Animal Kingdom Resort Guide
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Our tips and tricks to make your trip magicalFrom savanna views and room layouts to dining and DVC perks — everything you need to plan the perfect stay, from owners who know this resort best.
What’s In This Guide
Why We Love Animal Kingdom Lodge
This was the first resort we owned at as DVC members — and we’ve never stopped going back.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is the first resort we owned at as DVC members, and for good reason. We fell in love with many aspects of this hotel and still to this day visit multiple times a year! The first (and most notable) feature is the savanna. The hotel is shaped to wrap around it, allowing you to see animals from viewing decks, at meals, and even from certain room types.
While walking around the hotel, you will see different African art exhibits — the largest collection outside the continent of Africa. You could spend hours looking through the collections spread throughout the lobby and each floor.
If you want to feel secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of life, this is one of our top choices for resort-only vacations. It is tucked away, peaceful, with of course a touch of Disney magic.
Find us on Pinterest @pixiepointgals and Instagram @pxiepointgals for real-time photos and updates from the resort!
Room View Categories
Every room size is available in multiple view categories — your view choice matters more here than at almost any other Disney resort.
At Animal Kingdom Lodge your view category significantly shapes your experience. Even if you don’t book a savanna view, there are shared viewing decks throughout the resort where all guests can watch the animals.
- Smaller size rooms
- Only located at Jambo House
- Little availability to rent
- View of parking or pool
- Larger than value rooms
- Located at both Kidani and Jambo
- View of a savanna
- Same size as standard
- Balcony to watch animals
In our opinion — absolutely yes, especially for a first visit. Waking up to giraffes and zebras from your own balcony is unlike anything else at Disney. That said, even standard view rooms have access to the savanna viewing decks throughout the resort.
Room Sizes & Floor Plans
DVC villas range from studios to three-bedroom grand villas — here’s exactly what each room includes.
One of the biggest advantages of renting DVC is the space and amenities. Even a studio includes a kitchenette, and one-bedroom and larger villas come with full kitchens, washer/dryers, and separate living and dining areas.
- One queen bed / sofa bed
- One bathroom
- Counter fridge
- Microwave
- Coffee maker / toaster
- Small amount of paper products
Kitchenette only — no full kitchen. See full kitchen details below for 1BR+.
- King bed
- Living area / sofa bed
- Washer / dryer
- Kitchen (see below)
- Two bathrooms
- Dining space
- One king bed
- Two queens
- Sofa bed
- Kitchen (see below)
- Washer / dryer
- Three bathrooms
Two types: Dedicated (two queens) and Lock-Off (one bedroom + studio with a connecting door).
- One king bed
- Four queens, sofa bed
- Kitchen (see below)
- Two living spaces
- Laundry
Exclusive to Kidani Village. Spans two full floors — ideal for large groups or multi-family trips.
Kitchens have: sink, dishwasher, fridge and freezer, microwave, coffee maker, toaster. Plates, cups, silverware, frying pan, sauce pan, cooking utensils. Also included: one roll of paper towels, one dishwasher tablet, travel size dishwashing soap, and sponge.
Restaurants, Bars & Quick Service
Animal Kingdom Lodge has some of the best on-property dining at Walt Disney World — African-inspired cuisine unlike anything else at the parks.
There are two main restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge: Sanaa and Boma. Both offer cuisines of the continent of Africa as well as American style dishes for children. There are also a variety of bars and grab-and-go food locations. There is also an upscale fine dining restaurant, Jiko.
Overlooks the savanna and has an award winning bread appetizer with a variety of sauces and dips. Located at Kidani Village. Book this one first — it fills up fast.
Located at Jambo House off of the lobby — turn down the stairs on the right side. Buffet style with its famous zebra cakes.
Quick Service & Snacks
Each of the 2 locations’ pools (Jambo and Kidani) have a bar by the pool that offers food and drinks. You are allowed to eat and bring outside food into the pool areas of the resort. Both locations also have a grab-and-go convenience store location.
- Mara — Jambo House quick order or take to go
- Sanaa (breakfast only) — Quick order or takeout at Kidani in the morning
- Pool bars — Both Jambo and Kidani have poolside bars with food and drinks
- Sundry stores — Milk, wipes (great for newborns), frozen pizzas, Mickey ice cream bars, and other necessities
As a DVC / deluxe resort guest, you can make all your dining reservations 60 days before you check in. You can walk your reservations in each morning at 6am EST to get even better times. Book Sanaa first — it fills up the fastest.
Activity Highlights & Getting Around
Animal Kingdom Lodge has more to do on-property than almost any other Disney resort — you could spend a full day without ever leaving.
Pools & Splash Pads
There are two different pool areas: one at Jambo House and one at Kidani. Kidani offers a large splash pad / playground which is routinely ranked as one of the best on Disney property. The Jambo pool is larger but the Kidani pool has a toddler and “big kid” slide. Jambo has a wading pool for smaller kids.
Movie Under the Stars
A few evenings a week (Mon/Wed/Fri usually), Animal Kingdom Lodge will show a movie under the stars where they will play a Disney movie and tell kids a bedtime story. It is located at the playground. There is a full playground at Jambo for children to use.
Cultural Activities
Depending on the week and season, they have art tours, food tours where you get to sample food, activities for kids to learn to play African drums. Down at the savanna a cast member can also teach you about the various animals.
Heritage Scavenger Hunt
Explore the resort with a scavenger hunt! You can do this by picking up a map and clues from either the front desk or at the store.
Campfire & S’mores
Located at Jambo House at the savanna overlooks from 6:30–7:30 pm each evening. S’mores can be purchased for an additional fee.
Transportation to the Parks
All parks are reached by Disney buses. You can find the estimated time for each bus under “My Resort” on your Disney My Experience App.
Buses start to arrive roughly an hour before the parks open each morning. Know which building you’re staying in (Jambo or Kidani) before you head to the bus stop — they make two separate stops.
Perks from Staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge & Renting DVC
Renting DVC points unlocks a full suite of benefits that standard hotel bookings simply don’t include.
What You Get
These perks apply to all guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge through a DVC rental — included in the cost, no extras needed.
