Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Animal Kingdom Lodge is the only Disney Deluxe where the hotel itself is a reason to stay in for a morning.
30-Second Verdict
Book Animal Kingdom Lodge if your week has a slow day in it and you want the resort to fill it, or if Animal Kingdom is your main park. Skip it if you have four or five park days spread across the property, because it sits at the far western edge and every other park is a long bus ride.
Quick facts
- Area
- Animal Kingdom area
- Property type
- Disney Deluxe Resort
- Tier
- Deluxe
- Official status
- Official Disney Resort Hotel
- Guest score
- Not enough verified review volume to publish a score
- Room occupancy
- Standard room sleeps 4; Savanna view room sleeps 5
- Details checked
- August 2026
Best for
- Families who want the resort to be part of the experience
- Animal Kingdom-weighted itineraries
- Guests booking a savanna view room, which is the point of the hotel
- Trips with a genuine rest morning in them
Skip it if
- You need short transfers to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT
- You are booking a standard view room, which removes most of the reason to be here
- You want a walking path to a park
- Your party is six
Location and park fit
The Lodge sits on the western edge of Walt Disney World, beside Animal Kingdom. It is the closest resort to that park and the furthest from most of the others.
Transport to all four parks is by Disney bus, with no monorail, boat or Skyliner option.
Rooms and family fit
Standard rooms sleep four and savanna view rooms are published for five. The savanna view is the product: rooms and public areas overlook enclosures with animals visible through much of the day.
A standard view room here is a Deluxe rate for a view of a car park, which is the main way guests are disappointed by this hotel.
Transport and mobility
Bus only, to every park. The rides are longer than from the central resorts, which is the cost of the setting.
Park benefits
Early Theme Park Entry as a Disney resort guest, and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on selected nights as a Deluxe resort.
Disney sets which hotels qualify for Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, and has changed both. Confirm the current rules on the official Walt Disney World site before booking for a benefit.
Pool and rest-day fit
A zero-entry pool with a water slide and a spa, and the savannas themselves, which is what makes a rest day here genuinely different from a rest day at any other Disney resort.
Cost beyond the room
No theme park parking for resort guests. The two signature restaurants here are among the better meals on Disney property and priced accordingly.
You are trading transport convenience for a hotel that is worth spending time in. On a trip with five park days that trade is a mistake. On a ten-night trip with three rest days it is the best Disney resort choice available.
Alternatives worth comparing
Book this hotel
Rates in Orlando move constantly and depend on your dates, so check the current price rather than working from any figure on a website. Confirm resort fees, parking charges and any theme park benefit directly with the hotel or the park before you book.
Hotel details and the guest scores on this page were checked in August 2026.
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Common questions
Is Animal Kingdom Lodge worth the extra cost?
With a savanna view room and a slow day in the itinerary, yes. With a standard view room and five park days, you are paying Deluxe rates for long bus rides.
Can you walk to Animal Kingdom from the Lodge?
No. Despite sitting beside the park, the resort connects to it by Disney bus.
Do Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms sleep 5?
Savanna view rooms are published for five. Standard rooms are for four. Confirm the room type when booking.