Looking Across the Savanna

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Greetings and salutations, my fellow travelers! If you’re like me, and I know I am, one of your favorite things about planning a Disney vacation is picking which resort you’re going to stay at. Will you be trying something new or sticking with an old favorite? Do you pick a resort based on a great dining option or one close to your favorite park? Maybe it’s a resort so unique you just have to experience it for yourself.

The brown exterior building and thatched roof of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas are seen under a sunny sky. A stone pathway leads to the building and is lined with lampposts adorned with colorful lampshades.

Staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani Village is definitely something unique you just have to experience, and lucky for me, I’ll be doing just that very soon. The savannas of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas are something guests have been excited about for years. And why wouldn’t they be? Being able to get up in the morning and see giraffes and zebras from the comfort of your balcony is a fantastic perk!

The sliding glass door in a Savanna View Studio at Kidani Village is seen from inside the earth-tone decorated room. Through the glass door you can see the green foliage and grass of the savanna outside, as well as the chair on the balcony that features a giraffe design.

The four massive savannas of the Animal Kingdom Villas are home to over two hundred animals and birds. It’s definitely something you have to see for yourself.

A giraffe is seen amongst the trees on the savanna at Kidani Village. The brown resort exterior can be seen in the background.

A zebra is seen eating on the savanna. There is lots of green grass and foliage as well as rocks and branches, and the resort building exterior can be seen in the background of the photo.

While I’m very excited about staying in a Savanna View Studio, that’s not the only reason I think you should stay at this iconic resort.  

The lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village is seen. The lobby is decorated in brown, orange, red, and yellow tones, with lots of African-inspired art and sculptures. At the far end of the lobby there are large floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the savanna.

For starters, the traditional African designs worked into the resort’s design look absolutely amazing. I love all the details you’ll find around this resort. The rope-style bridge that spans the Jambo House lobby is a personal favorite. Although, if you have an issue with heights, this might not be as much fun for you. Another neat detail is the quotes of traditional wisdom you’ll see inscribed on the walls around the resort.

The grand lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House is seen. It is decorated with brown, red, orange, and yellow colors as well as pieces of African art. A raised walkway bridge that looks as if it is made of rope is seen on the right-hand side of the photo.

The quote “proverbs are like butterflies, some are caught, some fly away” by Ghana is displayed on the brown exterior wall of Kidani Village. Lit lanterns of various colors also decorate the wall in small notched shelves.

While seeing the savannas from your room is great, it’s not the only way to watch the wildlife. Be sure to check out the very comfortable outdoor rocking chairs on the terraces, a great spot to relax and take in the views of nature.

Two full-size wooden rocking chairs and one child-size rocking chair are set on a stone deck with a thatch roof overlooking the savanna. The resort’s exterior can be seen in the background along with the green foliage, grass, and trees of the savanna.

A public viewing area of the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village. There are wooden benches and Cast Members wait by the fence to speak to guests. The green landscaping of the savanna is visible, as well as the brown resort buildings in the background.

Next up, the Animal Kingdom Villas has some of the most unique dining spots of any resort. If you’re like me and staying at Kidani Village, I highly recommend Sanaa. The Zanzibari Vegetable Curry is probably my favorite dish I’ve ever had at Disney and, if you’ve got a larger group, the Indian-style Bread Service is a must.

The Indian-style Bread Service from Sanaa is shown laid out on a wooden tabletop. Naan bread is seen on a white plate, with small bowls of various dips on a wooden board to the right.

Over at Jambo House, there’s the Signature Dining of Jiko—The Cooking Place, the buffet offerings of Boma—Flavors of Africa, and even the quick-service location, The Mara. All of these locations offer unique African and Indian-inspired dishes, and it’s worth visiting the resort to try them out.

The blue, orange, and grey metal sign for Jiko – The Cooking Place is seen outside the restaurant at Jambo House. The menu is also displayed in smaller orange frames.

The interior of Boma is show. The restaurant is decorated in earthy tones like green, orange, and brown with woven art pieces lining the ceiling over the seating area. To the left there are small carved animals near the buffet area.

The menu boards, ordering counter, and refrigerated grab & go area of The Mara at Jambo House are seen. The eatery is decorated with brown and green tones inspired by nature.

Another great feature of this resort is the art. I’ve talked about art at the DVC resorts before, but that’s usually Disney-made art. The Animal Kingdom Villas is home to one of the largest collections of authentic African art in the world.

A red, black, and white African Ijo Hippo Helmet mask is seen on display in the lobby at Kidani Village. The mask is painted and carved to look like a face.

You can find it in the lobbies of both Jambo House and Kidani Village. If you’re waiting to check in or even just have some free time, I highly recommend checking out the displays. They are incredibly interesting and well worth a look.

Colorful pieces of African art are displayed on a carved wooden table in the lobby of Jambo House.

If you haven’t had a chance to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas yet, I would highly recommend considering it for your next stay at Walt Disney World. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get back to packing for my trip!

Flickering lanterns of varying colors decorate the light brown exterior wall at the entryway for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village. Each lantern is shelved into a small notch of the wall.

~Stephen

 

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