Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Guide
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a four-star resort hotel in the Animal Kingdom theme park area. The resort spans 75 acres and features 972 rooms and suites in the main Lodge, also known as Jambo House. Jambo House also has dedicated villas, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House. A separate Disney Vacation Club, Kidani Village, is only a short walk or shuttle ride away on the same property.
Guests planning a stay will want to familiarize themselves with the resort’s room types, restaurants, recreation, and transportation options. This guide shares all the information we’ve collected over the years. We’ve stayed at Jambo House and Kidani Village many times and continue to do so.
We recommend using this guide as a starting point. If you want to learn more, we’ve included a list of our articles detailing each resort. For example, if you plan to spend time at the pool, our resort pool guide has many photos and things you’ll want to know beforehand.
The Basics at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Here are a few basic things you’ll want to know about the resort:
- Check-In: 3:00 p.m.*
- Check-Out: 11:00 a.m.
- Self-Parking: Complimentary
- Free Wi-Fi Internet
- Address: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
- Resort Map: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Map
*Note that check-in for Kidani Village or Animal Kingdom Villas is at 4:00 p.m.
Housekeeping at Disney’s Yacht Club
Non-Disney Vacation Club Members (not renting points) staying in rooms at Disney Deluxe Villas can expect daily full housekeeping service during their stay
Rooms at Disney Deluxe Resorts receive full housekeeping service daily.
For Disney Vacation Club Members who utilize their Member Points or Member Cash Discounts at a Disney Vacation Club Resort, a complimentary trash and towel service will be provided on the fourth day of their stay. If their visit extends beyond eight nights, they will also enjoy a full cleaning service on the fourth day and a trash and towel service on the eighth day.
A Note on DVC Resorts
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge includes Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas at Jambo House and Kidani Village, a Disney Vacation Club Resort. As a result, this section of the resort operates a little differently from a typical Disney Resort Hotel. Disney Vacation Club members get first choice of rooms when reservations become available. However, rooms rarely fill up, so Disney makes them available on a cash basis to regular resort guests. So you don’t have to be a DVC member to stay at this or any other Disney Vacation Club Resort.
Kidani Village sits next door to the Lodge and offers nearly 350 additional guest rooms. This area features room types like deluxe studios and villas, which are predominantly for larger families or groups. Meanwhile, Jambo House offers rooms ranging from standard hotel rooms to deluxe studios and villas. Rooms at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village offer savanna, pool, or standard views. Savanna rooms are a considerable upgrade, but this is one of the few resorts where we recommend paying for a room view upgrade.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Benefits
Guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo and Kidani Village) can participate in Disney’s early theme park entry, a perk extended to all Walt Disney World Resort guests.
Early Theme Park Entry: This perk lets resort guests enter any Walt Disney World theme park 30 minutes before it officially opens to the general public. This early entry provides several advantages:
- Lower Crowds: Entering early lets you experience popular attractions with shorter wait times. This helps you check off must-see rides and experiences before the crowds.
- Photography Opportunities: If you love capturing the magic of Disney, the early hours offer a great chance to photograph iconic landmarks with fewer people in the background.
- Cooler Temperatures: Morning hours are often cooler, making outdoor activities more comfortable. But if you visit during cooler weather, don’t forget a jacket!
Extended Evening Hours: Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort guests, including those staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo and Kidani Village), enjoy spending extra time in select theme parks on specific evenings. During extended evening hours, these parks stay open later than usual, usually for an additional two hours.
This benefit offers several advantages as well:
- More Ride Time: You can enjoy additional nighttime rides and attractions when lines tend to be shorter.
- Magical Nighttime Atmosphere: Disney parks take on a unique and enchanting ambiance at night, with beautifully lit landscapes. So you’ll have more time to savor the nighttime magic with fewer crowds.
- Less Rush: With extended hours, you can explore at a more relaxed pace.
Planning Your Stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Below are our resources for planning your stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We’ve taken detailed photos of everything during our visits. If you’re unfamiliar with Disney, we consider our resort transportation guide one of our most valuable resources. It’s designed to help you prepare in advance and get around while you’re there.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review: Our resort review details our personal experience staying there. We share why we love this resort hotel and what we enjoy during our visit. It also gives an overview of what to expect from the resort amenities. This room featured a savanna view.
Kidani Village Review: Kidani Village is one of our go-to resorts for several reasons. We love that we can store our car in the parking deck. I know that might not make sense, but we almost always book a room here in a hurricane. We usually find reasonable room rates here, and that’s always a plus.
Kidani Village Three-Bedroom Grand Villa Room Tour: One of the largest accommodations at Walt Disney World. It spans two levels! Grand Villas have a fully equipped kitchen, washer, and dryer, among many other amenities.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Pool Guide: The Uzima Springs Pool sits at the back of Jambo House between the hotel and the savanna. It’s a wonderful place to relax, with one of the most tranquil settings. Don’t be surprised if you spend more time here than planned!
Kidani Village Pool Guide: The Samawati Springs Pool is perfect for active children. If I’m traveling with nieces or nephews, I always bring them here because it has an incredible waterslide and an aquatic play area called Uwanja Camp. (Both pools have whirlpool spas tucked away in semi-private areas.)
Samawati Springs Pool vs. Uzima Springs Pool: We compare both pools and explain why you might choose one over the other during your vacation.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Restaurants Guide: Our dining guide provides an overview of everywhere you’ll want to eat at the resort during your vacation.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Transportation Options: This guide outlines the most efficient ways to use resort transportation. Since this resort is remote, bus service is the only complimentary transportation option. You can take a bus from the resort to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). Note that a transfer is usually required for the water parks. Our guide discusses the details and tips. If you’re staying at Kidani Village, see Kidani Village Transportation Options.
Kidani Village Transportation Map: This map highlights transportation locations at Kidani Village.
Bus Schedule for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: This guide shares the average bus times we’ve recorded during our stays at the resort.
Bus Schedule for Kidani Village: This guide shares the average bus times that we’ve personally recorded during our stays at Kidani Village.
Zawadi Marketplace Gift Shop: Zawadi Marketplace is a gift shop sitting inside the entrance of Jambo House. It’s a fun shop to explore, and we have photos of everything you can expect to find!
Johari Treasures Gift Shop: This subtle gift shop is in Kidani Village’s lobby. It sells souvenirs, groceries, and other items. The location also has a refillable beverage station for Rapid Fill mugs.
Laundry at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: If you need to do a little laundry during your vacation, you’re in luck. Both Kidani Village and Jambo House have guest laundry rooms.
Individual Dining Reviews for Animal Kingdom Lodge
Jiko, The Cooking Place Review: This fine dining option ranks high on our signature dining guide. Expect a culinary adventure that you won’t find just anywhere!
Boma, Flavors of Africa Breakfast Review: If we’re talking breakfast at Disney World, Boma comes up pretty quickly. We have to refrain from eating there often. It’s so much food, but it’s also so good.
Sanaa Bread Service Review: Unless you live under a rock or have never visited Walt Disney World, you’ve probably heard of Sanaa’s bread service. It has a reputation, and for good reason. Warning: Don’t plan breakfast at Boma followed by anything at Sanaa later in the day. You’ll be stuffed unless you skip lunch!
Sanaa Restaurant (Everything You Need to Know): This review focuses on dining at Sanaa, what to expect, and when to dine there to see the animals. It nods to bread service but also highlights some of the restaurant’s other selections.
The Mara Quick Service Review: We love this quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s the perfect place to grab a quick bite when you’re not noshing at one of the table-service restaurants.
Refillable Mugs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: This guide details refill station locations, current prices, and drink options.
Extras and Seasonal:
How to Get Between Kidani Village and Jambo House: This quick tip guide shares photos of the walkway between the resorts and how to take the shuttle.
Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Preview photos of the Christmas decorations at both Jambo House and Kidani Village.
Gingerbread Giraffe and Zebra at Jambo House: If you’re visiting during the holidays, don’t miss the gingerbread creations displayed in the lobby!
Kilimanjaro Club Level: Club-level service is offered at Jambo House. This is a concierge floor where guests have access to a lounge with multiple services throughout the day. If you want to know more about this type of offering, try our review of the club level at Disney’s Polynesian.
Related: What Is Club Level at Disney? Discover the benefits, costs, and which resorts offer the best club-level experience.
String of Memories Activity: This activity is fun for children and adults. You’ll visit various stations at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. After you complete the activity at each station, you’ll receive a bead to add to your string of memories.
Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade: The resort’s arcade offers a plethora of video games and entertainment. It’s so large you could almost get lost. Find it near the Mara and the Uzima Springs Pool.
Hakuna Matata Playground: This playground is designed for little ones, and it’s a perfect place to let them burn off some energy. It’s near the flamingo area behind the Uzima Springs Pool.
The Savannas: Spend an afternoon exploring each of the resort’s savannas. Animal specialists are available throughout the day to help guests spot exotic animals and share fun facts. You never know what you’ll see! Animals include giraffes, zebras, gazelles, kudu, pelicans, wildebeests, and flamingos.
Where Does Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Stack Up?
We compare many Disney World resorts in various series and best-of-the-best articles. You might like to see where Animal Kingdom Lodge ranks in the following articles:
- The Best Disney Hotels for Kids: We rank our top resort choices for those traveling with little ones. Find out why Animal Kingdom Lodge makes the list.
- Best Disney Hotel Restaurants Ranked: You might be surprised to learn that Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to three of our top ten restaurant picks.
- Disney World Hotels Ranked (Best to Worst): We’ve ranked every single resort hotel at Disney World. See where Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge lands on the list.
- Best Disney Resort Pools for Families: The Animal Kingdom Lodge offers two incredible pools for those traveling with little ones.
Related Reading
For your convenience, here’s a list of all our articles related to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Browse our entire Animal Kingdom Lodge archives.
In the Comments
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