I’m so excited to share these Animal Kingdom Area Resorts with you. From Value to Deluxe Villas, there is something for everyone’s budget.Travel with me as we explore Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, and the All-Star Resorts.
I like to start with the Value Resorts. They are family friendly and brightly Disney themed, and I like to build excitement as I resort crawl. So let’s start with:
All-Star Sports – This value resort is devoted to sports enthusiasts. As with all of the All-Star resorts, the bigger-than-life icons are most often decorating or disguising the stairwells, but there are some special touches you won’t want to miss. The sports themes represented are: football, tennis, baseball, basketball, and surfing. A football field, tennis court, basketball court, baseball diamond-shaped Grand Slam pool, and wave-shaped Surfboard Bay pool make this resort not just fun to look at, but a place to really play and enjoy. Remember that unless you are a guest at All-Star Sports, or another All-Star resort, you will not be able to enjoy the pools. The End-Zone food court, on the other hand, is open to everyone. All-Star resorts do not have sit-down restaurants, but you’ll find a little bit of everything at the End-Zone food court. Open 6 AM to Midnight, and offering pizza, pasta, ribs, fruit, sandwiches, burgers, rotisserie chicken, baked goods, kids’ favorites like chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, as well as “Blue Plate Specials” and create-your-own pasta, salad, and burger stations, the End-Zone is a touchdown! Refillable mugs can be purchased, or are provided as part of the Disney Dining Plan, and can be refilled at any All-Star resort. Goofy’s Gifts & Sundries gift shop offers the usual Walt Disney World themed gifts, along with necessities like milk, swim diapers, medication and more.
All-Star Movies – All about favorite Disney films, here you’ll find icons from movies like Herbie the Love Bug, The Mighty Ducks, 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia, and Toy Story. The Fantasia and Duck Pond pools provide plenty of recreation, and there’s a kiddie pool for the small ones at the Fantasia pool. If you’re looking for something other than swimming, the Reel Fun Arcade is open from 7 AM to 1 AM with a wide variety of video games that take tokens (available for purchase in the arcade), and earn guests tickets they can exchange for prizes. If arcades aren’t your cup of tea, there’s also a children’s playground for burning energy. The World Premiere Food Court offers the same food choices as the End-Zone Food Court at All-Star Sports, and all All-Star resorts offer room service of pizza, salad, soft drinks, and beer from 5 PM to Midnight.
All-Star Music – Budget-minded guests of Walt Disney World will find the All-Star Music Resort fun and affordable. The themes here are Country – where you’ll find a pair of three-story-high, size 270 cowboy boots, Broadway – where you can stroll along “The Great White Way” amidst top hats and canes, as well as Beauty and the Beast on the marquee, Jazz – features a giant drum set to welcome you to “The Jazz Inn,” and saxophones and clarinets adorn the buildings, Rock – features a giant neon-lit jukebox, along with electric guitar and microphone silhouettes, and Calypso – which boasts maracas, conga drums, and a xylophone. All-Star Music is the only All-Star resort that offers “Family Suites” – two room suites that can accomodate up to six guests. In the master bedroom is one queen bed, a dresser, and TV, the main sitting area has a TV, and convertible sofa, chair, and ottoman, which each pull out to a double (sofa), and two twin (chair and ottoman) beds. Suites have two bathrooms. The Intermission Food Court allows guests to eat at their resort, shopping is available at Maestro Mickey’s Gifts and Sundries, and the guitar-shaped Calypso pool (complete with kiddie pool), and quiet Piano pool, along with the Note’able Games Arcade, jogging path, and children’s playground afford recreation.
All of the All-Star Resorts offer: babysitting services, an ATM, valet cleaning service, coin-laundry facilities, express check-out, voice mail, and free wi-fi. Each room contains a mini-fridge, and the Family Suites have a kitchenette with mini-fridge, microwave, sink, and coffee-maker. Rooms at all three All-Stars have two queen beds, other than Family Suites, or Preferred Rooms. Some Preferred Rooms have King-sized beds, but these are Accessible rooms, so doorways are wider, the shower is a roll-in, and the beds are lower. Still very comfortable rooms.
Transportation: Generally speaking, the All-Star Resorts each have buses that transport guests from that resort to a particular park and back, at some times of day, and typically at night after park closing, buses may drop-off guests at all three resorts. If you are wishing to visit all of the Animal Kingdom area resorts, transportation may be a bit of a challenge. If you have your own vehicle, you can simply drive from resort to resort. If, however, you have flown in, and are relying on the Disney Transportation System buses, and you begin at All-Star Sports, you can, if you like, walk from one All-Star resort to another, until you have visited all three. If walking is not ideal for you and your party, then you can take a bus to either Magic Kingdom, or to Downtown Disney. If you ride the bus to Magic Kingdom, you will have to walk a short distance to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can get a bus to Coronado Springs Resort. If you go to Downtown Disney, you should just be able to find the bus going to Coronado Springs. Each All-Star Resort has one bus stop area at the front of the resort.
If you would like to know more about Disney’s All-Star Resorts, or if you’d like to stay on-property, but save your money for having fun, instead of spending it on your resort stay, I’d love to help you make those plans and get the best value on your next magical Walt Disney World vacation. My services as an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services (the preferred travel agency of Chip and Co.) are always free, and I can make planning your vacation a pleasant experience for you as I take care of all of the tedious parts. Contact me for a free price quote and for more information at jeri@worldofmagictravel.com.
Coronado Springs Resort – This Moderate resort is unique in two respects: it is the only moderate resort with a convention center, and it is the only moderate resort with club level rooms. Themed as a blend of colonial Mexico and the American Southwest, Coronado Springs has buildings organized into 3 villages: Casitas, with buildings evoking the feeling of Santa Fe or Monterrey, Ranchos, with a more rural, rustic feel, and Cabanas, which are Mexican-style adobe bungalows. Dining includes a food court, grab-n-go, full-service restaurant, and room service. The Pepper Market Food Court works differently than the All-Star Food Courts. As you enter, a host/hostess seats you, and gives each member of your party a card. You then go to any of the food counters and choose the food you want. As you receive your food, your card is stamped. At the end of your meal, you present your card to the cashier for payment. A 10% gratuity is autmatically included. Food choices include: tostadas, burritos, tacos, pizza, hamburgers, rotisserie chicken, baked goods, pasta, sandwiches and Asian stir-fry. Rix Cafe is the grab-n-go location which houses salads, sandwiches, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Rix Lounge has specialty drinks, appetizers, and music from a DJ or, on select evenings, a percussion band. The Maya Grill full-service restaurant offers Central Mexican and American Southwestern cuisine with meats and seafoods cooked over a wood-burning fire. Room service serves breakfast and dinner items as well as kid-friendly food items. Coronado Springs has lots of recreational activities. Two arcades, bicycles available to rent, nature walk paths, children’s playground, volleyball court, jogging trails, and a fitness center with sauna and massage. An enormous “Dig Site” pool with waterslide, and large 22 person hot tub, along with 3 other leisure pools, in each village area. La Tienda convenience store. Coronado Springs has several room types with 2 queen or 1 king bed, as well as rooms that include a Sico (Murphy-type pull-down) beds, 1 bedroom, and Executive Suites. Rooms are available for 2 to 6 guests. Coronado Springs offers: babysitting services, an ATM, valet cleaning service, coin-laundry facilities, express check-out, voice mail, and free wi-fi, coffemaker and refrigerator in rooms, Casa de Belleza full-service hair-styling salon for men and women, vending machines, and hair-wrap services. While some worry that the convention center could mean being over-run with business people, most find Coronado Springs to be a deluxe level resort at a moderate resort price.
Transportation: Coronado Springs has three bus stops sprinkled throughout the resort. Buses typically service only Coronado Springs Resort and transport guests to and from the resort and parks. Looking to explore all of the Animal Kingdom area resorts? If you have your own vehicle, you can simply drive from resort to resort. If, however, you have flown in, and are relying on the Disney Transportation System buses, and you are staying at Coronado Springs, you can, if you like, take a bus to either Magic Kingdom, or to Downtown Disney. If you ride the bus to Magic Kingdom, you will have to walk a short distance to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can get a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge or to the All-Star Resorts. If you go to Downtown Disney, you should just be able to find the bus going to All-Star Resorts or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the best-themed resorts at Walt Disney World. Modeled after an African Savannah Lodge, it beautifully brings together nature and architecture. I truly felt transported back to my time in Kenya. Through special viewing areas around the grounds, as well as in Savannah-view rooms, guests and visitors can see zebras, giraffe’s antelopes, elk, kudu, gazelles, wildebeest, and exotic birds. Animals are contained by an amazing barrier system that allows them to be very close, but still keep them and guests safe. Animal Kingdom Lodge is divided into two areas, with Jambo House being the main lodge or guest resort area. An enormous and magnificent lobby has seating areas and a large mud fireplace with a fire always burning. Classic Disney cartoons play on several televisions throughout the lobby, so children can be entertained as well. A glass wall looks out over the savannah, and outdoor signs help guests to learn about the animals they are viewing. Cast members who are natives of Africa are always available to answer questions. Because the lodge is so large, a walk from the lobby to the end of either of the arced hallways can be lengthy, but there is so much to see along the way. The 11,000 square foot Uzima pool has a water slide, a children’s pool, and two hot tubs. Zahanati is the resort’s full service spa and fitness center. The Zawadi Marketplace is the gift shop at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it carries resort specific merchandise as well as African specialty items, and the traditional necessities that guests may have forgotten. Animal Kingdom Lodge has a fine dining restaurant (Jiko), a buffet-style restaurant (Boma), and a quick-service food court (The Mara). Jiko offers exotic African specialties along with traditional favorites like filet mignon and macaroni and cheese. Boma serves only breakfast and dinner, and generally traditional, easily recognizable foods with a few extras. The Mara has traditional food court food, but also serves some wonderful flatbreads. Room service is available 6 AM to Midnight. Rooms typically have two queen beds, but rooms are available with one queen bed and a set of bunkbeds, or one king bed and a daybed. Each room has a mini fridge and a private balcony. Simba’s Clubhouse offers childcare and fun for children ages 3 – 12. Children can make crafts, play games, watch Disney movies, and eat a kid-friendly dinner ordered by their parents at check-in. A snack is also served at 10 PM.Reservations are recommended, and can be made 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village – This section of Animal Kingdom Lodge is the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villas. A 5-10 minute walk from Jambo House, or guests can ride the Disney Transportation System bus. Rooms range from studios, one bedroom, two bedroom, and Grand Villa, accomodating between 4 and 12 guests. Guests at Kidani Village can dine and enjoy the other amenities of Jambo House as well as dining at Sanaa for breakfast and dinner, and enjoying the Samawati Springs pool, Safari So Good Arcade, and Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center. A children’s interactive play area is available as well as the Johari Treasures Gift Shop. Complimentary wi-fi, and parking are available at Animal Kingdom Lodge as is valet parking, online check-in, laundry and dry cleaning services, voice mail, and mail services, and banking and ATM services.
Transportation: Animal Kingdom Lodge has two bus stops, one at the Lodge – Jambo House, and one near Kidani Village . Buses service only Animal Kingdom Resort and transport guests to and from the resort and parks. Looking to explore all of the Animal Kingdom area resorts? If you have your own vehicle, you can simply drive from resort to resort. If, however, you have flown in, and are relying on the Disney Transportation System buses, and you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can, if you like, take a bus to either Magic Kingdom, or to Downtown Disney. If you ride the bus to Magic Kingdom, you will have to walk a short distance to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can get a bus to Coronado Springs Resort or to the All-Star Resorts. If you go to Downtown Disney, you should just be able to find the bus going to All-Star Resorts or Coronado Springs Resort.
Hope this helps you to know about the Animal Kingdom area resorts. And, if you’re interested in visiting all of them, I hope this will help you to navigate transportation, as well as know a little bit about what to explore at each resort.
Have you stayed at any or all of these resorts? Which is your favorite? Have you done a resort crawl? Certainly this one isn’t as easy as visiting the resorts along the Monorail line, but finding those off-the beaten path resorts can be fun. If you’d like to visit Walt Disney World and stay in the Animal Kingdom area resorts, I’d love to help you with that!
I’m Jeri, and I’m a Disney Addict! I’m also an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services, the preferred travel agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts. I am always happy to offer my free services to you to help make your next vacation a little more magical! Contact me for a free quote at jeri@worldofmagictravel.com.
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