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One of the main attractions of Orlando is Disney. One of Disney's main attractions is Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. It is a zoological theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is the largest theme park in the world, spanning some 580 acres or 230 ha. It is dedicated to animal conservation and the natural environment. The park has the massive Animal Kingdom Lodge with the resorts Kidani Village and Jambo House.
Here one can experience a piece of Africa without ever traveling to Africa. After all, going on Safaris in Africa is generally expensive - unless one hires one's own car in Namibia or South African tours the parks by themselves. For those visiting Toronto in Canada, take the time to visit the Lion African Safari, where visitors are the ones confined to their cars while the animals are free to roam.
Disney's Animal Kingdom - A Piece Of Africa In Florida
Disney's Animal Kingdom is different from the other Disney theme parks by being more traditional in nature, with hundreds of species of live animals. It works to be as humane to its animals as possible - as well as to be ecologically friendly. It has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for having met or exceeded standards in education, conservation, and research.
- Why Visit: See A Piece Of Africa In Florida
It is a hugely popular attraction - pulling in almost 14 million guests in 2019, placing it in the top ten most visited theme parks in the world.
As one visits Disney's Animal Kingdom, one will see its massive icon - the Tree of Life. It is a 145-foot tall and 50-foot wide baobab tree.
The theme park has its own accommodation so that guests can enjoy spending a night in this piece of African safari adventure in Florida.
African animals at the theme park include rhinos, hippos, pelicans, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeest, antelopes, elephants, gorillas, monkeys, zebras, meerkats, boas, and more.
While the accommodation gazes out over the African savannas of the park, the complex also has other sections with Asian wildlife, prehistoric & dinosaur life, and the World of Avatar, inspired by the movie Avatar.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Kidani Village
One of the accommodation options at Disney's Animal Kingdom is the Kidani Village. It has been inspired by a traditional African kraal. It is horseshoe-curved and boasts exquisite views of lush savannas. Gaze out over these savannas and see over 30 species of African wildlife roaming freely.
The resort has pool areas, animal programs, and all the comforts of home.
Choose from a selection of villas and deluxe studios. Kidani Village has mostly single or multi-bedroom villas that are larger than their counterparts at Jambo House. It is a great option for families, groups, and those with deeper pockets. Villas are self-contained, having a kitchen, private bedrooms, and a washer and dryer. The villas have 1, 2, and 3 bedroom options.
- Size: 1,175 sq feet For Two-Bedroom Villas
- Price Deluxe Studio: From $700
- Price Grand Villa: From $3,000
The theme park resort hotels share many of the theme park facilities - like the swimming pools. There is also a shuttle bus around the park for those who would rather not walk so much.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Jambo House
Another option is their Jambo House. It is also horseshoe-curved, designed and inspired by the traditional African kraal. While Kidani Village is more villas, Jambo House is a more typical hotel-style accommodation.
It has a large variety of room types, with a standard resort being around 350 square feet, and typically comes with two queen beds or one queen and a set of bunk beds. The rooms come with standard amenities like a mini-fridge, table, coffee maker, and balcony.
- Size: 350 Sq Feet For Standard Room
- Price For Standard Room: Approx. $479.00 (Varies by Price, Package Deal, and Season)
As these resorts are upmarket and have views of the animals, they are also on the pricey end. Book in advance to get discounted. It can be possible to get a standard room for between $170 and $200 a night. Rooms with a full Savannah view cost around $70 more per night.
Those wanting a bit more luxury can book their Grand villas. Their living room comes with a full-sized pull-out couch, a dining area, a king bed, a huge spa tub, and more.
These villas need to be booked well in advance as there are not so many of them, and they sell out fast.