Header image by Arlena Dambrowski Komas
Location: In the Animal Kingdom theme park area. Animal Kingdom Lodge Address: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830. Kadini Village: 3701 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Animal Kingdom Lodge phone: (407) 938-3000. Kidani Village Phone: (407) 938-6969 Animal Kingdom fax: (407) 938-7102. Kidani Village Fax: (407) 938-7474 Parking fee: $25 per night Self-Parking, $33 per night Valet Parking. Check-in: 3 PM. Check-out: 11 AM. Resort Type: Deluxe & Deluxe Villas.
Overview of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort & Villas
When we first heard about this resort years ago, it sounded like something out of our dreams. It did not disappoint. This resort transports you into the exotic experience of Africa, with authentic African-inspired architecture along with some luxury and comfort.
The African Savanna’s at the resort
Perhaps the most unique part of this resort is the recreation of an African Savanna. The four Savanna areas are home to about 250 Animals with 30 different species. This includes a wide variety of birds and animals such as giraffes, impalas, waterbuck, zebras, vultures, ostriches, gazelles and blue cranes. Designed in a Kraal African village semi-circle, many of the rooms have balconies with great views of the “Savannas”.
Each savanna is unique. Although there’s some overlapping of animals, they each have different animals. Giraffes are found on each savanna. The savannas don’t have any of the more aggressive animals such as lions, so guests shouldn’t be viewing any violence. However we did see two giraffes engage in what appeared to be an argument during one of our stays, but nothing serious happened.
The animals have the freedom to walk within easy viewing distance of the guests, but they also have the freedom to move out of view. There are times when there are few to no animals visible, but if you keep checking back you’re likely to catch a good view. The animals sometimes come very close to the balconies, though not close enough for feeding (which is prohibited) or touching.
Tip: There are security cameras viewing the savannas, as well as the resort and room balconies. This is to make certain guests are not feeding the animals, dropping things into the savanna, smoking on the balconies or crossing the barriers into the savanna. If anyone is caught doing these things they can be kicked out of the resort. If you’re looking for complete privacy remember to close your room curtains.
Tip: Because of the balconies and for the safety of animals, balloons are not permitted in this Resort. They’ll store them for you at the Front Desk or Bell Services.
There are many common areas around the resort for viewing as well. The Sunset savanna viewing room and balcony is a great place to watch the sunset over the savanna.
The savannas are open 24 hours a day, though each savanna is closed for a couple hours each day for maintenance. The closures are rotated so that the other savannas will be open during that time. Snacks for the animals are set out around the savannas to tempt them into the view of the guests.
You’ll enjoy the incredible art work at Animal Kingdom Lodge
The other thing that sets the Animal Kingdom Lodge apart is that it’s actually the second largest museum of African Art in the United States, after the Smithsonian. Anything you’ll see that’s behind glass on display in the lobbies or corridors, or anything that cannot be reached without a ladder, is authentic and not fake.
Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
In 2009 Disney added the Disney Vacation Club Villas (DVC Villas) section to the resort called Kidani Village. They also converted some of the rooms in Jambo House, the main resort building, into DVC villas. Kidani Village has its own savanna and also shares the expanded Sunset Savanna with the Jambo House. It has its own gift shop, arcade, fitness center, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, basketball court, barbecue pavilion, community hall, themed pool, themed water-play area, table service restaurant and pool restaurant.
The Kidani Village main building and the portico are smaller than Jambo House’s, but with five stories of balconied rooms, rounded mud walls, and layers of thatch roof, it’s still quite impressive.
Guests of Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Villas must check in at their own location, but are free to use the facilities at either Jambo House or Kidani Village.
There’s a walkway between Jambo House and Kidani Village, but it’s approximately ½ mile long. Buses will take guests back and forth between the two locations. The walking trail, which a cast member told us was probably quicker than the buses, is not particularly scenic. It runs along the parking lots and is paved.
If there are rooms available at the Villas you can stay there without being a Disney Vacation Club member.
Jambo House – The Main Building at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
When you first approach Animal Kingdom Lodge’s main building, Jambo House, you’ll notice a long building with a multi-layered thatched roofed. Honestly it doesn’t look incredibly impressive to us. However once you walk through the inner doors, you’re in a breathtaking wide open four-story space with large wood beams, high thatched ceilings and a glass wall that overlooks the savanna.
Filled with fascinating artwork and décor, including real African artifacts, the atrium is especially beautiful at night. The lights are kept low so the animals aren’t disturbed, but the lights are used to showcase the highly detailed architectural features and art objects in a dramatic way. Those with visual impairments may wish to take note of the low lights. The outside is lit to simulate a full moon, so there’s enough light to see animals at night if they venture close enough.
The lobby in Jambo House is an inviting place to relax. There’s a variety of beautifully crafted, comfortable sofa and chair groupings, as well as a large tiled mud firepit. The first time we walked into this resort a wonderful group of singers from Africa were entertaining in the lobby. This doesn’t always happen, but it’s a great treat if you can catch it right!
Just outside the back of the lobby is Arusha Rock. This elevated, man-made rock platform is a great place to view the animals and the savanna. There’s also an outdoor firepit, and and a cast member is often in attendance to tell you about the animals you can see from out there.
Kidani Village Main Building
The Kidani Village lobby is a significantly smaller version of the Jambo House lobby, but beautiful. It was designed to reflect the three themes of African Fabric, Proverbs and Art, and you see this everywhere! Even the bathrooms and hallways are works of art.
The Jambo House walls are curvy and appear to be made of mud.
The ceiling appears to be held up by large curving wooden beams and hanging down are interesting light fixtures made from a combination of batik cloth and red glass ‘flames’.
The floors are dark wood with area rugs, and the furniture is a combination of leather, rattan, and batik-look or woven fabrics in shades of tan and brown. There’s thatch everywhere, and low roof overhangs inside the lobby allow you to get a good look at what outside you can only see from a distance.
The back of the lobby is all glass, and it rises two stories so that you can get a great view of the savannah. There are two broad shaded porches that you can access from the savannah side of the lobby with rustic wooden rocking chairs. The corridors have benches and seats by large windows facing the savannah. There’s also a separate carpeted room -almost like a den -off to the right of the lobby. It’s cozy with a small but attractive fireplace, club-type chairs and low tables. Books about Africa line the bookshelves along the walls and you are free to take one down and browse.
Downstairs (or down one floor in the elevator) and outside is a terrace with a firepit and benches that extends into the savannah. A cast member is often in attendance to tell you about the animals you can see. The firepits at Animal Kingdom Lodge use gas.
Parking at Jambo House
Jambo House self-parking is quite a distance from the entrance, including the handicapped spaces. From most spots you must walk a distance and then walk up a few stairs or use a ramp.
There’s a $33 parking fee for valet-parking or you can self-park for $25. Disabled guests are offered valet parking at no additional charge, but you must have a valid state issued license. DVC guests get complimentary valet parking if they’re using their points.
Parking at Kidani Village
Parking at the Kidani Village is more convenient than Jambo House, with spots strung out along the entire edge of the building, under a garage-like overhang to protect cars from sun. There are multiple elevators (and staircases) also running along the length of the building and under the overhang, so no matter where your villa is located you’ll have easy access.
There’s a $33 parking fee for valet-parking or you can self-park for $25. Disabled guests are offered valet parking at no additional charge, but you must have a valid state issued license. DVC guests get complimentary valet parking if they’re using their points.
Checking into Jambo House and Kidani Village
Guests staying in Jambo House check in that lobby, and guests staying in the Kidani Villas check in at the Kidani Village lobby.
Lobbies in Jambo House and Kidani Village have children’s sitting areas that have a television playing Disney movies. In both Jambo House and Kidani Village there are lower check-in counters for guests in wheelchairs.
Bell services will take your luggage and deliver it to your room. On your departure day, if you’re not leaving right away, they can store your luggage for you until you’re ready for it.
Advantages and some disadvantages of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
ADVANTAGES: In addition to the Disney magic you can expect in every single Disney World resort, here’s what’s really good about this resort:
- It’s beautiful. The atmosphere is special and unique. It’s spectacular in some areas and unlike anything else in the USA that we’re aware of. The architecture, the pool area, the authentic art throughout Kidani Village and Jambo House, and most of all the savannah’s are phenomenal.
- You get to see animals. You can’t beat that!
- It tends to be peaceful. That’s something that we frequently hear others say, and it’s our experience too. Can there be noisy neighbors or groups of kids? Yes, but we haven’t experienced much of that here and we’ve stayed in this resort several times.
- Pricing here (and in Wilderness Lodge) tends to be lower than other Deluxe resorts.
- Its themed main pools with slides in both Jambo House and Kidani Village, and the children’s water play area in Kidani Village adds another element of fun to your vacation.
- There are great dining options. The small food court style restaurant in Jambo House is convenient and less expensive than a full-service restaurant. Jambo House has a highly rated buffet and a Disney Signature full-service restaurant as options. Kidani Village has a great full-service restaurant called Sanaa.
- You get all the benefits of being in a Disney resort, such as room package delivery, transportation, etc.
- You get to use the Disney World bus system. And you don’t share buses with other resorts.
- You don’t usually see large, noisy groups of people here. That’s something that the value resorts get a lot of, and the moderates can get some of that as well. While it does happen at Animal Kingdom Lodge, there’s less frequent than at the moderate and value resorts.
- The location is close to Animal Kingdom.
DISADVANTAGES
- Though larger than moderate and value resort rooms, the rooms are not huge.
- Buses are the only form of Disney transportation from this resort.
- If you’re trying to get an ECV or wheelchair in your room, unless you have a handicapped room, it’s tight.
- Dining – Some might not like the African themed food. However all of the restaurants can usually accommodate most palates. The quick service area serves mainly American choices.
Dining – Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Please note that plastic drinking straws are not permitted at this resort for the safety of the animals. Also, all of the main restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge have plenty of selections for vegetarians.
Jambo House dining:
Jiko – The Cooking Place is an exotic high end Disney Signature full-service restaurant serving dinner. This is one of our favorite restaurants in all of Disney World. In our experience the quality is outstanding and the selections are unusual. They’re fantastic at handling special dietary needs.
Boma Flavors of Africa – This is a popular buffet-style restaurant serving breakfast and dinner. While some of the offerings are on the exotic side, you’ll also find some simple American foods mixed in.
The Mara – This is Animal Kingdom Lodge’s quick service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They serve primarily American foods.
Victoria Falls Lounge: This lounge is found on the mezzanine level, and serves appetizers, specialty coffees, teas and alcoholic beverages in the evening. It’s a pleasant place to relax, and it overlooks Boma. Chairs are leather seats and leather partial backs.
Uzima Sprngs Pool Bar: This pool bar offers a small number of simple entrees like sandwiches and salads, as well as alcoholic beverages as well as non-alcoholic smoothies.
Room service: Available from 6 AM to midnight, with a full menu.
Kidani Village dining:
This section of the resort does not have a quick food restaurant, aside from the limited offerings at the pool bar.
Sanaa – This very unique 150-seat full-service restaurant serves lunch and dinner. The large picture windows look out onto the animals on the Savana. It serves African and Indian themed food.
I couldn’t resist sharing this very cool looking dessert that was served on the kids menu at Sanaa:
Maji: This is the pool bar by the Samawati Springs pool. In addition to drinks it has had a limited food menu including a tandoori chicken caeser salad, hot dog with chili and cheese, turkey sandwich and a fresh fruit cup. African and American themed menu.
Pools at Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Jambo House and Kidani Village each has a large themed pool. Kidani Village also has a children’s water play area.
What do you need to know about the Animal Kingdom Lodge pools?
- Towels are available to guests at both of the pools.
- Each pool has a chair lift.
- One of the hot tubs in the Jambo House pool has a chair lift.
- There are lifeguards.
- Free life vests are available at all pools. They range from infant size to adult XXL.
- Each pool has restrooms.
- Swim diapers are required for children who are not toilet trained. They can be purchased in the resort store.
Water temperature: In the cooler weather, pools are heated to 82° Fahrenheit, 28° Celsius. At times we’ve found that the pools felt much colder than that. How warm a pool will actually gets will depend on a variety of factors including pool size. At times we’ve found that the heat was not turned on for a quiet pool. If that’s the case, let a Cast Member know you’d like it turned on.
Pool Parties: Usually sometime after 1 PM, the main pools at all of the Disney resorts have pool parties going on. Parents and kids will love this, but if you’re looking for quiet, keep in mind that these parties are VERY loud. There’s dance party music blasting throughout the entire afternoon, and the Cast Members lead the kids in activities over a loud speaker. Many of the Disney resorts have what are called ‘Quiet Pools’ which do not usually have these parties, however Animal Kingdom Lodge does not.
The Pools at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort & Villas
There are two main pools and no quiet pools. Both pools are available to DVC or regular hotel guests, but naturally the Kidani pool is close by the Kidani buildings (where most of the villas are located), and the Jambo pool is close to the Jambo House area.
Uzima Springs Pool at Jambo House in Animal Kingdom Lodge
Uzima Springs has zero entry, two whirlpool hot tubs, and a wading pool. This beautiful pool has an African theme which is expressed liberally. Guests have a wonderful view of the resort’s architecture and thatched roof lines, as well as decorative boulders, lush palm trees and gardens. At the backside of the pool is an enclosure that houses pink flamingos, and unlike the rest of the animals in the savannah, they’re always there and visible. Beyond that is the savannah, so if you’re lucky you might actually be able to catch sight of a giraffe while you sunbathe!
The main pool is huge at over 11,000 square feet. The 67-foot slide is not especially long or exciting, but kids will still enjoy it. Built into rock, it only curves slightly and lets out into 3 1/2 feet of water.
There are fixed large fabric umbrellas in the ground that shade some of the chaise-type chairs. There are umbrellas on some of the on some of the tables as well.
There should be multiple water-wheelchairs available here. Ask a lifeguard if you wish to use one.
Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village in Animal Kingdom Lodge
This 4,700 sq. ft. pool has a zero entry area and two irregularly shaped whirlpool spas. The entire pool area overlooks a large expanse of untended meadow. It’s pretty in a wild way, and lets you see what the land looked like before Disney shaped it into the savannah and hotel. There’s quite a current at the pool entry, so beware.
The spas are tucked in among foliage, so they’re nice and private. This may pose a challenge if you want to soak while watching your children swim.
The slide at the Samawati Springs pool is much more impressive than the Uzima slide at 128 feet long. This pool also has a short wheelchair-accessible slide with steps on one side and a platform for wheelchair transfer on the other.
The chaise-lounge chairs here are fabric and there are fixed umbrellas in the ground over quite a number of them. There are also umbrella tables with upright fabric chairs.
Uwanja Camp
Although the Samawati Springs pool is less than half the size of the Uzima Springs pool, there’s also a 4,200 sq. ft. interactive water play area for children, teenagers and playful adults called Uwanja Camp. It’s a mini children’s water park combined with a playground. It has silly statues (look for smiling snakes in the grass!) and fun features that drip, spray and drop water on guests in a variety of ways (I was walking by, taking notes, when a stream of water spurted out directly into my ear). Many of the water spouts are hidden and activated by movement, so be careful if you don’t want to get wet!
Parts of the ground in the children’s area (such as under the climbing frames and slides) are covered with a soft recycled tire surface, and might cause those with latex allergies to react.
To access the pool you must either go down stairs or around a long sloped wheelchair accessible path which runs behind the pool bar and children’s play area. Guests can borrow a water wheelchair from any lifeguard.
There are different zones with age requirements in this play area. Kids 4 years and older can play in the Observation Station area. Kids from 5-7 years old can play in the Departure Zone. Base Camp is available to kids 8 years and older.
Health Clubs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Guests of the resort can use the exercise equipment at no charge. Jambo House has Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center which has a dry sauna, steam room, locker rooms and a large assortment of exercise equipment. They also offer massage, various body treatments and facials. Personal training sessions are available. There are elliptical machines and recumbent bikes.
Kidani Village has the Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center with a wide variety of exercise equipment. At about 36 x 45 feet it’s probably half the size of the Zahannati fitness center. One whole wall is glass and overlooks the pool. There are no attendants. There are ellipticals and recumbent bikes here as well.
Entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
There’s a wide variety of programs offered at the resort, however they may vary. Also some activities have fees. Request the schedule at check-in, and check out the notice board postings next to Boma in Jambo House or next to the Library at Kidani Village for the days’ activities. Programs at the time of this writing include the following:
- Campfires with marshmallow roasting
- Movies Under the Stars – Watch movies by the Uzima pool.
- Wild About Painting – Enjoy a painting class while sipping a complementary drink while overlooking the savanna.
- Nightly storytelling with rocking chairs around the outdoor firepit at Arusha Rock.
- Lodge Tours – A tour of the lodge each day at 3:30 PM.
- African games and crafts at the Uzima pool deck.
- Nighttime Animal viewing with night vision glasses.
- Pelican and Flamingo feeding sessions.
- Art tour – Self-guided tour of the resort’s art.
Tours and special dining experiences
Disney offers special tours of the Savanna’s where you can get pretty close to the animals. They’re sometimes combined with dining experiences. Take a look at Disney’s site here for current information on tours.
The Kidani Village Community Hall
This relaxing area has plenty of entertainment for guests including board games, pool, foosball and computer games. This is where you can check out sporting equipment.
Other entertainment:
- Arcades: Pumba’s Arcade in Jambo House and Safari So Good Arcade in Kidani Village are both accessible, though not all games are accessible.
- Hakuna Matata Playground – Open 24 hours. Though it’s located next to the Jambo House pool it’s not visible from the pool or hot tub areas.
This resort does not offer any walking or jogging trails.
Buildings and rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Village
In both Jambo House and Kidani Village the rooms are decorated with rich, warm colors. There are golds and oranges along with earth tones. The dark wood furniture includes a beautiful hand carved bed head board, and a carved/painted armoire. There are Lion King themed carvings and art included. The rooms feel more luxurious to us than those at some of the other deluxe resorts. Perhaps this is partly because of the level of detail in the décor.
All rooms have:
- Hair dryers
- In-room safe
- Iron and ironing board
- Wireless internet access
- Voicemail
- Shampoo, soap and conditioner (H2O brand)
- Digital thermostat that you can adjust
- Ceiling fan
- Alarm clock available upon request
Jambo House rooms
The guest rooms fan out from the main building in a semi-circle shape. The five story guest buildings have thatched roofs and each room has a balcony, except the first floor rooms which have patios. The views include the Standard (includes the pool, parking lot) and savanna. There are inside hallways with elevators to all floors.
There are no longer deluxe rooms within the main building at Animal Kingdom Lodge. These have all been converted into the Disney Vacation Club rooms. Non-Disney Vacation Club members can also stay in them when they’re available. There are some 1 bedroom suites and the Royal Asante Presidential Suite which sleeps up to 6 adults.
Jambo House Club Level or Concierge Level Rooms
There are 55 Club Level rooms and 19 Club Level Suites, but they’re only in Jambo House. The rooms are the same as the standard rooms that are not Club Level, but you receive the Club Level benefits. There are also some DVC Club Level Rooms that are larger. All the Club Level rooms have Savanna views.
Club Level guests are entitled to additional services, and there’s just some extra pampering. This includes:
- A welcome package you can get from the Club Level Concierge. It includes a food treat.
- Access to the 6th floor private Kilimanjaro Club Lounge where you can hang out in the lounge and enjoy a variety of food and drinks all day. They serve coffee from 6:30 am on. From 7 am to 10 pm you can enjoy complimentary food and drinks that vary depending on the time of day. In the morning they serve a continental breakfast. After that you’ll find light snacks, with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and desserts throughout most of the day and evening. Beer and wines are available upon requests, and each evening there are liquors available. Coffee (Nespresso machine), tea and soft drinks are available throughout the day. Take a look at this video that shows you the food offerings throughout the day and evening:
- Access to Disney Signature Services. You’ll receive special support from Cast Members dedicated to serving Club Level members. They can help with anything including dining reservations, transportation, park tickets, tours, and information such as movie times at Disney Springs, etc. Sometimes they can even help you with booking things that might be hard to get. Call 407-939-7777 for this service.
- Complimentary newspapers in the lounge.
- Complimentary fax assistance.
- Use of robes during your stay. Don’t take them home or you’ll be charged!
- Nightly turn down service. They’ll get your bed ready and they’ll leave chocolate treats.
We have heard that they will support those with food allergies. They may let you know what will fit within your diet, and we have even heard of them bringing foods prepared by the kitchen specially when there weren’t a lot of options. This may be at the Cast Member’s discretion.
Jambo House Standard rooms, Club Level rooms and Suites have either:
- 1 King bed (sleeps up to 2 adults)
- 2 Queen beds (Sleeps up to 4 adults)
- 1 bedroom suites – 2 queen beds and 1 queen-size sleeper sofa (sleeps up to 6 adults)
- 2 bedroom suites – 1 King bed, 2 queen beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa (sleeps up to 8 adults)
Jambo House Room Location Tips
Tip 1: The hallways are very long and of course the farther out you are from the main building, the longer you’ll be walking. If you have a mobility issue, be sure to request a room closer to the main lobby. This will also place you closer to the bus stop. If you plan to use the pool, request a Zebra Trail or Giraffe Trail room near the main lobby.
Tip 2: Do you need a Savanna view? We find that it’s worth the extra money for the view. It’s a treat to sit on the balcony and watch the giraffes graze. At night it’s peaceful to relax out there with a cold drink. However if your budget doesn’t allow for this, there are some great viewing areas located around the resort.
Tip 3: There are three savannas for guests of Jambo House, each with its own unique look and feel. Many people prefer to stay on the Arusha Savanna, which is the savanna inside the semi-circle. You’re able to see the lodge itself, and there’s a nice, wide view of the animals and the greenery. According to Disney cast members, this is the most popular view. On the Arusha Savannah, the Zebra Trail guest rooms are closest to the pool.
Jambo House Standard rooms
Standard rooms have either:
- 1 King bed (sleeps up to 2 adults)
- 2 Queen beds (Sleeps up to 4 adults)
- Handicapped rooms have a king, usually with a day bed.
Furniture: Standard rooms have a small table with two chairs, flat screen TV, dresser, night stands. There are reading lights on the headboards.
Floors: The floors are faux wood, and there is room under the beds to store your suitcases.
Bathrooms: Standard rooms have one bathroom. The bathroom has a sliding door for privacy. Most bathrooms have showers and no tubs. There are some rooms with tubs which you can request, but they won’t guarantee it. We hear that they also have child size tubs that can be brought to you and used in the shower, available upon request. The shower and toilet area also has a door separating it from the sink area. There’s a double sink vanity with a makeup mirror. The shower has a clear glass door.
Take a tour of the Jambo House Standard room:
Disney Vacation Club Guest Rooms (in both Jambo House and Kidani Village)
DVC rooms are located both in the Jambo House and the Kidani Village. The rooms in the Jambo House are found on the top two floors, and offer some options that are not available in Kidani Village. These include some club level concierge rooms, as well as a choice between value and regular rooms. The value rooms have fewer square feet than the regular rooms, with the benefit of lower pricing. The rooms in Kidani Village tend to be larger. Check out the square footage in each category below.
The views are either Standard which might include the parking lots or pool, or Savanna View.
The Value Studios and Deluxe Studios have the following:
- Kitchenette with a wet bar with a sink, small refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee maker.
- Paper plates, bowls and plastic utensils
- Glasses, dishes and bowls
1-Bedroom Villas and above all include a fully equipped full kitchen with:
- Full-size refrigerator/freezer
- Stove & oven
- Blender
- Dishwasher
- Microwave, Toaster, Coffee Maker
- Dishes, glasses and cooking utensils
- Flatware
- Sink
- Tea Kettle
- Pots and pans
- Coffee maker with coffee and tea
- Dish soap and sponges, paper towels, towels, pot holders
- Kitchen Island/breakfast bar with 2 stools
1-Bedroom Villas and above all have:
- Stacked Washer/Dryer, laundry basket, Ecos Laundry Detergent
- Whirlpool tubs
- Portable crib
There are five categories of DVC rooms, all with private balconies:
Studios in Jambo House and Kidani Village
Value Studios are in Jambo House only. They’re on the fifth floor near the front of the building. Deluxe Studios are in both Jambo House and Kidani Village.
Villa Size:
- Value Studios in Jambo House – 316 square feet.
- Deluxe Studios in Kidani Village are 365 square feet.
- Deluxe Studios in Jambo House are 366 square feet .
Sleeps: Up to 4 adults and a child under 3 years old in a crib.
Beds: 1 queen bed, and 1 double-size sleeper sofa.
Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom with a bathtub/shower and a single sink with vanity. There’s a separate door to the toilet area.
Furniture: Wardrobe, dresser, small table and two chairs, 2 coffee tables.
The Studio rooms also include:
- Private balcony
- Flat panel TV
- DVD player
Take a tour through a Value Studio in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jambo House:
Take a tour through a Deluxe Studio Savanna View at Kidani Village in Animal Kingdom Lodge:
One-Bedroom Villas in Jambo House and Kidani Village
Value One-Bedrooms are in Jambo House only. These one-bedrooms are smaller in size. Regular One-Bedrooms are in both Jambo House and Kidani Village. Naturally these feel a lot more spacious than the Values.
Villa Size:
- Jambo House Value One-Bedrooms are 629 square feet.
- Jambo House regular One-bedrooms are 710 square feet.
- Kidani Village regular One-Bedrooms are 807 square feet.
Sleeps:
- Value One-Bedrooms sleep up to 4 adults and a child under 3 years old in a crib.
- Regular One-Bedrooms sleep up to 5 adults and a child under 3 years old in a crib.
Beds:
- Value One-Bedrooms have 1 king bed and 1 double-size sleeper sofa.
- Regular One-Bedrooms have 1 queen bed, 1 double-size sleeper sofa and 1 sleeper chair.
Bathrooms:
- Value One-Bedrooms and regular one bedrooms in Jambo House have one bathroom with double vanity sinks and whirlpool tub/shower. There is a separate room for the toilet with a door that closes.
- Kidani Village One-Bedrooms have two bathrooms. The master bathroom has a whirlpool bath, a separate shower and a single sink vanity. There is a separate room for the toilet with a door that closes. The second bathroom has a bathtub/shower, toilet and single sink.
Furniture: The master bedroom has the king sized bed, a wardrobe, end table, bedroom chair, bedroom desk and desk chair, bureau, flat screen TV. The living room has a small built-in table that seats four with a bench seat and two chairs, sleeper sofa, sleeper chair (not in value rooms), coffee table, end tables, flat screen TV with DVD/Blu-Ray player on a bureau with drawers. The bedroom has a door that closes.
The One-Bedrooms also include a private balcony. Some areas of the floor are tiled, and some carpeted.
Here’s a walk-thru of a VALUE One-Bedroom Villa at Jambo House in Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Take a tour through a One-Bedroom Studio Standard View at Kidani Village in Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Two-Bedroom Villas in Animal Kingdom Lodge
There are two types of two bedroom villas. Some are called ‘Dedicated Two-Bedrooms’ and these were built as two bedroom units. Then there are the Lock-Offs. These consist of two separate villas that were combined to create two bedroom villas. We’ll start with the dedicated villas.
Dedicated Two-Bedroom Villas
These villas are only in Kidani Village.
Kidani Village Dedicated Two-Bedrooms Villa Size: 1,173 square feet.
Sleeps: Two-Bedroom Villas sleep up to 9 adults and a child under 3 years old in a crib.
Beds: The beds include a king bed in the master bedroom, two queen beds in the second bedroom, a queen-size sofa in the living room, and a sleeper chair in the living room.
Bathrooms: There are three bathrooms. The master bathroom has a whirlpool tub and separate see-thru glass shower, with a separate room with the toilet that has a door that closes. The other two bathrooms have tubs/showers. One of them has a separate toilet area with a door that closes. All three bathrooms have single sinks/vanities.
Furniture: In addition to the beds and stacked washer/dryer, there’s a TV and Blu-Ray DVD player in the living room, and TV’s in both bedrooms. A small built-in table seats four with a bench seat and two chairs across from the kitchen. The kitchen island has a breakfast bar with a couple of stools. The room with two queen beds has a desk with chair, one night table and bureau. The room with king beds has two night tables, a chair, small desk with chair, and a bureau.
Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas
These villas are in both Kidani Village and Jambo House. They consist of a connecting One-Bedroom and Studio Villa. Some of these rooms connect to a Value Studio Villa and they are considered Value Two-Bedroom Lock-Offs. These are the smallest and only located in Jambo House. The Kidani Village Villas are larger than any of the Jambo House Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas and have an extra bathroom. To see the furniture in each of these, check out the individual Villas above.
Kidani Village Dedicated Two-Bedrooms Villa Size:
- Jambo House Villas are 945 – 1075 square feet.
- Kidani Village Villas have 1173 square feet.
Sleeps:
- Value rooms sleep up to eight adults plus a child under 3 in a crib.
- All others sleep up to nine adults plus a child under 3 in a crib.
Beds:
- Value Accommodation Two-Bedroom Lock-off Villas – 1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size bed, 1 double-size sleeper sofa, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa.
- All other Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas – 1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size bed, 1 double-size sleeper sofa, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 sleeper chair.
Bathrooms: In Jambo House the Two-Bedroom Villas have two bathrooms. In Kidani Village there are three bathrooms. The master bathroom in all of these rooms have a whirlpool tub and a separate see-thru glass shower, with a separate room with the toilet that has a door that closes. The other one or two bathrooms have tubs/showers.
Furniture: In addition to the beds, fully equipped kitchen and stacked washer and dryer, there’s a TV and DVD player in the living room, and TV’s in both bedrooms. There is a small built-in table seats four with a bench seat and two chairs. The kitchen island has a breakfast bar with a couple of stools. Since these lock-offs are made from Studios and 1-bedrooms, see the individual villas above for more details on furniture.
Grand Villas
These are located in both Jambo House and Kidani Village. All Grand Villas in Jambo House have a savanna view. In Kadini Village they can have either a Savanna view or a standard view (parking or pool).
Kidani Village Dedicated Two-Bedrooms Villa Size:
- In Jambo House rooms are 2,349 square feet.
- In Kidani Village they are 2,201 square feet.
Sleeps: Up to 12 adults plus a child under 3 in a crib.
Beds: 1 king-size bed, 4 queen-size beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa.
The king bed is in the master bedroom, and there are two queen beds in each of the other two bedrooms. There’s a queen sofa bed in the living room. Rooms located in Kidani Village have an extra sitting area upstairs with a queen sleeper sofa.
Bathrooms: There are four bathrooms with a whirlpool tub in the master bathroom.
Furniture: Jambo House rooms are one-level, and Kidani Village rooms have two-levels. The dining room has a table with chairs. There’s a TV and DVD player in the living room, and TV’s in the other bedrooms. Rooms at Jambo House have a pool table. The full-sized kitchen is fully equipped, and there’s a stacked washer/dryer.
Handicapped rooms in Animal Kingdom Lodge
The resort itself is accessible with many electronic doors in the common areas. We find it easy to get around with a scooter.
Info for those with scooters who can walk inside their rooms: Throughout the various Disney resorts, many of the non-handicapped Disney resort rooms are able to fit a scooter inside. So for those who can walk inside their rooms, but need to park and charge a scooter, they can. We always prefer to take a standard room in order to free up the handicapped rooms for those who need to stay in their wheelchairs or scooters. In these rooms it’s a tight fit with a regular sized scooter, without a super convenient space for parking and charging inside the rooms. It’s not impossible, but it’s not a very comfortable fit. Guests have the option of parking and charging in the hallway.
Ideally, if you have a scooter and must park it inside your room, you’ll either want to secure an accessible room, or you’ll want a Deluxe Studio or above.
Types of handicapped rooms: As with all of Disney resorts handicapped rooms, there are various types including those designed for those with hearing loss. There are accessible rooms which have either two queen beds or 1 king bed. There area small number of accessible rooms with a roll-in shower and both a king bed and a double bed.
Handicapped & health related requests: Hearing-impaired TDD telephones, bed shaker accessory, visual smoke alarms, wake up alarms and door knocks; bed boards and bed rails; Sharp containers for used syringes.
Available Upon Request for all rooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Alarm clocks are available upon request. Though they used to be put in the rooms automatically, they are no longer there unless you request it.
Guests can also request cribs, and a Pack ‘n Play at no extra charge.
Microwave’s are in all the suites but may be available upon request for the standard rooms. They have limited numbers. If you’re requesting it because of a health issue, you may want to contact Special Resort Reservations at Disney World with the request before your trip, at (407) 939-7807 and press #1.
Resort shopping at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Zawadi Marketplace is the Jambo House store, and Johari Treasures is the Kidani Village store. Both stores provide some Disney and Animal Kingdom Lodge clothing choices, Disney World souvenirs and basic toiletries, magazines, books, sunglasses, snacks and drinks. Johari Treasures has a refillable mug drink station. Zawadi Marketplace is one of the largest resort shops at Disney World. There’s an abundance of quality African art and craft items for sale.
Transportation at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Buses provide the only form of transportation at this resort. Buses service both Jambo House and Kidani Village, and are not shared with other resorts. The bus stop at Jambo House is outside the main lobby exit and to the left. The bus stop at Kidani Village is also outside the main lobby exit and to the left.
If you are at Kidani Village and you want to go to Jambo House, board any park bus. It will stop at Jambo House before leaving Animal Kingdom Lodge. At the time of this writing, if you’re at Jambo House and want to go to Kidani Village, board any Disney Springs bus, which will stop at Kidani Village before leaving Animal Kingdom Lodge. You’ll want to check with the driver to be sure this is still the process.
Keep in mind that this resort is a bit farther from the parks (except Animal Kingdom) than some of the other resorts. The bus ride to the Magic Kingdom is about 35 minutes, while Epcot and Hollywood Studios are a bit less. If you have your own car, you can arrive at any of the parks within 10 minutes.
Laundry at Animal Kingdom Lodge
There’s a Coin Laundromat located in Jambo House on the first floor near Simba’s Clubhouse. There’s also a laundromat at Kidani Village near the lobby, and this one is free. We’ve been told that this is only for DVC guests. There’s also valet laundry service cleaning available. There will be an order form and a bag in your room closet.
Babysitting at Animal Kingdom Lodge
While there used to be an on-site facility, this no longer exists. For information on babysitting services, check out our babysitting at Disney World page.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in all Disney-owned hotel rooms. Even patios and balconies are non-smoking areas. Of course it’s always possible that another guest could smoke in a room anyway, but Disney reserves the right to charge a penalty since they’ll need to specially clean the room. This usually discourages people from smoking inside their rooms. There are pre-designated outdoor areas around the resort where smoking is permitted. The resort map that you’re given when you check in should have the areas marked, or ask a cast member when you check in.
Map of Animal Kingdom Lodge
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