Animal Kingdom Lodge: Impala, Okapi, and Zebra's - Oh my!

In October 2011, Dreiz and I had the great privilege of staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL), a beautiful resort located on a 43-acre wildlife preserve featuring some free roaming, well-known favorites from the Kilimanjaro Safari. For us it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that came to fruition as the result of off-season discounts and a handy 40% off pin code that we received in the mail. AKL is one of the priciest resorts on property but if you're looking to splurge just a little, you're going in the off season, and you have a discount code, then it makes for the perfect getaway whether it be for a romantic couples vacation or a Grand Gathering.

I think this hotel actually lends itself perfectly to the Grand Gathering atmosphere. When you walk in you are greeted by several sights that make it a perfect place for families to gather. If you know Disney, you know they leave no sense untouched when it comes to giving you a once in a lifetime magical experience. One distinct sensation that comes to mind is the smell of the lobby. The only way I can describe it is akin to that of a wood burning fire place but without the overwhelming heat or heavy air that usually accompanies having a fireplace indoors. Once those factors are removed you're just left with this smell that makes you want to sit outside on a crisp fall evening, wrapped in a fleece blanket and making s'mores. It immediately makes one want to hang out in large groups, sit in a circle, and tell campfire stories. I have no idea why, you'd have to ask the marketing/psychological geniuses at Disney how that works! Coincidentally there are fire pits located both inside and outside Jambo house, most evenings at the Arusha Rock fire pit there is a featured storyteller so make sure you check the posted schedule.

The giant glass wall (it's certainly too big to just be a window!) is another striking feature this resort is famous for. As you walk in to Jambo House (the guest lobby), you are immediately greeted by a breath-taking floor to ceiling window adorned with vines. Even if you don't stay at AKL, it's worth resort hopping one day just to take in this sight. Here's an interesting factoid: AKL uses the least amount of lighting in all it's rooms and restaurants, as well as it's lobby. Reason being is that at nighttime they need to be able to recreate the animals natural setting as precisely as possible in order to reduce stress. The glass wall lets the natural sunlight stream in and illuminate the lobby perfectly and eliminates the need for the use of excess energy, so it's both beautiful and green! My Pal Mickey Note: due to the decrease in amount of energy used, the rooms at AKL are much less well lit than any other resort. So if you're one of those people that needs a room to be brightly lit all the time you'll be out of luck here. However in my opinion, the stunning view of giraffes and wildebeest right outside my window was well worth the trade-off.

Uzima Pool zero-depth entry. Credit: Loren Javier

When you're not in your room watching the animals from your porch, there are plenty of things to do on the AKL grounds. The Uzima Pool features a water slide, a kids play area, two jacuzzi, and a zero-depth entry section. For those of you who aren't familiar with what zero-depth entry is, it's essentially like being at the beach. Instead of having to use stairs to enter or exit the water there is a slope that runs right in to the pool from the surrounding lounge area. Great for if you just want to get your toes wet, or if you need special assistance getting in to and out of the water. We had the opportunity to experience both the pool and the jacuzzi (although I only got to get knee deep in the jacuzzi due to being pregnant and whatnot) this time around. Up until that point we had only ever perused the pools at the resorts we were staying at but never found the time to take a dip. We're definitely making room for assigned pool time this next vacation!

African Stew and Zebra Domes

As far as dining goes, you can't really go wrong at AKL. They feature everything from a fine dining restaurant to a quick service restaurant, Dreiz and I frequented the latter. We were on the quick-service dining plan and found that a great way to keep from spending extra meals is to share. Every night when we would arrive back at the hotel, and sometimes for dinner, we would go to Mara (quick service) and share a cheese or pepperoni flatbread. I was also pretty adventurous and tried the African Stew. It was a mix of chicken, rice, vegetables, and some kind of curry. It was excellent and I crave it still to this day! For dessert I recommend the Zebra Domes. If you're on the quick service plan you should be able to pick them out as part of your meal and the portion size is gigantic so there are always some to save for later. They are a very distinct coffee and chocolate flavored truffle that can be found in the refrigerator section.

Jiko and Boma are two of the more popular table service restaurants at AKL. Dreiz and I never had a chance to try these but Boma comes highly recommended from our pal Guru Kelly over at Disney Guru! Boma is buffet style dining (if you've ever dined at a buffet at WDW I don't even need to tell you this is a good decision because you already know it is!), which features recipes that were inspired by over 50 countries according to the information on the official site. It also features a wood fire rotisserie, traditional American cuisine, and of course lots of dishes with some African flair. Jiko is a little more upscale and requires you follow a dress code. Nothing too fancy, if you think "business casual" you should be good to go. Just don't stroll in there in your flip-flops and pool attire!

Our room. Notice the subtle lighting.

One advantage of staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort Hotel is that you have child care available on site. AKL offers Simba's Clubhouse, which is open from 4:30-midnight and accepts toilet trained kids ages 3-12. The cost is $11.50 per child with a 2 hour minimum. That sounds like quite the deal to me! Drop Junior off and head over to Jiko for a nice romantic dinner, or over to Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian. In-room childcare as well as child care specialist that will accompany you through the park are also available, just make sure you request them in advance to make sure you get one!

The view from our room on the Arusha Savannah

For those who didn't book a room with savannah view there are plenty of viewing stations along the outside trails. There is also a special night viewing station right outside Jambo House where you can find a Cast Member that will let you use a special night vision scope to get the best view of the nocturnal animals that roam the Arusha Savannah. 

Cast Members at this resort went above and beyond anything we could have expected. The night before we left, we approached the Guest Services counter and asked if we could have Happy Birthday buttons for each member of our family that was celebrating a birthday in the coming year. The particular Cast Member, Kevin, was from France and loaded us up with handfuls of buttons. We told him that we just found out that we were expecting a baby and he gave us a birthday button with "Happy Birthday Baby!" written on it.

Our very last picture in front of the Castle as just the two of us

 Every now and again Kyle and I will play the "favorite game" which usually consists of  "What's your favorite attraction?", "What's your favorite ride at Hollywood Studios?" etc. If I had to pick a favorite between the two Deluxe Resorts we've stayed at (the Contemporary and AKL) I don't know that I'd be able to choose. It would be like asking me which one of my dogs I love the most. Animal Kingdom Lodge has a great family atmosphere and when I get nostalgic and want to make myself pine and yearn for Disney World, I think of it immediately. The Contemporary holds a special place in my heart too but for completely different reasons. Animal Kingdom Lodge represents such a new era in our household and I'll always look upon it fondly because of that. After all, it's where we were when we found out we would be welcoming our sweet little Ryleigh Noelle that coming June! So to us Animal Kingdom Lodge marks the transition of our family going from something missing to complete, and our stay there marks the last time we'll ever see Disney World as just Dreiz, Punkin, and their Pal Mickey.

I highly recommend it for any family that wants to have a magical vacation they won't ever forget. If you have any questions about our experience at Animal Kingdom Lodge, want to know more about the resort itself, or are interested in booking your own Animal Kingdom Lodge adventure, visit us over at the Mouse Tales and Disney Guru facebook pages!

All You Need To Know About Disney World Resorts

Inside the Cinderella Castle suite

If you read my last post about Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival and you're just dying to stuff your suit case full of ear hats and Disney pins, you aren't alone! In my humble opinion fall is the best time to go because not only are crowds smaller but there are two special events taking place at the same time which means you can spend all day sampling some of the best international food the world has to offer, and then spend the night mingling with a masquerading Mickey!

I get asked all the time about where to stay. With kids, without kids, with grandma. My answer is always the same: on property. 

Not only does not having to drive home at the end of a long day appeal to me but the hospitality offered at a Disney hotel is unlike any other in the world. Cast members at a Disney hotel definitely go out of their way to make sure that your stay goes perfectly. And I mean perfectly. We have only ever switched rooms once while staying on property due to our displeasure and it was as a result of unplanned construction that woke us up one morning at about 8AM. We usually head to the parks before then but didn't want to risk that anyone would decide to feel froggy, get to work early, and rev up the jack hammer before my husband finished his beauty sleep. But to Disney's credit, when we alerted them of our issue they told us to throw everything back in our suitcases and they would pick them up for us and we would have a new room waiting for us when we got back at the end of the day. Problem solved!

So I wanted to share with you some of the best places to stay at Disney World, broken down by group size and budget! (also, there is no reason why you should have to stay in a gigantic villa just because you're having a Grand Gathering you guys. Disney will make it seem like you need to have your own chateau and that life will be miserable otherwise, but don't buy it. Planning is what's important!) So without further adieu, here is a definitive list of the best places to stay at Disney and still have money left over for extra Mickey bars!

Value Budget

Pal Mickey Note: as a rule, at the value resorts it is worth the little bit extra that you pay to stay in a "premium" room, which puts you nearest the lobby and bus pick up point!

A personal photo from Pop Century Resort

2-4 guests: Disney's Pop Century Resort: In my opinion Pop Century (or "the Pop") is best for guests who are on a tight budget and want a value resort without the feeling of being at a value resort. Ya dig? My issue with the other value resorts is that they all have themes: music, movies, sports, So you tend to have a lot of childrens group vacations staying there, cheerleaders at the sports resorts, bands at the music resort, and so on and so forth. Pop Century attracts just your average family looking for a good price. And the tye dye cheesecake in the Everything Pop food court is delicious! (Pal Mickey note: the other three value resorts all share a common bus system, due to it's size the Pop Century resort has it's own transportation which can drastically cut down on your travel time!)

5-7 guests: Disney's All-Star Movies Resort: Chances are that if you have 5-7 people with you, you've probably got a nice age range going on. The All-Star Movies Resort has something for people of all ages. My brother in law, his mother, and my nieces all stayed in the Toy Story building and my husband and I stayed in the 101 Dalmatians building and we were all happy with our accommodations Even in June I found that the rooms were quiet despite there being like, a million people there.

8 or more guests: Disney's All-Star Music Resort: Unless you want to start entertaining the idea of getting a villa I have two words for you: adjoining rooms. That one is pretty much a no brainer, but the family suites at the All-Star Music Resort are what put this value resort above the rest. They feature a queen sized be along with an arm chair and ottoman that turn in to two more beds! Both the chair and the ottoman are "junior" sized beds so if your little one is a kicker at night then this is the perfect way for you guys to share a room and make sure that mom and dad get enough sleep and won't be all cranky the next day! There are two bathrooms, a kitchenette area, a microwave, and a sink. These rooms will sleep up to 6 people, but I feel like stuffing a room to it's maximum limit is just asking to have a bad time. If a room will sleep six I wouldn't put in any more than 4, and then you have all kinds of free space for luggage and souvenirs! These rooms are not spacious and accommodating like what you would find at Bay Lake or Animal Kingdom Lodge, but they will give you a comfy, albeit, small space, to relax after a long day at the parks.

Moderate

2-4 Guests: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort: Each building at the CBR offers it's own pool and gives you the look and feel of the deluxe Saratoga Springs Resort without the high price tag! Because the CBR looks a little more like a Miami retirement community, it isn't especially tailored towards the interests of children (not that kids wouldn't love it because hey it's Disney World!) but you can request a special pirate themed room which features beds that look like pirate ships! I feel as though the interior of the rooms look about the same as what you would find at the value resorts but in a much prettier setting and a much more adult theme.

 (Pal Mickey Note: Due to there being different buildings within this resort that are very spaced out the transportation to the parks makes about 5 different stops before heading towards its final destination, so keep this in mind when trying to manage your time!)

5-7 Guests: Disney's Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter: I had a really tough time deciding whether this one should go under the 2-4 heading or not. But in the end I think it's a little more appropriate for those traveling with more than one or two kids. The outside is reminiscent of a Louisiana river boat, which tends to make it feel a little more upscale than your average moderate resort. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and it boasts a giant water slide made to look like a sea serpent! The riverside views and beautiful landscaping make this and ideal place for smaller families or people who want a more sophisticated feel to their resort without paying Bay Lake prices.

8 or more Guests: The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort: Two words you guys: bunk beds. Let me say that again in case it didn't completely set in. Bunk. Beds. Having that old timey log cabin feel isn't for everyone but I'm a huge fan. If it were socially acceptable I would build my whole house out of cedar trees and wear plaid ALL.THE.TIME. Hosting a Grand Gathering can be expensive and exhausting, and nothing puts that feeling at ease more than being in a setting rich with conifers and dirt. As long as you are half an hour from a Target. Just to be safe y'all. Anyway, an important feature of the FWR is the grocery store. Basic stuff like milk, bread, sandwich meat, juice, etc. is available at the on site grocery. But as with everything you will pay Disney prices. With that being said $3.00 for a box of Mickeroni & Cheese may be totally worth it. The rooms sleep up to six people (like I said before, two rooms and in this case cabins, is a necessity) and the kitchens have all major appliances including a stove and a refrigerator (to keep your left over Mickeroni & Cheese in). They even include all your dinnerware!

Deluxe

My camera doesn't do our view justice, it was much closer

2-4 Guests: Disney's Contemporary Resort: I'm going to be completely honest with you guys, I have an unhealthy obsession with completely LOVE the Contemporary. In my opinion it is the best hotel on all of Disney property. It's the first one I recommend to anyone that is going to Disney for the first time and the first one that I price check when planning a vacation. We stayed there on our last visit, and every night I fell asleep looking at Cinderella Castle change color. It is without a doubt my most favorite memory only to be surpassed by the birth of my first child (and even that is iffy, I'll calls it when I sees it). I could go on and on about all the things that make the Contemporary a great place to stay but at the end of the day all I have to say is that it's the best there is. Period. The monorail runs right through the hotel and it's as quiet as the mouse who's hosting dinner downstairs. The Contemporary plays host to Chef Mickey's restaurant which features a character dining experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So after waking up to a view of Cinderella Castle, we would step outside the door and be greeted by a view of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto entertaining guests at the buffet. The resort is connected to the Magic Kingdom by a walkway so every night we skipped the bus and monorail and took the short 5-minute walk home (usually with a hot dog from Casey's Corner). If you were to think of your ultimate Disney World experience I guarantee that most of the requirements would be met by a stay at the Contemporary Resort. If you ever get the chance to stay there, even for a day, I would take it.

5-7 Guests: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: I love this for more than just the fact that it was featured on an episode of Full House. The Grand Floridian looks about as upscale as it can get and hosts Victoria & Albert's restaurant which features award winning cuisine. If you want fancy, then look no further than the Grand Floridian. The GF has it's own marina and from the beach or your own patio you can view the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks. There is also an exclusive Electrical Water Parade that takes place in Seven Seas Lagoon for guests of the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian. The bathrooms are beautiful, with lots of marble counter space and the marble on the floor even features subtle images of Tinkerbell, Pluto, Mickey, Minne etc. Elegant is really the perfect word to describe the Grand Floridian. The suites can sleep up to 10 adults comfortably and in my experience the one thing that is never lacking at a Disney deluxe resort is space! The Garden View Tea Lounge hosts a My Disney Girls Perfectly Princess Tea Party featuring Sleeping Beauty where young guests are treated to afternoon tea (apple juice), an 18-inch Sleeping Beauty doll, a ribbon tiara, bracelet, and all kinds of other goodies. Young princes are given a Duffy Bear and a pirate Mickey hat. All for the low low price of $174.00 plus tax! No expense is spared at the Grand Floridian.

Just a giraffe outside the window. NO BIG DEAL!

8 or more Guests: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: there are a couple things I love about Animal Kingdom Lodge, the lobby is by far the most interesting of all the Disney properties and when you wake up in the morning you are face to face with a legit zebra. AKL features four giant savannahs which feature up close and personal encounters with animals from all over Africa. Imagine being able to go to sleep at night right in the middle of the Kilimanjaro Safari. That's essentially the theme at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Also, bunk beds, which automatically adds a star to any rating system I've established. For those not able to book a room with a savannah view, there are common viewing areas for all guests. Another cool thing that the AKL features is a zero-entry depth pool (a walk in pool with no stairs for those of us that aren't in to using fancy words n' such). The reason I think this particular resort is much more fitting for groups of 8 or more is because it's warm, inviting, and creates the perfect atmosphere for togetherness. If you can, call and request the Arusha Savannah. It's the closest to the lobby (Jambo House) and is widely accepted as being the best savannah view of the four, it's also the only savannah that features zebras. Each savannah has a species that is unique to that specific savannah. All savannahs have giraffes. Overall this resort is recommendable to any size party, and my husband and I will actually be experiencing it first hand next week so I'm sure I'll have much more to rave about after that!