Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resorts Area (Hotel List + Overview)
You may not know it, but when you select a Disney Resort Hotel, you’ll be part of a resort area. That area is generally defined by the closest theme park. This guide covers Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resorts Area. Each resort in this area is only a short bus ride from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These resorts are unique because they offer only one form of transportation: buses. Unfortunately, you cannot walk from these resorts to Animal Kingdom or any other significant destinations at Walt Disney World.
Animal Kingdom Resort Hotels
The following hotels make up the Animal Kingdom Resort Area:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Kidani Village (Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas)
You may notice that the Animal Kingdom Resort area offers a variety of options. The All-Star Resorts all fall under the value resort category. Coronado Springs is a moderate resort. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a deluxe resort, and Kidani Village is a deluxe villa resort. To learn more about the various resort types, see our list of Disney Resorts by Category.
If you don’t see the resort you’re looking for above, that means it likely falls under another resort area. Here is a list of all the resort areas.
- Magic Kingdom Resorts Area
- Epcot Resorts Area
- Animal Kingdom Resorts Area
- Disney Springs Resort Area
- Skyliner Resorts Area
Disney’s All-Star Resorts
Disney’s All-Star Resorts are the most budget-friendly resorts in the Animal Kingdom Resorts area and all of Disney World. If you’re looking for the cheapest hotel on property, compare prices among the three. Prices will likely be exceptionally similar. The only upgrades are preferred room locations, and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort has a separate room category with family suites.
Disney’s All-Star Resorts guests will have the regular benefits of staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. One benefit is early entry, which lets guests enter a theme park 30 minutes early each morning.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies is themed to various movies. Sections are themed to The Love Bug, 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia, The Mighty Ducks, and Toy Story. We rank Disney’s All-Star Movies as a budget-friendly and kid-friendly resort.
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
All-Star Music sits between Movies and Sports. It’s my favorite of the three All-Star Resorts because I enjoy the music theming. However, these three resorts have identical room layouts and furnishings. Since their last update, we’ve stayed in all three All-Stars and couldn’t find any visible differences in the rooms. Of course, Music has an additional room category that the other two Value resorts don’t offer. If you need more room on a budget, consider the family suites. (They are considerably less expensive than the family suites at Disney’s Art of Animation.)
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
All-Star Sports is the third All-Star Resort. Each section is themed to football, baseball, tennis, basketball, or surfing. We have always enjoyed our stays at All-Star Sports, but we’ve noticed this resort hosts more school teams and guests visiting for various competitions than the other value resorts. We have never had any issues with this, but for some, the field-trip vibe might negatively affect their vacation. Of course, this vibe could be experienced at any resort, but it is more likely at the All-Stars than any other.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs is the only moderate category resort in the Animal Kingdom Resorts Area. While this resort is a Resorts Gal favorite, it’s not for everyone. The resort is tremendous, but some might find the walking distances too long, especially in the hot sun. We tested this common complaint during our last stay and wrote an entire article on the walking distances at Coronado Springs.
If you don’t want to end up in one of the villages around the lake, you can also stay at Gran Destino Tower, a boutique interior hotel at the front of the resort. It costs a bit more, but you can still enjoy the resort’s lush grounds without much extra walking when coming and going. Coronado Springs is one of the loveliest places to enjoy a sunset walk at Disney World. Each section has a unique landscape. The resort’s pool area (The Dig Site) is also remarkable. We always plan a day there during our stay.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Naturally, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area. The resort itself is divided into two parts: Jambo House and Kidani Village. Jambo House is the main lodge and is considered a deluxe hotel, while Kidani Village is a Disney Vacation Club Resort.
Jambo House
Jambo House is the larger of the two hotels that comprise the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort deserves a little extra mention because we rank it as our top choice among all Walt Disney World Resorts. While it is a little further out from everything else at Disney World, it shines in the amenities department. First, the resort’s entire backyard is a savanna where wild animals roam. If you reserve a savanna-view room, you can wake up each morning and enjoy a cup of coffee while watching animals graze below. When you return to the room, your children will run to the balcony to see what’s outside. However, if your budget only allows for a standard view room, you can take advantage of the resort’s many public viewing areas as you come and go.
Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers outstanding dining options and a beautiful pool area. If you’re looking for a place to relax when you’re not in the parks, look no further. It’s one of the most serene settings you’ll find.
Kidani Village
If you need a little extra room to spread out or a few extra amenities you won’t find in a regular room, you might consider Kidani Village. This resort’s amenities are on a much smaller scale than Jambo House. But guests of both resorts can take advantage of either resort’s amenities. So you can get the best of both worlds at Kidani Village.
Kidani Village has an incredible pool area with a splash pad and water playground unlike any other. If you have younger children who might enjoy the play area more than the pool, this resort is worth considering. The only drawback is that you’ll need to walk or take the resort shuttle to Jambo House for quick-service dining. While I don’t think that’s a deal-breaker, be aware of it before your visit.
Related: Kidani Village Review
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this overview of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Area. For some of our other coverage, you might like the following:
To learn more about the resorts, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation at Disney World is one of our top resources.
For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.
In the Comments
Have you ever stayed in the Animal Kingdom Resorts Area? Let us know in the comments.