Worth paying for one night at AKL for an animal lover? vs just visiting?

[studiojmm]

So we just extended our stay and are adding one night at the beginning of what would have been a Sat-Sun stay at Pop Century starting 11/26. We are now coming in on Fri 11/25. No plans to add a park day on the 26th, so thinking non-park activities.

I'm traveling with an animal-fan teen. We could add that night at Animal Kingdom Lodge but it would be a standard view room (though the last time we booked one of those - our only time actually - we got upgraded to savanna view, and now we aren't sure we can ever go back).

Since we won't be looking at the animals FROM the room, any reason we couldn't just stay at POP the extra night and head over to AKL for animal watching and recreational activities (not the pool)? That's the current plan, actually. We have a lunch reservation at Saana on 11/26 and would hang out for the animal enrichment making recreation activity afterward.

My understanding about the various recreations, including marshmallow roasting, is that Disney doesn't care if you are staying at that resort. Correct?

Thanks.

P.S. Any other mellow suggestions for Friday or Sat night (probably not Disney Springs, since it's probably not going to be terribly mellow that weekend).

 

[Cindra]

Animal-fan teen - love it! From our experience at the AKL/Kidani resorts you can stay at POP and get all of the recreations without staying there. With the reservation at Saana you will already be on-site and have all the same access to the animal viewing areas/extras as you would if you were staying there.

The AKL/Kidani resorts are great though and, from our point of view, have some of the most wonderful commons areas (firepit at AKL, Falls lounge, Sanna lounge, viewing area(s) and connected space, etc.) so also can't go wrong staying there one night and taking it all in longer throughout the night!

 

[toodycat]

We love AKL, but you can enjoy the atmosphere and animals without actually checking in. Unless you want to use the pool, you can enjoy the resort and stay elsewhere. Definitely talk to the cast members at the savannah when you visit! They are very knowledgeable.

 

[morganms22]

You can absolutely experience it just by visiting. In fact, some of our best animal viewing there has been in the common areas.

Have a great time!

 

[leebee]

As everyone has said, you can experience the animals, etc., by just visiting. However, if you choose to stay at AKL and book a regular room, you can ask for a 'partial savanna view'. These are rooms that were intended to be savanna view, but the view is somewhat restricted somehow- trees, overgrown bushes, etc. We have had amazing "partial view" views, if you can ignore a pole in the middle of the view or something like that. No guarantees you'll GET a partial view room, but it never hurts to ask, and you really do get to see the animals (it's kinda like getting an "obstructed view" concert ticket).

 

[Disturbia]

I wouldn’t book a room. We paid for a Savanna view and got the small strip facing parking lot (rooms opposite savanna) at the end of the resort with a few of a few birds. It was a disappointment start to my birthday trip; we had to change rooms as my spouse had a cast on his foot/ankle and that walk caused a lot of pain. If it’s a busy week like Thanksgiving it’s probably booked solid.

Savanna view is the best and going off peak season is the best way to ensure a good view. Not sure if it’s worth it otherwise (housekeeping is rude and refuses to change sheets or offer coffee pods)

 

[Anthony1971]

The best time to visit would be later in the day. If possible book a late lunch head over to Jambo house around 5 they feed the animals by the main viewing area as well at Kidani but Jambo has a much larger area. As far as the marshmallows they are only at Jambo… and I think they are charging period at all resorts…I am not certain but I heard several comments passed this year. I did not check myself as my son is a little passed that (for now he is cool) but I did see a CM with a book writing things down. Was not going to ask as I might have laughed at the CM and that would not be nice. Staying there is a personal choice there is a lot more suggestions if you decided to do so.

 

[Disturbia]

Cookie/cake decorating hasn’t returned apparently; but there is painting:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-lodge/recreation/

 

[limegreenmonorail]

I highly recommend Starlight Safari for animal lovers! It's so cool! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/

 

[DVacationer]

If you were to go anywhere during your stay at AKL, I’d say no BUT if you are planning to hang out at the resort (which would be the best plan) I would absolutely say YES!
Sure you can enjoy the atmosphere while staying at another hotel but you wont get the real feel of going to your room off the lobby after a meal or poolltime and hanging out. It hits different. And the fact that the rest of your trip is at a value resort, I’d say reward yourself with a night at a deluxe.

 

[studiojmm]

Thanks all.

We are definitely doing the Starlight Safari, actually later in our stay on a day we weren't going to be in the parks.

We're going to stick with the plan of staying at Pop and going over to Kidani for lunch and Jambo to hang out after that. My daughter doesn't care about swimming and since it's one night we wouldn't have access to the room after 11 am. The only deluxe amenity we might use would be the fitness room. I can live without that.

The biggest reason not to stay the one night is not to deal with changing rooms, especially now that Disney won't move perishables. We wouldn't be able to do grocery delivery on our first day if we stayed at AKL or we'd have to transport groceries ourselves. Neither option seems worth sleeping in a larger room for one night.

Also looking into an actual AKL resort stay next year, hopefully renting DVC at Kidani for that.

 

[Cindra]

Sounds like a good plan. Hope you get to realize the actual AKL resort stay as it is one of our favorite resorts when the plan isn't heavily park-oriented.