Hi April!
I'm sending you a virtual high five for already starting to plan your 2014 Disney vacation. Awesome!!
If I were in your shoes, and I had my heart set on staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, then I'd go ahead and book the trip now. You're looking to travel during a somewhat busy time of the year, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a very popular resort, so it's better to snag a reservation now before they get fully booked.
Now, you mentioned that the room quotes you saw were a little higher than what you were hoping for. Personally, I've booked Disney vacations and later saw discounts/promotions become available for the time of my visit. In those cases, I called Disney and asked if they would apply that discount/promotion to my existing vacation and I've never had a problem. So, if you decide to lock it down now, keep your eyes peeled for special deals that come up down the road.
Here's a little tip from your buddy Derek:
If you have a change of heart and decide that you'd rather stay at one of the other Walt Disney World resort hotels, then you can always cancel your reservation at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and rebook your trip.
[Imagine the sound of a fast-talking lawyer at the end of a television commercial]
Certain conditions and restrictions may apply, but if you handle this change with enough advance notice, you can get a refund of your deposit.
I hope that helps! If you should have any additional questions, please feel free to send them my way and I'll be happy to help in any way that I can.
Best regards,
Derek