Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge is the most spectacular of the Disney World hotels. It opened in Apr 2001.

Resort

Theme and atmosphere

You can enjoy your vacation with Disney in the middle of Africa and have a comfortable "safari". The lodge includes a wildlife reserve with more than 200 African species. The hotel is African themed even in the most minute details.

Room decorations are traditional African from wall earth-tones and tapestries to hand-carved furniture and mosquito nets(which by the way are just decorative).

Location

The Resort is located two miles west of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Address:

2901 Osceola Parkway
Bay Lake, Florida, 32830-1000, USA

Phone: (407) 934-7639

Nearby attractions:

• Blizzard Beach;
• Winter Summerland miniature golf;
• Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Statistic resort data:

• The reservation is 133,546 sq metres.
• 4,000 native handcrafts placed throughout the lodge
• 380 museum-quality works of art (such as authentic woodcarvings, Kinta cloths, and a Nigerian ceremonial mask)

Hotel

Rating

• Three Diamonds(Five Max.), according to the AAA Rating System
• Four stars (Five Max.), according to Expedia Rating System
• Three stars (Five Max.), according to the Mobil Travel Guide Star Rating System

Hotel amenities

Rooms

• 1,293 rooms
• 1,274 one-bedroom standard units
• 19 suites

Room categories:

• Standard Rooms –- floors 1-4
• 32 square meters(344 square feet)
• Maximum occupancy: 4 people
• Deluxe Rooms -- floors 5 and 6
• 35 square meters(381 square feet)
• Maximum occupancy: 5 persons
• Concierge rooms -- floors 5 and 6
• 35 square meters(381 square feet)
• Amenities: curbside check-in, robes, make-up mirror, turndown service, lounge
• Suites – floors 5 and 6
• One-bedroom suite:
• 72 square meters(777 square feet)
• Parlor with a queen sofa sleeper, wet bar, powder room.
• Two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath suite:
• Over 139 square meters(over 1,500 square feet)
• Parlor with sofa, chairs, and coffee table, a 4-person dining table, wet bar.

There are also smoking and nonsmoking rooms.

Standard room amenities: on floors 1-4

• Two queen-size beds, one king-size bed or one queen-size bed and bunk beds
• Table and chairs, bathroom with private commode
• Balcony with a standard, savannah or pool view
• Ceiling fan
• Telephone
• Voice mail
• Housekeeping -- daily
• Complimentary toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Iron/ironing board
• In-room safe
• Television
• Voice mail
• Clock radio
• Morning paper – daily

Other available room amenities:

• Refrigerator -- on request
• Internet access -- surcharge
• Coffee makers -- available
• Cribs (infant beds) -- available
• Massage -- available in room
• Wake-up calls

Best Rooms: For 24-hour game viewing, Savannah-view rooms with balconies.

Informative price list:

• Standard Guest Rooms: $199 - $420
• Deluxe Guest Rooms: $285 - $510
• Standard Concierge: $435 - $620
• Suites: $640- $2,520

Admission to Animal Kingdom is $50 ($38 for kids 3 to 9; free for those under 3).

Dining

Jiko meaning The Cooking Place in Swahili.

• Hours: Dinner - 5:30PM – 10PM
• Was granted three times the "AAA Four Diamond Award".
• Beautifully spiced African-inspired cuisine.

Boma meaning Flavors of Africa -- family buffet restaurant

• Hours:
• Breakfast - 7AM-11AM
• Dinner - 5:30PM – 10PM
• African traditional dishes

Mara -- quick-service food court

• Hours: 6AM - 11:30PM

In-Room Dining

• Hours: Every day from 6:30AM until midnight

Victoria Falls Mezzanine Lounge

• Hours: 4PM – Midnight
• Offers specialty coffees, teas, and other beverages.

Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar

• Hours: 11AM - Midnight

Uzima Springs - pool side bar

• Hours: 10AM – 8PM
• Offers cold beverages and a variety of frozen specialty drinks.

Character dining: not available

Strong points. Weak points.

Pluses

• Live attractions: African species of animals.
• Restaurants serve fine African specialties and a wide selection of South-African wines.
• Savannah rooms view:
• you can catch full sight of the animals early in the morning and at sunset;
• the best view is the one of the inner savannah
• Learn about Africa, animals and wildlife: there are programs involving African natives talking about their homelands, the animals, and the artwork on display and in the evening telling stories around the fire circle on the Arusha Rock terrace.

Minuses

• Isolation: The lodge is rather isolated, thus far from every resort restaurant and entertainment.
• Lack of light:Some visitors have complained about the lack of light in the rooms, faint lighting in the bathroom due to the gold-tinted light shades.
• View:Only some rooms have the savannah view.
• Small balconies:Visitors have reported inconveniences related to the size of some rooms and balconies(too small).
• Privacy: there are security cameras trained at every balcony, so that guest not throw stuff at the animals in order to get their attention.
• No character meal on-site.
• Only bus transport available.