A Look Inside A One Bedroom Villa At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

My husband and I recently returned from a comfortable stay in a One Bedroom Villa at Disney's magnificent Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House. While this wasn't our first visit to the property, our last few stays were at Kidani Village, and to us the differences are significant. Take a look inside and find out why we love this most unique Disney resort.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Living Room


Jambo House is the original building of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Property, and most of the structure are conventional guest rooms vs. Vacation Club Villas. Guests enter the lodge beneath the thatched roof of a grand portico. Cast Members offer a friendly greeting of "Jambo!" which is Swahili for hello. Along with valets and guest services cast, one can often find cultural guides in this area mingling with those coming and going, you may even be treated to live drumming.


Animal Kingdom Lodge Entry


Once through the sliding doors from the portico, Disney's Imagineers have done a lovely job of transitioning Guests to the African plains by using tricks of sounds and light. As you emerge from the drumming and darkness into the expansive Lobby the light filled space opens up before you, and you truly feel they have entered another time and place. Guest services are available on the left for check-in, but if you have a MagicBand and have already received your room number you can head straight to your home away from home.


Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby
Jambo House Lobby Artsy View


While you make your way to your room, be sure to check out the collection of African Art and Artifacts. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge boasts the largest collection of African art on display outside of the continent. Some of the pieces are awe inspiring, such as the brightly colored 16-foot high Ijele festival mask in the main lobby, but take note of the beautiful smaller pieces on display as you walk through the corridors to your room.


Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby Artwork


One of my favorite parts about staying at Disney's Animal Kigdom Lodge is that the public areas are all accessible through the building's interior hallways. You won't have to worry about running from building to building in the weather at this resort. Our room for this trip was on Zebra Trail, which is home to both Standard (Pool) and Savanna view rooms. All of the DVC Villas at Jambo House are on the 5th and 6th Floors, which we find too high to really enjoy the Savanna. If you want to stay in a DVC Villa with great animal viewing, Kidani Village is a better option in my opinion. Since we were staying at Jambo House we chose a pool view room. I think the Uzima Springs pool is without a doubt one of the most beautiful pools on property.


Jambo House Uzima Springs Area
Uzima Springs Pool


Immediately entering the One Bedroom Villa Guests step into the full kitchen, which is open to the living room. The kitchen is a well appointed space using the dark wood and granite that is found throughout the suite. The cabinets are well stocked with dishes and cookware to accommodate the 5 people that the room can sleep. I liked the open layout of this kitchen more so than the ones that I have had at other DVC Properties. The space was easy to work in without being in the way of anyone else in the kitchen, and you could still see and communicate with even the smallest Guest that might be in the living room.

The dining table area marks the transition space from kitchen to living area. The heavy table itself was easy to gather around, and didn't have the sometimes awkward placement found in some other DVC rooms.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Kitchen
AKL One Bedroom Villa Has A Well Equipped Kitchen


The large living room of this particular villa had a big overstuffed couch, and large chair. Both of these pieces of furniture do double duty by folding out into sleeping spaces that accommodate a total of three people. There is also a coffee table, and a television console.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Living Room & Kitchen
AKL One Bedroom Villa Sleeper Sofa


More stunning African artwork hangs inside the room. I was particularly drawn to the way light would bounce off of a beaded collar framed and hanging near the window.


Living Room Artwork
AKL One Bedroom Villa Artwork


Sliding doors in the living space opened up to a huge double balcony with a ton of space outside. I was super happy with our pool view, and found the space perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Double Balcony
Coffee Above The Uzima Springs Pool Is A Great Start


Down a short hall from the living room is a closet with the in-room washer and dryer. Honestly, I never really missed not having one on vacation, but DVC has spoiled me. I love being able to toss in a quick load at night, and we never have to pull on a cold wet swimsuit. In-room laundry is a total luxury for us.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Laundry


To the left was the master bedroom with a King sized bed piled high with pillows. The bedroom also holds two nightstands, a comfortable chair, a small work desk, a set of drawers with LCD television, and a large wardrobe closet. The wardrobe seemed to have a lot of space inside, and ample hangers for use when we unpacked. Inside was also a small room safe. I liked this wardrobe much more than what I had at the Grand Floridian Studio.

Many people don't really ask a lot from their hotel rooms, they just want a clean bed, but I tend to spend a fair amount of time in my room. For this trip, I ran the Princess Half Marathon, and the bedroom turned into a fabulous recovery room after the race. My husband and I really felt like we had all the comforts of home and then some during my recovery time. There was more than enough room for post-race stretching in the room, enough pillows to appropriately elevate my legs, plenty of ice, the Jacuzzi tub to soak in, and space for my husband to work while I was in the bedroom sleeping.


AKL One Bedroom Villa King Bed
African Artwork In The Hall


Speaking of the soaking tub, just across the hall from the bedroom was a huge bath. Double sinks with a giant countertop of the beautiful granite, the deep soaking tub with spa jets, a fabulous showerhead, more storage space for personal items, and separate toilet area. The H2O+ Spa products are my favorites, and I was happy that the Sea Salt and Sea Marine products were waiting for me in the large bathroom.


AKL One Bedroom Villa Double Sinks
AKL One Bedroom Villa Soaking Spa Tub
H2O+ Products In The Bath


My husband and I both really enjoyed our stay at the One Bedroom Villa At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House. This is our home resort, and I feel like there is a deep vein of Disney magic that runs through the heart of the property. I can't whether you stay in a regular guest room, or a DVC Villa I highly recommend giving Animal Kingdom Lodge a try on one of your upcoming Disney vacations.

Have you treated yourself to a stay at the Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge? If so leave a comment below and share what you thought. If you want more information about this fantastic resort, head on over to the fan site AKLResort.com!