Is Animal Kingdom Lodge the Best Disney Hotel?

On our first family trip to Walt Disney World, we were fortunate enough to get the chance to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL). My dad wanted to make our first trip special so he booked five rooms for me and all of my siblings. We didn’t know what to expect. In some ways, we were disappointed to not be staying somewhere like Art of Animation with more Disney theming for the kids. We were also concerned about distance to the parks.

Our feelings were the complete opposite by the time we left. Now we can’t imagine that we will ever prefer a different resort. In fact, it is our favorite hotel that we have ever visited. It just might be our favorite place to be on earth! We hope we can express why in this rave review.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Overview

Disney’s Animal Kingdom lodge is actually comprised of two separate hotels – Jambo House and Kidani Village. Jambo is the original and what most people consider to be the “main” hotel. It has the majority of the dining options and the iconic wide-open lobby. Kidani is the Disney Vacation Club expansion that was completed in 2009. These two hotels are a ten minute walk from one another, with an optional shuttle that can take you back and forth. We’ll save the “Kidani vs. Jambo” arguments for another day – this article will focus on the resort as a whole.

Location

Animal Kingdom Lodge is (surprise) closest to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There is no special transportation to the park though. You will have to rely on buses or driving to get to any of the four parks from the hotel. This is the main con for AKL, but it is also its biggest advantage. You see, the only way that you can have the animals on the savanna is by being sufficiently far away from the other parks and their fireworks shows. And without the savanna, this resort just wouldn’t be the same. That distance from the parks allows for the animals (and hotel guests) to exist in a serene bubble, undisturbed by the craziness that is Disney World.

Theming

Animal Kingdom Lodge is an African themed lodge through and through. The theming is incredibly immersive and there are so many little details to be discovered. We have heard that this is the second largest collection of African are outside of Africa. Consequently, you can spend hours exploring the artwork alone.

The theme continues into the rooms which have subtle Lion King elements. This is a match made in heaven, seamlessly integrating with the rest of the resort. From the tile in the shower, to the backdrop behind the coffee maker, there are even small etchings of Simba on dressers and nightstands.

The theming of Animal Kingdom Lodge is just incredible, nothing was left untouched. We just love how well this resort transforms you into feeling so at peace and disconnected from all the craziness.

That Smell…

Of all of the senses, smell is the one that our brain associates closest with memory and emotion. (Don’t take my word for it, ask Harvard). This is something that Disney figured out a long time ago – linking experiences with unique and pleasant smells creates strong positive memories. And let me tell you, when those sliding doors open and you walk into that beautiful lobby, you are greeted with an amazing scent. Our whole family reminisces about experiencing the smell of AKL.

Disney Vacation Club (DVC)

The majority of DVC rooms are at Kidani village, which was built and sold as a DVC expansion. Here you will find spacious rooms with full kitchens, laundry machines, separate living areas, and more. Note that the original DVC rooms at AKL were actually converted hotel rooms from Jambo house. Both are an excellent use of DVC points, being among the lowest point cost resorts. Want to stay “club level” at a deluxe Disney World resort? AKL’s Club Kilimanjaro is the only club available to book with DVC points. Check out our article on the financial analysis of DVC ownership.

The Savanna

Arguably one of the best features of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the large Savanna home to 30 different species of African wildlife and over 200 animals. Have you ever wished you could look out your resort window to see giraffes, zebras or even wildebeests? Animal Kingdom Lodge is the place for you!

It is worth noting that you are pretty likely to see some of the Savanna, even if you don’t book a Savanna view room. I wouldn’t count on this being the case, but think of it as a bonus whenever it happens. The picture above was taken from a standard view studio room.

Dining

Dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge is among the best at any Disney resort. There are four great restaurants, each with unique offerings. There is also Victoria Falls which is an excellent lounge in the Jambo lobby offering craft brews, wines, and cocktails.

Boma – Flavors of Africa

Boma is an African inspired “all you care to enjoy” buffet at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You can enjoy dining at Boma for breakfast ($15-$34.99) or dinner ($35-$59.99). You can find a large variety of foods from traditional American to traditional African with flavors from over 50 African countries. There are several different meats, breads, soups, and desserts. Some fan favorites include Oxtail Stew, Chicken Corn Chowder, Lamb Bobotie, and of course Zebra Domes. Some traditional favorites are chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and French fries. This is such a fun way to experience new flavors while still being able to satisfy any picky eaters in your travel party. Be sure to make a reservation 60 days before your next trip here.

Jiko – The Cooking Place

This Signature Dining location is sure to be a crowd pleaser. With African, Indian, and Mediterranean style food you are sure to find something equally unique and delicious. Jiko also has a large collection of South African wine and a romantic atmosphere with what they call the “sunset wall”. This wall changes colors as you dine making this the perfect location for date nights and anniversaries. As one of Disney’s signature dining locations it is the priciest option at Animal Kingdom Lodge at ($35-$59.99/adult). There is also a dress code, so note this before visiting. If you think this would be a good place to spend your next special occasion be sure to get a reservation as it does book quickly.

The Mara

The Mara is the quick service location for Animal Kingdom Lodge, located at Jambo House. This grab ‘n’ go style restaurant is very similar to most quick service locations on Disney World property in terms of price ($14.99 and under per adult) and mobile ordering but it does offer a fun twist on typical quick service food. A great choice for a quick bite to eat while hanging out around the resort or before heading into the parks.

Sanaa

Sanaa is the only restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge located at Kidani Village. This restaurant uses African style cooking with Indian flavors. This option is great for adventurous eaters, however there are a few options for picky eaters. One of our favorite things we got from Sanaa is the Indian Style Bread Service that comes with five types of bread and nine accompaniments. If you are a fan of bread/dips this is sure to be a hit. Another amazing feature of this restaurant is that it looks right out onto the Savanna so if you are dining at breakfast or early dinner try and get a seat near the window for best view of the animals. Give it a try on your next stay.

Pools

Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to two pools – Uzima pool at Jambo House and Samawati Springs pool at Kidani Village. Both are excellent, but there are some slight differences.

The Uzima Pool also has a wading pool area for small children and a nice zero-depth entry that our baby loved to splash around in. In addition, there is a fun waterslide and two whirlpool spas. You can also grab a drink from the Uzima Springs Pool Bar or a snack from the Mara.

The Samawati Springs Pool area also has a waterslide and 2 whirlpools as well as a fun splash pad area and the Maji pool bar which has drinks and snacks. In fact, the Maji pool bar serves as the only quick service dining option at Kidani. Both pool areas have lots of different areas two sit and between the two there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Summary

As you can tell, there is so much to love about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We feel so happy and at peace as soon as we enter the doors. There is a lot that the resort has to offer that we haven’t discussed here. Private safaris, campfires, movie nights, night vision animal viewing, and more. Rest assured that you won’t run out of amazing things to do. Have you ever stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge? Let us know what your favorite part is! If you haven’t stayed before we hope you will give it a try!