The Animal Kingdom Lodge Experience

It’s no secret that a trip to Disney can be expensive, with the purchase of park tickets adding up quick for families visiting the area. However, there are ways to have a complete Disney vacation experience without even needing to set foot in a park. And today, we’re going to talk about how you can do Disney without the park tickets by staying within Walt Disney World Resort at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

A Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Vacation Club property, Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a fully engaging, magical, African-themed escape with plenty of Disney magic. The resort sits directly next to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, but you don’t even need to enter the park to get up close to the wildlife.

Staying at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge is like vacationing on an African savanna, with more than 30 species of African wildlife roaming free right outside the property. The resort features two buildings: Jamo House and Kidani Village, both offering family-friendly accommodations. The villa-style accommodations are offered in studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. Select units have private balconies that overlook the savanna with stunning views of the grazing wildlife.

What to do at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Now whether you are staying at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge, or just stopping by the resort, what can you do that makes it just as exciting as a Disney park?

Watch the Wildlife

The most unique aspect of this property is definitely the incredible wildlife you can see and interact with both inside and outside of the resort buildings. Find zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and many other beautiful animals in their own stunning habitat.

When observing the animals, you can talk with the Animal Experts that are stationed around the outdoor viewing areas. You can ask them questions about any of the animal species and learn more about your favorite wildlife. You can also visit these stations at night, where night goggles are provided for a unique look at what the animals do after sunset.

Unique Dining Options

The immersive African experience continues with the dining options available at Animal Kingdom Lodge with Africa and India-inspired cuisine. Jiko – The Cooking Place is the resort’s signature restaurant, serving boldly spiced meals like chicken, fish, steaks, and flatbreads, as well as rich South African wines.

Sanaa offers quick-service breakfast and table service lunch and dinner. The restaurant’s dining room portion gives guests a chance to dine with views of the savanna, birds, and other wildlife.

Boma offers all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner buffets with cultural menu items as well as traditional dishes for less adventurous palates. And if you need a late-night bite, check out The Mara. It is open past midnight for those who are returning late or just get hungry.

On-Site Shopping

For themed Disney merchandise, visit the Zawadi Marketplace. You’ll find plenty of souvenirs featuring your favorite characters, as well as Animal Kingdom-themed items like handcrafted African art and stuffed animals resembling many of the animals found at the resort.

Education and Tours

Learning really is fun at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge. On-site Cultural Representatives tell stories about their lives and homes in Africa. Animal Experts will not only teach you about the animals, but also about protecting wildlife and tracking various species. The resort also hosts many games, crafts, and music events for children to keep them entertained.

There are also many tours and classes available to check out to learn all about African wildlife, the arts, culture, and cuisine. Be sure to book one of the resort’s special safari tours including Sense of Africa, Starlight Safari, and Wanyama Safari. You can also take a culinary tour, cultural tour, and an art tour—allowing you to engage and learn based on your specific interests.

Stay at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge for Less

Now you can see the incredible value of visiting at this resort, with so many amenities and activities to provide a rich vacation experience. Save even more money by buying or renting Animal Kingdom Lodge timeshare accommodations from our by-owner advertised inventory! Shop Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas timeshares for sale and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas timeshares for rent and uncover incredible deals on the high-end and desirable Disney Vacation Club properties.