For our second family trip to Walt Disney World, we decided to stay on site again. It worked out so well the first time. This time, we wanted to try out a new resort, so after quite a bit of research, we narrowed down our top three choices (Coronado Springs, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge) to Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the newer Walt Disney World hotels, and as you may guess, it’s located closest to the Animal Kingdom. As a result of that, it’s a little further from the other resorts, which was one of our concerns before we got there.
We went in May 2008, and arrived at Orlando International Airport right on time. Because we took the Disney Magical Express, we were able to bypass baggage claim and headed right to the Magical Express counter. The airport was actually much more crowded than I expected, and it took a while to navigate through the airport. There were quite a few lines at the elevators which extended the journey.
We were in line for a very short time before we were directed to the appropriate bus. Unfortunately, our bus was headed to three resorts and ours was last on the journey. We arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge after dark, and we were so tired and hungry that we quickly checked in and grabbed a quick dinner.
Check-in was annoying. There was a huge line, and when I finally got to the front they didn’t have my room preference on file. As a result, I was at the counter for more than 20 minutes. The front desk cast member was very accommodating however. The Mara (the quick service restaurant) had good choices for us and the kids, and was clean and fun.
We had booked a savannah view room, which meant that we’d be able to see animals outside our porch door. This definitely did not disappoint! I think our kids actually preferred watching the animals to going to the parks! The room itself was clean and nice, but a bit on the small side. Because we didn’t spend much time in the room, it wasn’t a problem at all.
While we were there, we ate at the buffet restaurant, Boma, and swam in the pool. Boma was lots of fun – it’s got a great atmosphere and the food is excellent. Despite the fact that the food is African, there are plenty of choices for children also. We ate breakfast and dinner there. The pools are also great. My kids did prefer the heated baby pool, but the larger pool is wonderful.
Bus service was easier than expected. With only one bus stop at the resort, the buses traveled quickly, and the time to the resort was very quick. The buses were never too full either.
Most evenings, we wandered around the resort, checking out the various animals. Each savannah has different animals to see, so even if you have a savannah view room, it’s worth walking around. We saw an amazing assortment of animals – every single day!
Animal Kingdom Lodge is an amazing resort, and both you and your children will love the experience!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
How cool. It’s like staying at a zoo or something. Family vacations are great- I hope they don’t become a thing of the past given the economic climate!
Kim/hormone-colored dayss last blog post..Nokia E71 giveaway and a par-tay