Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

.Every time I visit Disney World I go to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I have stayed there a number of times and it is also only about 7 minutes drive from my vacation homes so it is one of my favorite places to visit the restaurants, walk around and view the animals and just sit in the lobby and soak up the atmosphere.

Why is it unique? Well it may sound like an obvious point but - the animals. The theming in this hotel is perhaps the best of all the Disney World hotels. You really do feel as though you have stepped into a different world.

And the view from your room? Well if you book a savanna view then you really will not want to leave your balcony. I can't describe the joy of looking out and seeing giraffes, zebras and potentially over 130 species of other animals walking right past your window.

Photos used under Creative Commons from mrkathika

There are a number of different room types at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The majority of rooms are standard rooms. These are located on floors 1 to 4 and are 344 square feet. They have either 2 Queen beds, a King or 1 Queen and a bunk bed. There are also a number of rooms which are wheelchair accessible King rooms. Each room accommodates up to 5 people.

Deluxe rooms are the same configuration as the standard rooms but are larger at 381 square feet. They are located on floors 5 and 6. All deluxe rooms are concierge rooms.

Suites are also available. You have a choice of one and two bedroom suites. if price is not important then you may want to consider the Presidential and Vice Presidential suites. The suites have the best views and all have access to concierge facilities. The suites are all located in the curved buildings at the end of each building - like the one that you can see in the picture above.

Standard rooms have views of the pool, the savanah or the standard rooms which overlook the parking lot. Obviously the least expensive and least desirable rooms are those which overlook the parking lot. Would I book a standard view room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge? My answer has to be no. The huge draw and benefit of the hotel is that you really can see a giraffe from your balcony. If my budget only allowed a standard room I would probably look at a different Disney hotel altogether.

Deluxe rooms have a pool or savanna view.

How much do rooms cost at Animal Kingdom Lodge? A standard view room starts from $240 per night rising to around $400 at Holiday Season. Standard Savanna view rooms start at around $290 to $465 per night. Bunk bed rooms are priced higher.

Deluxe pool view rooms start at $310 and rise to almost $500 a night at peak time. Deluxe savanna view rooms start priced at $360 rising to $560. Again, bunk bed rooms are higher priced.

Deluxe concierge level rooms start priced at $465 and rise to around $700.

One bedroom suites rates start at $700 to over $1000 a night. Two bedrooms range from $1250 to $1800.

If you want to book the Royal Kuba Vice Presidential Suite then be prepared to pay around $2000 to $2500 a night. For the ultimate Royal Assante Presidential Suite then get your credit card ready to spend around $2200 to $2900 a night.

All rates are subject to chance and do not include tax. There are some great Disney World hotel offers at the moment so always check what is available at the time of booking.

Photos used under Creative Commons from dingman

The Kilimanjaro Club lounge is for the exclusive use of concierge and suite guests at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is located on the 5th floor of the Lodge.

Here you will find helpful concierge staff who can arrange tours, dining reservations and answer any questions that you may have. The lounge also serves snacks and beverages throughout the day. A selection of beer and South African wine are available in the evening from 5pm to 7pm with appetizers from Boma and Jiko.

Being a concierge level guest will also give you the exclusive access to the Sunrise and Sunset Safari. Many would say that for this alone it is worth upgrading to concierge at Animal Kingdom Lodge. These safaris are separately priced and must be booked ahead of time as they are very popular.

So is it worth upgrading to Animal Kingdom Lodge concierge level? I would say a very definite yes. I have stayed in many hotels both in standard and concierge level and probably the best value for the money was in Animal Kingdom Lodge. The food is excellent and it is worth it for that alone. But add in the Safari experiences open only to concierge guests and you really do have a winning package worth the splurge.

Photos used under Creative Commons from afagen

The Animal Kingdom Lodge has one swimming pool - the Uzima Springs pool which at 11,000 square feet is the largest swimming pool at a Disney World hotel. It has a 67 foot water slide, zero depth entry and kids wading pool. There are also 2 hot tubs located away from the pool in secluded, usually quieter areas. The main pool does get very crowded at busy times and unfortunately there is no 'quiet' pool for those preferring a bit of relaxation.

The Lodge has a fitness center. There is also a child's playground area where the kids can get rid of some energy.

Children have their own activity center - Simba's Clubhouse. This supervised activity facility is for children aged 4 to 12 years old and you can make reservations in advance by calling 407 WDW DINE.

One of the great things about Animal Kingdom Lodge is the wide variety of activities which it offers. Some are even free like the flamingo feeding,night vision animal watching over the savanna,safari games, cookie making at Boma and music of the Savanna in the Sunset Lounge. There is plenty for all the family to enjoy - check out the daily bulletin which will be delivered to your room each day, or the posted schedule in the lobby.

Bush Camp is now available to all children aged 6 to 14 at a cost of $70 plus tax. This Camp runs every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and you can book by calling 407 WDW PLAY. Bush Camp offers the chance for children to learn about African culture and the animals of the lodge through play, organised games and activities. You do have to book ahead and will be asked to guarantee this with a credit card - so remember to cancel 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged.

But perhaps the best experiences are reserved exclusively for concierge guests only. The Sunrise Safari Adventure Breakfast and the Sunset or Wanyama Safari are available only to concierge guests. Each event can only be booked by contacting the Animal Kingdom Lodge Itinerary Planning Office up to 180 days in advance.

The Sunrise Safari Adventure Breakfast is available only on a Sunday or Thursday. The best way to describe this is a private Kilimanjaro Safari ride tour. You will be taken to the Animal Kingdom Park from the Lodge at 7.30 am after meeting in the concierge lounge at 6.30am. You will board your own private safari vehicle and be taken on a tour of the safari track with plenty of chances to see the animals. This is a wonderful chance to see the animals up close without having to hurry - the tour lasts around 45 minutes. Being early in the morning many of the animals are at their most active.

When your safari is over you will be taken to the Tusker House restaurant for a breakfast buffet. You are then given a special Fast Pass so that you can return to Kilimanjaro Safari with the rest of the Disney Animal Kingdom guests.

Regular park admission is not included with this safari - so you must have a separate Disney ticket to the park too. The cost of the Sunrise Safari is $55 for adults and $27.50 for children aged 3 to 9. You make the booking with a credit card guarantee so if you want to cancel then you must remember to do this 48 hours ahead or you will be charged.

Is the Sunrise Safari worth the extra money? Well many guests say that this is their favorite part of the whole vacation and it does get overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Another tour exclusively for concierge guests is the Sunset Safari which leaves from Porte Cochere at the Lodge every Monday, Wednesday and Friday approximately 90 minutes before sunset. This is as close to a true safari experience as you will get outside of traveling to Africa. There is plenty of time on this 90 minute experience to observe and learn about the animals who live at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You will get some amazing photos.

Guests must be at least 8 years old and this experience is limited to just 8 people for each safari. It is popular so be sure to book well ahead

At $150 for adults and $75 for children aged 8 and 9 the Sunset Safari doesn't come cheap - but reviews of this are overwhelmingly positive. This also includes dinner at Jiko - one of the very best restaurants in Walt Disney World.

Photos used under Creative Commons from steve-stevens

The Animal Kingdom Lodge has 2 of my very favorite Disney World restaurants - Jiko and Boma.

When I first started writing about Disney I was reluctant to ever disclose my favorite Disney restaurant for fear that it would stop being the best kept secret. Well I was right. This Disney World secret now seems to be out - Boma at Animal Kingdom seems now to have increased in popularity and it can be difficult to get a table. So as always if you have your heart set on dining in Boma make Advance Dining Reservations by calling 407 WDW DINE.

Boma is a buffet restaurant. Now this normally puts me off as the quality of food doesn't tend to be that high in buffets. Well this Disney buffet restaurant has excellent food - so for all of you out there who usually avoid the buffet give this one a try. Boma serves breakfast and dinner. Whilst breakfast is good I would suggest dinner for a very special treat.

The breakfast buffet at Boma is $16.99 for adults and $9.99 for children (aged 3-9).
Dinner is $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for children.

What makes Boma so special? The food has African influences and this is a cuisine which is a little different from that we are all used to. And I like to try something different! The menu changes daily but my favorites are the soups and the couscous and the hummous dips. There is plenty of choice of hot entrees including carved meats and fresh salmon. There are lots of salads and fresh fruit too. For the younger members of the family there is a special buffet with the usual favorites of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. So don't worry that the kids won't find anything to eat. The desserts are also a big favorite of mine. You have to try out the Zebra Domes.

Jiko - The Cooking Place is a full service restaurant that is one of the very best in Disney World. It has the rare quality - a truly family friendly fine dining experience. Jiko serves dinner only in a beautiful African themed setting. The dining room is inspired by the opening scenes of Disney's The Lion King. You will be shown to your table by a student from Africa who are at Disney as part of a year long cultural exchange program. The waiters are exceptional and many are trained sommeliers who will help guide you around the exclusively South African wine list.

So what is on the menu at Jiko? The flatbreads are a specialty and definitely worth trying. Entrees range from around $30 and upwards. Great options include Swahili Curry Shrimp, Maize Crusted Halibut and Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon.

If you just need a quick snack at The Animal Kingdom Lodge then Mara is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This counter service restaurant offers the usual favorites - waffles, pizza and burgers.

Animal Kingdom Lodge also offers Uzima Springs pool bar and Victoria Falls Lounge bar.

Even if you are not a guest at the hotel then I recommend that you check out the restaurants. Boma and Jiko are my favorite Disney restaurants - they are just 7 minutes from my vacation homes so you could say they are my local restaurants!

Photos used under Creative Commons from steve-stevens

The Animal Kingdom Lodge has entered a new phase with the building of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas which are part of Disney Vacation Club Resorts.

One building is already open - The Jambo House. This has studio,one and two bedroomed and grand villas available.

The Kidani Village Phase is due to open on 1st May 2009.

Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

Due to the building work for Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas there is construction work which is ongoing in the hotel which is scheduled to continue until 2009. Although this won't affect most guests you do need to check when you make a reservation.

Animals are not scheduled to appear on the Sunset Savanna from 15th January to 15th April 2009 - so be sure to specifically ask about this if you are booking a savanna view room.

Photos used under Creative Commons from steve-stevens