Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

First, let me state that our family has stayed at other Disney hotels, and we have never experienced any of the issues I am about to highlight. Our issues began the moment we checked in. We were traveling with family friends so when I reserved the rooms, months prior, we had requested adjoining rooms, with one room having a king-size bed. At check-in, the cast member who checked in my family seemed friendly. When I asked her if our rooms were adjoining, she replied, "No. We tried to accommodate your rooms close to each other." So I asked her to please show me on the map where our rooms were located. Our rooms were literally in different hallways in The Jambo House. I replied that the rooms were not close to each other, and she replied, "Let me see what I can do." She made a call and then returned and stated, "I got you a room on the same floor across the hall from your family." When my family reached the room, we were on the same floor but on opposite ends of the hall and our room was the last one at the end of the hall next to the exit door. Much further from our family than planned. Our family went down to the reception area again, luggage and all, and asked to get our original room back. I talked to the same cast member who now was not "Magical" and stated, "Well, your original room is no longer available." I replied, "You gave my original room away in less than 10 minutes?" She said, "Yes." I told her that the room she gave us was not even close to our other family's room and I was not happy with the room. She made another call and somehow, miraculously, a room was available a little closer to our family. My mistake was not reporting her to a manager at that moment. I just wanted to settle into my room after a long flight, I asked our family if they provided them with a king-size bed, and they said "No." This is unacceptable for Disney and for the amount of money we, as consumers, pay for these rooms. We paid extra for a magical experience, and there was nothing magical about our stay at this hotel. We were celebrating our son's 12th birthday and wanted to make it special. We have dreamed for years about staying in this hotel. Needless to say, that dream became a nightmare. As we walked down the hallway, we could smell the dirty carpet, and several times, we saw trash in the hallways. Unacceptable for any hotel. I also noticed that our bathroom shelves were so dusty that I had to wipe them down myself because our towels were being placed on those shelves. Our daughter-in-law called from Southern California to place a special order to surprise our son on his birthday to have something delivered to the room for him. It was suggested a balloon delivery, and she agreed. I returned early to our room on my son's birthday to find nothing had been delivered. I contacted my daughter-in-law to let her know, and she called again and they told her they couldn't deliver balloons because of the animals. They told her they would send him something special. That "something special" was a free button (the ones you get free from the park) and a card from the staff. Nothing that my daughter-in-law had requested. I had it. I complained to the manager Javier. I apologize in advance for my unsatisfactory experience. I understand that it was not his fault, but he was going to get a load of complaints. He apologized for the bad experience and told me he would get back to us since we only had a couple of days left on our stay. He ultimately gave us 3 park hopper tickets. Honestly, I do not want to sound ungrateful but for what we paid I prefer to pay for my ticket and have a great "Magical Experience" like we have had at The Beach Club, The Disneyland Hotel, and The Californinan. The hotel is beautiful, and watching the animals is spectacular, but I want to get what we pay for. My husband and I are both first responders and escaping the fires in Southern California to have a great experience turned out to be a crash-and-burn experience in Florida as well. Read less

Our recent stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was far below the magical experience we’ve come to expect from Disney. This was our second stay at Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and unfortunately, it once again failed to meet the high standards we associate with Disney. We ended up at Club Level due to a series of issues with our original savannah-view room at Kidani Village. A gas leak near our balcony created a hazardous situation, compounded by a leaking shower. While the team at Kidani acted swiftly to address the problem, Disney was unable to offer us the same room type, so we were relocated to a two-bedroom Club Level room at Jambo House. While we appreciated the effort to provide an alternative, the new room was not an ideal solution. It lacked key amenities we rely on, including a kitchen to accommodate dietary needs and laundry facilities. Despite these setbacks, we initially tried to make the best of the situation. Unfortunately, the service at Club Level further marred our experience. A cast member, Jack, made offensive remarks about my accent and implied language ability, which were both unprofessional and deeply disrespectful. When I raised this with the Concierge Manager, Laney, her response was dismissive and condescending. She made matters worse by focusing on the cost of the “upgrade” (over $5000) that we never requested, trivializing our concerns and implying we didn’t “deserve” the room. Dining was also a significant issue. Allergy-friendly and vegan options, which were assured to us by the chef, were inconsistently provided. On one occasion, soy beans were served despite us clearly stating a soy allergy. Additionally, linked reservations that were meant to prevent unnecessary room changes were not honored. Despite repeated attempts to resolve this, Laney provided no helpful solutions, further undermining our trust in the service. While staff members like Rafael at the front desk and Francisco at the club level went above and beyond to assist us, their efforts could not fully offset the unacceptable behavior from others or the systemic failures we experienced. This stay left us feeling unsafe and unwelcome—a stark contrast to the Disney magic my family has cherished for years. I hope Disney takes this feedback seriously to address safety concerns, improve guest relations, and eliminate bias from staff interactions. Every guest, regardless of background, deserves to feel valued and respected at Disney. What kind of trip was it? Who did you travel with? How would you describe the hotel? (Select all that apply) Can you share more about these topics? (Select all that apply) Read less

From the moment we step into the expansive lobby, we were greeted by soaring ceilings, intricate African-inspired decor, and breathtaking views of the savanna. The highlight of the resort is undoubtedly the opportunity to observe wildlife roaming freely on the savanna. Zebras, gazelles, giraffes, and more can be seen from your room, the lobby, and various dining areas. Read less

Fantastic Disney Property! It's rare a hotel lives up to every expectation, but Animal Kingdom Lodge delivered! I highly recommend upgrading to the Savanna Room. We woke up each day to giraffes, zebras, and other animals at our window. Unlike other Disney properties, Mickey and crew weren't staring you right in the face. The hotel felt a bit more sophisticated, and almost could have been a property outside of the Disney collection. This could be a great option for a family with older children, or adults traveling alone. Due to the fact that only shuttle buses are provided (they are frequent), it may be difficult to have a stroller. Families did it, but certainly being on the monorail is more conducive for babies/small children. The room walls are "thin." So although the property itself seems quieter then other properties, at night it is helpful to be courteous neighbors! Overall I give this 5 out of 5 stars! Thank you to the hard working cast members for making this a memorable trip. Read less