Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s version of a safari lodge is certainly thrilling and respectfully faithful to African wildlife, culture, and cuisine. Its authentic architecture combined with grasslands filled with hundreds of roaming exotic animals makes for one of Disney’s best resorts. The six-story, horseshoe-shaped structure topped with extravagant thatch rooftops is rustically surrounded by eucalyptus fencing and three glorious savannas.

In the imposing, five-story thatch-roofed lobby, just as at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the first impression is nothing but wow! Resplendent overhead chandeliers formed by Masai shields and spears tower over the boulder-lined lobby. Safari-chic seating areas offer hand-carved coffee tables, handsome hand-woven rugs, richly tinted rattan and cane chairs, and relaxing leather sofas adorned with African textile throw pillows. A rope suspension bridge spans the lobby and draws the eye to balconies carved with graceful antelopes and a 46-foot picture window framed by branches of an intricate ironwork tree. The centerpiece of the lobby is the one-of-a-kind sacred Ijele, a 16-foot, dazzling mask created by the Igbo people of Nigeria.

Out back sits a massive yellow flame tree poised atop Arusha Rock, an outcropping with panoramic views of the savanna where a nearby fire pit surrounded by rocking chairs is the site of nightly storytelling by the largely African staff. Many of the lobby and restaurant greeters together with the savanna guides are all cultural representatives from Africa, more than delighted to answer questions or share information and tales of their homeland. Several viewing platforms are staffed by “safari guides” who help with identifying wildlife as well as communicating interesting information about the animals.

Located within a five-minute drive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (but with no walking path to the park), the animals you’ll see here are exclusively those of the lodge and not part of the theme park’s menagerie. The design is one that encourages observation of the animals from both common lookouts as well as from 75 percent of the rooms. Each savanna holds different species, and patience is sometimes required to spot them. But more times than not you’ll find the savanna brimming with an abundance of prime viewing opportunities including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, ankole (African cattle), wildebeests, exotic birds, and more.

If you can somehow find the time take a tour of the resort’s outstanding collection of more than 500 pieces of museum quality African art, including intricate masks, amazing beadwork, artifacts dating as far back as 8,500 B.C., and much, much more.

Tour Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

1,186 rooms including Jambo House Villas. 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830; 407-938-3000; Fax 407-938-7102. Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.

  • Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby

    Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby

  • Lobby seating area

    Lobby seating area

  • Lobby fireplace, perfect for relaxation

    Lobby fireplace, perfect for relaxation

  • Lobby detail

    Lobby detail

  • Firepit

    Firepit
    Here you'll find storytelling on select evenings.

  • Marshmallow roasting overlooking the savanna

    Marshmallow roasting overlooking the savanna

  • Victoria Falls Lounge

    Victoria Falls Lounge

  • Jiko, the resorts' Signature Restaurant

    Jiko, the resorts' Signature Restaurant

  • Jiko Bar

    Jiko Bar
    Come for the unparalleled South African wine list

  • Rocking chairs in the resort's overlooks

    Rocking chairs in the resort's overlooks

  • Giant windows overlook the savanna

    Giant windows overlook the savanna

  • A resting spot overlooking the savanna

    A resting spot overlooking the savanna

  • Arusha Savanna

    Arusha Savanna
    The Lodge's savannas are teeming with over thirty species of wildlife.

  • Standard room

    Standard room

  • Standard room

    Standard room

  • Standard room - note the small closet

    Standard room - note the small closet

  • Standard room bath

    Standard room bath

  • Standard room balcony

    Standard room balcony

  • Two-Bedroom Suite Living Area

    Two-Bedroom Suite Living Area

  • Two-bedroom Suite

    Two-bedroom Suite

  • Two-bedroom Suite Dining Area

    Two-bedroom Suite Dining Area

  • Two-bedroom Suite Master Bedroom

    Two-bedroom Suite Master Bedroom

  • Two-bedroom Suite Master Bath

    Two-bedroom Suite Master Bath

  • Two-bedroom Suite Master Bath

    Two-bedroom Suite Master Bath

  • Two-bedroom Suite Balcony

    Two-bedroom Suite Balcony

  • Two-bedroom Suite Guest Room

    Two-bedroom Suite Guest Room

  • Two-bedroom Suite Guest Room Bath

    Two-bedroom Suite Guest Room Bath

  • Kilimanjaro Club

    Kilimanjaro Club

  • Kilimanjaro Club

    Kilimanjaro Club

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Living Area

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Living Area
    Jambo House Villas lack the extra full bath found over in the Kidani Villas.

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Kitchen

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Kitchen
    Open to the living area, the kitchen is small but adequate.

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Dining Area

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Dining Area

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Living Room Balcony

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Living Room Balcony

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Master Bedroom

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Master Bedroom
    A king bed is standard in all.

  • One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Master Bedroom Bath

    One-, and Two-bedroom Jambo House Villa Master Bedroom Bath

  • Jambo House Deluxe Studio-the guest room in a 2-bedroom Villa

    Jambo House Deluxe Studio-the guest room in a 2-bedroom Villa

  • Jambo House Deluxe Studio-the guest room in a 2-bedroom Villa

    Jambo House Deluxe Studio-the guest room in a 2-bedroom Villa

  • Jambo House Deluxe Studio Bath

    Jambo House Deluxe Studio Bath

  • Jambo House Grand Villa Living

    Jambo House Grand Villa Living

  • Jambo House Grand Villa Dining

    Jambo House Grand Villa Dining

  • Jambo House Grand Villa Master Bedroom

    Jambo House Grand Villa Master Bedroom

  • Jambo House Grand Villa Master Bedroom Bath

    Jambo House Grand Villa Master Bedroom Bath

  • Jambo House Grand Villa Kitchen

    Jambo House Grand Villa Kitchen

  • Jambo House Grand Villa balcony

    Jambo House Grand Villa balcony
    One of several overlooking the savanna

  • Jambo House Grand Villa guest bedroom

    Jambo House Grand Villa guest bedroom

  • Jambo House Grand Villa guest bedroom bath

    Jambo House Grand Villa guest bedroom bath

Accommodations

Guest Rooms

Don’t even consider booking a room without a savanna view, well worth every penny for a front-row seat from which to view the animals. And don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Through a shield-covered door is a recently renovated, honey-colored room outfitted with handcrafted and carved furnishings and ethnic prints. Hardwood flooring and porcelain tile cover the floors, and intricately engraved headboards top beds covered in plain white sheeting with no adornment. Instead of side tables, there are granite slabs connected to the wall on the far side of either bed as well as a standard bedside table between the two queen beds. An oversized flat-screen TV hangs on the wall above the granite-topped bureau flanked by a small table and two chairs. Baths are separated from the bedroom with a sliding barn-type door and have a separate granite-topped vanity area with two small sinks, hairdryer, lighted makeup mirror, full-length mirror, and, even after renovations, poor lighting. A tub/shower with a sliding glass door as well as the toilet is found in a separate adjoining room.

Amenities include an electronic safe, under-counter refrigerator, and Keurig coffeemaker with the iron and ironing board on request only. Room bedding includes one king or two queens. All rooms have balconies, 75 percent of them offering savanna views. However, guest rooms at 344 square feet are a bit cramped and do come prepared for virtually no closet space with barely enough room to hang more than about 15 items.

Views are: standard, overlooking the rooftop or the front of the resort and the parking area; pool, overlooking the pool area; and savanna, overlooking one of three savannas. Tour Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Standard View Room on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

Cara’s Tip: At the Animal Kingdom Lodge there are three savannas, each with their own charm. The Kudu Trail savanna facing Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village is probably my least favorite. Beware the standard view rooms that look at the parking area and could be in the valet parking drop-off area with a constant stream of buses and cars passing by your room balcony at all hours of the day and night.

Concierge Rooms

Concierge guest rooms all come with a view of the savanna and are located mostly on the 4th and 5th floor. The thatch-roofed, sixth-floor Kilimanjaro Club overlooking the lobby offers delicious and unusual food and a pleasant ambiance. Extra amenities include the services of a concierge staff. Morning brings a substantial breakfast of juice, croissants, muffins, danish rolls, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, oatmeal, vegetable bobotie, hard-boiled eggs, smoked salmon, deli meats and cheese, yogurt, and cereal. Later you’ll find afternoon beverages and snacks of bagged chips, trail mix, granola bars, fruit, Smuckers PB&J sandwiches, goldfish crackers, and gummy bears. Evening time enjoys South African Indaba Chardonnay, Fairvale Pinotage, and Indaba Merlot in addition to a selection of beer (Michelob Ultra, Sweetwater Brewing 420 Pale Ale, Bud Light, Tusker, and Yuengling). Appetizers include cold items such as crudities, artisanal cheese and crackers, ham and cheese rollups, watermelon, a variety of hummus such as sun-dried, coriander, kalamata olive, berber-chickpea salad, preserved lemon green olives, and tabbouleh salad; warm items might be African shrimp and pearl pasta, South African Sambal chicken corn chowder, tomato & paneer cheese soup, Egyptian chickpea and lentil falafel, and buttered chicken,—all from the on-site restaurants, Boma and Sanaa. After-dinner treats include cordials as well as cookies, berry tart, mini-tarts, Rice Krispies treats, mango-filled phyllo dough, cordials, and sometimes zebra domes (ganache-covered chocolate-coffee mousse) from Boma. Soda, lemonade, iced tea, and Jungle Juice are available throughout the day. You’ll even find a self-service Nespresso machine. View Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Kilimanjaro Club on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

Suites

One-bedroom suites at 777-square-feet feature a separate parlor with a queen sofa sleeper, easy chair, coffee table, entertainment center, four-person dining table, wet bar with small refrigerator and microwave, writing desk, half bath, and balcony. In the bedroom are two queen beds, an entertainment center, a vanity desk, and a balcony. The bath has a double sink, tub, and large shower, plus a separate room for the commode. Sleeps six.

Two-bedroom suites have the same living room layout, but in the master is a king bed, easy chair and ottoman, and a separate vanity area. A standard-size second bedroom with two queen-size beds, or a queen and a bunk with a standard bath sit off the foyer. Sleeps eight with a garden view.

For truly grand surroundings book Disney’s best suite, the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath Royal Assante Presidential Suite, with more than 2,115 square feet of exotic luxury. Located on the 5th floor and reminiscent of famous African lodges, it offers panoramic views of the central savanna teeming with exotic wildlife. Just off the entry is the dining room boasting a massive table made from a single tree trunk and seating eight. The suite’s highlight is its circular living room with a fascinating thatch ceiling, hardwood and stone flooring, luxurious African textiles and artwork, rock fireplace over which is a large TV, and hand-carved furnishings, including an assortment of easy chairs and a curved sofa, all surrounded by a stand-up balcony. The master bedroom comes with a king bed composed of tree trunks, an oversized sofa and TV, and an additional sitting area with TV and easy chairs. Adjoining is a vanity area and a small walk-in closet. The bath is one of Disney’s most impressive, with its freestanding soaking tub, double sinks, vanity, shower, and separate commode area with Toto washlet. The second bedroom is a upgraded standard size with two queen beds and bath with double sinks and shower. A deep balcony with lounge chairs and outdoor dining table runs the length of both bedrooms and over to the suite’s dining room, perfect for dinner overlooking the savanna. You’ll also find a half bath, a TV room with lounging chairs, and a service kitchen with a separate entry featuring a stocked, undercounter refrigerator, sink, ice maker, microwave, Keurig and espresso machine.

The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath Royal Kuba Vice Presidential Suite at 1,619 square feet, also located on the 5th floor, is another gem. Similar to the Royal Assante, it comes with rooms that are a bit smaller in size and without an office, but with the same fantastic décor, thatch ceiling, master bedroom, bath, and balcony. Both the Presidential and VP Suites welcome you with exotic fresh floral arrangements.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House

Within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on the 5th or 6th floors are the Jambo House Villas, available in studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Similar to the lodge’s guest rooms with rich, warm fabrics, lovely carved wood furnishings, and earthy colors, they offer, except for the studios, a small kitchen area and quite a bit more room to spread out than the standard rooms here.

Studios are 316-365 square feet and come with a queen bed, double-size sleeper sofa, table and two chairs, bureau, TV, freestanding armoire closet, and a balcony. There’s also a wet bar mini-kitchen with microwave, sink, and refrigerator. In the bathroom are a tub and double sink with the commode separate.

The One-Bedroom Villa has 629-710 square feet. You’ll find a small kitchen with a full-size stove and refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, and kitchen island. The parlor has a milk chocolate brown queen-size sleeper sofa, oversized, twin sleeper easy chair (except in the smaller Value Villas), table with a two-person bench and two chairs, coffee table, TV, and balcony. Most sleep five. The master comes with a king bed, bureau with TV, armoire closet, desk, and a second balcony. In the bath are double sinks in a granite vanity, whirlpool bathtub decorated with a setting sun Lion King mural, and a separate commode area. There’s also a stacked washer and dryer. A Two-Bedroom Villa is simply a One-Bedroom plus a connecting Deluxe Studio with 945-1075 square feet. View Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House Two-bedroom Villa on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

There are six Grand Villas, each with three bedrooms, and four baths in 2,349 square feet. A different layout than the next-door Kidani’s Grand Villas, these villas are on one level and located at the end of the resort’s wings. A combination living and dining room has tile floors topped with colorful rugs, sleeper sofa with two easy chairs and entertainment armoire, and a dining table seating ten. A nice-sized granite-top kitchen has a full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and sink. There are three balconies—one off the living/dining room, one off the master bedroom, and a shared balcony off the two guest rooms. In the master is a king bed, entertainment center, and desk; its bath comes with a whirlpool tub, shower, double sinks, oversized TV, and separate toilet area. Each of the standard-size guest rooms has two queen beds and its own bath, and a half bath off the entry hall area. A playroom with a pool table is exclusive to these villas.

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