5. Not all savannahs are equal

It has been a dream of ours for many years to stay in a savannah view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge—we were stunned when we actually caught one available due to a cancellation. Going into our first stay, I wasn’t fully familiar with the layout of the savannahs at the resorts, and we did learn that not all of the resort savannahs are the same.

Our stay landed us a room towards the end of the Pembe Savannah at Kidani Village, close to the animal care station and transfer point connecting to the Sunset Savannah. I will admit I was initially uncertain about our position on the Pembe when I first saw it—the concentration of animals seemed lower than other parts of the resort (we initially only saw a zebra, an Ankole cattle, and some Thompson’s gazelle) and it is edged with chain-link since the road to the caretaker station runs along its edge.

Our concerns about the Pembe proved short-lived as we were treated to regular animal sightings, including leaping gazelle, regular zebra antics, visits by two roaming ostriches, and sightings of the resort’s resident hogs as well. We also caught sight of a giraffe from the Sunset Savannah which roamed over to the care station to greet an arriving truck.

The most popular savannah is the Sunset, located in between Jambo House and Kidani Village. This savannah is the one visible from Sanaa and tends to see the most animal activity with a rich population of antelope, gazelle, zebra, giraffes, cattle, and a wide selection of birds, including ostrich. While we quite enjoyed our position on the Pembe close to the caretaker station, we would probably opt for a Sunset Savannah room if given a choice on future visits.

Jambo House is home to two more savannahs. The Uzima is the smallest of that resort’s selection, with a population of giraffes, gazelle, and antelope. These rooms are also close to the flamingo overlook, near the pool.

The final Jambo House savannah is the Arusha. Though it isn’t as large as the Sunset, it tends to be another favorite thanks to its large feel and diverse animal population, including wildebeest, giraffes, zebra, antelope, and a variety of birds.

6. Home to some of Disney’s best restaurants

For fans of exotic flavors, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a foodie paradise.

The resort is home to several restaurants and lounges, the most notable of which are Boma, Jiko, Sanaa, and the Mara Pool Bar. While the Mara is decent as far as quick service restaurants go, the real gems to consider are the other three.

Boma is a restaurant we’ve gushed about before. This incredible African buffet provides one of the richest and most diverse culinary experiences you will find at Walt Disney World. It was one of the first full buffets to reopen after the pandemic for good reason—this place is outstanding. While cautious eaters will find some familiar staples at Boma like salads, breads, and potatoes, the restaurant shines for its rich selection of African cuisine. Highlights include fire roasted beef tenderloin, Durban chicken, lamb bobotie, oxtail soup, Tunisian couscous, chakalaka, and Zebra domes.

Across the way at Kidani Village, you will find Sanaa, the resort’s only savannah-view restaurant. I will admit an unpopular opinion—I did not like Sanaa when it first opened. They lean heavily on Indian food flavors (one of my favorite things to eat), and we originally felt these were poorly executed in the restaurant’s opening months. We revisited Sanaa on this last trip, and I am happy to say the food has improved noticeably. You could make an impressive meal out of their popular bread service and salad sampler alone, but our experience with the entrees was good as well. While we still like Boma better, Sanaa is a strong contender on the Disney dining scene.

Last but certainly not least is Jiko—a restaurant we consider one of the best places we have ever eaten at Walt Disney World (alongside Boardwalk’s Flying Fish). One of Disney’s signature restaurants, Jiko recently reopened after a long closure following the pandemic. While we have not had the opportunity to return since the reopening, we fondly remember our previous visits to the restaurant. You can expect excellent service, an elegant atmosphere, and an incredibly rich selection of African-inspired dishes at this top quality restaurant (our favorite remains the Egyptian Kushari from the previous vegetarian menu). While it is more expensive than some other Disney dining locations, the price is well worth it for foodies or those celebrating a special occasion.

7. There is a lot to do

A final point in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s favor—you could easily spend days here having fun without ever entering a Disney park. Recreation opportunities are plentiful at both Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Both sections of the resort have expansive pool areas, particularly over at Jambo House. While we wouldn’t rate these as high as the Yacht Club’s Stormalong Bay, they come close, particularly thanks to their proximity to some of the animal viewing areas. Both resorts sections also have impressive fitness centers and video game arcades.

Other activities throughout Animal Kingdom Lodge include campfire activities, evening movies, a playground, tennis and basketball courts, pool tables, and daily special activities. Kidani Village also has a lovely community room stocked with games perfectly for kids or teens to hang out. Oh, and don’t forget animal watching!

It goes without saying that we absolutely loved our stay and can’t wait to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge again in the future.

What do you think is Walt Disney World’s best resort? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!