Beginners Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas

Lisa Mendillo

by , Sr. Manager, Digital Integration

Jambo! Lush savannas, African wildlife and spectacular dining experiences await guests at this breathtaking resort. Located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort area, there truly is not another Disney Resort Collections Hotel like this one. Morning coffee while watching the animals roam is only the beginning of what a magical stay looks like at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Views are one of the reasons many guests select this resort. Room choices include standard, pool, and savanna views with the options of one king bed sleeping two adults, or two queen beds sleeping up to four adults. There are also suites that accommodate up to eight adults, and villas can be found at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. The villas vary from a deluxe studio that sleeps up to four all the way to a three-bedroom Grand Villa that sleeps up to 12. With that much room, every lion cub in your party will have plenty of room to rest up for an adventurous vacation.

Hakuna Matata will be your favorite phrase as you enjoy a day at one of the two pools located at this resort. Uzima Pool can be found at Jambo House and includes a waterslide, children’s wading pool and two whirlpool spas. Only a short walk away is the Samawati Springs Pool located at Kidani Village. The little ones will love Uwanja Camp and will have them asking for a pool day just so they can walk the rope bridge and play in the water cannons.

Watching animals stroll throughout the savanna while enjoying their meals will have guests also thinking about dining and this resort does not disappoint. Sanaa, located at Kidani Village is a dining experience not to be missed and we have four words about this restaurant … Indian-Style Bread Service. You can thank us later!

Looking for a quick bite, look no further than The Mara. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. this quick-service location offers African and American fare, as well as mobile ordering.

Fine dining can be found at Jiko – The Cooking Place. Open only for dinner, guests can enjoy a variety of delectable options with a combination of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean touches. Advance dining reservations are highly encouraged. Close by is Boma – Flavors of Africa. This American/African buffet is open for breakfast and dinner and offers a large variety of food options.

While there are animals of all types to view, there are also cast members to help you learn more about the animals in the savanna. Have difficulty identifying a species? They will be able to provide you with all the answers you need. There is also one of the largest collections of African art here for guests to enjoy and learn about African culture. Jambo House campfire activities take place seven days a week at the Arusha Overlook and there are Movies Under the Stars to enjoy. Whether you are artistic or not so much, check out Wild About Painting and go home with your own personal souvenir.

To learn more about additional offerings and planDisney tips, be sure to swipe through our planDisney Pocket Guide:

You can also download a copy of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort planDisney Pocket Guide here.

Plus, check out past planDisney Pocket Guides:

Stay tuned for more planDisney pocket guides as we explore all the wonderful Disney Resort Hotels. For more fun tips and great advice for planning your next Disney vacation stop by @planDisneyPanel on Instagram@planDisney on twitter, or planDisney.com. We look forward to answering your planning questions.