DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge-Kidani Village is situated in the middle of lush vegetation and beautiful savannas. A featured Disney Vacation Club resort, Kidani Village is well known for its abundance of animal life, such as zebras, gazelles, giraffes, kudu, and flamingos, just to name a few. Kidani Village is smaller and more intimate than Animal Kingdom Jambo House, but no less impressive. Some of my favorite parts of this resort might not be as well known as the animals. The next time you’re at Kidani Village, check out these hidden gems:
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6. Sanaa Restaurant and Lounge
You can smell the mouth-watering aromas of Sanaa before you even step foot inside the restaurant. Take the stairs down from the main lobby and you’ve arrived at this hidden but elegant eatery. If you’re waiting for your table to be ready, comfortable seats line the large windows overlooking the savannah. My family has observed huge turtles and colorful birds eating their lunch while we waited for ours. Sanaa’s menu is inspired mainly by the cultures and cuisines of Africa and India. While enjoying the Indian bread service, slow-cooked African specialties, and favorite dishes from the tandoor ovens, guests can observe the savannah’s inhabitants through spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows. Sanaa also features a lounge next door, offering cocktails, beer, wine, and appetizers.
5. Night activities
The evening doesn’t have to end after your family is back from the parks. Kidani Village invites guests out to the savannah for nighttime animal viewing. The cultural representatives are available to tell stories of the native countries and to answer questions about the animals. Rocking chairs surround a fire pit for a relaxing evening under the stars.
4. Resort activities
Guests can take a break from the parks and hot sun and relax in the cool atmosphere of Kidani Village. Cast members serve as cultural ambassadors from Africa and lead guests on tours of the resort, storytelling, and African arts and crafts activities. Activities for each day are listed at the Front Desk.
3. Walkway to Jambo House
Kidani Village is connected to the other building that makes up Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, by a walking path. The walk is about 10 minutes, but it is a convenient way for guests to enjoy even more of what the Animal Kingdom Lodge has to offer, including another lovely swimming pool, the Mara quick-service restaurant, Jiko, and Boma. If you don’t want to walk, catch a shuttle bus from the Kidani bus stop and get off at Jambo House.
2. The cozy library
Tucked away off of the main lobby, guests can pull up a comfortable chair and relax in the Library. Various activities take place here at specific times during the day, but it’s a great spot to enjoy a drink by the fireplace and watch the animals on the savannah. Unique African artifacts decorate the space and it’s worth taking some time to wander around and gain an understanding of the cultures represented.
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1. The Samawati Springs pool and water play areas
The Samawati Springs pool is wonderful in itself, with zero-depth entry, beautiful lush landscaping, and a twisting waterslide. Cast members engage guests in pool games, trivia, and dancing every afternoon. It gets even better with the pool bar, Maji, which serves drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. But the best part of this area is the amazing water play area, tucked away beside the pool. Kids and adults alike have fun with water cannons, tipping water buckets, springs that randomly shoot up water, and a shallow lagoon complete with waterfall. There are also a few benches in the shade for those that need a break from the action.
