Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort (Disney Deluxe/Deluxe Villas Resort) Reviews and Ratings
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I loved AKL. The only things I didn't like about it were the remoteness and the rooms were kind of dark. Everything else is superb

WE JUST LOVED THE ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE! WE WERE UPGRADED TO A SAVANNAH VIEW DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AT THE TIME WE WERE STAYING. THE ROOM WAS SPOTLESS AND SPACIOUS! WE WALKED OUT ONTO OUR BALCONY AND WE WERE GREETED BY A GIRAFFE! OUR CHILDREN AGE 5 AND 10 WERE JUST THRILLED. WE SAW MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS DURING OUR STAY. THE ROOM WAS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE FOR OUR FAMILY. THE BUS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WAS EXCELLENT. NEVER DID WE WAIT LONG TO BE TAKEN TO A DISNEY PARK! THE FOOD WAS GREAT. WE ATE AT THE MARA FOR BREAKFAST EACH DAY BEFORE GOING TO THE PARKS. THE MARA WAS ALWAYS CLEAN AND ALWAYS A SPOT TO SIT AND DINE. THE LODGE ITSELF WAS BEAUTIFUL AS WE WERE THERE DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND THE TREE AND DECOR WAS SO FESTIVE! WE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS RESORT TO ALL WHO WANT A SAFARI TYPE ADVENTURE AND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A WELL APPOINTED ROOM WITH MANY AMENITIES. WE HOPE YOU HAVE AS MUCH FUN AND AS MAGICAL OF A TIME AS WE DID.

Recently came back from a four night stay at AKL. We were in a pool view room. There are plenty of spots to view the animals from if you do not have a savannah view room.

Very nice resort and would stay again!

We have stayed at AKL twice. Both trips were amazing. The first time we got upgraded from a regular savannah view to a deluxe room. It was awesome!!! Both trips we have had savannah views but I think you could have just as awesome a trip with a regular view, if price is an issue. There are so many overlooks and areas to observe the animals and the interaction with the people there from South Africa, Botswana and Namibia is amazing. In fact, we were so inspired from our talks with them that we traveled to South Africa and Botswana for a month earlier this summer. The information we gleaned from talking to people at the AKL helped us tremendously in planning our trip. One other thing I would like to note too, is what an accurate job Disney does at capturing the feel of the real Africa both at AKL and in the AK itself. I was amazed how much the real thing was like Disney. While on safari (especially in Botswana), I just kept telling my husband how amazing it was that Disney had captured it on KS and in the marketplace just outside the attraction.....from the baobab trees, termite mounds, sausage trees, acacia trees, buildings, roads, safari vehicles and, of course, the animals!! Disney really is amazing!!!!!

As far as activities in the hotel, we have enjoyed several different presentations on different topics on Africa. I particularly remember one presentation on animal night sounds in the bush. That is especially meaningful now after having camped for 10 days in Botswana, and hearing the real thing.

We also love the restaurants, especially Jiko. Their impressive SA wine list, turned me onto a love of SA wine the first time we ate there (before SA wine really started becoming more popular in the US). The bartender in the restaurant let me sample several different ones and I found the perfect bottle for our dinner. On our trip this past June, we toured the cape winelands in SA and we made a point to visit the wine estate, Warwick, where our first bottle of SA wine came from.

I can't wait to stay in the Animal Kingdom lodge it will be awesome for my mom and dad and I!

We just got back from the AKL it was wonderful. To be able to look outside and see giraffe, zebra and other animals was wonderful. The staff was friendly, our room was clean and comfortable. Mouse keeping arranged my kids stuffed animals ( this was a big hit). The buses were great, never too crowded and we never had to wait to long for a bus to come. The Mara was good, Boma was great we did the breakfast and dinner both were wonderful. Everything about this place was magical

We already had the CBR booked when I decided to upgrade to a standard room at the AKL. My DH is "deluxe snob" and my brother was coming to visit for Dive Quest so I wanted to show Disney off to him and the AKL was the most affordable deluxe available. I tried and tried and tried for the WL, but availability never opened, but my DH told me to never fear, that we had already stayed at the WL, it was time to try someplace new.

The resort is as gorgeous as all have previously mentioned. Check-in was easy, the package I pre-mailed was waiting for me, and when I went back to the front desk to tell them that I haaaaaated my room on the Ostrich Trail (small, bunk beds, first floor close-up valet/parking lot view....ugh, not magical!) and asked if I could have something on a higher floor and with 2 queens, the CM returned after a few moments in the back room with new keys to our new room, which was quite the hike down the Kudu Trail and had a bit of a construction view, 2 queens, and something she hadn't mentioned...a Sunset Savannah view! WOW! The room was decently sized, the toilet/shower room was a wee tight but the shower pressure and temps were excellent. The shampoo/conditioner were nice, but it was difficult getting them out of the bottles. Mousekeeping was great, decor was great, but with a 18-month-old climber extraordinaire we were a bit nervous of the balcony railing and both kept picturing him becoming Eland food. We appreciated the sliding door would double lock from the inside.

The Christmas decorations were gorgeous and we really enjoyed that there was a Photopass photog in the lobby each night, we were able to get some good Christmas photos of DS for his grandma. DS preferred the homey aspect of the resort and enjoyed being there over anywhere else in the parks. The nooks and crannies are endless, and of course, *night vision goggles* at Arusha rock can't be beat. I believe AKL had the most active lobby of any resort I'd ever been in...anywhere I'd ever stayed, including outside WDW. I liked the action and the low lighting, it's just my speed.

Since we had to cancel many dining plans I had booked 6 months in advance due to DS's wellbeing (he couldn't be in the parks/outside the AKL too long) the Front Desk concierge CMs were most helpful snagging me last-minute ADRs (and many of those we still had to cancel due to DS....but that's another story....)

The Mara was sort of bad. Bad service, bad options, bad food, and DH was disappointed that the refillable mug wasn't an AKL print but a generic Disney one. We had one Boma breakfast...I felt that I had better ones in the past. I ordered one drink at Victoria Falls, an $11 glass of Merlot which is something I would normally never pay for, but after one sip I realized why I spent $11 plus tip on it. Whoooooo!!!! That wine was strong! My face went flush very quickly and I enjoyed the glow. Alas, we were not able to complete our beverages in the lounge as DS was growing antsy, but I was able to tote it around with me as we explored the resort. There were also reasonably priced bottles of wine at the Mara and Zawadi Marketplace that I was happy to enjoy on our balcony as DS slept inside.

Beyond those wonderful aspects, things fell apart. My DH simply was not happy with the transportation system and felt that Walt would never allow a Deluxe resort be so difficult to reach, he felt no connection to the rest of WDW and labeled it the "red headed stepchild of the deluxes" due to it being so inaccessible, so reliant on unreliable bus transportation (there was one night Jimmy and I were nearly trampled since the crowd was so crazed for a Magic Kingdom bus. They had been waiting a looooooooooong time) and he was especially disappointed that the Epcot bus stop back to the AKL seemed to be the farthest one to walk to. He wished there was an old refurbed train available to ride instead of busses, busses, busses. I kept reminding him that the AKL is so revered by so many on the boards and the ambiance and the animals made up for the location and the transportation, but he just wasn't seeing it. : It really was a real shame and we have agreed that unless new transportation options arise that it was our final visit to the AKL. He doesn't even want to go back to Boma or Jiko, he just didn't feel the magic there at all. Normally his lack of enjoyment would have yanked me down with it, but I genuinely did enjoy the resort (mainly because it kept my DS calm!) and my brother was completely swept away by the giraffes outside our room, so to me it was but I do admit to painful longings for the WL and its location.

We stayed in a Standard View Studio for three nights December 2-5. There were 2 adults, no children on this trip. I found the room EXCEPTIONALLY clean! ONE surprise was the newspaper outside the door everyday. We were not expecting this, and though it was a nice surprise, we really did not have time to sit and read the paper. The view we had was overlooking the pool. Though it was not a savannah view room, I was very pleased. It was relaxing and a very pleasant view, especially in the early morning. Perhaps due to the time of year, we were never bothered by noise and there were times when people were using the pool. Here are a couple views from our room:


The staff was friendly and very helpful. The store was full of lots of great stuff but I found the layout a bit difficult and it was often busy and felt there could have been more staff on duty every time we were in there. We sat in the lounge one night for a drink which was ok. I give it average marks, but I don't go to lounges very often, so I don't have much to compare it to. My biggest problem I had with the lounge was the seating was made for giants! I am short and none of the seating in there was comfortable for a short person!

We found several areas to look at the savannah and never felt like having the standard view detracted from our stay! The only complaint I have over all is the bit of confusion with the lay out of the entire resort. It takes a bit of getting used to and having stayed such a short time, by the time I figured out how to get from our room to where we needed to go (for example Mara - I'd get lost every time!) it was time to go home! No fault of AKV, I'm just directionally challenged!

Overall I give the resort an A! I will definitely stay here again!

Animal Kingdom Lodge is an incredible lodge!!!!!!!!!! I'd go back any day!!

This was our first stay at AKL. The resort sure has the "wow factor" from the minute you walk thru the doors into the stunning lobby. It's a beautiful resort. We were on the Kudu Trail, with a view of Sunset Savanna. A free upgrade from the standard room I booked! We loved sitting on the balcony looking out at the giraffe, wilder-beasts, ostriches, and whatever else was out there! My only complaint was that sound seems to echo from the balconies, so if someone is talking loudly, you hear it as if it's next door. I don't know why some people feel they have to be so loud Not very considerate!
The pool is very nice, and the hot tubs are secluded so you feel like you're in your own little grotto. The night viewing with those night binoculars was really cool. We also enjoyed the evening cultural exchange in the little living room near the entrance to the Kudu Trail off the lobby. We were there 2 nights during the time they have them & well worth it to listen. We went on the Culinary Tour of Boma & Jiko. Also loved strolling around Arushka Rock. So many places to explore around the resort. It was magical.
Our room was great. Newly refirb. with flat screen t.v. and looked like new carpet. Beds were comfy, beautiful headboards with gauze draping behind them. Marble counters around the sinks. Lots of room for toiletries. And love the H2O products soaps, shampoo, conditioner and esp. the body lotion. Great mousekeeping. Bus service was pretty good. Only one day did we have a longish wait. I think every park had 2 busses go by before our bus came. But it can happen at any resort (& has). The Mara had all the usual offerings plus some different ones, like African Stew, and Zebra Domes my personal fav! And ample seating. The bus from AKL to MK was only a 20 min. ride.
At first I was hesitant about staying at AKL because I thought it was too far from the parks, but that's not the case. It's no more than 15 - 20 min to any of the parks.
This is a great resort that just wows you at every turn. Love it!

Just got back from a week at AKL. This is a very lovely and beautiful hotel. We had a savannah view and it was truly magical waking up and walking out onto your balcony and seeing the animals. It is a very special resort. You really feel like you are in a different world when you are there. Very peaceful after the parks.

I was concerned about the distance from the parks but that was totally unnecessary. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus during peak season. And it's nice not sharing a bus with another resort.

Boma is delicious and a must try!

My only complaint would be mousekeeping. I have stayed at value and moderate both of which did a better job cleaning and leaving little touches of magic!

WE too loved AKL. The Savannah view con not be beat. Kind of isolated though

This is the most magical experience my family and I have experienced. From the customer servce, to the superb restaurants, we were treated like first class all the way!
The Savanah rooms were spacious for our family of 4, both children under 7, and the views were to die for. Every day we would spend time warching the animals graze. It was beautiful and one of the highlights of our trip. The pool was fantastic and the life guards are quick! (But that's another story.)
We loved the restaurants so much that we will be dining there again on our next trip. We love the choices and the exotic flavors which we did not find over-powering.
Only downside is transportation to any place other than Animal Kingdom Park took a while. The hotel was definately worth the one minor downside!

AKL is my new favorite resort. It was pure magic from arrival to departure. If I ever buy into the DVC it will be AKL villas for sure.

My family stayed at AKL in Dec of 2008. We were "upgraded" to a Savannah View Zebra Trail upon arrival. This upgrade added so much walking to our day, I thought it was a joke. The quick service food was horrendous. Not even a simple breakfast waffle or egg was edible. The bus stop was very very far from our room. And the bus ride to anywhere but AK was 25 minutes long.There was some sort of flood or leak and the hall leading to our room was stinky, damp, and had huge fans as obstacles for strollers and wheelchairs. The theming was very pretty. We did love the crafts and info sessions with the CMs in the lobby. My kids made ornaments for the christmas tree out of ostrich eggs shells for $5 each - the craft could have been better for $5 but they loved doing it. We enjoyed Boma, and the buffet selections, very much. The pool was amazing, but there didn't seem to be enough places to sit at the pools edge - seating was tucked into crannies and I have young children. The kiddies love the playground. I'm glad we tried it, but I won't be going back. For the same money, I'll take WL every time.