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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando
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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

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Reviews: 22Photos: 24
2901 Osceola Parkway PO Box 10000
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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Animal Kingdom Lodge ~ A Small Taste of Africa    Check Rates
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  • starship
  • Updated By starship on May 5, 2009
  • Interior view of Animal Kingdom Lodge - Orlando
    Interior view of Animal
    Kingdom Lodge
    by starship, 2 more photos
    NOTE: (February, 2007) Disney has announced that construction is in the works on the Animal Kingdom Villas which will be part of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Accommodations will be similar to the 4 or so floor plans in other Disney Vacation Club properties, however, floor plans will be even larger and the one-bedroom suites will now accommodate 5 people instead of 4. this will be a great benefit to families. The new DVC resort will include a new restaurant, water play area, and savannah. It is certain that the rooms will be decorated with an African theme. The Animal Kingdom Villas are scheduled to open late in 2008. Exactly where the villas will be located in relation to the original Animal Kingdom Lodge has not been revealed but it is likely to be somewhat close.

    One of the newer Disney resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge is another good choice if you desire to stay close to the parks on Disney property and have some spectacular scenery at the same time. Built into a brushy, dry area, Animal Kingdom Lodge seems to fit into its surrounding.

    The interior of the lodge is unique and a striking feature are the large, suspended chandeliers which are made from colorful, African war shields! As you will see from the accompanying picture, the furnishing and accessories have been designed to give you the feeling of being inside of an African-type, lodge.

    Animal Kingdom Lodge has a beautifully designed outdoor pool flanked by rocks and foliage. A large gift store can be found in the lodge and features many items made in Africa. At least 2 restaurants are also located in the lodge, Boma (a buffet-style eatery) and Jiko which features "new" African cuisine and serves South African wines. In fact Jiko recently received an award its extensive array of fine wines (2006).

    The real highlight of the Lodge is that it borders the Animal Kingdom park where animals from Africa can be seen. It is expensive, but getting a room overlooking the svelt and savannah is a top prize and you will possibly be rewarded by the sight of elephants, giraffe, rhinos or zebras within close view of your balcony. It may not be the real Africa, but it maybe as close as you'll ever get without crossing the Atlantic.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Directions: On Disney property next to Animal Kingdom Park.
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Beautiful view and great food    Check Rates
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  • Marinel
  • By Marinel on January 20, 2005
  • Animal Kingdom Lobby - Orlando
    Animal Kingdom Lobby
    by Marinel
    I had a great experience, waking up to a beautiful sunrise and seeing the plethora of wild animals roaming in the savannah was magical. The food at Boma is delicious and colorful and the carvings and artifacts can trasport you to the real Africa.

    Great view, awesome food and extreme relaxation. A paradise away from noisy highways and roads.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$120-180    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Phone: (407) 938-3000 407) 938-3000†
  • Directions: Disney Animal Kingdom Park
  • Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=AnimalKingdomLodgeResortLandingPage&bhcp=1
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: African Savannah in Orlando    Check Rates
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  • adventerrtravel22
  • By adventerrtravel22 on September 29, 2004
  • Animal Kingdom Room View - Orlando
    Animal Kingdom Room View
    by adventerrtravel22
    This is one of Disney's top resorts. The room wasn't extraordinay, the unique part was the view out the room. You would see occasional wild animals roaming in the brush. The food in the restaurants was excellent.

    It's a zoo with many exotic animals roaming the premises. The large pool is awesome as well as the hot tubs in the back.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Wildlife out your window    Check Rates
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  • cruisingbug
  • Updated By cruisingbug on February 10, 2005
  • Feeding time for the giraffes - from our balcony - Orlando
    Feeding time for the giraffes
    - from our balcony
    by cruisingbug
    We booked a standard view at DAKL and were upgraded to a balcony savannah view at no extra charge.

    Housekeeping wasn't the greatest. Our sheets smelled like "feet" - we asked to have them changed. The last day we ran out of toilet paper! We expected towel animals here at Animal Kingdom Lodge as at other Disney resorts, and were disappointed.

    The animals here are the Lodge's own, separate from the Animal Kingdom Park's residents. You don't have to book a savannah view room to enjoy them - public viewing areas are plentiful, and the animals have feeding stations near prime areas. There are actually three separate savannahs - the one with the most variety of animals is located in the middle, and you can view it by passing through the lobby area. You can also see giraffes as you enjoy the pool or one of two hot tubs.

    Try to spend a day or two just taking in the atmosphere and action at the Lodge - cultural activities, such as artifact tours and African storytelling around the fire, take place throughout the day. The lobby itself is a sight to behold, with African shields for decoration high in the rafters and a themed pedestrian bridge on the fourth floor or thereabouts. On one side of the lobby is an indoor firepit, great for just sitting around and relaxing, and the barbecue aromas from Boma are mouth-watering.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: most expensive
  • Website: disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Animal Kingdom Resort    Check Rates
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  • walsing
  • By walsing on August 24, 2002
  • We paid about US$230 per room per night. This was a special offer at the time.

    We've stayed in both the Yacht Club and the Animal Kingdom Resort. Both were excellent.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Directions: At Walt Disney World. I'd strongly recommend to any one planning a visit to WDW to stay at a WDW accommodation. There options for all budgets. There are many benefits of staying at WDW. The most impor
  • Other Contact: Book directly by calling Disney.
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Animal Kingdom Lodge    Check Rates
    Ischyros
  • By Ischyros on November 25, 2003
  • Imagine if you will a place where you can walk out onto the balcony of your hotel room and watch zebras, giraffes, gazelles, wildabeasts, and many more animals without the need of binoculars! That's what Disney was thinking when they developed the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The hotel is designed and themed to feel and look like a lodge in an African wildlife reserve. In fact, as you come up the entrance driveway, all you see are small huts making it feel like driving into a small African village. The main area of the resort is hidden from view. The huge hotel has a semi-circle shape surrounding the 3 savannahs, which contrary to popular belief are seperate from the Animal Kingdom savannahs. Note that each savannah is closed for a couple hours each day for cleaning and caring of the animals but there are always two savannahs open. At night the savannahs are illuminated by artificial moonlight. Unlike a zoo, the savannahs are open 24 hours a day and the animals don't have special sleeping quarters. The savannahs are their homes just like in the wild. There are usually guides at the outside viewing areas that will be happy to answer any questions for you. While the majority of the rooms at the resort overlook a savannah, there are about 300 that don't. The ones that don't overlook the savannah are obviously cheaper. Also note that while there are smoking rooms, smoking is NOT allowed on the balcony of any room overlooking the savannah. There are two types of rooms at the Animal Kingdom Lodge: Standard and Deluxe. Standard rooms occupy the first four floors of the hotel and have one of three views: parking lot, pool, or savannah. Deluxe rooms are on the fifth and sixth floors and have either a pool or savannah view. Prices are in that order as well with parking lot being cheapest and savannah being more expensive. The Deluxe rooms cost still more money. There are also concierge and suite level rooms ranging from $425 to $2505 a night. Ask me if you want details on these.

    The resort features a casual restaurant, a family-style buffet, a quick service restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar. Jiko, meaning The Cooking Place, is the casual restaurant features tastes of Africa and is only open for dinner. Boma is open for breakfast and dinner and features a very nice family buffet. Mara is open all day and is the resorts quick service restaurant. Victoria Falls is on the mezzanine and offers teas and coffees during the day and a wide range of drinks at night. The Zawadi Marketplace is one of the largest retail shops at Disney World and features items imported from Africa. Of course there's the typical Disney and Animal Kingdom Lodge memorbilia. The Uzima Springs pool is the largest pool on Disney property and features a "Zero Entry" meaning there are no steps, it's just a natural slope into the pool. There is also a kids wading pool, two hot tubs, and a fitness center. This pool is the only one at the resort, thus the reason it's so big. Unlike most Disney resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn't feature any quiet pools. The pool is open 24 hours; however, lifeguards go off duty at 10PM and close the water slide along with them. The hot tubs close at midnight. The fitness center is open from 6AM-9PM.

    SPECIAL NOTE: In order to ensure the animals' safety, Disney has installed cameras through the savannah area of the resort and some of these cameras may look into rooms. Always close your drapes for complete privacy.

    ANOTHER NOTE: No balloons are allowed inside the resort, period. If you have a balloon from a theme park for example, you will have to check it will bell services and they will return it when you check out.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Phone: (407)WDW-MAGIC
  • Directions: Next to the Animal Kingdom park
  • Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/resorts/resortindex?id=DRSAnimalKingdomLodgeRsrt
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: ... an African styled hotel with great views    Check Rates
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  • Updated By MichelleHunt on October 5, 2007
  • On first arriving after the arduous journey from the UK this Hotel made us forget the drudge to get there. It has to be one of the most spectacular lobby's.

    The theming is spot on and it really is a credit to those Imagineers at Disney.

    Unless you are in a suite though the rooms are, let's say compact, but this does not take away the fact that they are well themed, very clean and extremely comfortable and let's face it you will be out enjoying the other stuff most of the day.

    The service was brilliant (as you would expect from a Disney Resort) and the food in all three restaurants was tip top. There is a self service (Mara - no booking necessary), a buffet (Boma - best to book in advance) and a full service (Jiko - best to book in advance).

    I booked pretty much all of our meals before we went by ringing the Disney Dining number found on (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningFinder?id=DiningFinderPage).

    I made a list of where we were going to be each day, selected a restaurant/s, made a list then reserved them all in one go over the phone. Once there you can cancel and change bookings at the foyer but at least I knew we had a table.

    You can book all Disney restaurants up to 6 months in advance of your holiday (I know this sounds well in advance, but if you want to ensure you get a seat for a themed restaurant then I do advise it.

    There is a gift shop with a large selection of goodies in the lobby. (Much to my husbands dismay).

    Although more expensive than most I would say try and push the boat out if you can. It made our trip more special. We all loved it and would go back in an instant.

    The view from the room was amazing. It really was like looking out onto an African Savanna with Giraffes, hogs, ostriches, bison and a selection of birds within a stones throw. If you want a Savannah view though, be sure to book one otherwise you will get an internal room.

    You do, however, trade off a long walk to the end of the complex for a a more peaceful view. If you are too close up one end you hear the air conditioning units from the main part of the building which spoils the ambiance. Make the effort and try and get a room at one of the ends and of an evening you will hear crickets from your balcony whilst viewing the animals (albeit probably via a recording) but hey it sounded real.

    The pool is well themed, is open most of the day and into the evening with a life-guard present. It might look a bit murky but it wasn't really. The bottom was painted to make it look like a natural watering hole and again the plants and setting was lovely.

    The only negative observation was the staircases to each floor (I know these are mainly for use as an emergency exit - but people did use them on a daily basis). You go from this magical African themed walkway to a concreted, brightly lit staircase. So my advice is to stay to the walkways and the lifts to maintain the feel of the place.

    There are the Disney shuttles to take you around but it is best to have a hire vehicle to enjoy full freedom.

    I loved it, my kids loved it and we all want to go back.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=AnimalKingdomVillasLandingPage
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Animal magic!    Check Rates
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  • By paulbwalsh on May 29, 2008
  • Great hotel, with lots of thoughtful extras such as the night viewing of the savannah using a night sight.

    If you intend spending your time in the Disney parks, save yourself some money and only go to the AKL when you want to spend some time chilling and relaxing!

    Looks like Africa, sounds like Africa, but it's in Florida!

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Directions: Disney Resort Hotel
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Disney best hotel    Check Rates
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  • By JEANYLASER on November 14, 2008
  • The rooms are awesome and you see the animals close up in your room and they have refridgerators and coffee makers and Tv sets too. I recommend to stay in the animal Kingdom Lodge.

    Refriderators, and Coffee makers and Shops and dining are awesome! great views of all of the animals too!

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
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    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: A Little Bit of Wilderness    Check Rates
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  • Gypsygirl05
  • By Gypsygirl05 on April 5, 2007
  • Exterior of Hotel - Orlando
    Exterior of Hotel
    by Gypsygirl05, 1 more photos
    This hotel is modeled after the Old Faithful Inn out in Yellowstone National Park, and as such, it has the look and feel of an outsized log cabin. The lobby is a big cavern with a gigantic fireplace, and the whole place has a very rustic appeal. Don't be discouraged by this if you're not a big camper, though; the hotel has more than enough modern amenities. The pool is huge, although there aren't any good slides for the adults.

    One of the best things about the lodge is its focus on the natural environment. An artificial stream winds throughout the lobby and out into the courtyard area, where it then plunges over a mini-waterfall. There's even an artificial geyser. There are forests all around the hotel, and geckos are abundant in these areas. The hotel is set on the man-made lake, so it has a beach, and there is boat service to the Magic Kingdom.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Directions: In Magic Kingdom Area
  • Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=WildernessLodgeResortLandingPage&bhcp=1
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