Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Our stay at Jambo house was a real treat, and we can’t wait to return. We had no car, but Mears connect got us to and from the airport for $50 each way for two adults and two kids, booked a few weeks ahead. Disney shuttles made getting around easy and avoided driving and parking stress. Cars often had long lines at the parks, while buses had a separate lane and dropped people right at the front. All the staff were kind and welcoming. We stayed on the level 5 DVC floor after buying points through David's Vacation rentals, since we aren’t Disney timeshare owners. Our corner Savannah view room was 5212. We saw a giraffe, zebras, an ostrich, and more. The animals were quiet, and gamekeepers put food out to bring them closer to the rooms. The kids’ pullout couch was surprisingly as comfortable as the main bed. Being on the fifth floor was fun because it’s the only floor with a bridge across the lobby. There was also a thick blackout curtain that kept the room dark for daytime naps. We ordered ahead on the app daily for pickup at the Mara, about a five minute walk. We tried everything on the menu over a week and especially liked the beef stew and kale salad side. We splurged on Boma’s dinner and breakfast buffets, both highlights and worth it. At Sanna, we only liked the bread service. We didn’t try Jiko. The shuttles ran about every 20 minutes for the parks. From the hotel exit, they were a one minute walk to the left. To catch the Kidani hotel shuttle, go straight across the street at the kiss and ride, where a smaller separate shuttle comes every few minutes. The bus goes to Kidani for pickups, then to the park, with the reverse order on the way back. For us in January, usually around 9 AM and 2 PM, the times from Jambo including the Kidani stop were about 20 minutes to Disney Springs, 5 to Animal Kingdom, 25 to Magic Kingdom, and 20 to Epcot. Getting on was never a problem, though I imagine in busier months a full bus could mean waiting for the next one. We usually left by early afternoon, and never waited more than 10 minutes for a return bus. It was nearly empty then, when we came back for midday naps. We enjoyed the resort enough to split our days between it and the parks. The playground, pools, and on-site animals kept the kids busy through the afternoon and early evening, so the days didn’t feel too rushed. There were movies at night, bonfire s’mores outdoors, an arcade, and occasional activities or information stands. Without prizes, $20 at the arcade got about an hour of games. The whole place felt very relaxed. If you dislike bright lights, there aren’t any over 45 watts, just soft dim lighting. Got zits or wrinkles? You’re in luck, nobody will see them here. The Simba clubhouse was hard to find and felt old and low-budget compared with the rest of the resort. It could use a refurbishment, though it was nice to have a place for coloring and hanging out. We switched resorts halfway through our Orlando trip. Checkout at Jambo was 11 AM and check-in at our new place near Universal was 4 PM. We spent the gap at the resort playground, Simba’s clubhouse, and the Mara outdoor table. The bellhop held our bags for no charge, just a tip, and even that stretch was a great time.

Our family spent two nights here and loved every moment. From our fifth-floor Savannah view room, the view was great, though next time I’d ask for a lower floor to see better through the trees. There are lots of places to watch the animals. The staff were kind, knowledgeable, accommodating, and great with kids and families. If you’ve been thinking about staying here, do it. You only live once, book the trip.

The hotel and rooms were nice, and the staff we met were welcoming. But on the second day, bees took over our balcony. We contacted the front desk and were told an exterminator had been called, but they didn’t know when anyone would come. We got no updates day after day, and the bees were never dealt with. We couldn’t use the balcony for four of the five days. At a place where watching animals roam is such a big part of the experience, that really put a damper on our vacation.

Waking up with tea and watching the animals go about their day was wonderful, about as close to an African safari as you can get without leaving the States. The food was great and service was top notch everywhere. The kids loved both pools and the kids area.