Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge With Kids: Honest Review

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The grand lobby of Animal Kingdom Lodge's Jambo House, featuring soaring ceilings, African-inspired chandeliers, and wooden décor. — The Jambo House lobby truly feels like a safari lodge. My kids were wide-eyed from the moment we stepped inside.

I’ve stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge a handful of times over the years, but our fall 2023 trip was my first time staying there with both of my kids.

At the time, my daughter was 8 months old and my son was 2.5, and my husband was with us too.

Animal Kingdom Lodge ended up being one of the most memorable Disney resort stays we’ve had as a family.

The Savanna View room was the biggest reason. Being able to step out onto the balcony and watch animals from our room made the resort feel like part of the vacation, not just a place to sleep at the end of a park day.

But Animal Kingdom Lodge also comes with a few tradeoffs. It is not on the monorail, Skyliner, or boat routes, and you cannot walk to any of the theme parks. If easy park transportation is your biggest priority, that matters.

In this review, I’ll walk through what Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was actually like with a baby and toddler, including the room, transportation, pool, playground, indoor play spaces, dining, and the pros and cons I noticed during our stay.

Is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge a Good Fit With Kids?

Yes, I think Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge can be a great fit with kids, especially if you want the resort itself to feel like a big part of the trip.

It’s a great fit if:

You want a resort that feels special even on non-park days
You are considering a Savanna View room
Your kids love animals
You want a beautiful Deluxe resort with strong theming
You like having good dining options at your resort
You want a zero-entry pool and kid-friendly play areas
You are planning a slower trip with time to enjoy the resort

It might not be the best fit if:

You want monorail, Skyliner, boat, or walking access to the parks
You are trying to minimize bus transportation
Magic Kingdom convenience is your top priority
You want the most budget-friendly Disney resort option
Your kids need a bathtub and you are booking a room with a shower-only bathroom
You plan to spend almost all of your time in the parks and very little time at the resort

For us, Animal Kingdom Lodge worked really well because we actually spent time enjoying the resort. The animals, playground, pool, indoor play space, and dining all made it feel like we had things to do even when we were not in a park.

If you are only looking for the easiest transportation to the parks, this probably is not the resort I would choose first. But if you want a Disney resort that feels calm, immersive, and memorable with kids, Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the best.

🦒 If you’re considering Animal Kingdom Lodge, it may be worth checking David’s Vacation Club Rentals before booking. Animal Kingdom Lodge has Disney Vacation Club villas at both Jambo House and Kidani Village, and renting DVC points can sometimes make a Deluxe resort stay more manageable. 🦒

Location and Layout: Beautiful, Immersive, and a Little Removed

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area of Walt Disney World, close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

The resort is made up of 2 main sections: Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Jambo House is the main lodge building. This is where we stayed, and it is home to the huge lobby, several restaurants, shopping, the main pool, the playground, and a lot of the resort activity.

Kidani Village is the Disney Vacation Club side of the resort. It feels quieter and a little more residential, with villa-style rooms, its own pool area, and Sanaa, one of the most popular restaurants at the resort.

Most of our time was spent at Jambo House, but we did walk over and explore Kidani Village during our stay. It has a calmer feel than Jambo House, and now that my kids are a little older, I would absolutely consider staying there on a future trip.

The biggest thing to understand about Animal Kingdom Lodge is that the resort feels very different from many other Disney hotels.

It does not feel like a place you stay just because you need a room near the parks. It feels like its own destination.

The lobby is huge and beautiful, the animal viewing areas are built into the resort experience, and there are little places throughout the property where you can slow down, look around, and let the kids explore.

That is one of the reasons I think Animal Kingdom Lodge works so well for families who want more than park convenience.

The tradeoff is location.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is not centrally located compared to resorts near Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or the Skyliner. It feels tucked away, which is part of what makes it relaxing, but it also means you are relying on transportation every time you leave for a park.

For us, that was not a dealbreaker because we wanted the resort experience. But if your main goal is getting to and from the parks as quickly as possible, especially Magic Kingdom, it is something to think about.

Transportation: Bus-Only, But Easy Enough If You Know That Going In

Animal Kingdom Lodge does not have monorail, Skyliner, boat, or walking access to any of the theme parks.

Disney buses are the main transportation option.

That is probably the biggest logistical downside of staying here with kids.

If you are used to resorts where you can walk to EPCOT, roll a stroller onto the Skyliner, or hop on the monorail to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Lodge will feel less convenient.

Every park day starts with a bus.

For our trip, the buses were manageable. We had 2 adults, a baby, a toddler, and a stroller, so it still took some effort, but it did not feel impossible.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is close to Animal Kingdom, but it is not walkable to the park. And for every other park, especially Magic Kingdom, you should expect the ride to take longer than it would from a more centrally located resort.

That does not mean I would avoid Animal Kingdom Lodge with kids. I would absolutely stay here again.

I would just plan the trip a little differently.

This is the kind of resort where I would build in time to enjoy the hotel itself instead of treating it like a place to crash after long park days. If you are going to pay for Animal Kingdom Lodge, especially a Savanna View room, I think it makes sense to actually slow down and use the resort.

The Room: Savanna View Was the Whole Point for Us

Two young children in pajamas kneel on a balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge, peeking through the railings at the savanna view below. — Morning animal watching in pajamas quickly became our favorite way to start the day.

Each time I’ve stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, including this trip with the kids, we booked a Savanna View room.

For me, the Savanna View is the whole reason to stay here.

The room itself was comfortable and worked well for our family, but the balcony is what made it feel special. Being able to step outside in the morning and watch giraffes, zebras, antelope, and other animals wander by made the resort feel completely different from a standard hotel stay.

It also gave us something easy to do without going anywhere.

With a baby and toddler, that mattered. We did not have to pack up the stroller, walk to the lobby, or get on transportation to give the kids something interesting to look at. We could just open the balcony door and watch the animals from our room.

Our room had a standard setup with 2 queen beds and a private balcony overlooking the savanna. We also had a complimentary crib delivered for my daughter, and it fit well without making the room feel cramped.

That was helpful because baby gear can quickly make a hotel room feel smaller than it is.

The bathroom was spacious and updated, with a walk-in shower instead of a bathtub. That is something I would pay attention to if you are traveling with younger kids who strongly prefer baths.

For us, it was fine, but I know a bathtub can make bedtime and cleanup much easier for some families.

I wish I had a full room tour from this stay, but we stayed here before I started blogging, so I was not thinking about filming the room layout the way I would now.

What I do have is a little clip of my kids eating a snack on the balcony while the animals wandered around below us. And honestly, that probably captures the point of staying here better than a full room tour would have anyway.

Here’s a quick look at what balcony time was like from our Savanna View room:

What It Actually Feels Like to Stay At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge feels calm, immersive, and completely separate from the rest of Disney World in the best way.

The whole resort has a slower pace than many other Disney hotels. The lobby is dramatic and beautiful, but it still feels warm. There are animal viewing areas, quiet corners, cultural details, and cast members who are often available to answer questions or share information about the animals.

With little kids, I loved that the resort gave us things to do without needing a park plan.

My kids could look for animals, wander through the lobby, play at the playground, swim, or take a break inside when the heat became too much. It felt like the hotel itself was part of the trip, not just the place we returned to at night.

That was the biggest reason this stay stood out to me.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is not the most convenient Disney resort from a transportation perspective, but it is one of the few resorts where I feel like the tradeoff really makes sense. You give up some transportation convenience, but you get a resort that feels like an experience on its own.

If your family plans to be in the parks from rope drop to fireworks every day, you might not get as much out of staying here. But if you want a resort where a slower morning, pool break, or non-park day still feels special, Animal Kingdom Lodge is hard to beat.

Pools and Play Areas

Wide view of the Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge, featuring a zero-entry area, lounge chairs, and red umbrellas. — The zero-entry pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge was perfect for our toddler—easy, breezy splash time without needing to be held constantly.

The main pool at Jambo House is Uzima Springs Pool, and it worked really well for us with a baby and toddler.

The zero-entry area was the biggest win. My son could sit and splash without needing to be held the entire time, and it made the pool feel much more relaxed with young kids.

There is also a water slide for older kids, but during this trip, the shallow area was where we spent most of our time.

Animal Kingdom Lodge also has a second pool area at Kidani Village called Samawati Springs Pool, along with the Uwanja Camp water play area. We did not use it on this trip, but it is one of the things I would want to try on a future stay, especially now that my kids are older.

The playground at Jambo House was one of our favorite parts of the resort.

Thatched-roof play structures surrounded by trees at the Hakuna Matata Playground behind Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Lodge. — We spent way more time at this playground than expected. It was shaded, enclosed, and perfectly designed for curious toddlers.

Hakuna Matata Playground is tucked behind the main pool area, and it checked so many boxes for us. It was shaded, mostly enclosed, and had equipment that worked really well for my son at 2.5.

We ended up spending more time there than I expected.

That kind of playground makes a big difference with little kids because it gives them a place to move their bodies without needing a whole new plan. We could take a break from the room, let him play, and not feel like we had to leave the resort to find something fun to do.

Kid Activities and Indoor Break Spaces

One of the things I really appreciate about Animal Kingdom Lodge is that there are family-friendly things happening throughout the resort.

Some of them are formal activities, and some are just small moments you stumble into.

During our stay, we saw cast members drawing with kids, animal viewing areas with guides nearby, and little opportunities to learn or explore without it feeling like a scheduled event. My son loved spotting animals from the overlook areas, and I liked that there were easy things to do between meals, naps, and pool time.

Simba’s Cubhouse at Animal Kingdom Lodge with soft seating, toys, and a colorful Lion King mural on the wall. — Simba’s Cubhouse was a lifesaver during the heat of the day—cool, calm, and packed with toddler-friendly activities.

We also loved Simba’s Activity Center.

At the time of our stay, it was an indoor play space in Jambo House with toys, crafts, a couch, and a TV playing Disney movies. It was extremely hot during our trip, so having a cool, quiet indoor space where the kids could reset was so helpful.

My baby and toddler were both content there, which is not always easy to find in the middle of a Disney trip with kids that young.

The arcade was another unexpected hit. We did not actually play many games, but my son loved walking around, pushing buttons, and taking in all the lights and sounds.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is full of those little kid-friendly moments. None of them require a full park day or a big plan, but they add up and make the resort feel much easier with young children.

Dining: Some of Disney’s Best Resort Food, With a Few Kid Logistics to Think Through

Dining is one of the biggest strengths of Animal Kingdom Lodge.

There are several restaurants between Jambo House and Kidani Village, and the food here feels more interesting than what you’ll find at many Disney resorts.

A baby enjoying a messy rib at Boma restaurant, a buffet-style dining option at Animal Kingdom Lodge with kids. — Boma may be buffet-style, but it served up one of our messiest and most memorable meals of the trip.

For us, Boma was the standout.

Boma – Flavors of Africa is a buffet-style restaurant in Jambo House that serves breakfast and dinner, and it is genuinely one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property.

I try to make it over to Boma on almost every Disney World trip, even when we are not staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I love the flavors, the variety, and the fact that it feels different from so many other Disney restaurants. But it also works surprisingly well for families because there are plenty of familiar options for kids or picky eaters too.

The only thing I would think through with very young kids is the buffet setup itself.

Buffets can be awkward with babies and toddlers because someone has to get plates, carry food, manage drinks, and keep track of the kids at the same time. If you have another adult with you, that is much easier. If you are the only adult, I would still consider Boma, but I would go in with a plan and keep expectations realistic.

Toddler sipping orange juice from a plastic bottle while seated at an outdoor table at Animal Kingdom Lodge. — One of my favorite quiet moments was just me and my son sharing a juice and fries from The Mara while baby sister napped upstairs with dad.

Jambo House also has The Mara, which is the main quick-service restaurant. This was much easier for casual meals and snacks when we just needed something simple.

One of my favorite small memories from this trip was taking my son to The Mara while my daughter napped upstairs with my husband. We got fries and orange juice and had a quiet little snack together, just the 2 of us.

It was not a big planned Disney moment, but it is exactly the kind of moment I always remember from trips like this.

Jiko – The Cooking Place is also located at Jambo House. It is a signature dining restaurant, so it is probably not the first place I would personally choose for a casual meal with little kids, but it would be a great option for a parent dinner if you have another adult or childcare.

Over at Kidani Village, Sanaa is one of the most popular restaurants at the resort. It is known for its Indian-influenced African cuisine and savanna views. We did not eat there on this trip, but it is one of the reasons I would love to stay at Kidani in the future.

There is also Maji Pool Bar at Kidani Village if you are spending time near that pool and want a drink or light bite.

Overall, I think Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the best Disney resorts for dining. The only thing I would keep in mind with young kids is that the more unique dining options may take a little more planning than a standard food court meal.

If your family mostly wants quick, predictable food between park time and bedtime, The Mara will probably be your easiest option. But if you want resort dining that feels like part of the experience, Animal Kingdom Lodge really delivers.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge With Kids: Pros and Cons

What I loved:

The Savanna View room made the resort feel like part of the vacation
Watching animals from the balcony was easy entertainment for the kids
The zero-entry pool worked really well with a toddler
Hakuna Matata Playground was shaded, mostly enclosed, and great for young kids
Simba’s Cubhouse gave us a cool indoor place to take a break
The resort had a calm, immersive feel
There were plenty of things to do without going into a park
The dining options were excellent
The lobby and animal viewing areas made the resort feel special
It was easy to navigate with a stroller

What I didn’t love:

Transportation is bus-only
It is not the most convenient resort for Magic Kingdom
There is no monorail, Skyliner, boat, or walking path to the parks
A Savanna View room can be expensive
Some rooms may not have a bathtub
Boma is excellent, but the buffet setup can be tricky with little kids
If you spend all day in the parks, you may not get the full value of the resort

Is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Worth It With Kids?

Yes, I think Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth it with kids, especially if you plan to spend real time at the resort.

This is not the Disney resort I would choose if my only priority were easy transportation to the parks. There are better options for that. If you want to walk to a park, use the monorail, roll a stroller onto the Skyliner, or get back to your room quickly after Magic Kingdom fireworks, Animal Kingdom Lodge is not going to be the most convenient choice.

But that is not really why I would stay here.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth it because the resort itself feels like part of the vacation.

For our family, the Savanna View room made the stay feel special from the moment the kids woke up. We could watch animals from the balcony in pajamas, spend time at the pool, play at the shaded playground, take indoor breaks at Simba’s Cubhouse, and enjoy the resort without feeling like we had to be in a park every minute.

That matters with young kids.

Some Disney resorts are mostly about location. Animal Kingdom Lodge is more about the experience.

If you are planning a short, park-heavy trip where you will barely be in the room, I would probably save the money and choose a more convenient or less expensive resort.

But if you want a Disney resort that feels calm, memorable, and genuinely interesting for kids, Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my favorite options.

I would stay here again, and if I were booking it with kids, I would still strongly consider the Savanna View room. It is the part of the stay that made the biggest difference for us.

If Animal Kingdom Lodge feels like the right fit for your family, you may want to check David’s Vacation Club Rentals before booking. Animal Kingdom Lodge has Disney Vacation Club villas at both Jambo House and Kidani Village, and renting DVC points can sometimes make a Deluxe resort stay more manageable.

Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.