Today, we're talking about Animal Kingdom Lodge. Starting with a room tour of the one-bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge that you can book to stay in!
If you'd like to discuss staying at this fantastic resort, then Fairytale Holidays are here to take care of all your booking needs. Just fill in our request a quote form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
The Animal Kingdom Lodge Itself
Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of Walt Disney World’s deluxe resorts. For those of you not in the know, it means it’s one of its top-tier hotels. It feels like you’re staying in the heart of Africa as this resort is surrounded by four savannas giving you the chance to see over 200 animals and birds during your stay. It truly is a resort for animal lovers and gives you an experience like no other hotel on Disney property. The resort is divided into two main areas, Jambo House and Kidani Village. Jambo House is the main building and is inspired by the traditional African kraal and from the moment you step into the lobby you’ll be swept away. Like much of Walt Disney World, it’s awe-inspiring. The resort has two large pool areas (one at Jambo House and one at Kidani Village) with hot tubs, slides, and even areas for smaller children to safely play. It also boasts award-winning dining, and a lot of extra activities day and night, including safaris and crafts for the kids. You could stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and do not need to visit the parks because there is so much to do!
A One Bedroom Villa Room at Animal Kingdom Lodge
If you are a group of five you’ll find there aren’t that many places that offer sleeping accommodation all in the same room for a party of that size. Many of the rooms are for up to four with the option of an adjoining room. But the one bedroom villa room at Animal Kingdom Lodge is perfect. It has one separate bedroom with a large bed, along with a pull out sofa and a pull out arm chair in the lounge area. The whole villa itself is very spacious so you don’t all feel crammed in.
Kitchen & Dining Area
When you first enter the villa you’re greeted with a large room that houses the kitchen, dining and lounge area. As this is a Vacation Club Resort, the kitchen in the villa is fully equipped with everything you need to cook a meal! There is an oven, dishwasher, microwave and a large fridge freezer. There is also a filter coffee machine with takeaway cups for a grab-and-go coffee on your way to the parks.There is a high table in the centre of the kitchen area as well as a seated table with a bench and two large chairs. You’ll also find a large storage cupboard that houses an ironing board and iron and it's also great for storing cases.
Vacation Club properties work a little differently from regular hotel rooms when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Don't expect them to be there every day.
Lounge Area
The lounge area is spacious and light! In here you’ll find a very comfortable sofa that pulls out into a sofa bed and an arm chair by the window that also pulls out into a bed. There is a coffee table, a couple of side tables with lamps and one holds the telephone. There is a large unit with a big widescreen TV above it. The unit itself is great for storage and it is beautifully carved.
There is carpeting in the lounge area which is nice, it is in great condition and well kept. And the large window has a sliding door that brings you out onto one end of the balcony.
The bedding is already on the beds when you pull them out, but extra blankets and pillows can easily be found in a cupboard.
Double Bedroom
There is a small corridor that leads from the kitchen/lounge area towards the doors to the bedroom and bathroom. Starting with the bedroom, it’s very spacious with a large bed that is flanked by two bedside tables. One has a phone and they both have lamps. There is a chair with a large mirror above by the double doors that lead to the other end of the balcony. There is also a writing desk, a chest of drawers and a small wardrobe that houses a safe. This means plenty of storage for longer stays! There is a large TV above the drawers and as you can see, plenty of plugs and USB sockets for charging.
We love the Lion King detailing on the headboard. Another small and tasteful reminder that you are indeed staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Bathroom Area
Opposite the bedroom is the bathroom, and wow, what space! You’ll have no problem getting your family ready in the morning! The toilet is in a separate room but it’s still in the bathroom which is a little inconvenient if you need to go while someone is showering, but it does offer some privacy if people are simply using the sinks. Speaking of sinks, there are two of them with a large mirror above and plenty of storage space below for toiletries. They provide you with a bar of soap and some body lotion, but all other toiletries are now fastened to the wall much like they are across all Walt Disney World resorts.
The shower and bath though! If we could do that little emoji of the hand making the perfection symbol, we would, they are that good! Let’s start with the beautiful tile mural above the bath depicting the beautiful sunrise scene from The Lion King. Just looking at it makes us want to sing The Circle of Life! The bath itself is huge with jets making it the best place to relax after a long day in the park. Or perhaps you’re more of a shower person? Well we have no complaints there either as the water pressure is amazing. If you feel like you would benefit from a second bathroom for your party, the one bedroom villa rooms at Kidani have two bathrooms and it might be worth booking that instead.
Anything Else to Note
As we mentioned above when talking about the bedroom, there are a lot of outlets. If you’re staying in a room that sleeps five, you really need enough outlets for everyone, which we do feel this one bedroom villa room at Animal Kingdom Lodge has.
At the end of the corridor behind a door you can find a washer and a dryer! In the room!
Finally, the balcony. It needs its own little paragraph because wow, what a view. We know people want to stay at AKL for the Savanna Room but this one is a great view too. And if you’re wondering about the noise? The room is completely soundproof!
Final Thoughts
The whole villa has some wonderful Lion King touches from the tiles in the kitchen, to the mural above the bath tub, but all of them are subtle. If you’re looking for a resort and room for a special occasion trip (or even just any trip), we cannot recommend Animal Kingdom Lodge enough. It is truly magical in a different way from other places at Walt Disney World.
