Seven Reasons You’ll Love Animal Kingdom Lodge
Every Disney resort comes with luxury amenities that will make your vacation unforgettable.
Still, one unique Disney hotel includes some features that you won’t find anywhere in Orlando…or the rest of the world, for that matter.
Here are seven reasons you’ll love Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the place where you can walk with the animals and talk with the animals!
The Lobby
Disney fans don’t know the late Pete Dominick by name, something I find tragic.
The legendary architect’s legacy remains on display at three different iconic Disney hotels.
Dominick and his staff designed Disney’s Wilderness Lodge near Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort.
Still, many consider his work with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as his masterpiece.
Dominick drew inspiration from his previous work in building a hotel lobby so all-encompassing it feels otherworldly.
The sheer scope of the place would disarm you if not for the unmistakable sense of tranquility in this lobby. It’s one of the most serene spots at Walt Disney World!
The authentic African theming here also improves on Wilderness Lodge’s rustic style and the somewhat bland aspects of the Grand Californian.
At Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jambo House, you’ll feel connected and at one with nature.
The Location
Disney strategists didn’t have much choice regarding the location of Animal Kingdom.
Building a park like this required so many concessions. Chief among them was locating the animal habitats far away from noisy theme park crowds.
Yes, you’ll still find some of that at Animal Kingdom, but Disney has thoughtfully safeguarded its animals in places where few humans visit.
When you stay at most Walt Disney World resorts, you’ll take the longest time traveling to Animal Kingdom of any park.
Given the name, you can guess that it’s a different story with Animal Kingdom Lodge, right?
While you cannot walk to the park from the hotel – that’s how you increase the odds of getting attacked by a puma – the bus rides take only five minutes.
You’re staying as close to Animal Kingdom as possible, which means you’re a short bus ride away from Pandora – The World of Avatar! You can’t beat that!
The Pool
Technically, Animal Kingdom Lodge consists of Jambo House and Kidani Village.
Because Kidani Village came later, I tend to think of Jambo House as the main section. However, as a guest, you can use the amenities of both locations.
That’s exceptional in and of itself, as it doubles the number of amenities available during your visit!
You should probably try both pools, although I prefer the massive Uzima Springs Pool.
We’re talking about an 11,000-square-foot pool with approximately 235,000 gallons of water! It also features an exceptional 67-foot winding water slide.
When you prefer a calmer dip in the pool, the Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani will satisfy your needs.
Even though this space is smaller, it still contains nearly 120,000 gallons of water. Also, its water slide is superior due to its length. It covers 128 feet!
Disney knows that Animal Kingdom Lodge skews young. So, it has built pools that ensure families can splash around when they’re not at the theme parks!
The Restaurants
Here’s an area where no other hotel can compete with Animal Kingdom Lodge.
SEVERAL of the eateries here rank among the top overall restaurants in Orlando. I’m neither joking nor exaggerating.
TripAdvisor lists 2,170 restaurants in the greater Orlando area. The most popular Quick Service restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Mara, ranks in the top 300.
That’s not even the remarkable part. The Mara represents THE LOWEST RANKED of Animal Kingdom Lodge’s dining options! I’m serious!
Here are the three other places where you’re most likely to dine at this resort:
- Boma – Flavors of Africa – #78 out of 2,170
- Jiko – The Cooking Place — #40 out of 2,170
- Sanaa — #79 out of 2,170
Yes, all three of these restaurants grade in the 96th percentile or higher throughout Central Florida!
You can eat at all these places without leaving your hotel when you stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge! It’s foodie paradise!
The Savannah
You know that amazing lobby I just mentioned? It comes with a hidden bonus.
Once you walk through the relaxing lobby and head out the other day, you’re in a novel part of the hotel campus.
You’re in a savannah that includes several different animal habitats!
That’s right, folks. When you stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you get Animal Kingdom’s best feature but without the crowds!
Disney has set up these areas so that guests can watch the animals frolic from a safe distance.
This exterior area works just the same as many of the attractions at Animal Kingdom itself. However, it feels more personal due to the lack of crowds.
The Shopping
Look, nobody loves shopping at Disney as much as my family, and I have the credit card statements to prove it.
Still, I think we’d all agree that there can be a sameness to the merchandise at some of the bigger stores.
This belief explains why I recently wrote a list of the most underrated stores at Walt Disney World.
Sometimes, I seek merchandise that feels unconventional by Disney standards. From that list, The Fjording and The Crown and the Crest exemplify this philosophy.
While I stuck to theme park options, I easily could have added Zawadi Marketplace, which offers some of the most unique merchandise in Orlando.
Disney has designed merchandise specifically for Animal Kingdom Lodge. Also, management has imported goods from various parts of the African continent.
The trinkets available here represent more than just retail therapy. They’re also conversation starters!
Some of the most original Disney memorabilia I own comes from Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The View
Of course, you may prefer to watch from a distance. Also, you may seek to start your day by watching the animals.
If so, Animal Kingdom Lodge has you covered! You can choose the most novel room type of any Disney hotel!
When you book Savannah View, your hotel room overlooks those places I just mentioned. You’re staring down at the animal habitats on the savannah.
Each morning, you can sit on the balcony/patio, sip your coffee, and watch the animals start their days, too!
Disney does charge a bit more for Savannah View, but let’s be honest. They could charge A LOT more than they do, and people would still pay.
Besides, you can always speak with a MickeyTravels agent and let them find a deal for you.
There’s just nothing like this room type anywhere else, either. It’s like you’re staying in a hotel room where a giraffe can see you from his favorite hangout spot.
Who’s watching who?
Unprecedented amenities like this explains my reverence for Animal Kingdom Lodge.
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Feature Photo: Disney