Where to Stay: Animal Kingdom Lodge

What Disney does best is transport its guests to a different world.  Sometimes it’s fantasy.  Sometimes it’s historical.  Sometimes, it’s futurist.

At the Animal Kingdom Lodge, it’s African.

Animal Kingdom Lodge, one of Disney’s “deluxe” resorts, was designed by renowned architect Peter Dominick.   The African theme is carried throughout the décor and architecture of this stunning resort. 

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by bellman “welcoming you home,” and will step into a lobby with soaring ceilings, rich wood tones, African-themed furniture and, at the end, floor to ceiling windows that overlook the savanna.  A large mud fireplace gives the lobby warmth and a rock fire pit just outside provides a wonderful spot to warm up on a cool evening. 

What would an African lodge be without animals?  The Lodge is set among a 43-acre wildlife preserve where animals including zebras, Okapi, giraffes, gazelles and many others roam freely.   The savanna can be viewed from the lobby, from several balcony’s throughout the hotel and, in many cases, from your room.  Neighbors of the expansive pool include a flock of flamingos.

The African theme extends right through the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s three restaurants: Jiko, Boma and The Mara.  The Mara, offering quick service by the pool, offers the usual fare, plus a dose of unique African-inspired dishes.  Especially for a quick-service restaurant, the food was great … some of the best I’ve had in all of Disney World.  Boma boasts an extensive buffet and the opportunity to chat with a few of the restaurant’s cast members who hail from Africa and are happy to share a bit of their homeland with you.  Jiko brings dining to Disney’s highest level with two wood-burning ovens and a creative African-inspired menu that changes seasonally – wild boar tenderloin anyone?

The rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge are pretty standard fare – the magic happens when you look up and notice a giraffe nibbling from a tree just outside your window.   

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