10 Amazing Things About Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Villas

6. Activities for Children

The activities for children are some of the very best at Walt Disney World and include the arcade, nightly Disney Movies Under the Stars, playgrounds, two large swimming pools, kiddie pools, water play areas, and Community Hall. Animal Kingdom Lodge has one of the best to offer on those “rainy days” that hit central Florida. The Community Hall at the Villas give your family an opportunity to play together a variety of games, make crafts, watch TV and even check-out books or DVD’s from a library section.

5. Spectacular Swimming Pools 

The Uzima pool that is 11,000-square feet in size, offers zero-entry and a 67-foot long water slide. Enjoy a drink at the pool bar or a dip in the hot tub at the end of a long evening. Enjoy both the Uzima Pool and the Samawati Springs Pools. The Samawati Springs pool is located at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas-Kidani! They have a 128-foot waterslide, zero entry, and 4,700 square feet of water fun. This area provides additional water play areas by age in the Departure Zone.

4. The Animals!

30 species of wild African Animals surround you! Wake up, look out your window and you will find animals such as giraffes, zebras, gazelles, kudu, or flamingos. What other resort includes a Wildlife Field Guide in their resort room? This resort provides an array of special experiences for its guests. Start with that Field Guide and look for each species. During the after-dark hours visit the lobby for a pair of night vision binoculars to see where the animals look like and where they go. Guests of the resort can sign up for a special program led by a Disney Animal Specialist. For the ultimate in animal encounters reserve your space in the Wanyama Safari & Dinner available only to Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Villas. The animal experiences and multiple course dinner are truly special.

3. Resort Rooms

The resort rooms are exceptional. Guests who stay in a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort expects a certain level of service and décor. Animal Kingdom Lodge will not disappoint you. The rooms could not be any cozier and they provide that cooling relaxing haven you seek at the end of a busy day in the parks. In fact you may find yourself retreating to your room and skipping a park altogether. The standard room overs your choice of two queen sized beds or one queen and a bunk bed, or one king-size bed and a day bed. These choices give you the opportunity to choose the beds that fit your party. The beds are covered with comfortable white linens with a splash of dark red, orange, and tan in the coverlet and accent pillows. The beds are carved wood that matches the dresser/TV stand, table and chairs, mirror and daybed (if you chose that room configuration). There is a ceiling fan, large curtains at the sliders to the balcony. The light fixtures and draped mosquito netting add to the ambience of the room. There is a small refrigerator in each room and a coffee maker. The bunk beds are twin-size versions of the larger bed in the room with their own lighting. The clock radio will help keep you on schedule. The ceramic bath/shower area has colorful accent tiles and special lighting with makeup mirrors and upscale bathroom necessities. There are several styles and views for you to choose from. Maybe you need a two-bedroom Club level suite that gives you the ultimate in care and comfortable bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchenettes. The 2-bedroom suite can sleep 8 adults. Where else can you walk out onto your balcony and observe the giraffes, zebras, and other wild animals?

2. Dine with Animal Specialists

Perhaps you want to take a step up in your dining experience and reserve a Dine with Animal Specialists Sanaa lunch. While enjoying a 4-course lunch a Disney Animal Specialist will teach you about the animals, their care, research about them, and conservation efforts by the Walt Disney Company. This lunch is limited to 12 guests. Following lunch you will accompany the Animal Specialist outside to a featured animal encounter. Your purchase includes a $5.00 donation to the Walt Disney Conservation Fund. Guests must be at least 8 years old and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old.

1. Excellent Dining Options

You will find a variety of dining choices an award-winning dishes. Jiko-The Cooking Place is a Disney Signature Dining location. The flavors of Africa provide the backdrop to this dining experience that will tantalize all your senses. When you see the dining room you could be entering just as “sunset” begins. The lighting provides a palette of gold, orange and red hues to provide the colors of an African sunset. Watch the chefs in the open-air kitchen prepare your food. After dinner take a leisurely walk outside to see the animals, or get a pair of night vision binoculars to see the animals in a different light. The presentation of your meal will please your eyes. Moving on you will experience the smell of the spices as the food is prepared, and a bit from the wood-burning ovens. Being a Signature Restaurant you do have a dress code so here you are in some of your best vacation wardrobe, enjoying the comfortable dining room that you scored a reservation for 180-days ahead. Now we come to “taste”-don’t miss trying the Jiko Wine Flight and selection of cheeses. For your meal you may select from steak, seafood, chicken, vegan, vegetarian dishes prepared in a traditional African way. The combination of fresh ingredients and spices produce a unique dish that will delight your taste buds. The menu changes seasonally also to keep the dishes fresh. Let’s explore some more dining by visiting Boma- Flavors of Africa. You will notice the lengths the Disney Imagineers went to in providing a space that appears to be a busy marketplace in Africa. You sit under colorful rugs hanging from the ceiling or you may find yourself under a thatched roof canopy. Take in the view through the floor to ceiling windows. The tantalizing dinner buffet includes American food and African-inspired dishes to please everyone in your party. On the African dish side you can sample dishes from 50-different African countries. You will see chefs preparing dishes in the open kitchen and have meat carved to your specifications at the carving stations. Boma is a big favorite dining destination so get your reservations early in your vacation planning process. Boma also serves a breakfast buffet that is sure to please even the hungriest guest. Sanaa is known for having East African dishes in a spice market setting. Indian breads and a trio of accompaniments to dip your bread in starts your meal. Select slow-cooked meats or a sampler platter to enjoy for your meal. Beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions give you plenty of choices to pair with your meal. African Starr Mojito is a big guest favorite, also sold at the Dawa Bar in Animal Kingdom Park. Through the windows you may spot several wild animals and birds in the savanna outside. The Mara is the resort’s quick service location. It is named after a Kenyan river that flows beneath a jungle canopy, and the Imagineers have done a great job creating this themed food court. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has plenty of snacks to full meals, and even African wines and handcrafts for sale. Enjoy hand-carved meat sandwiches, falafel sandwiches, roasted chicken, or go for the delicious African stew. If you want to try a Zebra Dome desert but don’t want to pay the high price of Boma, you can pick them up here.