Ultimate Guide to Disney World Jambo House

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is an Africa themed Deluxe resort at Walt Disney World. Like all deluxe resorts, it offers a luxury Disney vacation experience.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge opened in 2001 and was added as a Disney Vacation Club Resort in 2006. At this time, a separate section called Kidani Village was developed. The main building was renamed Jambo House.

At present, the Jambo House and Kidani Village make up the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Kidani Village is part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) program, while the Jambo House has both standard hotel rooms and DVC villas.

The décor and overall theme at Animal Kingdom Lodge center around Africa. The goal of the Walt Disney Company is to provide guests with an unparalleled experience of an African safari right here in Orlando.

Some of the highlights of Jambo House include:

• Savanna view rooms with views of African animals and landscapes
• Multi bedroom villas, including three-bedroom villas, ideal for large groups and families
• Superb dining options with South African wines and African inspired dishes at Boma Flavors of Africa

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Rating

The average rating for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House is 4.5/5 (Excellent).

Over 70% of guests have given this property 5 stars – the highest rating. Another 20% of guests have rated it “Very Good” based on location, cleanliness, service, and value for money.

Only a handful of guests did not have a good experience at Jambo House. I think we can safely say that Jambo House is a gorgeous resort.

Amenities at the Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Jambo House at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the only Disney Resort to offer a complete Africa experience. The lodge is spread over six stories and designed like a wilderness lodge. The impressive lobby is located on the third floor with an elevated resort entrance.

The decor focuses on authentic art and architecture to reflect the rich heritage and diversity of Africa. The natural lighting and earthy tones beautifully reflect the themed interior. All the art scattered throughout the lobby, hallways, restaurants, and guest rooms have been sourced from Africa.

If you’re looking to enjoy an exquisite view, there is a huge window at one end of the lobby that overlooks 30 acres of the pristine African savanna.

An elevated viewing deck called the Arusha Rock also offers incredible views of African wildlife.

The savannas for the Animal Kingdom Lodge are separate from those for Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. There are thousands of shrubs and hundreds of trees that add to the atmosphere. The entire location is designed to make you feel the real African savanna experience.

The Kidani Village and Jambo House have separate check-in lobbies, but they share all other facilities.

Needless to say, both locations at the Animal Kingdom Lodge are amazing. They are designed to provide guests with a home base to explore the Disney theme parks.

The rooms feature all standard amenities like:

• Full kitchen or kitchenette
• Spacious dining and living areas
• Washer and dryer
• Climate control
• Ceiling fan
• Ironing board

Rooms At The Jambo House

There are around 200 villas and approximately 975 rooms at the Jambo House. Each of the rooms has standard amenities.

If you’re looking to book a Jambo House villa, you can choose from 4 options:

1. Studio

The spacious studios sleep up to 4 adults. They feature one queen bed and one queen-size sleeper sofa. Additional amenities include:

• Spacious bathroom
• Private balcony
• Kitchenette

It’s ideal for a small family with 1 or 2 kids.

2. One-Bedroom Villa

The 1-bedroom villas also sleep up to five people (4 adults plus a child under 3 in a crib). They have a separate bedroom with a king bed and a queen-size sleeper sofa. Some of the resort’s savanna view rooms also have a pull-down bed and can sleep up to 5.

It has the following features:

• Spacious bathroom
• Private balcony
• Full kitchen
• Complete laundry facilities

If you’re a small family looking for a more comfortable and spacious for adults and kids, the one-bedroom villa is a perfect choice.

3. Two-Bedroom Villa

Now, the 2-bedroom villa at Jambo House is what you’ll need if you have more than 3 kids. It can sleep up to 9 adults. In addition to the beds, there is a twin-size sleeper chair.

It also features:

• Two full bathrooms
• Private balcony
• Full kitchen
• Complete laundry facilities

You won’t need to worry about a long line in the bath — the two full bathrooms can handle that.

3. Three-Bedroom Villa

The 3-bedroom villa can sleep up to 12 adults. They have a master bedroom with a king bed, two additional bedrooms with two queen beds, and a queen-size sleeper sofa.

It’s so spacious, it houses:

• Four full-sized bathrooms
• Three private balconies
• Full kitchen
• Complete laundry facilities

This is perfect for a large group of friends and family! And don’t worry about cleaning after everything in this huge villa, the villas have a housekeeping service that you can use (more on this later).

Room Rates At The Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

The rates at Walt Disney World vary by season and day of the week. It is cheaper to stay midweek compared to the weekends.

Like all Disney Resort hotels, the holiday season is the most expensive time of the year to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

In addition to the type of villa, there are three price categories –Value, Standard, and Savanna. 

It also offers Club Level rooms that come with additional privileges, like club level service and access to a club level lounge. Club Level rooms all are deluxe rooms and have a pool view or savanna views.

If you really want to splurge, go for the Kilimanjaro Club Concierge rooms. 

You pay extra for a great view, of course. A savanna view room is the most expensive, followed by a pool view. Standard view rooms are the cheapest.

Average rates for Jambo House are as follows:

• Value Studio: $400 – $750
• Deluxe Studio Standard View Room: $475 – $850
• Deluxe Studio Savannah View: $600 – $1000
• Value One-Bedroom Savanna View: $650 – $1000
• Standard One-Bedroom: $700 – $1200
• Savanna One-Bedroom: $900 – $1300
• Savanna Three-Bedroom: $2500 – $4000

Dining Options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Disney World if you are a foodie.

PRO TIP: If you want to eat at table service restaurants or fine dining venues, advance dining reservations are highly recommended. You can sample cuisines of Africa, of course, but also China, India, Malaysia, France, and England.

Besides catering to international tastes, the dining locations at Jambo House serve classic American fare too.

Here are some of the must-try dining options:

1. Jiko The Cooking Place

This is a signature dining experience that offers guests a taste of Africa. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with wood-burning ovens. Jiko is consistently ranked among the best dining experiences at Disney World.

2. Boma Flavors of Africa

This is a popular buffet restaurant or counter service restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. It is designed like a marketplace in Africa with an open kitchen and wood-burning grill.

On offer are a variety of carved meats, various options for vegetarians, and the popular dessert Zebra Domes.

3. Mara

This is a quick-service location, poolside, open morning to night for snacks and drinks.

4. Victoria Falls Lounge

This is a mezzanine level lounge that overlooks Boma. The Victoria Falls Lounge serves specialty teas and coffees.

5. Sanaa

Sanaa is a table service restaurant in Kidani Village that is open for lunch and dinner. The large windows offer amazing views of the Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna. 

Recreation at the Animal Kingdom Lodge

Guests at Jambo House have access to recreation options at Kidani Village as well. They are just a short walk away, so you can enjoy them hassle-free.

Here are some recreation options and amenities that are worth checking out:

1. Gift shops

There are two gift shops at Disney’s resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge – Zawadi Marketplace in Jambo House and Johari Treasures in Kidani Village. You can pick up Disney souvenirs and fascinating artistic creations from Africa here.

2. Swimming pools

There are two pools at the lodge — the Uzima Springs Pool and the Samawati Springs Pool.

At 11,000 square feet in size, the Uzima Springs Pool is one of the biggest on any Disney property. It features a zero-depth entry and a nearly 70-foot water slide.

While there’s no kiddie pool or play area in the Uzima pool, adults can totally hang out at the Uzima Springs Pool Bar. The Uzima pool is a great place to spend a non-park day.

The Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village also features zero-depth entry. There is a unique themed water playground called the Uwanja Camp. There’s also a 128-foot water slide, whirlpool spas, and the Maji Pool Bar.

3. Basketball and shuffleboard

You can shoot hoops or play a game of shuffleboard with complimentary sports equipment at Kidani Village. There’s even a grill for an al fresco picnic near the sports courts.

4. Tennis court

Tennis courts at the Animal Kingdom Lodge are located near the Barbeque Pavilion. Equipment is complimentary and can be obtained from the Community Hall.

5. Fitness center

Guests at the Animal Kingdom Lodge have 24-hour access to a fully equipped gym. This is open to guests over the age of 14. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

6. Spa

Spa services at Zahanati Fitness Center include massages and facials. Advance bookings are recommended.

7. Arcade

There is a video games arcade near the Kidani lobby.

8. Community hall

This is a covered area, great for rainy day activities like Sony PlayStation, board games, arts and crafts, foosball, and table tennis. It’s located on the second floor at Kidani Village.

9. Safari experiences

The Sunset (Wanyama) Safari recreates an authentic game drive in Africa on the savannas of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The experience includes the opportunity to learn about the animal programs at the lodge as well as a dining experience at Jiko. The cost is around $210 per person.

The Starlight Safari experience allows guests to board an actual safari truck and tour the Animal Kingdom Lodge with a guide, following the zebra trail, kudu trail, or ostrich trail. This one-hour experience costs around $75 per adult. Part of the proceeds is donated towards global animal conservation efforts.

10. Kid’s activities

Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a variety of kids programs and activities such as flamingo feeding, animal tracking, wildlife games, cultural safaris, storytelling, arts and crafts, music, and more. Most of these require additional fees.

How To Get From Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House To Anywhere In Walt Disney World

Here are some approximate distances from Jambo House Animal Kingdom villas and rooms in the Lake Buena Vista area to various Disney Parks and areas of interest in Orlando:

• Orlando International Airport: 24 miles
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: 2 miles
• Magic Kingdom Park: 7 miles
• Epcot: 5 miles
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 4.5 miles
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 5.5 miles
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park: 2 miles
• Disney Springs: 6.5 miles

From the Airport to Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney offers free Magical Express transportation for guests staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort. This service includes shared Disney bus transportation from Orlando International Airport to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Sadly, the Magical Express will no longer be available from January 1, 2022.

Jambo House is also very well connected by various Disney transportation modes. Most areas in Disney World, including the theme parks, water parks, resort hotels, and the Disney Springs area are a complimentary bus ride away. A Disney cast member is always on hand to answer any questions.

The bus stop and departure zone at Jambo House is outside the main building between the check-in lobby and parking lot. 

Other transportation options include the Disney Minnie Van service by Lyft that will take you around Walt Disney World, including to and from Jambo House.

Driving Directions to Jambo House

If you have your own car, it will cost $25 per day for standard self-parking or $33 per day for valet parking at Jambo House.

It is roughly 24 miles (30-minute drive) from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Jambo House:

• From Jeff Fuqua Blvd, get on FL-417 Toll S in Meadow Woods for 5.7 miles
• Follow FL-417 Toll S to Osceola Pkwy and take Exit 3 after 12.8 miles
• Continue on West Osceola Pkwy to Bay Lake for 5.9 miles

You can check this address on your GPS: Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, 2901 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34747.

FAQs

How many rooms does Jambo House have?

There are 200 villas and 975 rooms at the Jambo House. All rooms offer standard amenities.

There are also close to 500 villas in Kidani Village, taking the total number of villas at the lodge to around 700.

Are there wheelchair-accessible rooms at Jambo House?

Yes, there are wheelchair accessible rooms and villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge for guests with disabilities. 

What do I need at check-in at the Jambo House?

To check-in to Jambo House rooms or villas, you will need a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit (for incidental charges) even if your room is prepaid. You might also be asked to provide a government-issued photo ID.

The minimum age for check-in is 18 years at both Jambo House villas and rooms.

What time do I need to check-in at the Jambo House?

The Standard check-in time is 4 pm to midnight (you can request early check-in). Check-out time is 11 am. Express check-in and check-out are available. Online check-in is available through the My Disney Experience app.

Does the Animal Kingdom Lodge have a housekeeping service?

Yes, the Animal Kingdom Lodge has a housekeeping service.

If you’re staying at one of the villas for 7 days or less, you get a trash and towel service on day 4. Housekeeping will empty trash, replace towels, and replenish other amenities in the villa.

For stays of 8 nights or more, you get a full cleaning service on day 4 and trash and towel service on day 8. The cycle is then repeated every 4 days.

Full cleaning includes a change in bed linens, vacuuming, dishwashing, kitchen cleaning, and bathroom cleaning. You can pay extra and get a full cleaning service for shorter stays.

Are pets allowed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House. There are other pet-friendly resorts in Orlando. You can also board your pets at the Best Friends Pet Care Kennel located near the Port Orleans Riverside Resort.

Is Jambo House reopening?

The hotel rooms at Jambo House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge reopened to guests in late August 2021. The DVC villas at Jambo House and the neighboring Kidani Village have been available since June 2020 when Disney World resumed operations after the COVID-19 shutdown.