TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We came here for a Staycation and it was our first stay here after visiting WDW and being CM for many years. The structure is very similar in design to Wilderness Lodge (our fave) as they were designed by the same architect. This is a very laid back resort. The center lobby is always very busy and there is so much to explore extending our into the rear courtyard where you can see many animals (there are also CM there to assist with any questions). We stayed in the Main Building, Jambo House. The staff/CM were outstanding as usual and very outgoing. I do like that they now have the check-in CM out in front of the desk to greet you and often use I-pads to check you in. The interior has several sitting area books for relaxation and conversations. The room we had, 4201, was large and roomy though I think there was an opportunity to use some wasted space. The view was nothing special, so no view of the Savannah. The bathroom was modern and well-appointed. Gone is the carpet replaced by laminate flooring. We had a balcony but nothing to look at. There is a coffeemaker and plenty of k-cups. We ate at Boma which is our all-time faves restaurant on property and again it did not disappoint, A shout out to our server, Kevin, who was fun and efficient. We also ate breakfast at Mara which was nicely decorated for a quick service location and had many choices for meals. It was cold so we did not experience the pool area but it is very attractive with its jungle shrubbery. Note, there are several look-out points at the ends of the halls and in the observation area. The beds were comfortable and there was a mini-fridge, steamer and plenty of storage. We would have liked a comfy chair instead of a standard straight-back chair. The reading light near the bed was a nice touch. Transportation was quick and efficient, as usual. The gift shop had a good array of gifts and necessary sundries as I recall many items from My days working in DAK. overall, an excellent and relaxing stay with no criticisms. A nice resort, though I still brlieve a bit overpriced and should actually fall between a moderate and deluxe resort.

As our custom we headed to AK for a visit along with stopping at quick service for food and the gift shop. Nope, as usual Disney moves the goal post and we can’t go in unless we had a reservation. So after unsuccessful attempts at a reservation we went to quick service at Coronado which was lousy! Then walked around AK and saw a redone finding Nemo show.

2-Star Hotel Masquerading as Premium Disney Resort Rating: 2/5 stars We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge with our 9-year-old for her birthday expecting a premium Disney experience. What we got was a 2-star hotel with bizarre policies at luxury resort prices. The Good: The savanna views are legitimately special - waking up to giraffes and zebras outside your balcony is memorable. The animals are well-cared for and the viewing areas are thoughtfully designed. The theming is immersive and the staff was friendly throughout our stay. The Problem This resort has strange, restrictive rules that make no sense for a family property. There is NO room service whatsoever, and they won't even allow Uber Eats or delivery drivers to leave food at the front desk, much less bring it to your room. When you have tired, hungry kids after a long park day, this is a huge problem. Multiple other Disney properties offer 24-hour room service - Disney clearly knows families need convenient food options. At these prices, this is unacceptable. Transportation to parks took 20-30 minutes each way. The service level and amenities simply don't match what you'd expect from a premium resort. Bottom Line: For $700-2000/night, you're getting 2-star hotel service with animal views. I'd strongly recommend staying at a quality off-property hotel for $150-200/night and using the massive savings toward your actual vacation. This property is absolutely not worth the money.

8 of us stayed in a villa at Kidani Village for two nights. Don’t stay on the second floor period. The noise from rooms from above and the garage below was awful. As bad as I’ve experienced. We paid a fortune for a savanna view but only saw a few birds. Just a lot of issues and poor value overall. We moved to Jamba House for our last night and it was a totally different experience. A positive one.

My 11 year old daughter stayed in a Value Studio in Jambo house for 11 nights total starting Dec 8, joined by my 14 year old daughter and husband for the last 3 nights. We had lucked in 11 months earlier to booking the full stay through a DVC confirmed reservation and I had been looking forward to the trip all year. My 11 year old got very sick with stomach flu/congestion/high temperature on night one. Though we managed a couple of hours in theme parks once the worst had passed, she was so tired we spent 90% of our time in the hotel. Thank goodness this hotel is my favourite place in the world. While she slept in, I was able to enjoy gourmet breakfasts at Saana, where I watched the sun come up and the animals wake up from the floor to ceiling windows 6 days. It became my routine. While she napped or played online games from her sick bed I went to the lobby, enjoyed the Christmas decore and music, sat by the fire with a Gingerbread martini, had a quiet drink at Victoria Falls, people watched and animal watched. We did not luck into a Savannah view but had a lovely view of the pool from our balcony, and the flamingos. Just past the infos occasionally a giraffe would saunter by or stop for a snack. I spoke with so many of the staff and learned about all the places I want to go in Africa. Everyone was so helpful and pleasant. I did multiple pharmacy, groceries and even a full wardrobe order for my husband who arrived without his bag - no issues whatsoever (yes they charged $6 an order if they had to hold it, but mostly I met the delivery people at the door and it was so easy). Since the wifi was good I could wander the hotel or sit in the hot tub confident my daughter could text me if needed. Lovely pool, perfect hot tubs, amazing dinner at Boma with the husband and older daughter (the little one was still sticking with ramen, soup and toast in the room, facilitated by the kitchenette in the studio). Easy bus transportation when we did want to go somewhere. Already dreaming of going back. And now I know for sure I could spend a week or two At this hotel and never get bored, even without setting foot in a theme park.