Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas is the eighth Disney Vacation Club timeshare resort, and the fifth located at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The development was originally announced in October 2006 and the first phase opened in the summer of 2007. Included in this phase were 134 remodeled units (216 guest rooms) on the fifth and sixth floors of the existing Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, which opened in 2001. Later construction added 324 units (492 guest rooms) in a new building, Kidani Village, which opened in phases and was completed in 2009. The main building of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is now named Jambo House[1] in order to prevent confusion between the two buildings.[2]

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village is an African lodge-style resort with accommodations that include kitchenettes or kitchens and multi-bedroom units. The location features a 21-acre wildlife preserve. Both Jambo House and Kidani Village have smaller animal habitats that host unique animals.

The lobby and the villas of Kidani Village extend outwards and resemble the curlicue shape of a water buffalo's horns.[3] Kidani Village itself is a 5 story building in the shape of a backwards 3. It includes 324 Studio through 3 bedroom units, views of one of two savannas, a pool, and Sanaa, a table service restaurant that features Indian-African Fusion cuisine.

Inside, the resort features African-inspired architecture and decorations.

Outside the main building, wetlands border landscaping that features indigenous African shrubs and grasses.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas contains multiple dining establishments. Authentic African and Indian cuisine is offered at three table service restaurants: Sanaa is located at Kidani Village, and next door at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House both Jiko – The Cooking Place and Boma - Flavors of Africa are located. Counter-service offerings are also available at Jambo House at The Mara. Drinks and some lighter snacks are also available at the pool bars and Kidani Village lobby.[4]

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas is served by Disney Transport bus service which transports guests to the four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Additional bus transportation is available to Disney Springs, Disney's Blizzard Beach, and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. Under most circumstances theme park buses first go to Kidani Village, and then to Jambo House when dropping off or picking up guests. The Disney Springs buses go in the reverse order, starting at Jambo House and then to Kidani Village. A shuttle van also runs between the two locations.

The Sunset Savanna and the Pembe Savanna are home to different varieties of African animals.

Animals that can be observed on the savannas include the Ankole-Watusi, bontebok, common eland, zebra, greater kudu, impala, okapi, African wild asses, red river hog, mountain zebra, plains zebra, nyala, reticulated giraffe, roan antelope, sable antelope, Thomson's gazelle, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, Abyssinian ground hornbill, blue crane, Grey crowned crane, greater flamingo, marabou stork, ostrich, pink-backed pelican, spur-winged goose, guineafowl, and Rüppell's vulture.

Other recreational offerings include a 4,700-square-foot, zero-depth-entry pool with a 128-foot-long slide and wet deck, a barbecue pavilion, basketball (half court), and shuffleboard courts.

• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney Vacation Club

• Animal Kingdom Villas Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine official site