Hello Crystal!
How exciting that you will be staying at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! This is one of the most unique resorts at the Walt Disney World Resort. Where else can you enjoy your morning coffee while you watch the giraffe and zebra dine on their breakfast? I find that when we have stayed at this resort, it almost feels that we have been transported to a different land.
Guests staying at Disney Resort Collection Hotels are
offered additional perks as a benefit of choosing a Disney resort. Currently, Guests at all Disney Resort Collection Hotels can
enter the theme parks 30 minutes before scheduled park opening. If the rest of your party are staying off-property, then they would not receive early entry. Your benefits and perks as a resort Guest don’t extend to others in your Family & Friends list. Only those listed on your reservation would be able to enter with you for Early Entry.
You don’t have to miss out on this perk however, you can simply utilize early entry for yourself, and enjoy an attraction before meeting up with your family once they arrive. You can choose not to use this benefit, but you certainly don’t have to. With large groups, I often recommend the divide and conquer method. Sometimes everyone is happier to do a few attractions together and maybe a meal, but also to have time to go off and do your own thing. I find this seems to keep the group happier as a whole. Plus, larger groups tend to move quite a bit slower through the parks.
Since Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Deluxe Resort, you will also have access to
Extended Evening Hours. This perk is for Guests staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa Resorts and is only offered on select nights. Again this only applies to Guests on the reservation at one of these resorts. If your family is staying at a Disney Resort Collection Hotel, but not a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa, then only your room would have access to these Extended Evening Hours.
I hope this helps to answer your question, Crystal. Wishing you and your family a magical visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort.- Kate