Jambo, Josh! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy that you've stopped by with your vacation planning question!
In just a few months, you'll be arriving at The Most Magical Place on Earth, excited and ready to begin your
wild adventure! I'm so excited for you! I absolutely love
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Resort hotels. With its incredibly immersive theming,
fantastic dining options and endless
recreation offerings and Resort activities, you can have an unforgettable vacation without ever even leaving the Resort!
Unfortunately, due to the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, the
Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is still unavailable. However, since the website states that it is "temporarily unavailable," I am hopeful that it could return soon! Just keep an eye on the website and
Disney Parks Blog to get the official news on Walt Disney World Resort re-openings as soon as it drops!
While the Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is currently unavailable, there are still several cool ways to view the animals there, including with night vision! While the schedule of activities is subject to change, last month during my stay at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village, they had one hour of Night Vision viewing of the animals at the Sunset Overlook at Kidani Village every evening after dark. This Resort activity is free of charge and is oh-so-fun! Just check the activities list and schedule posted in or near the lobby or ask a magical Cast Member at the front desk for a list of all the fun to be had at these Resorts. You are sure to have a
roaring good time!
Speaking of my favorite activities at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, let's talk FOOD! Did you know that
Jiko - The Cooking Place is now re-open?! Jiko - The Cooking Place,
Boma - Flavors of Africa, and
Sanaa are three of my absolute favorite restaurants in all of Walt Disney World Resort, and they have all been re-opened and are located at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village. You can start making your Advanced Dining Reservations on March 15th, so be sure to make a reservation at one (or all!) of these fabulous restaurants! YUM!
Josh, I'm wishing you the most magical upcoming adventure! Please stop by any time with any of your vacation planning questions.
I hope to see ya real soon,
Mandy