Animal Kingdom Memories 2008

Animal Kingdom is a special place. So unlike the other Disney parks. Every time we enter Animal Kingdom I am amazed at what Disney has built. No zoo or other animal related park can compare to Animal Kingdom. There are so many things we have yet to discover at Animal Kingdom but we have had some wonderful times. Here are my top five favorite Animal Kingdom 2008 memories….

5: The bats! Never had I looked so close at giant bats before and I never thought I would say that they are cute. But there was this one bat who was so curious that he came right up to where I was standing taking photos and looked down at me. Every time we go I have to take a walk over to see the bats in Asia.


4: Eating at the Yak and Yeti… My favorite place to eat in Animal Kingdom.


3: Discovering the green button at Kali River Rapids… The River Rapids is one of the few rides at Disney that I will actually ride again. It is fun and in the summer a necessity. And when we noticed the magical green button well we just had a grand time spraying those on the ride.


2: Riding for the first and the last time Everest… I know why people flock to Asia and get their fast passes for Everest it is definitely a thrill ride but I am too chicken to ride it again. I am so glad that I did… too bad my eyes were closed for most of it.


And the memory that ranks number 1 in my book from Animal Kingdom is….

1: Kilimanjaro Safaris! I have more photos of giraffes, elephants, cheetahs rhinos and a lot more of the animals you see one your two week tour then I thought I ever would. Each time we go it is one of the first things that we do and every time we went we saw different animals.


Is it just me or is it time to take a trip to Animal Kingdom!? Tomorrow we re-visit my favorite memories of Hollywood Studios, the park that I still know the least about.

Mouse Fest Events

As I mentioned briefly yesterday there is a whole book full of fun things to do while at Mouse Fest with the various groups that are hosting. If you love the rides at Disney and want a large group of folk to ride with Mouse Fest is a dream. Many groups got together and laughed at the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, screamed on Expedition Everest or marveled at the movies on the Great Movie Ride. But if you are a little more of a ride chicken (guilty!) and prefer events that do not involve you having the death grip and screaming they have events for you too. One of my favorite things to do is take pictures in all the Disney parks. There were several groups at Mouse Fest hosting photo scavenger hunts, tutorials, photo walks, and contests. I joined in on two photo events. Tim Devine from The Magic in Pixels hosted many photo related events during Mouse Fest. Norwood and I were able to attend two. We went to a Photography 101 lecture at the Noodle Station in Magic Kingdom…



Here Tim shared some tips on how to take better photos. From advice on the Rule of
Thirds (for photo composition) to exploring your camera setting Tim made it easy to better understand our cameras. I really have to thank him for clarifying the aperture settings, now when I change my own aperture I actually know a little more about what I am doing. Oh and not to mention, ahh realizing how I should properly change my lens, yeah I often had a disregard for the inside of my camera when changing my lens.

The next day those who joined him again at Animal Kingdom were given the chance to test out our new skills on a Tree of Life Animal Hunt. Norwood and I have been to Animal Kingdom many times and I have often taken photos of the Tree of Life. It was not until Friday of last week that I was made aware of how close you can actually get to the tree. Tim took the group on trails all around and through the Tree of Life. When you really look up close at the tree there are some amazing animals that you can find. Here is my favorite from the hunt…



And here is Norwood’s favorite shot from the hunt…


We had a great time at both the events and meet some great people. Tomorrow I will tell you about the BIG event that happens at Mouse Fest… the Mega Mouse Meet.

Jammin Jungle Parade

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! On Wednesday I left off by telling you about how the Jammin Jungle Parade will be transformed today into the Jingle Jungle Parade. Well I thought since I mentioned the Jammin Jungle Parade I would share a few shots…





The Jammin Jungle Parade is a great parade with impressive floats and costume all Animal Kingdom themed of course. It is a colorful lively parade that is something you will want to make sure to see when you are at Animal Kingdom. Like all Disney parades it is unique. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheetahs in the Kilimanjaro Safaris

We are big fans of Kilimanjaro Safaris. As I mentioned on Monday every time we visit Animal Kingdom one of the first thing we do is head over to Africa and jump on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. We have tons of photos of the animals but we always seem to miss the cheetahs. They are always in the same place way back in the shade. Well on our recent trip to Animal Kingdom we finally got a decent shot of the Cheetahs…



There they are sun bathing their stomachs! Check out the larger version to get a better look. It is very cool! Do you have any great shots of the cheetahs on the Kilimanjaro Safaris?

Christmas in Animal Kingdom

One of my favorite things about the holiday season are all the decorations around town. Some of the best Christmas decorations I have seen are of course at Disney World. Each park celebrates the holiday season with different themes. Above is the gigantic Christmas Tree that can be found at the front of Animal Kingdom. It is an impressive tree with so many details. Take a look at some of the oranaments on the tree…



There are uniquely Animal Kingdom and yet they are very festive. (psst see the Hidden Mickey?) And not only are the decorations on the tree beautiful the things under the tree are just as neat. Here is one of my favorite things under the tree…



A mixture of classic Disney and Animal Kingdom. I love the expression on Eeyore’s face. He looks as if he is unsure of the zebra. The tree is not the only sign of the holidays in the park. You can also find subtle hints of Christmas throughout the park. And starting November 28, 2008 the Jammin Jungle Parade will be transformed into the Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.

If you feel like more Christmas at Disney check out my Disney Holiday Slideshow.

Festival of the Lion King

Over all our visits to Animal Kingdom we had not yet been inside Camp Minnie Mickey. Each time we visited Norwood’s favorite park we had a routine… head straight to Africa see what kind of wait there is at Kilimanjaro Safaris, get a fast pass if more than twenty minutes then head on over to Asia and spend the rest of our time. Pretty much for us Animal Kingdom consisted of Africa (mainly the Kilimanjaro Safaris) and Asia. Well last week on our venture over to Camp Minnie Mickey to see The Festival of the Lion King. As we stood in line outside the theatre area and then later outside the theatre doors Norwood and I wondered exactly what we would see behind those elusive doors. We listened to the conversations around us trying to hear if anyone else knew what to expect. That day many of the people around us had no idea what was waiting inside for us all they knew was everyone they mentioned “The Festival of Lion King” they were vehemently told “Do not miss it!” So we waited becoming more and more excited about what we were about to experience.

Wow! The show is not what we expected and I must join that passionate group that tells you “Do not miss it!” I cannot believe that all the times we have hung out at Animal Kingdom we have missed it. By now I am sure that some of my readers are yelling at their screens “Well what is it!”

It is an amazing show that includes singing, acrobats, the Lion King characters such as Timon, Pumba and Simba and so much more. Here are a couple of my favorite moments from the show…





It is definitely a show that you will want to make time for on your next visit to Animal Kingdom. I know for Norwood and I it is now on our regular list of things to do while at Animal Kingdom. To make sure that you fit it into your Animal Kingdom routine here are I few tips…

1.No matter where you sit, it is a good seat but it is best to get there early and get settled in. They will let you into the direct waiting area about 20 minutes before the show.

2.This is one of the few Disney shows that lets you take flash photography! But they do not let you use exterior lights on your video cameras. So bring those camera and snap those great shots.

3.Go more than once, there is so much going on that it is impossible to take it all in with only one visit.

If you would like to see more of my photos of Festival of the Lion King check out the Animal Kingdom Slideshow or my Festival of the Lion King photo set.

First Timer at Animal Kingdom Part II

Yesterday, I told you about Monica's love affair with Rafki well that quickly faded when we stopped in Yak and Yeti for drinks and a sundae. Monica had another love affair with someone she met in Yak and Yeti….



They were good friends until the sundae arrived…



After the Fudge Brownie for two we all decided to try and catch Everest before the park closed. I of course, having already vowed to never ride it again sat in the chicken pit (a very cute little guy named Michael named it that because many of us were talking about how we did not want to ride Everest because it looked crazy) and Norwood and Monica went on the Expedition.

When they boarded the train Norwood turned to Monica and asked her if she was ready to go fast, she said “Yeah!”



All was good until they reached the tracks that the Yeti had broken and everyone realized that there was just one way to go…



Overall, Monica really enjoyed Animal Kingdom. Stay tuned for Monica’s first time adventures in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. If you would like to see more of Monica’s photos head on over to the flickr album.

First Timer at Animal Kingdom Part I

On the second part of our week at Disney with a first time Disney theme park hopper we took decided to take Monica to Animal Kingdom (Norwood’s favorite park). Upon entering the park we ran into Monica’s new boyfriend…



It was love at first smooch. All else was not important including her previously severe hunger when she met Rafki. After tearing her away I asked her if she wanted pictures with Baloo and Timon who were also at the gate and she said… “Naw, my circle of life is complete.”

After a short romance at the front gate we made our way into the park and ate at Pizzafari, which is a quick service eatery that has Italian Food…



Monica told me to mention to those readers who had not eaten Pizzafari that is was well worth the money and she highly recommends the frozen lemonade. Once we refueled we headed over to the River Rapids and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Both were according to Monica “Totally awesome!”

Tomorrow I will tell you more about Monica’s Animal Kingdom adventures. To see more of her pictures head on over to the flickr album.

Disney's Kennel Club- Animal Kingdom

For those of us with fur babies it is often hard to bring them on vacation along with us. The last thing Norwood and I want to do with Maverick is board him somewhere. To us many kennels look like doggie jails and since we rescued our little guy from a Humane Society we really do not want to leave him at a place where he will think he was abandoned. Although we currently live just down the street from Disney we wanted to be sure that, if we ever needed to board Maverick that the Disney Kennel Club was an option. We walked into the Kennel Club at Animal Kingdom and talked to the manager on duty to find out some of the details.

The company that operates the Kennels at the various Disney locations is called Best Friends Pet Care. They charge per animal per day fees with the following ranges…

Dogs:
Overnight (Day Guest): $15.00
Overnight or Resort Guest: $13.00
Daycare: $10.00

Cats:
Overnight (Day Guest): $15.00
Overnight (Resort Guest): $13.00
Daycare: $10.00

What they offer to your fur baby (for the fees above) is basically a clean quiet place for your animal to stay while you are at the parks. For extra fees at certain kennels they will walk your dog and give them treats (they only offer these services at Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Fort Wilderness). There are kennels located at the park entrances of Animal Kingdom (pictured above), Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.

Although we were not allowed to take photos inside the facility Norwood and I personally toured the kennel and found it to indeed be clean with large cages (only the front is open so they never really get to see the other dogs). It was very cool and the one little guy who was in there looked content.

In the summer of 2009 Disney will be building a large dog park and kennel complete with a dog run. They are hoping that at their new facility they will be able to offer more walks and snacks to the pets. I will keep you updated as to the details of the new pet care facility.

As far as kennels go, Disney’s Kennel Club looks like a clean, safe place to leave your dog or cat. Although reservations are not required for your pets they are recommended. You can reserve a space for your furry one by calling the following numbers…

Disney's Animal Kingdom 407-938-2100
Disney's Hollywood Studios 407-560-4282
Epcot 407-560-6229
Magic Kingdom/TTC 407-824-6568
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground 407-824-2735

And they will let you look at the facility before you board your pet, so if you have any concerns feel free to address them to the attendant they are very friendly and helpful.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

For readers for this blog you will often hear me say “This is my absolute favorite thing to do at Disney!” And it is true each and every time I mention it. I cannot help it if there are so many things on my Disney favorite list, Disney World is truly awesome. Anyway here is yet another thing to add to my long list of Disney favorites the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Animal Kingdom.

The Jungle Trek is located in Asia and it is walking tour of various types of animals you would find in different regions of Asia. On your walking tour you will see animals like tigers, giant bats, various birds, kimono dragons and more. You can take as long as you like exploring the animals. Since one of my passions is photography I often find myself wandering through the trek. I once spent a half hour just taking photos of the giant bats there.

If you would like to see some of the pictures I have taken while on my trek check out my flickr set.

If you would like to talk about your experiences on the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Animal Kingdom please comment on this post or head over to the Mouse Beat forum to talk with others.

The Trees Come to Life

In Discovery Island at Animal Kingdom there are some special characters that come out of the woods. At certain times in Discovery Island (I think they follow the character meet and greet schedule) the trees come to life and walk around. They are graceful and very tall and at times they will interact with the audience. It is an amazing thing to see so the next time you are near Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom, keep your eyes open so you do not run into a tree.

Tusker House - Animal Kingdom

Location: Animal Kingdom- Africa

Meals Served: Breakfast (character dining), Lunch and Dinner

Reservations?: It is recommended that you make reservations for all meals by calling 407-WDW-DINE but I have to be honest Norwood and I went twice (breakfast and for lunch) walked up to the podium without reservations and only had a 10 (20 minutes on the breakfast wait). It was just the two of us so I imagine it will be harder for larger parties to just walk up.

Price Range: $20 per person

Type of Food: African food (with an American flair) served Buffet style

Review:
Since our arrival in Florida we have eaten at many Disney restaurants. The majority of the time we have had excellent food and service and expect nothing less from Disney. By the time we had the opportunity to eat at Tusker House we had already eaten at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and absolutely loved it. So please keep in mind while you read this review that we were expecting a similar quality to the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma.

If you have been to Boma the first thing you will notice is that much of the food is similar in the Tusker House (the Hummus, Tabbouleh, Veggie Samaosa just to name a few of the same dishes). Some of the deserts are different at the Tusker House then Boma. Some of the food was very good. The hummus was fantastic and the curry sauce was a dream. I recommend both. However, and perhaps this was just the day that we went, but Norwood found the coffee rubbed Pork loin to be tough and chewy. And some of the dishes were cold that would have been better hot like the Spiced Tandoori Tofu. When eating at Buffets I always take into account that food is out in the open and will become cold quicker then food that is brought to you, but the spiced tandoori tofu (which was full) was beyond the point I would expect for a hot dish on a buffet.

The desert selection was quite impression for a Disney restaurant and many of the deserts were fantastic. Try the pomegranate chocolate truffles… you can thank me later.

Overall the meal and the experience were good. One thing to consider before going to the Tusker House however is the waiting area. You are asked to wait at outdoor table until your party is called, which is normally not a big deal, but the tables just happen to be down wind out the designated smoker section. If you have problems with cigarette smoke, make sure to keep that in mind.

Tree of Life

I remember when I first went to Animal Kingdom way back in time (2003) and I walked into the park and saw the Tree of Life. I was taken aback. I had never seen anything like it. A huge (145 foot tall man made tree), absolutely huge tree was amazing in its self and then I noticed all the carvings on the tree and I was left speechless.

Each time we go back to Animal Kingdom now I stop and look (usually from somewhere in Asia) and each time I look I notice animals I had not seen before. I have been told there is a Hidden Mickey somewhere on the tree, but I still have not located him. Please do not tell me if you have found him yourself, I still hunt for him each time I go.

If you would like to see more pictures of The Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom head on over to my flickr set.

Flights of Wonder

“Flights of Wonder” is a bird show located in Animal Kingdom’s Asia. A variety of birds entertain the audience with their talents. From the crow who takes money from the audience to the crane who flies across the audience to be hand feed by the tour guide the birds are amazing and entertaining. Not all the birds are trained with neat tricks some, like the Eagle above just come out to show off their beauty. Of course like many of the exhibits and shows at Animal Kingdom there is the message of conservation and preservation. During the show they talk about endangered birds and how the efforts of some groups have actually brought birds like the bald eagle off the endangered species lists. It is a must see live show at Animal Kingdom.

“Flights of Wonder” is located next door to the Yak and Yeti In Animal Kingdom’s Asia. For show times (there are usually about 4 a day starting around 11am) make sure to pick up the show times guide when you grab your park map at the park entrance.

For more photos of Flights of Wonder head on over to my Flickr set.

Stay tuned all this week for highlights of live Disney Entertainment.

Pangani Exploration Trail- Animal Kingdom

The Pangani Exploration Trail is a walking trail where you can experience gorillas, meerkats, exotic fish birds and more. It is located in Animal Kingdom’s Africa just outside the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Be prepared to snap lots of photos because the animals that you will see on the Pangani Exploration Trail are animals you rarely get to see this close. Above is just one of the gorillas that you can see throughout the walking trail. Below is a one of the meerkats that lives in the meerkat area.



I love how these little guys always look like they are having profound thoughts. They are a little more difficult to spot and photograph because they tend to blend in with their surroundings. A tip for finding them… look to the mounds, often you can find at least one on top of the mounds in the exhibit.



Above are some of the fish that you will see in the walking trail. Aren’t they beautiful?!

To see more pictures from the Pangani Exploration Trail go to my flickr set.

Rainforest Café – Animal Kingdom

The Rainforest Café is by far my favorite Animal Kingdom dining experience. First off the menu is impressive. There are so many options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. And trust me when I say the portion sizes are incredibly large. We found that the “Totally awesome Appetizer” was a meal in itself. Norwood and I both agree that the Plant Sandwich (a huge Portobello mushroom with lots of griller goodies on Foccacia Bread) is the best sandwich we have ever eaten while at Disney.



Second the prices are very reasonable! For the two of us with appetizer, drinks, and a main course we spent with tip $80 for dinner. We have spent more for less food at Disney so we were very pleased with the price we paid.

Oh and as if it is not enough that the Rainforest Café has great food at reasonable prices the restaurant is awesome! The decorum is such that you are sitting in the rainforest with gorillas, elephants, frogs and more. Every so often the entire restaurant comes to life. Animals roar and it begins to rain. It is really neat and when you enter the restaurant you forget the world around.



The Rainforest Café is open for lunch and dinner. It is highly recommended that you make reservations in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE. There are two Rainforest Cafes in Disney World one is located at the Main Entrance of Animal Kingdom and the other is located in Downtown Disney. Prices range from about $15- $35.99 per person.

If you want to find out more about Rainforest Café visit their website.

Shopping in Asia- Animal Kingdom

There are so many places to shop in Animal Kingdom. In each little or large shop there are so many neat things that you may want to consider taking home as your little piece of Animal Kingdom. This week I want to highlight a little shop in Asia located near the Yak and Yeti restaurant and Kali River Rapids (there are two places to shop in Asia Mandala Gifts and Serka Song both have similar gifts). In the Asian shops you can find gifts such as stuffed Pandas…



Beautiful clothes….


And other things such as jewelry, silk purses, statues of Buddha and much more. My little piece of Asia was a little silk purse and a wooden statue of Buddha.

If you would like to see more photos of Animal Kingdom view my Animal Kingdom photo set.

Drums in Africa – Animal Kingdom

One of my favorite things about all Disney Theme Parks are the little details that make you feel like you are in the place Disney meant you to be. In Animal Kingdom’s Africa there are so many details that this week I wanted to focus on just one…the drums! It is not hard to find the drums because it is guaranteed that if there are drums around someone is banging on them.

In front of the Tusker House there are every once in a while a group of African Drummers that will come out and perform…



And just down the way from the Tusker House are the drums set up for future drummers…



The drums in Africa are just one of my favorite details of Animal Kingdom’s Africa…what is yours?

Kali River Rapids – Animal Kingdom

The Kali River Rapids located in Animal Kingdom’s Asia is one of my favorite Animal Kingdom rides. The ride takes you down the Chakranadi River’s rushing water on a 12-passenger raft. Your raft bumps along the rapids through the Asian rain forests, geysers and a rushing waterfall. It is the perfect ride for the hot summers in Florida.

Every time Norwood and I go Animal Kingdom this is on our must hit list. Usually we like to ride this before or after lunch. One thing that I did not notice the first 1000 or so time that we were on the Kali River Rapids was the magic green button…



Located on the bridge (to the left of the entrance just behind a temple) that overlooks the rafts returning to the moving walking where you board is a little box with a green button that will spray the riders as they sit and wait for their raft to pull up and unload. Above is Norwood pressing the green button and below is a look at one of the elephants who will spray the riders.



This bridge is also a great place to take pictures of the rafts and their riders… you know in case for some reason you do not want to get wet. This ride is fun and we highly recommend it, over and over again.

A little tip… when it is not peak season and towards the end of the park hours you can ride this ride multiple times in a row if you so wish.

If you want to see more pictures of the Kali River Rapids head on over to my flickr set. To see more pictures from Animal Kingdom go to my Animal Kingdom Pictures Set.

A Taste of Boma

Boma is a buffet style restaurant that offers an American take on African Flavors. It is located in the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it is strongly suggested that you make reservations for both breakfast and dinner in advance. You can make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE. A Taste of Boma is a Private Dining option that you have at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Norwood and I made reservations for Boma in the morning of the day that we stood at AKL and were lucky to get an 8:45pm reservation. Hungry at 6pm we decided to call and have the vegetarian Taste of Boma and the regular Taste of Boma delivered to our room. Here is what we received just a half hour later…



The Perks:
No crowds, just you and the people you are staying with which is really nice after a long day at the parks. The amount of food! When it was delivered to our room I could not believe the large amount of food and the great selection! Also it was a really good price. We paid for our two tastes and coffee $70 with tip.

The Downfalls:
The coffee! We ordered two cappuccinos thinking that such a nice restaurant would have a barista make cappuccinos. Boy were we wrong! It is machine coffee that tastes more like sweet milk with just a tiny bit of coffee flavor. I do not recommend the coffee. Also there is an 18% gratuity already included in the bill. We were unaware of it and tipped the woman who brought our food twice (once with the cash tip upon delivery and once with charge included). Your taste of the Boma buffet is limited to their selection. It is more food than one person could possibly eat so you will not go hungry but if you want to sample everything (including deserts) you might want to make a reservation at Boma.

Do I recommend it?
Yes! Just not the coffee, really it was very bad!

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Resort Location:
AKL is located in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area. If you go towards Animal Kingdom there will be an exit to the Lodge.

Resort Recreation:
AKL offers a variety of recreational activities for kids and adults. Upon check in make sure there is a Daily Activities Schedule in your welcome packet to see the days, location and time of the resort activities. Some of the activities include: arts and crafts such as cookie decorating and bead creations, tours such as the culinary tour which takes you through Jiko and Boma (even a small taste test) and the Primal Parade. AKL also offers Animal Viewing with Night Vision (an extra fee does apply).

In addition to tours, animal viewing and arts and crafts the Lodge also offers the Uzima pool with a waterslide, arcade and a health club for all resort guests (no extra charge for use).



Although it is not listed as a recreation option in your hotel guide, there is also the AKL lobby which had many places to longue and even a little living room complete with Disney cartoons.

Resort Dining:
You have six dining options at AKL. First there is the grab and go market place “The Mara.” Here you can grab things such as sandwiches, soda, chips, fruit cups, cookies and coffee to take with you to the pool, your room or the parks.
There are two spots in the lodge for drinks, Victoria Falls which overlooks Boma and Uzima Springs which is located near the Uzmia pool.

The two sit down restaurants are Boma and Jiko. Boma is a buffet style restaurant with many tastes from the African marketplace. They also offer a kid's only section of the bar (features dishes such as macaroni and cheese and French fries). Boma is a very popular restaurant and one of the chefs there informed me that if you would like ideal dinner times you should make reservations at least a week in advance. You can make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Jiko is a causal sit down restaurant (make sure to see your resort guide book about the dress code). They boast a light flavorful cuisine and offer a large wine list. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Your sixth option for dining while at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is Private Dining. The Private Dining menu has many selections and is offered 6:00am to midnight. Stay tuned for my review of Taste of Boma to find out more about the room service selections.

Resort Rooms:
The details in the rooms at AKL are amazing. Upon walking into the room (we had a standard room with a standard view) I immediately wanted to know where they bought the furniture and where I could buy it myself (I actually was not able to find out so if anyone knows please let me know). From the beds to the sinks everything was well themed and absolutely gorgeous. Each room has a little balcony overlooking (depending on preferred or standard) either the savanna or the rest of the Lodge. To ensure the safety of the animals AKL does have video surveillance on the balconies. To make sure you are not peeked on in your room they advise you in all the resort literature to close your curtains when you would like privacy.

Resort Pictures from our stay:








More pictures of our stay at AKL can be found in my flickr album.

Our Impressions of AKL:
AKL has an amazing presence. When we pulled into the resort grounds Norwood and I were in awe at the size of the Lodge and the detail of it. The grounds (as you would expect from any Disney Resort) are well kept and absolutely beautiful. We loved that everything was contained within the building. No long walks outside (unless you want to) which was really nice because it rained the entire time during our stay. We were also impressed by all the little nooks for lounging. Although it was very busy the Lodge did have a home like appeal about it.

The only thing that was disappointing was the fact that we had a standard room (no view of the savanna). When you book your stay at AKL make sure to ask for the preferred rooms with the view, it is absolutely wonderful to be able to sit on your balcony in the morning and watch the animals eat.