Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is set in 33 acres of tropical Savannah in the Animal Kingdom Resort area just a short drive from Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.

Rating: 4 stars
Rooms: 762 rooms
Rates: from $240 to $555 Check rates

Address: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830
Area: Animal Kingdom Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

Transportation to the Disney theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney is by Disney motor coach.

Themed on an African safari lodge, with authentic African artefacts, it looks out onto the African savannah landscape created at Disney's Animal Kingdom where 30 species of animals roam including giraffe, zebras, gazelles, ostriches, wildebeests and antelope.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is located at the western end of Osceola Parkway ajoining the south west corner of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.

It is only 1.0 miles from Disney's Blizzard Beach water park and 2.0 miles from Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is also home to two of the newer Disney Vacation Club villa resorts at Walt Disney World with 216 rooms housed in the main lodge building, now renamed as Jambo House. A second development which opened in 2009 named Kidani Village, boasts a further 492 villas.

Rooms/Suites

Each of the rooms has a balcony where you can look over the resort area (Standard View), the pool (Water/Pool View), or one of three savannahs (Savannah view) depending upon location.

If you have a Savannah view, then you may be able to wake up to the sight of African animals from your balcony in the 33 acre wildlife preserves; the Sunset savannah, the Arusha savannah and the Uzima savannah. As you would expect there is a premium for the Savannah views.

All the rooms are decorated in an African style with hand-carved wooden furniture, wall hangings, wooden-paddled ceiling fans and earthy tones.

Standard rooms are around 344 square feet and will sleep 4 (plus a baby in a crib). Most rooms come with either a king-size bed (available with daybed), two queen-size beds or one queen-size bed and bunk beds (available with daybed).

There are also larger Deluxe Guest Rooms (sleep 5) with Water/Pool View or Savannah View.

For larger groups there are one and two bedroom suites each with separate kitchenettes and separate sitting areas. The one bedroom suites sleep 6, the two bedroom units sleep 8 and have 2 1/2 baths.

The most expensive suites are the 2 bedroom Vice Presidential and Presidential suites that sleep 6 and 8 respectively.

Dining

The Animal Kingdom Lodge has a number of good restaurants including Jiko - The Cooking Place (open for dinner only) where African cuisine mixes with cooking from the Mediterranean, India and Europe.

At Boma - Flavors of Africa, you can eat buffet-style breakfasts and dinners in an authentic African marketplace.

There is also The Mara, an American cuisine quick-service food court which is open all day and the Victoria Falls Lounge which serves teas and coffees.

Recreation

The Uzima Spring serves cold beverages and frozen drinks at the Uzima poolside which features zero-depth entry, a 67 foot long water slide and two spas (Jacuzzi/hot tubs).

For smaller children there is a wading pool, Simba's Cubhouse which provides supervised evening entertainment for children aged 4 to 12 and the Hakuna Matata Playground which is open 24 hours.

At Pumbaa's Fun & Games Arcade you can play both classic arcade and the latest video games (located next to The Mara restaurant).

The hotel also has the Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center which features Cybex exercise equipment and free weights. For an extra fee you can indulge yourself with spa and massage treatments.

Amenities

The hotel offers a host of amenities including:

• room service
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• free parking, valet parking (charge applicable)
• minibar, iron and ironing board, wall safe
• coffee maker and microwave (available on request)
• refrigerator (available on request, charge applicable)
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• bath robes and hair dryer
• voice mail, dial-up internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• plus a number of shops including the Zawadi Marketplace where you can find African-themed gifts and souvenirs

Guest staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge can also take advantage of the special animal programs and safari experiences.

For example, you can watch animals at dusk with special night-vision binoculars, go on a cultural safari, a dusk Wanyama safari or at dawn with a concierge-level exclusive Sunrise Safari.