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 | Orlando Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Reviews | Tips 1 - 7 of 7 |  |
 | |  |  | Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Animal Kingdom Lodge ~ A Small Taste of Africa Compare Rates NEW! | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
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. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageDirections: On Disney property next to Animal Kingdom Park.
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| | | | Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: ... an African styled hotel with great views Compare Rates NEW! | Satisfaction:  | | | | |
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: HotelComparison: more expensive than averageWebsite: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=AnimalKingdomVillasLandingPage
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| | | | Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: If you are here for the wildlife...... Compare Rates NEW! | Satisfaction: | | | | |
Without a doubt, staying at this Disney Deluxe resort will be expensive, yet it does offer some things that no other hotel can match in this area. Service is good, and the hotel has many rooms, a great many of which overlook a wildlife savannah. Rooms are of adequate size. Really, the big draw to this hotel is the wildlife and activities outside your room. There is a large pool with a slide. A zero depth entry section is also available. Near the pool are two hot tubs and one wading pool. Even if you do not get a savannah view room, there are some noteworthy overlook areas near the lobby and the pool. The decor is amazing, especially in the lobby. The cheapest rooms will overlook the parking area, while the most expensive ones will be at concierge level overlooking a savannah. There are 3 places to eat at this hotel. They are: Jiko, which is the full service restaurant--Boma, which offers a buffet style setting, and Mara, which is the quick service cafeteria style setup. Transportation is available by bus to the Disney parks as well as Downtown Disney. The Animal Kingdom is naturally the closest park.
We had a savannah view on the second floor and saw a lot of animals. The best time for seeing them was late afternoon. The animals are range animals such as giraffe, zebra, bongo, antelopes, and even ostrich in one savannah. Different combinations of animals are present in each of the three savannahs. We saw lots of giraffe right from our balcony as well as other animals. Some of them even got fairly close. If you like wildlife, this hotel will be a great experience. Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera! The room has a wildlife checklist to verify what you are seeing. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveDirections: On the Walt Disney World property near the Animal Kingdom park.
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