Hi there, Barbara!
Welcome to planDisney! Here, it's always the
practically perfect time to begin planning an upcoming visit to Walt Disney World Resort. I'm so glad you stopped by with your question because there's nothing quite like staying in the middle of the magic! From immersive theming to complimentary transportation and extra time in the theme parks, there's so much to love about calling a Disney Resort Hotel home.
Disney Resort hotels are offered at a variety of price points and with a wide array of theming, so there's truly something for every taste and budget. Like you, I'm a huge fan of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. I mean, enjoying your morning coffee as giraffes and zebras amble by, that's a special kind of magic!
To begin the booking process, you'll simply head to the
Walt Disney World website and then select 'Places to Stay' from the blue menu bar at the top of the page. Once on
the page of Disney Resort hotels, you'll enter your desired dates before selecting 'Find Resorts', which will populate availability. If you don't see Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge on the list of available resorts, try modifying your dates a bit to see if that helps. If Animal Kingdom Lodge does appear, you can click on it to see what
room types and rates are available during your stay and then complete the checkout process.
Since you mentioned that you are a Florida resident, I did want to share that Walt Disney World is currently offering
discounted stays at select Disney Resort hotels exclusively for those who call Florida home. Inventory is limited (especially if you're hoping for a certain hotel on specific dates), but it's definitely something worth looking into before booking!
Now, if you're looking to enjoy a safari during your visit, you'll have two options: the
Starlight Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kilimanjaro Safaris at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The Starlight Safari will not require a theme park ticket as it takes place in the savannas of Animal Kingdom Lodge, but it is only offered at night and must be booked in advance at an additional cost.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is offered throughout the day in Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, but it will require the purchase of a theme park ticket. Of course, since it runs continuously throughout the day, you could enjoy it several times with the wildlife ensuring no two safaris are exactly the same. Animal Kingdom Theme Park is also home to
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and
Maharajah Jungle Trek, so you'd get to see wildlife not available on the savanna just a short bus ride from your hotel!
Disney's Animal Kingdom is one of my very favorite places, Barbara, so I hope this information helps you prepare for your visit! If any other questions arise as you finalize your plans, don't hesitate to reach back out to
planDisney. You've got a friend in me!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie