Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: An Honest Review

Last updated on August 15, 2026

Looking for details on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World?

As a Disney expert and frequent visitor, I’ve got all the details here to help you plan an amazing trip!

With its stunning savanna setting, exotic animals, amazing pools, restaurants, and activities, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is easily among the best deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Find out what this one-of-a-kind hotel has to offer families visiting Walt Disney World.

Things to Love About Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most meticulously themed resorts at Disney World. Embodying the essence of an African lodge, this resort is the perfect blend of nature, art and architecture. I am lucky enough to have gotten to stay here many times – several times with family, and again recently when I traveled solo to Walt Disney World for a conference.

From the moment you enter, you are entrenched in the motif. The lobby is soaring, vast and bright, with a 4-story tall wall of glass overlooking the resort’s Savanna. It features cozy sitting areas, a massive fire place, and a large collection of African art.

Animals Everywhere at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

This resort is all about the animals. They are incorporated into the architecture, the décor, and of course the outdoors. Zebras, giraffes, antelope, kudus, gazelles and other exotic wildlife and birds roam around the resort.

Even if you don’t opt for a Savanna view room, there are plenty of public decks and look-out areas that offer outstanding views. The outdoor areas have informational signage and there are cast members (many natives of African countries) stationed all over to answer your questions about the animals.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Pools

There are two pools at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – one at Jambo House and one at Kidani Village.

The main pool if you are staying at Jambo House is Uzima Springs. At more than 11,000 square feet, it is the largest pool at any  of the Disney World resorts. There is a nice zero-entry section, a 67-foot winding waterslide and plenty of lifeguards on duty.

This pool gets very crowded in the afternoons, but it is plenty big and really the best spot to cool off on your mid-day break from the parks! If you prefer quiet time at the pool, opt for an early morning swim or come at night. There are also two whirlpool spas, both set aside in secluded areas, making them extra relaxing.

One of the whirlpool spas at the Jambo House pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village is also a zero-depth entry pool. It’s smaller than the pool at Jambo House, but has a bigger (128-foot, to be exact) water slide. Like Uzima Springs, there are two whirlpool spas at this pool, as well.

Both pool areas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge have a bar for poolside drinks and cocktails.

The Uzima pool is open 24 hours, but the lifeguards go off duty at 10:00 p.m. and the slide also closes. The two spas close at midnight.

Activities & Surprises

Of course, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers what you’d expect at a Disney Deluxe resort: in addition to the pools and water slides, there are club level rooms, an arcade, playground and spa. It also offers some amazing activities that can only happen here.

Our favorite activity at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was night-vision animal viewing, where you can don special goggles and check out the animals’ nighttime movements. There is also nightly storytelling by the campfire, and an abundance of free animal-themed activities for kids, such as flamingo feeding, face painting, African arts and crafts, and animal tracking.

Each evening, the resort offers marshmallow roasting by the fire adjacent to the savanna. You can also grab a cozy rocking chair and enjoy the fire pit that lights up every evening under the stars.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a lushly landscaped resort with ample walking paths. Start your day with an invigorating walk or jog before hitting the parks. (Hello, zebras and flamingos! You can’t tell me that is something you get to see on your average daily walk.)

There are also two fitness centers: Survival of the Fittest at Kidani Village and Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center at Jambo House. The Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center is the larger of the two. Even though the facility features sleek state-of-the-art exercise equipment, it carries that warm, African-themed feel. And the treadmills face floor to ceiling windows, so you’ll enjoy a view of the resort while you work out.

And of course, Disney Springs, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park and the other theme parks and water parks at Walt Disney World are just a short bus ride away!

Unique Rooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort is divided into two main areas: Jambo House, which is the main guest building, and Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, the Disney Vacation Club villas. Both properties offer rooms and public lookout areas where you can see the animals and enjoy views of the sprawling grounds.

We stayed at Jambo House. For the best view rooms, book a Savanna view room. To save money, book a pool view or standard room. You won’t get to see animals from your private balcony, but the rooms still offer all the same amenities (including extra magic hours for the duration of your stay!) at a much lower rate.

Available room layouts include two queen beds, one king bed, and one queen and a set of bunk beds. We stayed in a room with bunk beds, which was a real treat for my son who got to sleep on the top bunk.

Like the rest of the resort, all rooms are intricately detailed and lovely. Each has a furnished private balcony. Refrigerators are also included in all rooms. This comes in super handy for storing snacks, milk and breakfast items.

► For a more in-depth look at what you’ll get when you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, check out this guide to Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts.

Exotic Dining Options

If you’re adventurous enough to want to try new foods, Animal Kingdom is a great place to start. Onsite restaurants include Boma, a colorful buffet with the perfect mix of African and American dishes. Open for breakfast and dinner, it serves seafood, salads, meat and vegetarian dishes with an exotic African flair.

The more upscale restaurant Jiko – The Cooking Place is the fine dining option, with an extensive and exotic menu. It also serves more traditional fare such as steaks and ribs.

The Mara is Animal Kingdom Lodge’s quick service food court. There are not as many food choices as you’d expect for a resort of this size, but the food is tasty and they offer some exotic African dishes if you’re feeling adventurous in addition to the usual American fare. 

I tried the Oak-grilled Chicken Bowl – marinated chicken, Pilau rice, kale slaw, cucumber-tomato salad, and sour cream. It was amazingly flavorful and a beautiful dish, too.

Located adjacent to the pool, you can eat inside or take your food out to the poolside tables. This is a great low-key, inexpensive dinner option, especially if the weather is nice and your kids don’t want to miss any swimming time. We ended up doing this on two nights of our trip.

Final Thoughts: Is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Worth the Cost?

So is Animal Kingdom Lodge worth the splurge? As a Disney World deluxe resort, it’s a pricey stay…but we think it is worth it because the setting is so unique and beautiful.

The only down side is the remote location. While Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is close to Animal Kingdom Theme Park, it is a bit of a drive to the other parks and Disney Springs, and the only transportation available is the bus. However, this is a small trade-off to stay at such a memorable hotel.

Discount Disney World Tickets

Looking for discount Disney tickets? Check out these great discounts on Walt Disney World park tickets and vacation packages from authorized seller and our trusted partner, Get Away Today. Be sure to use code CFT10 an additional $10 savings. Get Away Today sells discount theme park tickets as well as vacation packages for both on-property and off-property hotels. They will even assist with all your Disney World vacation plans with their free concierge service!  

Save This Animal Kingdom Lodge Review for Later!

Planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World? Pin the image below for future reference.