Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (“AKL”), near the Animal Kingdom theme park, shares
with the Wilderness Lodge astonishingly detailed theming and a jaw-dropping lobby, based
in its case on African park lodges. It is also near-surrounded with parklands (Disney calls
them “savannas”) displaying animals. These animals are visible from savanna-view rooms
and also from multiple public viewing areas. On several upper floors of the main building
(Jambo House) you'll also find Disney Vacation Club spaces, the Jambo House Villas, and,
a long walk or short bus ride away, even more DVC Villas at Kidani Village, all available
for rent. Guest services and a shop are accessed from the main AKL Jambo lobby. Dining
is at a lower level. (Kidani has another lobby, shop, and restaurant.) Most Jambo rooms are
in two long-corridored semi-circular wings off the lobby that enclose animal savannas. The
main pool is as good as any Disney-owned pool except Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and
Beach Clubs. A slightly smaller but still wonderful pool serves Kidani.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge is at the far southwest corner of Walt Disney World.
Uniquely among the deluxes, all transport to the theme parks, water parks, and Downtown
Disney is via buses shared with Kidani. Included in this is the Animal Kingdom park—you
can't walk there. AKL thus is not particularly well located.
The animals, exterior architecture, lobby, detailing, and pools make AKL an astonish-
ingly kid-appealing resort. Adults enjoy it as well, although they might find its rooms smal-
ler than expected.
Standard guest rooms at AKL, with about 340 square feet, are tied with those at Disney's
Wilderness Lodge as the smallest deluxe rooms on property (standard view rooms also
are—for a Disney deluxe—inexpensive). Most first-time visitors ought not to pay for
views, as they won't be in their rooms enough, but they absolutely should pay for sa-
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