Staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has been high on John’s Disney List for a long time, so when I found a killer deal for the night before his birthday, I jumped on it! John and I are lucky enough to share a birthday week, and one of our friends, Jenny, actually shares a birthday with John too. It was the perfect opportunity for a double date birthday staycation! Since we stayed at the Polynesian Villas for Max’s birthday {thanks, Dad!}, it only seemed fair that we have a birthday trip too, right?
Kidani Village
Our Room
The first thing to know about Animal Kingdom Lodge is that it is very spread out. There are two resorts: Jambo House and Kidani Village, and they are both very large. We were in Kidani Village, and our room was a bit of a hike from the main lobby, but there was an elevator right by our room that went to where we parked. You can request a room close to the lobby, but there’s no guarantee that you will get it.
I had already done Online Check-In, so we were able to park and go straight to our room. We booked a Deluxe Studio which is part of the Disney Vacation Club part of Kidani Village, but non-members can book this room type as well. This room has a queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa, and a very large bathroom with a shower/bathtub combo and separate toilet area.
Our View
We decided to splurge for the Savanna View, and we were NOT disappointed. There were animals everywhere! We all huddled onto the balcony, blasted a little Africa by Toto, and watched the animals for at least an hour before it was time to get ready for dinner.
Dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Sanaa | Kidani Village
We met our friends Dana and Phillip at Sanaa for dinner, and if you don’t go there for a full dinner, you should go just for the Indian-Style Bread Service with all nine accompaniments. I’ve never really met a bread that I didn’t like, but this is next level. We also ordered a few entrees and desserts, and everything was delicious!
Boma: Flavors of Africa | Jambo House
Boma is the best breakfast on property, and you will never convince us otherwise. That’s just the reality of the situation. Since John, Jenny, Max, and I all agree on that fact, we knew that we had to eat here while we were staying next door.
I think that I could survive on the roasted asparagus with the chipotle mustard sauce alone for a very long time. They also have a large selection of meats, African inspired dishes, and plenty of American dishes for the less adventurous eaters. I personally always seem to get mostly asparagus, bacon, eggs, sticky buns, and Mickey Waffles, but everything that I’ve tried from there so far has been fantastic.
Our Overall Experience
This is one of the best resort experiences that we’ve had! Our room was great, we actually saw tons of animals, and most of the dining options were already some of our favorites, so this was a guaranteed winner for us.
In my opinion, this is a great resort for guests who really want to take time to enjoy the resort. If you have time to spend an afternoon or two at the pool or just relax in your room, this is worth every penny. However, if you are planning on spending every minute that you can in the parks and away from the resort, I’d suggest staying at a different resort because you’re going miss out on SO much that’s offered.
We had an incredible night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Kidani Village, and we’re looking forward to staying there again soon!