We recently did an eight night split stay where we stayed the first four nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the last four at Boardwalk. Everyone had a great time at each resort and it was an interesting opportunity to compare and contrast two of the most popular Disney World resorts in the same trip. In this article, we will provide an overview of the resorts, give pros and cons for each, and ultimately pick our favorite.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Overview
Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Deluxe Resort located in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area at Walt Disney World. It is an immersive African Lodge that will transport you to a different continent. You will find a large collection of genuine African art, a Savanna full of incredible animals, and a grand lobby that is second to none.
Jambo House vs Kidani Village
Animal Kingdom Lodge is actually two resorts in one: Jambo House and Kidani Village. The two hotels are separated by a ten minute walk, and there is a shuttle that runs back and forth for your convenience. Jambo is the original part of the Lodge, and Kidani was added later as a DVC expansion. However, you can book either through Disney’s website for cash, so be aware that there is a difference!
Transportation, Dining, and Pools
The only Disney transportation option at Animal Kingdom Lodge is the bus system. In the morning, there will be dedicated buses for Kidani and Jambo heading to the parks. After that, the park buses are shared and will stop first at Kidani and then Jambo. Disney does a great job with their bus system, but be warned that rides to and from Magic Kingdom can be rather long.
As for dining, Animal Kingdom Lodge has three table service restaurants, a quick service restaurant, and a pool bar. The table service restaurants are Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa. The quick service option is called Mara and the pool bar is called Maji.
Animal Kingdom Lodge has two fantastic pools – one at Jambo and one at Kidani. The pool at Jambo, called Uzima Springs, is the bigger pool and has quite a bit more seating. However, the pool at Kidani is a hidden gem, complete with a fun slide and a large splash pad.
For our full thoughts on Animal Kingdom Lodge – click here!
Boardwalk Overview
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is a deluxe resort located in the EPCOT resort area. Its theming is based on turn-of-the-century Atlantic City. The resort is centered around its namesake boardwalk, which is a waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment area.
Location
One of the main appeals of this hotel is the location. Boardwalk is walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood studios. It also has convenient boat access to either of those parks. Additionally, you are a short walk from the EPCOT skyliner station, meaning you can easily hop over to Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, or Art of Animation.
Evenings on the Boardwalk
Our favorite part of staying at the Boardwalk is the abundance of evening activities. The Boardwalk really transforms in the evenings. Various street performers arrive, EPCOT fireworks can be seen, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy some food and drinks. Additionally, you can catch a movie “under the stars” on the village green as the evening comes to an end.
Dining at Boardwalk
Boardwalk has some fantastic table service dining locations, including Flying Fish which is consistently one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World. You also have some more unique offerings, such as Abracadabar – a dark and mysterious magic themed cocktail bar. On top of all of that, there is a coffee shop, a pool bar, a quick service restaurant, and an upscale bakery/restaurant. You certainly won’t go hungry while visiting Disney’s Boardwalk Inn!
Where Animal Kingdom Lodge Outshines Boardwalk
Dining
Both Animal Kingdom Lodge and Boardwalk Inn have some of the very best dining locations at Walt Disney World. However, we prefer the offerings at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The main difference maker is the quick service restaurant. Boardwalk has the Boardwalk Deli, which is a solid option, but has a limited menu and it is pretty much all sandwiches. That becomes a problem during a longer stay where you may be eating multiple lunches and dinners at your resort. We got tired of sandwiches for every meal!
The Mara Quick Service Restaurant
Contrast that with Animal Kingdom Lodge’s quick service restaurant, The Mara. This is our very favorite resort quick service restaurant. It has a large menu with a variety of different options. Among our favorites are the Oak Grilled Chicken Bowl, the Fire-roasted Tomato and Herbed Ricotta Flatbread, and Signature-blend Cheddar Burger. You can check out the full menu here.
Pool Bar and Sanaa Breakfast
Two other fantastic offerings at Animal Kingdom Lodge are Maji Pool Bar and Sanaa Breakfast. Maji serves as the quick service restaurant for the Kidani Village side of the resort, and as such, it has some better options than what you might find at a typical Disney pool bar. On top of that, they often have servers who take your order from anywhere on the pool deck, which is something we haven’t seen at any other Disney pool. Also exclusive to Kidani Village is the counter service breakfast offered at Sanaa. We have found this to be an inexpensive and delicious option for a quick breakfast. It usually isn’t too busy, so you can enjoy your breakfast at a table by the window that overlooks the Savana.
Savanna Lookout at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Where Boardwalk Edges Out Animal Kingdom Lodge
Location
The location is by far the biggest perk of this hotel for our family. You really feel like you are in the center of Walt Disney World, with convenient access to two parks and several other hotels. This makes it easy to get around and explore so much of Walt Disney World. Here are some of our favorite things to do to take advantage of that convenient location:
- Skyliner to Riviera: We love the quick service restaurant, Primo Piatto, at Riviera. On a slow resort day, it’s nice having the option to take a relaxing skyliner over to Riviera for breakfast or lunch.
- Boat Ride to Hollywood Studios: If you have a stroller, you appreciate forms of transportation that do not require you to fold the stroller. Taking the boat to and from Hollywood Studios is a relaxing and convenient way to transport your family.
- Walk to an EPCOT Festival: There is an added bonus to walking to EPCOT from Boardwalk – you enter a separate entrance called the International Gateway. This puts you straight into the World Showcase where you can immediately start enjoying the festival booths and other activities. We love being able to come and go throughout the day without worrying about catching a bus or going all of the way over to the main EPCOT entrance.
Our Winner- Animal Kingdom Lodge
I wouldn’t say that Animal Kingdom Lodge is a strictly better resort than Boardwalk. However, it fits the needs of our family perfectly. It is laid back, quiet, and peaceful. This is a perfect compliment to the crazy, fast-paced nature of the parks. I also want to acknowledge our bias – this is our DVC home resort and the first hotel that we took our children to at Walt Disney World. So I hope Boardwalk fans don’t take our decision too personal!
Conclusion
In conclusion, both resorts are fantastic and are easily two of our favorites. If you really dislike buses or if you prioritize evening activities, Boardwalk may be better for you and your family. Or maybe you would like to plan a split stay with a little time at each one like we did!
