Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

This time it was just my husband and me, with our kids grown, and Animal Kingdom Lodge suited us perfectly. I found I prefer its relaxed feel, even though in the past I’ve liked the Poly and Boardwalk best among the Polynesian, Boardwalk, Beach, and Yacht resorts we’ve stayed at. I could spend a day just watching the animals. From our Savannah view room over the Ostrich path area, we saw giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and others wandering around and eating below our balcony. The resort is beautifully themed, and Mara is a convenient quick service restaurant with some interesting options. We had our car, so getting to all the parks was easy. I can’t speak to the bus service. If we were still managing children around the resort and parks, I might prefer Poly or Boardwalk for the monorails, boats, and walking.

We’d originally booked one of the renovated Royal rooms at Port Orleans Riverside, but renovation delays meant we were moved to AKL. I’d been excited to try the property after visiting Sanaa the year before. Our trip had been planned a year ahead, but a loved one became gravely ill and passed away the evening we arrived. I didn’t know at the time that my wife had asked the front desk if a castmember could do anything to lift my spirits the next day. When we returned to the room that evening, there were two AKL coffee mugs, a stuffed elephant, and a card offering condolences. I can’t thank the staff enough for that kindness. Gestures like that give me unwavering confidence in humanity, and helped lift me during a very low time. You make a difference. Please keep being you. The grounds and rooms are lovely, too, and the hype about the food at AKL is real. If you’re an adventurous foodie, there are some more exotic flavors to try.

The crowds and noise made this hotel a letdown for me. The walls are thin, and kids were screaming in the hall. I was there Tuesday through Friday in the last week of January, supposedly a quieter time, but it still felt extremely crowded. I’m used to nice four-star hotels and found this place basic and dated. We had a Savannah view room. It was fine, but not worth what we paid. It beats looking at a parking lot, but you shouldn’t expect elephants and tigers roaming around. We saw some zebras, which was cool, but it felt kind of meh after the tenth one. People love it here, but I don’t get it. Maybe I just don’t understand Disney. I checked in through the app and haven’t interacted with staff. We noted in the app and on all our dinner reservations that it was my daughter’s first visit, but no one mentioned it. We didn’t feel any magic. If you’re not a Disney head, stay off property. It’s just too much.

We picked the resort for a much needed weekend staycation, its cozy atmosphere, and the animals. It’s beautiful and relaxing, and sitting in a Savannah view room watching the animals roam was so nice. We also enjoyed the food at Boma and jikos, and would highly recommend it as a couples getaway. The only drawback is how far away it is. To reach the parks, you have to take a bus or drive.