Disney Animal Kingdom Villas

The Disney Animal Kingdom villas are a part of the Disney Vacation Club timeshare in Orlando, Florida. The Animal Kingdom Lodge villas are themed after an African lodge featuring a savannah complete with live grazing animals. The atmosphere is totally unique and superbly executed.

Pros

• Superb theming
• Access to amenities of the Animal Kingdom Lodge
  
• Excellent pool and child play area
  
• Excellent dining
• Savannah views are awesome!!
  

Cons

• Long walks from some villas to the elevators & pool
  
• Remote location from much of Walt Disney World
• No lake, river or water sports
  

About the Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Disney Animal Kingdom villas are located in the Animal Kingdom theme park area in Walt Disney World. The villas are part of Disney's timeshare, the Disney Vacation Club. Villas are located in two buildings, Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Jambo House is the original building at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and also hosts regular hotel rooms. All of the villas in Jambo House were originally hotel rooms that were converted into Vacation Club villas. 134 villas opened in 2007 using the refurbished 5th and 6th floors of the original Animal Kingdom Lodge building. 324 additional units opened in a new complex, Kidani Village, in 2009 which is about half a mile from the original building. At that time the original Animal Kingdom Lodge building was renamed Jambo House. Kidani Village consists solely of Disney Vacation Club villas, while Jambo House has a combination of regular hotel rooms, suites and Vacation Club villas. Although Jambo House and Kidani Village are only a half mile apart there is no path between the two so you must drive or take a Disney bus.

The lobbies of Jambo House and Kidani Village are stunning in their creativity and beauty. Public areas feature African art, architecture and artifacts. The live African savannahs can be viewed from interior and exterior common areas throughout both buildings.

Jambo House or Kidani Village?

Are you trying to decide if you would rather stay at Jambo House or Kidani Village? Both locations are great, but they appeal for different reasons:

Jambo House

Jambo House is older and has regular hotel guests as well as Disney Vacation Club members. The villas were formerly regular hotel rooms that were converted into villas, though Disney did a very good job. The lobby has a more impressive lobby and a larger gift shop. This building is a hub of activity and tends for feel more crowded. Most of the Animal Kingdom Lodge amenities and restaurants are here, including the only quick service dining location at the resort.

Kidani Village

Kidani Village is newer and offers larger Vacation Club villas. Plus, most of the villas have one more bathroom than the Jambo House counterpart. For instance, the two bedroom villa in Kidani Village has three bathrooms, while Jambo House has only as two. Also, the grand villas at Kidani are two story, versus one level at Jambo House.

Kidani is more removed and offers fewer amenities than Jambo House, but it has an intimate and peaceful atmosphere. Both resorts have excellent pools, though Kidani has a great watery child's play area. Expect to walk a long distance to your room from the parking lot, pool and lobby area.

The Villas

Most villas in Jambo House and Kidani Village offer views of savannahs. The savannahs are open 24 hours a day. Animals roam freely on the Pembe Savannah at Kidani Village and Arusha Rock and Uzima Savannahs near Jambo House. Both resorts also enjoy views of the Sunset Savannah which was expanded when Kidani Village opened. The savannahs host a variety of wildlife including zebra, giraffe, gazelle and antelope. Also seen are many feathered creatures including cranes, storks, ostriches and flamingos.

The villas offered are studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom grand villas. The villas offer standard views (parking lot, garden, pool) or awesome savannah views. I highly recommend springing for the savannah view if you can.

Transportation to all areas of Walt Disney World is by bus. Both buildings of the Disney Animal Kingdom villas share the buses.

Dining

In Jambo House you will find:

• Boma: Flavors of Africa for an excellent African buffet for breakfast and dinner
  
• Jiko: The Cooking Place for fine dining in a subdued atmosohere
• Uzima Springs bar near the pool
• Mara for quick service
  

In Kidani Village:

• Sanaa is a pleasant sit down restaurant serving excellent Indian and African-inspired cuisine with a view of the African savannah. This restaurant is gaining popularity.
  
• Maji Pool Bar
  

24 room service is offered in both buildings of the Disney Animal Kingdom villas. Victoria Falls Lounge serves drinks in the evening in Jambo House.

Click here for more information on the dining at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Amenities

Disney Animal Kingdom villas offer great recreational options. Both the Jambo House and Kidani Village have great pools. Samawati Springs pool is a large pool at Kidani Village and has zero entry, a long 128 foot slide and a watery play area. Uzima Pool is the free form pool at Jambo House and has a slide, zero entry and a kiddie pool. Hot tubs are around the pools.

Other amenities include:

• Barbeque
• Basketball
• Shuffleboard
• Bike rental
• Community Hall with pool tables
  
• Jogging trail
• Tennis
• Basketball
  
• Playgrounds
• Movie under the Stars
• Arcade
• Campfires
  
• Simba's Playhouse childcare center is in Jambo House
• Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center at Kidani and Zahanati Massage and Fitness Center in Jambo House

DVC members have access to all the amenities of both buildings. Gift shops are available at both locations.

The savannahs are the highlight at the Disney Animal Kingdom villas...and the savannahs are great! We highly recommend this property! Kidani Village can seem a little out of the way and is removed from the main amenities of Jambo House, but it offers newer villas. You cannot go wrong with either location at the Animal Kingdom Lodge villas.

Click for more information on:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Wilderness Lodge Villas
• Disney Vacation Club Rentals