Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

1 October 2024 by Steve Bell 2 Comments

Walt Disney World’s  Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Unique property, offering views of African animals right from your room’s balcony.

Note: This Walt Disney World Resort has a co-located DVC Resort.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a joint property. It is both a Disney World Resort and a Disney Vacation Club property.

The original Animal Kingdom Lodge is called Jambo House, it is the original building and contains all of the Resort rooms as well as some DVC villas. The second newer building is called Kindani Village and is entirely comprised of DVC villas.

Read more about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas the DVC Resort.

Savanna View Rooms

The majority of rooms in either building have views of the Lodge’s savannas, areas where African animals live. You’ll enjoy watching animals such as giraffes and zebras right outside your balcony window.

Savanna Room View

The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas is themed after East African hunting lodges.

Guest Rooms

At the Animal Kingdom Lodge standard size rooms offer 2 queen beds (a crib may be requested for children under 3). The Deluxe Resorts all have room entry doors from an interior hallway. Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms are larger that the Moderate rooms at 344 square feet.

The Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodges are sometimes referred to as Moderate Plus or Deluxe Minus, due to their room size and price (other Deluxes are bigger and more expensive).

Deluxe Resorts offer a table and two chairs or a desk and chair, dresser, TV, small fridge, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, and small safe. The bathroom proper is separated from the double sink vanity area.

The majority of the Lodge’s rooms overlook the Savanna, offering wonderful views of the African wildlife. You can spend hours on your balcony watching giraffes, zebras, and much more! Pool Views and Standard Views (parking lot) are also offered, but why would you stay here and not get a Savanna View?

• Resort View: $506 – $915 – sleeps up to 4 with 2 queen beds or 1 queen bed and 1 bunk bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed. Views of Rooftop or Parking Area.
• Resort View King: $524 – $935 – sleeps up to 2 with 1 king bed. Views of Rooftop or Parking Area.
• Water View: $547 – $962 – sleeps up to 4 with 2 queen beds or 1 king bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed. Views of Pool.
• Water View King: $565 – $982 – sleeps up to 4 with 1 queen bed and 1 bunk bed. Views of Pool.
• Savanna View: $724 – $1209 – sleeps up to 4 with 2 queen beds or 1 king bed and 1 day bed. Views of One of the Savannas.
• Savanna View King: $744 – $1231 – sleeps up to 2 with 1 king bed. Views of One of the Savannas.
• Savanna View Club Level: $925 – $1628 – sleeps up to 4 with 2 queen beds or 1 queen bed and 1 bunk bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed. Views of Arusha Savanna.
• Savanna View King Club Level: $945 – $1648 – sleeps up to 4 with 1 king bed and 1 day bed. Views of One of the Savannas.
• Various Suites 1 – 2 Bedroom: $1448 – $4206 – Sleeps up to 8 Views of One of the Savannas.

Listed nightly prices are for 2025 and include sales tax and are rounded to the nearest dollar. They do not factor in any military discount as these are based on availability. Prices are subject to change by Disney.

Dining

Boma, Flavors of Africa – B$$ D$$$ – Buffet Service – African and American all you can eat buffet, featuring salads, roasted meats, and interesting sauces.

Jiko, The Cooking Place – D $$$$ – Table Service – One of Disney World’s premier restaurants (an AAA’s Four Diamond Award winner). Specialties include wood-fired flatbreads; a trio of dips with house-made naan (Indian flatbread); oak-grilled filet mignon with red-wine sauce and sweet-corn risotto.

Sanaa – LD $$ – Table Service – Indian-African cuisine featuring Tandoori meats, grilled lamb, and steak.

The Mara – BLD $ – Quick Service – A typical Disney Resort Food Court with various stations. Sandwiches, Pitas, Flatbreads, and Salads. Mobile Ordering Available.

Pizza Delivery

Room Service

Victoria Falls Lounge

Uzima Pool Bar

Maji Pool Bar

Features

Animal Viewing (Day and Night) – Discover over 30 species of African wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, kudu and flamingos, from your room or common areas. At night enjoy the night vision goggle animal viewing.

• The Animal Kingdom Lodge Starlight Safari – Take a guided tour of the savanna after dark in a safari truck.
• The Animal Kingdom Lodge Night Vision Safari (currently Unavailable) – Watch the animals on the savanna from one of the AKL’s overlooks through night vision devices.

Two Pools – Uzima and Samawati Springs

Uzima Pool – The Jambo House pool with water slide and 2 Hot Tubs – Enjoy a 11,000-square-foot pool with an exciting water slide and gently sloping, zero-depth entry point similar to that of a natural watering hole. Surrounded by large canopy trees and Floridian palms.

Samawati Springs Pool – located just a short walk away at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani! Featuring an exciting 128-foot waterslide and zero-depth-entry, this 4,700-square-foot, 118,138-gallon pool is the perfect place to cool off and have fun.

Hot Tubs – Both pool areas have a hot tub.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby

Kiddy Pools – Both pool areas include a children’s wading pool.

Bus transportation is available to all Disney World guest areas

Water Play Area – Uwanja Camp; the Samawati Springs pool area also includes Uwanja Camp, a water playground with 3 distinct zones to please kids of all ages. At Observation Station, children 4 years of age and younger can climb through cargo crates, unscramble animal images and frolic through a gently bubbling geyser and shallow cistern pool—while their parents watch from nearby.

Playground – Hakuna Matata Playground. Kids can monkey around at this 24-hour playground overlooking the flamingo area and savanna.

Jambo House Campfire Activities – Gather ‘round as the sun goes down for old-fashioned family fun as you roast marshmallows by a crackling fire.

Arcade – Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade, conquer classic arcade games and popular video games at this arcade near The Mara café.

Guest Laundry – Enjoy 24-hour self-service laundry rooms, as well as dry cleaning and valet laundry services.

Fitness Center – Service your spirit at Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center, a workout facility featuring equipment, massages and more.

Location

An Animal Kingdom Area Resort

Transportation

Bus transportation is available to all Disney World guest areas.

These are some of the most isolated resorts at WDW. They are the furthest form most of the theme parks (except Animal Kingdom) and only have bus transportation.

Overnight Parking is free at the Disney World Deluxes.

Valet service is offered at Disney Deluxe and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Upon your arrival, please check with the Security Host for parking options. Valet service is $42 per night (plus tax).

Our Thoughts

The AKL is probably the most special setting of all the Disney Resorts! Savanna views right outside your room window are not to be missed! We’ve spent hours sitting on the balcony watching the animals.

The Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodges are the most economical of the Deluxe Resorts. This is due to their remoteness and total reliance on Disney bus transportation to all points on property versus the options other Deluxe Resorts have (Monorail, boat, walking).

• Walt Disney World Resorts
• Disney Resorts Tested by MDT
• How do Disney Deluxe Resorts Compare to Shades of Green?
• How do Disney Resorts compare to Shades of Green in price?
• Split Your Stay between Disney Resorts, Shades of Green, or Others
• WDW Room View Categories, Do They Really Matter?

Savanna Room View

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Are you interested in finding a great military rate at this resort? I recommend using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (travel agent)! Doing so can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation, which can be a complicated and overwhelming task.
You have probably seen elsewhere on the site that I recommend The Mouse Experts powered by The Curated Travel Collection as my preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.
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• Walt Disney World Resorts
• Disney Resorts Tested by MDT
• How do Disney Deluxe Resorts Compare to Shades of Green?
• How do Disney Resorts compare to Shades of Green in price?
• Split Your Stay between Disney Resorts, Shades of Green, or Others
• WDW Room View Categories, Do They Really Matter?

Disney’s Official Page: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

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