Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a deluxe resort at Walt Disney World that captures the beauty of African art, wilderness, and food. The resort is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom resort area, and is just west of the Animal Kingdom theme park.
The décor at this resort is gorgeous and unique, made up of dark woods and warm gold tones with architecture and thatched roofs meant to mimic a village on the savanna. The resort’s common areas are decorated with authentic art pieces from the resort’s enormous African art collection. The resort’s outdoor savanna is also home to over 30 species of African animals, from zebras to wildebeest to giraffes.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is made up of two resort areas – Kidani Village and Jambo House. The former is made up entirely of villas, whereas Jambo House has both villas and standard rooms. The two are a ten-minute walk from each other, and the restaurants and entertainment of each resort area are easy to access for guests of the resort.
Undoubtedly one of our favorite things about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the dining, and many of the restaurants are worth the trip to this resort even if you’re not staying at it. Many of the restaurants offer Indian and African-inspired cuisine interspersed with some American flavors. One of the most popular is the buffet restaurant Boma – Flavors of Africa, with a wide variety of dishes to try for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One of our favorites is Sanaa (at Kidani Village), with delicious Indian-inspired dishes, a legendary bread service, and views of the animals on the outdoor savannah. For a special occasion, Jiko serves upscale African-Indian cuisine with an impressive wine list. Guests looking for a quick bite can also grab quick-service offerings at The Mara. Like all Walt Disney World Resort hotels, this resort’s restaurant accepts the Disney Dining Plan.
Guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will also find unique entertainment available, from live music to campfire storytelling. In the evening, guests can also spot animals on the savanna with night vision goggles provided by the resort. When you’re ready to cool off, guests can enjoy the Uzima Pool, a zero-entry pool with a waterslide as well as two whirlpool hot tubs. There is also the Samawati Springs Pool and the Uwanja Camp water play area at Kidani Village.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers bus transportation to all four theme parks and to Disney Springs. The bus stops at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. This resort is located farther from most of the theme parks than other resorts, with the exception of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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I’m Elizabeth, and I’m a planner, a vacation enthusiast, and quite the nerd. Even better, I’m dedicated to helping you plan an unforgettable vacation without all the stress. I like to say that I specialize in nerd travel – to me, being a nerd has always meant being unashamedly passionate about the stories I love. This is why I love planning for my favorite destinations – these are places that can take you right into the world of your imagination and make it real. If you’re just a grown-up kid like me, you’ll love these destinations, too. Whether you’re imagining fairytale castles or adventures with wizards and dragons, I can help you make it happen! I’m putting all that I’ve learned about vacation planning and my nerdy love of fantasy to work for you, so that you can write your amazing vacation story. Visit my blogNerdTravelPro.com to learn more about how you can get help planning your next adventure, and come visit me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for even more vacation fun and tips. Contact me at elizabeth@theaffordablemouse.com to start planning.
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