Savanna View Room

The room opens onto a private balcony overlooking one of the resort's savannas. The lodge is themed as an African kraal with several savannas, where guests can see over 200 hoofed animals and birds. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the view inside, so you can watch the wildlife from your room as well as from the balcony.

Yes, it has a private balcony facing the savanna. Guests use it for morning coffee from the in-room coffee/tea maker, for watching the animals, and for an evening wind-down after a park day. The resort also has the Arusha Rock Savanna Overlook, reached from the Jambo House lobby, for extra viewing.

It is a private bathroom with a bathtub. It is stocked with towels, bathrobes and a hair dryer, and housekeeping visits daily to keep it fresh.

The room includes complimentary Wi-Fi, free local calls, free weekday newspapers, a 55-inch TV with cable channels and a DVD player, a safe, and 24-hour room service. As a Disney Deluxe Resort guest you also get free bus transportation to all four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs, access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at select parks, and complimentary self-parking for registered resort guests. Valet parking costs extra.

It works well for both. Families get a two-queen layout and space for four. Children can join free daily activities such as African-style face painting, wildlife cookie decorating, the Hakuna Matata Playground and the nightly campfire. In-room childcare is available for a surcharge. Couples can choose the king bed, take in the savanna view from the balcony, and dine at Jiko or Sanaa. The resort is family-friendly throughout.

Guests can use either pool whichever section they stay in. Uzima Springs is the largest, with zero-depth entry and a waterslide. Samawati Springs has a 128-foot slide, the Uwanja Camp water-play area and a hot tub. Neither pool is designated as a quiet pool. Dining includes Boma – Flavors of Africa (buffet), Jiko – The Cooking Place (Signature Dining), Sanaa (African cooking with Indian flavors) and The Mara (quick service), plus pool bars. Reservations are highly recommended at the table-service restaurants.

The lodge is about 23 miles from Orlando International Airport, typically a 30-to-40-minute drive. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is about 1 mile away, roughly a 10-minute bus ride, and there is no walking path. Magic Kingdom is about 6 miles away and Epcot about 5.5–5.8 miles. The resort has no monorail, Skyliner or boat service, so buses are the main transport, and Minnie Van is available for a fee. There is no beach on site. Cocoa Beach is about 70 miles away, a drive of 70–75 minutes, so the pools are the place to cool off.

Check-in is at 3:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m. Late check-out is not offered, though express check-out is available. The reservation holder must be at least 18 and show a photo ID and credit card at check-in. Pets are not allowed, but ADA-defined service animals are welcome. The resort is non-smoking, with designated outdoor smoking areas. It also prohibits balloons and plastic straws at dining and event areas, to protect the animals.