We recently decided to spend a few nights at Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Knowing it is off the beaten path, we were excited to enjoy the proximity to Animal Kingdom Park and see what the resort had to offer. We loved everything about this hotel and this is what I posted on Facebook reflecting on our time there:

“We are ending our stay at Kidani Village this morning and are leaving happy and full. My time here filled my stomach with culinary delights, my mind with the soul-cleansing African drum-based music, and all the visually pleasing aspects in between.

Our standard room on the fifth floor overlooking the parking lot and outskirts of Disney property turned out to yield amazing nightly sunsets and views of fireworks in the distance.

If you are a foodie and willing to stray from a typical menu, come here to immerse yourself in the distinct flavors that Sanaa, Boma, and Jiko have to offer. Then head over to Animal Kingdom Park for a quick service at Yak & Yeti and do your character dining at Tusker House.

I feel like this post alone did not do our trip the justice it deserved.  We had a FABULOUS time.  With four kids I am not traveling to Africa anytime soon, but a 2.5 hour flight to Florida let us immerse ourselves and enjoy the different sounds, sights, and tastes of this amazing culturally inspired hotel.

Between the authentic artwork around the resort and constant background music, I was really in a happy place.  Obviously this isn’t the real thing, but seeing my kids enjoy such a well-themed resort was so much fun to watch.

Now, onto one of my favorite topics – the food situation.  Michael and I are really into having dinner at places that we like, which usually includes skipping character dining for the kids because we typically don’t prefer buffets.  Little did I know that by not going to Tusker House on previous vacations we were really depriving ourselves.  It was truly one of the best meals we have had in WDW.  If you have a character dining experience and Animal Kingdom Park on your wish list try to coordinate these two together and have a meal at Tusker House.

Moving onto the restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Sanaa, Boma, and Jiko.  All EXCELLENT.  Sanaa you dine while looking out onto the savannah; don’t skip the bread service.  Boma is a plentiful buffet of legit awesome food not to be missed, and Jiko is a fine dining, signature restaurant that is every bit of of perfect ambiance, service, and savory delights.

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel