Animal Kingdom Lodge Returns

Animal Kingdom Lodge is my absolute favorite resort in all of Walt Disney World. I have a favorite in each category and there are a few I really like a lot in the deluxe resort group, but in my opinion, Animal Kingdom Lodge is the most uniquely themed resort. I am thrilled that the rest of this resort will be opening again this summer!

There are still a few resorts that have not fully reopened since the pandemic closure. While the Kidani side of the resort opened last year, it has been very difficult to book a room at Animal Kingdom Lodge due to the low quantity of rooms available. With Jambo House reopening, there is more availability at this resort even this fall when most resorts are showing very limited availability due to the 50th anniversary celebration and surge of travelers!

Now that Animal Kingdom has a reopening date of August 26, 2021, it may just be the perfect time to check out this resort! Just in case a balcony over the savannah is not enough of a reason for you to dream of staying here, I’ll share what makes this resort so special to me and why no other resort has been able to pass it up on my list of favorites!

Animal Kingdom Lodge is divided into two sections. Jambo House is the main building and has a bit more happening through out the day. It just feels a bit more lively and active than the counter part on the opposite side, Kidani Village. Kidani is home to Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members and while this part of the resort was designed for DVC, you can book a room here as a cash guest as well.

Main Lobby of Jambo House - Arriving at Animal Kingdom Lodge and entering the main lobby at Jambo House is simply an indescribable experience. When you enter this majestic lobby and take in the decor, you’ll be mesmerized by the size and beauty. The structure, art and design alone leave me in awe every single time we arrive. It feels luxurious and as you walk through the lobby and when you reach the massive windows overlooking the savanna. You will often find cultural or animal representatives in the lobby to talk with you about the animals in the savannah or the artwork found around the resort.

Cast Members at the resort - I love cast members everywhere. Some of the most amazing people are Walt Disney World cast members. They truly love what they do and they love sharing it with the people visiting. It is a very big part of what brings the magic to Walt Disney World. Cast members at Animal Kingdom Lodge can offer so much to your vacation that I can’t encourage you enough to stop and spend time talking with them! Cultural Representatives from around the world are a big part of the staff at this resort and they are happy to share their love of their homes with guests. The Animal Representatives are just as important and you will learn so much from them during your visit. Whether you talk to someone at any of the lookouts around the resorts or participate in activities through out the day, you’ll begin learning the names, likes, dislikes, and quirks of the many animals who call Animal Kingdom Lodge their home.

Giraffes, Zebras, Flamingos and more! If you are considering a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you already know the animals are a big draw! There is nothing quite like having breakfast on your balcony and watching giraffes or ankole cattle on the savanna below. Through out the day, you’ll see a variety of animals and there will definitely be some that become your family favorites.

Savanna View Rooms - I love the savanna view rooms. I can not emphasize enough how amazing it is to have a savanna view room. However, we don’t actually book it every trip. In fact, for years, we didn’t book one. I know this will be an unpopular opinion but that’s ok - I can handle it. The truth is, staying at a deluxe resort is a lot of money and sometimes there is a big difference in price for the savanna rooms (other times the difference is too close not to book it!). In those situations we have booked a pool view room and have loved them. There are so many places where you can look out at the animals from around the resort that if that splurge on a savanna room is just outside of budget, don’t give up on Animal Kingdom Lodge. Check out the pool view rooms. You will find that this is a quieter resort and they aren’t nearly as loud as some resorts but give you a great view from your balcony and save a few dollars.

The Mara - The Mara is Animal Kingdom Lodge’s quick service food court. It’s unique menu offers a variety of choices and allows you to try something a little new and a little different while still giving you plenty of traditional options similar to what you might find at other resorts on property. We love the African Stew and while it’s not currently on the menu, we are hoping for it’s return as Animal Kingdom Lodge reopens!

Convenience between Jambo House and Kidani Village - These two resorts are across the savanna from one another, but you can conveniently move between the two. We often take the short walk from one to the other but there is also an internal bus that will travel between the two.

Uzima Springs and Samawati Springs - There are two amazing pools at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Uzima Springs pool is the larger of the two and located outside of Jambo House. This zero depth entry level pool offers a 67 foot waterslide. While the Samawati Springs pool near Kidani Village is a bit smaller, this zero depth entry level pool offers a 128 foot waterslide that is sure to impress the kids!

Uwanja Camp - This is the place your kids will never want to leave. Located near Samawati Springs on the Kidani Village side of the resort is an incredible play and splash area with sections for kids of all ages. Whether you have toddlers who may be fascinated with a bubbling geyser or elementary kids dousing one another with water canons and avoiding the sneaky squirting irises, your real challenge may be getting your kids to want to leave the resort!

Zawadi Marketplace - Resorts will all have a gift shop with some of the essentials you may have forgotten to pack, the souvenirs you just can’t pass up, and some treats to keep in your room or park bag. Zawadi has all of that and much more. This is truly one of the most unique gift shops in all of the resorts around Walt Disney World. You will find very unique gift items from carved animals to African inspired art and more drums than you can imagine! There is often a carver working in the store or just outside as well.

Zebra Domes - I have been known to visit Animal Kingdom Lodge when we are not staying there just for zebra domes. You cannot go to Animal Kingdom Lodge without at least trying one! The only place you can buy these in all of Walt Disney World is the lodge or the restaurants in the lodge. This treat is made with Amarula Liquor mousse and is a specialty that you won’t want to miss!

Music - Music around the resorts is often something that guests notice and fall in love with. The music at Animal Kingdom is unique with an African flair and you can hear it played through out the resort. It adds to the atmosphere and really makes the ambience of this resort something special.

Activities - This one is tough for me because one of my absolute favorite things about Animal Kingdom Lodge are all of the educational and fun activities through out the day at this resort. So many of these had not returned as the Kidani Village side reopened and I truly hope as we move further from the pandemic we’ll see these activities return. Through out the day, you could find educational and fun activities on both sides of the resort. We have participated in cultural and conservation activities that allowed us to interact with cast members in amazing ways. Some of the my children’s favorite memories from Animal Kingdom Lodge stem from the activities we have participated in. We have learned about what different animals eat and how they search for food, decorated cookies, listened to stories, and learned so much about the art and decor of the resort. They are amazing experiences. I cannot wait for them to return!

There are so many things to love about Animal Kingdom Lodge, but these are few of my favorites. If you have visited this resort, I would love to hear about some of yours! Leave me a message in the comments.

If you have dreamt of staying at this resort, there is no time like today to start planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. Contact me for a free, no obligation quote to begin planning your next vacation!