Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
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Our take
By Matt Spaulding, Founder and writer
The savanna is the whole point. From a savanna-view balcony, giraffe, zebra, ankole cattle, and ostrich graze across four private reserves that hold more than 200 animals and 30-plus species, out there both day and night. You don't need a park ticket to fill a day here. The pools carry it: Uzima Springs runs 11,000 square feet, zero-entry, with a 67-foot slide facing the Uzima Savanna, and Kidani Village adds the Samawati Springs pool with a 128-foot slide plus the Uwanja Camp water playground. Nights bring firepit storytelling, cultural programming led by African cast members, and the Starlight Safari, a night-vision truck tour of the savanna. Dining stays on theme at Jiko, the Boma buffet, and Sanaa, where the tables look out on the animals. The Jambo House great room, hand-carved art under a thatched roof, sets the tone the moment you walk in. Here's the catch. This is Disney's most isolated deluxe resort, reached by bus only, with no monorail or Skyliner and a genuine drive to the front gate, the Magic Kingdom route slowest of all. The savanna-view rooms that make the place carry a steep premium over standard and pool-view, so the base rate won't buy the animal view. Overnight self-parking is complimentary for Disney Resort hotel guests, and valet runs $42 a night plus tax. It suits animal lovers, families, and anyone planning resort days over park days.
Quick facts
- Park access
- Bus only to all four parks; no monorail or Skyliner
- Resort fee
- None (Disney-owned resort)
- Parking
- Self-parking free; valet $42/night plus tax
- Savanna
- 4 private reserves, 200+ animals, 30+ species
- Pools
- Uzima Springs, 11,000 sq ft, 67-ft slide; Samawati, 128-ft slide
- Best for
- Animal lovers and no-park resort days
Where you are
📍 2901 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open in Maps →You're in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area, the remote southwest corner of Walt Disney World next to Disney's Animal Kingdom park. It's the most out-of-the-way deluxe address on property, a bus-only hub, so every trip to the other parks starts with a real drive, and the Magic Kingdom run is the slowest.
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Do you need a savanna-view room to see the animals?
Essentially, yes. The 200-plus animals live on four private savannas visible from savanna-view balconies, and those rooms carry a steep premium over standard and pool-view. The base rate won't put giraffe outside your window, so if the animals are why you're booking, book the savanna view.
How do you get to the parks from Animal Kingdom Lodge?
By Disney bus, and only by bus. There's no monorail or Skyliner here, and the resort sits in a remote corner, so it's a genuine drive, with the Magic Kingdom route the slowest. Overnight self-parking is complimentary for Disney Resort hotel guests, and valet is $42 a night plus tax.
Is Animal Kingdom Lodge worth it without park days?
More than most Disney resorts. Between the savannas, the 11,000-square-foot Uzima Springs pool, the Starlight Safari night tour, and African dining at Jiko and Boma, you can fill a full day without a park ticket. It's built for resort days.
Does Animal Kingdom Lodge charge a resort fee?
No. It's a Disney-owned resort, so there's no nightly resort fee on the bill. Overnight self-parking is complimentary for Disney Resort hotel guests, so the parking charge to plan for is valet at $42 a night plus tax.
What are the pools like at Animal Kingdom Lodge?
Uzima Springs is the big one: 11,000 square feet, zero-entry, with a 67-foot slide and the Uzima Savanna in view while you swim. Over at Kidani Village, Samawati Springs adds a 128-foot slide plus the Uwanja Camp water playground for younger kids. Between the two, a pool day here doesn't feel like a wasted day.
What is there to do at Animal Kingdom Lodge at night?
The animals are out after dark, so savanna viewing keeps going into the evening. Nights add firepit storytelling and cultural programming led by African cast members, plus the Starlight Safari, a night-vision truck tour across the savanna. Dinner runs to Jiko, the Boma buffet, or Sanaa, where the tables look out on the animals.
Things to do nearby
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