers a view of the Sunset Savanna, where you may see animals roaming if you are lucky!
Need a refreshing drink while hanging out poolside or want a before/after dinner cocktail? Stop by one of the FIVE lounges and pool bars on Animal Kingdom Lodge property.
Pools
Ready to cool off with a dip in the pool? Both Jambo House and Kidani Village have pool areas you won’t want to miss!
At Jambo House, visit Uzima Springs Pool for a refreshing swim and a turn on the 67-foot water slide. While you are there, make sure to visit the nearby Savanna overlook to see flamingos, giraffe, zebra and more! If you need a quick snack or want a refreshing drink, visit Uzima Springs Pool Bar or stop in the Mara.
At Kidani Village, stop by Samawati Springs Pool for some extra excitement. This pool not only offers a 128-foot water slide, it’s also home to the Uwanja Camp next door. The Uwanja Camp is a water playground for kids with three different areas designed for different age groups - everyone will find a spot for water filled fun! If you get hungry, stop by Maji Pool Bar for quick service food and refreshing drinks. Plus make sure to stop by the Savanna Overlook for a chance to spot the resident okapis, a cousin to the giraffe who has striped legs like a zebra!
Both pool areas at Animal Kingdom Lodge also feature hot tubs for relaxation after a long park day.
Transportation
Complimentary bus transportation is provided to all four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs. A shuttle also runs every ten minutes between the entrances of Jambo House and Kidani Village to allow guest access to the amenities of both locations of this large resort.
Resort Amenities
When choosing which resort to stay during your Walt Disney World vacation, it’s important to also think about what amenities you would like to do or what would be fun for your family. Animal Kingdom Lodge provides additional entertainment for families including:
Zahanati Fitness Center with Life Fitness and Cybex equipment
Wild About Painting - art class located in Jiko once weekly
Roasting marshmallows by the campfire at Jambo House
Movies under the stars - alternating nights at Jambo House and Kidani Village
Jogging Trail, 1 mile loop around the resort
Hakuna Matata Playground, behind the Uzima Pool
Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade, near the Mara
What Extras Make This Resort Special?
Beyond the incredible animals that call the resort home, Animal Kingdom Lodge also provides a series of educational activities for all ages called String of Memories. This 8 class series is available throughout the resort daily and is taught by native African Cast Members who share their knowledge of African culture, animals and geography. For each activity that you complete, you will receive a special bead to add to your String of Memories. These activities are complimentary and can be found on the daily schedule of events.
Another incredible experience at this resort is the Starlight Safari. This after dark safari costs $89 per person (as of March 2025), can be booked 60 days in advance of your stay, and is for guests 8 years of age and older. Cast Members will greet you and help you load into a safari vehicle outfitted with night vision devices to help you see the residents of all four savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You’ll have the opportunity to see animals up close including wildebeest, antelope, zebra and giraffe while learning about them from the Cast Member tour guides.
Pin Traders will rejoice to hear that there is a special trader who visits Jambo House on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:45-2:45 pm - King Pin! King Pin invites guests to join him on his royal red carpet to take a look at his extensive Disney pin collection, trade pins, and share his pin collector knowledge! I’ve always loved these interactions and have come away with some really rare collecting pins!
This would be the ideal resort for you if:
You love to learn about other cultures from around the world and the people who live there. If you enjoy trying new foods but also like having an assortment of traditional favorites available for your party. If you love the idea of waking up to animals roaming the savanna right outside your hotel room. If you are willing to spend a little extra to have a high end resort stay with all the amenities included.
Check out why Becky Cain, one of our AMAAB travel advisors, loves Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Animal Kingdom Lodge is my absolute favorite Walt Disney World resort. With my love of learning and animals, there is always something new for me to find at this resort. I also love the Deluxe amenities including having a larger room to really spread out on a resort heavy vacation with gorgeous detailing throughout the space and having so many incredible restaurants to choose from! For our family, it feels like home every time we step in the lobby.
AMAAB Travel Advisor
You can check out an overview of all Disney resorts here, or connect with one of our travel advisors to find your perfect match!
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