Walt Disney World has began to announce resort refurbishments for the subsequent couple of years. One of many largest upcoming resort tasks might be at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which now has confirmed dates from Fall 2025 by means of 2027. This shares particulars, plus our commentary concerning the impacts of the work and which rooms in all probability will not be modified.
That is one of some multi-year tasks which might be both at the moment underway or will begin quickly, an inventory that additionally contains the 12 months-Lengthy Pop Century Room Refurbishment, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts Room Refurbishments Underway Till 2026 (or 2027) and Wilderness Lodge . These in all probability will not be the one resort renovations on the horizon, both–simply those that reach into 2026 or 2027. Control our Walt Disney World Lodge Development Tracker for additional updates.
As we’ve talked about elsewhere, lots of the Walt Disney World resort laborious & gentle items refurbishment timelines have been delayed because of the closure and the pent-up demand in its aftermath. The excellent news is that this hasn’t been as unhealthy on the resort aspect as with DVC properties, so Walt Disney World gained’t be spending the subsequent few years enjoying catch-up, however between a number of postponed tasks and the probability of larger-scale reimaginings and new building, there’s lots on the horizon.
Towards that backdrop, right here’s the official announcement from Walt Disney World concerning the multi-year Animal Kingdom Lodge refurbishment:
From October 2025 by means of Might 2026, Visitor rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will bear refurbishment, adopted by refurbishment work at Jambo Home from Might 2026 by means of January 2027. Throughout these instances, Friends might even see or hear building work within the space. All facilities will stay accessible all through the refurbishment.
This refurbishment was to be anticipated. As mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Resort Refurbishment Timeline, this was already introduced on the condominium affiliation assembly late final 12 months, and easily given a 2025-2026 timeline. What the newest replace does is slender down the dates, whereas additionally extending the top goal. No shock there, as later begins and longer timelines have grow to be the norm.
Though not formally said, this room redo at Kidani Village and Jambo Home is the long-awaited laborious items refurbishment. For these unfamiliar with this time period, it’s sometimes a gut-job throughout which the furnishings, flooring, fixtures, and different parts are changed. We refer to those as room reimaginings, as they normally lead to materially-different rooms. It’s sometimes a night-and-day distinction, with none of the identical furnishings or fixtures.
In between laborious items refurbishments, there are gentle items refurbishments to increase the lifetime of a specific room design, and to provide them a recent look that takes benefit of trade developments and improvements in design. Delicate items refurbishments sometimes contain updating furnishings, together with however not restricted to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
Walt Disney World has been using gentle items refurbishments fairly successfully within the final decade to introduce space-saving design options. Consequently, the road has been blurred between gentle and hards items refurbishments, to the purpose that we’ve seen large modifications throughout gentle items tasks (particularly on the DVC aspect) to put in new fold-down beds and make different main modifications.
We point out each varieties of room refurbishments and this line-blurring as a result of the Animal Kingdom Villas missed the boat for this. Whereas these rooms have acquired gentle items refurbishments beforehand, they’ve been minor and barely noticeable. Mainly simply swapping out some materials and carpet–I’m unsure I’d’ve been in a position to spot the variations if I didn’t have earlier than and after photographs.
This would be the first laborious items refurbishment because the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. Mix that with the pretty gentle nature of the gentle items refreshes, and neither Kidani Village nor Jambo Home have seen any main room renovations in over 15 years. Nearer to twenty years by the point this challenge is completed!
To one of the best of my information, that makes the Animal Kingdom Villas the oldest rooms at Walt Disney World proper now.
As for what to anticipate, the Animal Kingdom Villas are in an attention-grabbing spot the place they’ve missed two earlier waves of room refurbishments. They predate those that started round 2014 that generified rooms, they usually additionally missed the more moderen wave that started with Disney’s Riviera Resort.
This implies a few issues. The primary is that the Animal Kingdom Villas are extra thematically pure than subsequent new or redone rooms that adopted for concerning the subsequent decade. Throughout that point, there have been a variety of rooms that seemed like generic Marriott or Hiltons, one thing of which we had been extremely essential for some time.
Fortunately, the more moderen wave has been stronger thematically. Their observe file hasn’t been good, however the villas at BoardWalk, Seashore Membership, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, and so forth have been enhancements over their speedy predecessors. Just about each single DVC room redesign within the final 6 years has had a optimistic end result.
That is additionally true from a useful perspective, because the modifications that rolled out with Disney’s Riviera Resort have been rolled out in room redesigns. The outdated Animal Kingdom Villas opened lengthy earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds that began debuting in late 2019. These will completely be added throughout this refurbishment, simply as they’ve been added at Bay Lake Tower, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, and each different DVC resort that’s had its rooms refurbished since.
Given the developments over the past ~6 years, right here’s what else we are able to anticipate with the room reimaginings at Jambo Home and Kidani Village:
- Changing the couch sleeper with a combo couch-bed that pulls down from the wall
- Extra shops and charging ports
- Carpet changed by laminate flooring and space rug
- Disney artwork added to rooms
- Brighter and airier interiors with extra pops of colour
- Desk and chairs changed by fifth sleeper
- Improved and oblique lighting with extra fine-tuned management
Remember the fact that that is purely speculative based mostly on constant previous precedent within the final ~6 years. I wouldn’t thoughts if the AKV rooms retained the bedframes (which I contemplate timeless and iconic), in addition to the sunshine fixtures, framed artwork, and a few furnishings. However I wouldn’t rely on that. Once more, it’s a tough good refurbishment. What you see within the current rooms might be all ending up at Forged Connection & Property Management.
Right here’s a take a look at the brand new Boulder Ridge (Wilderness Lodge) rooms that can assist you visualize what this might appear to be:
As we’ve talked about repeatedly, the Boulder Ridge Villas are our new #1 rooms in all of Walt Disney World. That is in all probability the closest approximation for the before-after change you may anticipate on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Previous to their refurbishment, these Boulder Ridge rooms had been among the many oldest at Walt Disney World.
The Boulder Ridge rooms acquired a tough items refurbishment and had been gutted within the course of. The room acquired all-new decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds. The outdated Boulder Ridge rooms had been typically criticized for being darkish, drab and dreary. We appreciated the country model, and know a variety of different DVC members who agreed. However there additionally had been loads of complaints, and it’s laborious to disclaim that the rooms seemed dated. They had been additionally very worn by the point of the refurbishment.
It’s an nearly an identical story with the villas at Kidani Village and Jambo Home. Some followers love the thematically-rich designs, others argue they’re a bit lengthy within the tooth and worse for put on. Personally, I don’t essentially assume these sentiments are at odds. I like the underlying themed design of the rooms, however they’re additionally dated and worn. A refresh is badly wanted, and was ~6 years in the past.
As evidenced with Boulder Ridge, the ‘darkish period’ for Walt Disney World room redesigns that concerned a variety of generic and really understated kinds is over. Imagineering has demonstrated a defter design contact with these and different latest DVC rooms. The group tasked with redesigns has hit its stride in trendy but sensible lodging which might be each well-themed and cozy, befitting each Disney and their value factors.
There’s a ton of depth through textures, patterns, and even issues like refined wallpaper. There’s a ton of colour–making this a big departure from the country and drab designs of the prior rooms–nevertheless it’s utilized successfully and these rooms nonetheless have an outdoorsy sensibility to them. The rooms nonetheless look comparatively relaxed and subdued, with calming colours. Most of those look improbable, and do an amazing job balancing modern conveniences with themed design, whereas by no means being overly busy or chaotic.
That is exactly what we’re anticipating at Kidani Village and Jambo Home, albeit within the visible id of Animal Kingdom Lodge. That’s excellent news as a result of, for my tastes, the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge stick the touchdown on well-themed with out being overwhelming. These are my favourite rooms of the usual choices at Wilderness Lodge, new #1 Disney Trip Membership studios, and proper up there with the new-ish rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge as one of the best themed lodging at Walt Disney World (pictured under).
Talking of which, this refurbishment is broadly being reported as being to the rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s straightforward to interpret the announcement that manner, as even the bulletin from Walt Disney World doesn’t clarify the place these refurbishments are taking place.
It’s our expectation that these refurbishments at Kidani Village and Jambo Home solely influence the DVC villas. The resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge was “simply” refurbished again in 2018-2019, as a part of a complete challenge that lasted over a 12 months. Whereas that’s now 6 years in the past, the resort rooms have held up very well.
In digging by means of my archives of resort refurbishments, it doesn’t seem that Walt Disney World ought to be fairly prepared for one more refurbishment at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The one manner I might see this taking place is that if the resort rooms are nonetheless generally receiving complaints about being drab and dreary.
That wouldn’t fully shock me, and if it’s the case, I might see the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge being rolled into this challenge as a fast gentle items refurbishment in 2027. That might make some extent of sense, as Animal Kingdom Lodge could be among the many subsequent resorts up for a light-weight refresh in the direction of the tail finish of this challenge.
In any case, the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge just isn’t a part of the laborious items refurbishment that can overhaul the Animal Kingdom Villas. No matter occurs to the DVC rooms might be materially totally different than the circa 2019 AKL rooms, and regardless of the future holds for the AKL resort rooms, it’ll be materially totally different from the upcoming DVC designs.
That is complicated, I do know, and is the byproduct of Jambo Home being dwelling to each Animal Kingdom Lodge (resort rooms) and the Animal Kingdom Villas. There was related confusion again through the phased reopening concerning the distinction between AKV and AKL.
With all of this mentioned, I’ll admit to being barely nervous concerning the room redos on the Animal Kingdom Villas.
Regardless that the brand new rooms at AKL turned out superior and had been an anomaly for his or her period, how a lot of that may very well be attributed to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde being the champion for all issues Animal Kingdom? He fought laborious to make sure that the park and its related resort maintained thematic integrity, even within the face of IP mandates and extra. Rohde is gone now.
Room reimaginings have typically gotten higher, not worse, since then, however might this be the exception the place the high-water mark was truly again in 2019? My intestine remains to be that it is a internet optimistic for the Animal Kingdom Villas, particularly given the present situation of the rooms, however I fear barely between ‘evolving trendy visitor preferences’ and the shortage of Rohde that we’re going to finish up with Lion King rooms versus the richly-themed design for which Animal Kingdom Lodge is thought.
When it comes to the influence to friends staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas and Kidani Village, there in all probability gained’t be a lot of 1. The final time Walt Disney World did a room reimagining in the principle lodge was a number of years in the past for the resort rooms. Throughout that, total flooring had been taken out of fee one after the other, and the work was solely performed throughout daytime hours.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge throughout that challenge, and I needed to exit of my option to see indicators of the work. I wouldn’t have even identified it was occurring, however for these and numerous hallways being blocked off, which was seen from the foyer under.
Should you’re staying above or under one of many flooring being labored on and you are inclined to take naps through the day, it’s totally attainable your expertise might differ. During which case, we’d merely suggest inserting a room request to be on a ground that’s a minimum of one-removed from the present progress.
In the end, there’s a variety of upcoming work at Animal Kingdom Lodge, each Jambo Home and Kidani Village, between now and 2027. All of this would possibly sound overwhelming, to the purpose that it makes you rethink staying right here. Until you’re actually averse to even gentle building noise, we wouldn’t fear about it. Make a room request and be performed with it.
Personally, this is not going to trigger us to rethink upcoming stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge–not even with a toddler who wants noon breaks for naps. Regardless that it’s going to final a number of years, the work is sufficiently remoted, focused, or off within the distance that it offers me no pause.
The development at Jambo Home and Kidani Village gained’t be as unhealthy as staying on the Polynesian throughout Island Tower building, Riviera Resort from Caribbean Seashore, Gran Destino Tower from the remainder of Coronado Springs, and even Disney Lakeshore Lodge from Fort Wilderness.
What we will do is wait till a enough variety of the room refurbishments are accomplished earlier than staying at Kidani Village or within the Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo Home earlier than reserving these with DVC factors. Though I like the thought of the “pure” themed design within the OG rooms, they had been trying extremely drained the final time we stayed in them, and that was a few years in the past for Jambo Home and even longer in the past for Kidani Village. DVC villas will not be one thing that ages like advantageous wine, so that they’re in all probability in even worse form now.
We’re glad to attend, particularly with wonderful new rooms coming on-line at Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek, and elsewhere. We’re cautiously optimistic that the consequence might be related on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Right here’s hoping that Imagineering can thread the needle, engaging in one thing that marries the look of the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort room redo from 2019 with Boulder Ridge. We’ll hold you posted!
Should you’re planning a WDW journey, we may also help! For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the development round Animal Kingdom Lodge between now and 2027? Excited for the room refurbishment at Jambo Home or Kidani Village? Have you ever stayed at AKL because the resort rooms had been redone in 2019? What did you consider these “new” rooms? Hoping that the top consequence right here is just like these and/or Boulder Ridge? Do you agree or disagree with our suggestion to make a room request reasonably than keep elsewhere? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has began to announce resort refurbishments for the subsequent couple of years. One of many largest upcoming resort tasks might be at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which now has confirmed dates from Fall 2025 by means of 2027. This shares particulars, plus our commentary concerning the impacts of the work and which rooms in all probability will not be modified.
That is one of some multi-year tasks which might be both at the moment underway or will begin quickly, an inventory that additionally contains the 12 months-Lengthy Pop Century Room Refurbishment, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts Room Refurbishments Underway Till 2026 (or 2027) and Wilderness Lodge . These in all probability will not be the one resort renovations on the horizon, both–simply those that reach into 2026 or 2027. Control our Walt Disney World Lodge Development Tracker for additional updates.
As we’ve talked about elsewhere, lots of the Walt Disney World resort laborious & gentle items refurbishment timelines have been delayed because of the closure and the pent-up demand in its aftermath. The excellent news is that this hasn’t been as unhealthy on the resort aspect as with DVC properties, so Walt Disney World gained’t be spending the subsequent few years enjoying catch-up, however between a number of postponed tasks and the probability of larger-scale reimaginings and new building, there’s lots on the horizon.
Towards that backdrop, right here’s the official announcement from Walt Disney World concerning the multi-year Animal Kingdom Lodge refurbishment:
From October 2025 by means of Might 2026, Visitor rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will bear refurbishment, adopted by refurbishment work at Jambo Home from Might 2026 by means of January 2027. Throughout these instances, Friends might even see or hear building work within the space. All facilities will stay accessible all through the refurbishment.
This refurbishment was to be anticipated. As mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Resort Refurbishment Timeline, this was already introduced on the condominium affiliation assembly late final 12 months, and easily given a 2025-2026 timeline. What the newest replace does is slender down the dates, whereas additionally extending the top goal. No shock there, as later begins and longer timelines have grow to be the norm.
Though not formally said, this room redo at Kidani Village and Jambo Home is the long-awaited laborious items refurbishment. For these unfamiliar with this time period, it’s sometimes a gut-job throughout which the furnishings, flooring, fixtures, and different parts are changed. We refer to those as room reimaginings, as they normally lead to materially-different rooms. It’s sometimes a night-and-day distinction, with none of the identical furnishings or fixtures.
In between laborious items refurbishments, there are gentle items refurbishments to increase the lifetime of a specific room design, and to provide them a recent look that takes benefit of trade developments and improvements in design. Delicate items refurbishments sometimes contain updating furnishings, together with however not restricted to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
Walt Disney World has been using gentle items refurbishments fairly successfully within the final decade to introduce space-saving design options. Consequently, the road has been blurred between gentle and hards items refurbishments, to the purpose that we’ve seen large modifications throughout gentle items tasks (particularly on the DVC aspect) to put in new fold-down beds and make different main modifications.
We point out each varieties of room refurbishments and this line-blurring as a result of the Animal Kingdom Villas missed the boat for this. Whereas these rooms have acquired gentle items refurbishments beforehand, they’ve been minor and barely noticeable. Mainly simply swapping out some materials and carpet–I’m unsure I’d’ve been in a position to spot the variations if I didn’t have earlier than and after photographs.
This would be the first laborious items refurbishment because the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. Mix that with the pretty gentle nature of the gentle items refreshes, and neither Kidani Village nor Jambo Home have seen any main room renovations in over 15 years. Nearer to twenty years by the point this challenge is completed!
To one of the best of my information, that makes the Animal Kingdom Villas the oldest rooms at Walt Disney World proper now.
As for what to anticipate, the Animal Kingdom Villas are in an attention-grabbing spot the place they’ve missed two earlier waves of room refurbishments. They predate those that started round 2014 that generified rooms, they usually additionally missed the more moderen wave that started with Disney’s Riviera Resort.
This implies a few issues. The primary is that the Animal Kingdom Villas are extra thematically pure than subsequent new or redone rooms that adopted for concerning the subsequent decade. Throughout that point, there have been a variety of rooms that seemed like generic Marriott or Hiltons, one thing of which we had been extremely essential for some time.
Fortunately, the more moderen wave has been stronger thematically. Their observe file hasn’t been good, however the villas at BoardWalk, Seashore Membership, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, and so forth have been enhancements over their speedy predecessors. Just about each single DVC room redesign within the final 6 years has had a optimistic end result.
That is additionally true from a useful perspective, because the modifications that rolled out with Disney’s Riviera Resort have been rolled out in room redesigns. The outdated Animal Kingdom Villas opened lengthy earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds that began debuting in late 2019. These will completely be added throughout this refurbishment, simply as they’ve been added at Bay Lake Tower, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, and each different DVC resort that’s had its rooms refurbished since.
Given the developments over the past ~6 years, right here’s what else we are able to anticipate with the room reimaginings at Jambo Home and Kidani Village:
- Changing the couch sleeper with a combo couch-bed that pulls down from the wall
- Extra shops and charging ports
- Carpet changed by laminate flooring and space rug
- Disney artwork added to rooms
- Brighter and airier interiors with extra pops of colour
- Desk and chairs changed by fifth sleeper
- Improved and oblique lighting with extra fine-tuned management
Remember the fact that that is purely speculative based mostly on constant previous precedent within the final ~6 years. I wouldn’t thoughts if the AKV rooms retained the bedframes (which I contemplate timeless and iconic), in addition to the sunshine fixtures, framed artwork, and a few furnishings. However I wouldn’t rely on that. Once more, it’s a tough good refurbishment. What you see within the current rooms might be all ending up at Forged Connection & Property Management.
Right here’s a take a look at the brand new Boulder Ridge (Wilderness Lodge) rooms that can assist you visualize what this might appear to be:
As we’ve talked about repeatedly, the Boulder Ridge Villas are our new #1 rooms in all of Walt Disney World. That is in all probability the closest approximation for the before-after change you may anticipate on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Previous to their refurbishment, these Boulder Ridge rooms had been among the many oldest at Walt Disney World.
The Boulder Ridge rooms acquired a tough items refurbishment and had been gutted within the course of. The room acquired all-new decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds. The outdated Boulder Ridge rooms had been typically criticized for being darkish, drab and dreary. We appreciated the country model, and know a variety of different DVC members who agreed. However there additionally had been loads of complaints, and it’s laborious to disclaim that the rooms seemed dated. They had been additionally very worn by the point of the refurbishment.
It’s an nearly an identical story with the villas at Kidani Village and Jambo Home. Some followers love the thematically-rich designs, others argue they’re a bit lengthy within the tooth and worse for put on. Personally, I don’t essentially assume these sentiments are at odds. I like the underlying themed design of the rooms, however they’re additionally dated and worn. A refresh is badly wanted, and was ~6 years in the past.
As evidenced with Boulder Ridge, the ‘darkish period’ for Walt Disney World room redesigns that concerned a variety of generic and really understated kinds is over. Imagineering has demonstrated a defter design contact with these and different latest DVC rooms. The group tasked with redesigns has hit its stride in trendy but sensible lodging which might be each well-themed and cozy, befitting each Disney and their value factors.
There’s a ton of depth through textures, patterns, and even issues like refined wallpaper. There’s a ton of colour–making this a big departure from the country and drab designs of the prior rooms–nevertheless it’s utilized successfully and these rooms nonetheless have an outdoorsy sensibility to them. The rooms nonetheless look comparatively relaxed and subdued, with calming colours. Most of those look improbable, and do an amazing job balancing modern conveniences with themed design, whereas by no means being overly busy or chaotic.
That is exactly what we’re anticipating at Kidani Village and Jambo Home, albeit within the visible id of Animal Kingdom Lodge. That’s excellent news as a result of, for my tastes, the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge stick the touchdown on well-themed with out being overwhelming. These are my favourite rooms of the usual choices at Wilderness Lodge, new #1 Disney Trip Membership studios, and proper up there with the new-ish rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge as one of the best themed lodging at Walt Disney World (pictured under).
Talking of which, this refurbishment is broadly being reported as being to the rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s straightforward to interpret the announcement that manner, as even the bulletin from Walt Disney World doesn’t clarify the place these refurbishments are taking place.
It’s our expectation that these refurbishments at Kidani Village and Jambo Home solely influence the DVC villas. The resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge was “simply” refurbished again in 2018-2019, as a part of a complete challenge that lasted over a 12 months. Whereas that’s now 6 years in the past, the resort rooms have held up very well.
In digging by means of my archives of resort refurbishments, it doesn’t seem that Walt Disney World ought to be fairly prepared for one more refurbishment at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The one manner I might see this taking place is that if the resort rooms are nonetheless generally receiving complaints about being drab and dreary.
That wouldn’t fully shock me, and if it’s the case, I might see the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge being rolled into this challenge as a fast gentle items refurbishment in 2027. That might make some extent of sense, as Animal Kingdom Lodge could be among the many subsequent resorts up for a light-weight refresh in the direction of the tail finish of this challenge.
In any case, the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge just isn’t a part of the laborious items refurbishment that can overhaul the Animal Kingdom Villas. No matter occurs to the DVC rooms might be materially totally different than the circa 2019 AKL rooms, and regardless of the future holds for the AKL resort rooms, it’ll be materially totally different from the upcoming DVC designs.
That is complicated, I do know, and is the byproduct of Jambo Home being dwelling to each Animal Kingdom Lodge (resort rooms) and the Animal Kingdom Villas. There was related confusion again through the phased reopening concerning the distinction between AKV and AKL.
With all of this mentioned, I’ll admit to being barely nervous concerning the room redos on the Animal Kingdom Villas.
Regardless that the brand new rooms at AKL turned out superior and had been an anomaly for his or her period, how a lot of that may very well be attributed to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde being the champion for all issues Animal Kingdom? He fought laborious to make sure that the park and its related resort maintained thematic integrity, even within the face of IP mandates and extra. Rohde is gone now.
Room reimaginings have typically gotten higher, not worse, since then, however might this be the exception the place the high-water mark was truly again in 2019? My intestine remains to be that it is a internet optimistic for the Animal Kingdom Villas, particularly given the present situation of the rooms, however I fear barely between ‘evolving trendy visitor preferences’ and the shortage of Rohde that we’re going to finish up with Lion King rooms versus the richly-themed design for which Animal Kingdom Lodge is thought.
When it comes to the influence to friends staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas and Kidani Village, there in all probability gained’t be a lot of 1. The final time Walt Disney World did a room reimagining in the principle lodge was a number of years in the past for the resort rooms. Throughout that, total flooring had been taken out of fee one after the other, and the work was solely performed throughout daytime hours.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge throughout that challenge, and I needed to exit of my option to see indicators of the work. I wouldn’t have even identified it was occurring, however for these and numerous hallways being blocked off, which was seen from the foyer under.
Should you’re staying above or under one of many flooring being labored on and you are inclined to take naps through the day, it’s totally attainable your expertise might differ. During which case, we’d merely suggest inserting a room request to be on a ground that’s a minimum of one-removed from the present progress.
In the end, there’s a variety of upcoming work at Animal Kingdom Lodge, each Jambo Home and Kidani Village, between now and 2027. All of this would possibly sound overwhelming, to the purpose that it makes you rethink staying right here. Until you’re actually averse to even gentle building noise, we wouldn’t fear about it. Make a room request and be performed with it.
Personally, this is not going to trigger us to rethink upcoming stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge–not even with a toddler who wants noon breaks for naps. Regardless that it’s going to final a number of years, the work is sufficiently remoted, focused, or off within the distance that it offers me no pause.
The development at Jambo Home and Kidani Village gained’t be as unhealthy as staying on the Polynesian throughout Island Tower building, Riviera Resort from Caribbean Seashore, Gran Destino Tower from the remainder of Coronado Springs, and even Disney Lakeshore Lodge from Fort Wilderness.
What we will do is wait till a enough variety of the room refurbishments are accomplished earlier than staying at Kidani Village or within the Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo Home earlier than reserving these with DVC factors. Though I like the thought of the “pure” themed design within the OG rooms, they had been trying extremely drained the final time we stayed in them, and that was a few years in the past for Jambo Home and even longer in the past for Kidani Village. DVC villas will not be one thing that ages like advantageous wine, so that they’re in all probability in even worse form now.
We’re glad to attend, particularly with wonderful new rooms coming on-line at Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek, and elsewhere. We’re cautiously optimistic that the consequence might be related on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Right here’s hoping that Imagineering can thread the needle, engaging in one thing that marries the look of the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort room redo from 2019 with Boulder Ridge. We’ll hold you posted!
Should you’re planning a WDW journey, we may also help! For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the development round Animal Kingdom Lodge between now and 2027? Excited for the room refurbishment at Jambo Home or Kidani Village? Have you ever stayed at AKL because the resort rooms had been redone in 2019? What did you consider these “new” rooms? Hoping that the top consequence right here is just like these and/or Boulder Ridge? Do you agree or disagree with our suggestion to make a room request reasonably than keep elsewhere? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has began to announce resort refurbishments for the subsequent couple of years. One of many largest upcoming resort tasks might be at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which now has confirmed dates from Fall 2025 by means of 2027. This shares particulars, plus our commentary concerning the impacts of the work and which rooms in all probability will not be modified.
That is one of some multi-year tasks which might be both at the moment underway or will begin quickly, an inventory that additionally contains the 12 months-Lengthy Pop Century Room Refurbishment, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts Room Refurbishments Underway Till 2026 (or 2027) and Wilderness Lodge . These in all probability will not be the one resort renovations on the horizon, both–simply those that reach into 2026 or 2027. Control our Walt Disney World Lodge Development Tracker for additional updates.
As we’ve talked about elsewhere, lots of the Walt Disney World resort laborious & gentle items refurbishment timelines have been delayed because of the closure and the pent-up demand in its aftermath. The excellent news is that this hasn’t been as unhealthy on the resort aspect as with DVC properties, so Walt Disney World gained’t be spending the subsequent few years enjoying catch-up, however between a number of postponed tasks and the probability of larger-scale reimaginings and new building, there’s lots on the horizon.
Towards that backdrop, right here’s the official announcement from Walt Disney World concerning the multi-year Animal Kingdom Lodge refurbishment:
From October 2025 by means of Might 2026, Visitor rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will bear refurbishment, adopted by refurbishment work at Jambo Home from Might 2026 by means of January 2027. Throughout these instances, Friends might even see or hear building work within the space. All facilities will stay accessible all through the refurbishment.
This refurbishment was to be anticipated. As mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Resort Refurbishment Timeline, this was already introduced on the condominium affiliation assembly late final 12 months, and easily given a 2025-2026 timeline. What the newest replace does is slender down the dates, whereas additionally extending the top goal. No shock there, as later begins and longer timelines have grow to be the norm.
Though not formally said, this room redo at Kidani Village and Jambo Home is the long-awaited laborious items refurbishment. For these unfamiliar with this time period, it’s sometimes a gut-job throughout which the furnishings, flooring, fixtures, and different parts are changed. We refer to those as room reimaginings, as they normally lead to materially-different rooms. It’s sometimes a night-and-day distinction, with none of the identical furnishings or fixtures.
In between laborious items refurbishments, there are gentle items refurbishments to increase the lifetime of a specific room design, and to provide them a recent look that takes benefit of trade developments and improvements in design. Delicate items refurbishments sometimes contain updating furnishings, together with however not restricted to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
Walt Disney World has been using gentle items refurbishments fairly successfully within the final decade to introduce space-saving design options. Consequently, the road has been blurred between gentle and hards items refurbishments, to the purpose that we’ve seen large modifications throughout gentle items tasks (particularly on the DVC aspect) to put in new fold-down beds and make different main modifications.
We point out each varieties of room refurbishments and this line-blurring as a result of the Animal Kingdom Villas missed the boat for this. Whereas these rooms have acquired gentle items refurbishments beforehand, they’ve been minor and barely noticeable. Mainly simply swapping out some materials and carpet–I’m unsure I’d’ve been in a position to spot the variations if I didn’t have earlier than and after photographs.
This would be the first laborious items refurbishment because the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. Mix that with the pretty gentle nature of the gentle items refreshes, and neither Kidani Village nor Jambo Home have seen any main room renovations in over 15 years. Nearer to twenty years by the point this challenge is completed!
To one of the best of my information, that makes the Animal Kingdom Villas the oldest rooms at Walt Disney World proper now.
As for what to anticipate, the Animal Kingdom Villas are in an attention-grabbing spot the place they’ve missed two earlier waves of room refurbishments. They predate those that started round 2014 that generified rooms, they usually additionally missed the more moderen wave that started with Disney’s Riviera Resort.
This implies a few issues. The primary is that the Animal Kingdom Villas are extra thematically pure than subsequent new or redone rooms that adopted for concerning the subsequent decade. Throughout that point, there have been a variety of rooms that seemed like generic Marriott or Hiltons, one thing of which we had been extremely essential for some time.
Fortunately, the more moderen wave has been stronger thematically. Their observe file hasn’t been good, however the villas at BoardWalk, Seashore Membership, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, and so forth have been enhancements over their speedy predecessors. Just about each single DVC room redesign within the final 6 years has had a optimistic end result.
That is additionally true from a useful perspective, because the modifications that rolled out with Disney’s Riviera Resort have been rolled out in room redesigns. The outdated Animal Kingdom Villas opened lengthy earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds that began debuting in late 2019. These will completely be added throughout this refurbishment, simply as they’ve been added at Bay Lake Tower, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, and each different DVC resort that’s had its rooms refurbished since.
Given the developments over the past ~6 years, right here’s what else we are able to anticipate with the room reimaginings at Jambo Home and Kidani Village:
- Changing the couch sleeper with a combo couch-bed that pulls down from the wall
- Extra shops and charging ports
- Carpet changed by laminate flooring and space rug
- Disney artwork added to rooms
- Brighter and airier interiors with extra pops of colour
- Desk and chairs changed by fifth sleeper
- Improved and oblique lighting with extra fine-tuned management
Remember the fact that that is purely speculative based mostly on constant previous precedent within the final ~6 years. I wouldn’t thoughts if the AKV rooms retained the bedframes (which I contemplate timeless and iconic), in addition to the sunshine fixtures, framed artwork, and a few furnishings. However I wouldn’t rely on that. Once more, it’s a tough good refurbishment. What you see within the current rooms might be all ending up at Forged Connection & Property Management.
Right here’s a take a look at the brand new Boulder Ridge (Wilderness Lodge) rooms that can assist you visualize what this might appear to be:
As we’ve talked about repeatedly, the Boulder Ridge Villas are our new #1 rooms in all of Walt Disney World. That is in all probability the closest approximation for the before-after change you may anticipate on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Previous to their refurbishment, these Boulder Ridge rooms had been among the many oldest at Walt Disney World.
The Boulder Ridge rooms acquired a tough items refurbishment and had been gutted within the course of. The room acquired all-new decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds. The outdated Boulder Ridge rooms had been typically criticized for being darkish, drab and dreary. We appreciated the country model, and know a variety of different DVC members who agreed. However there additionally had been loads of complaints, and it’s laborious to disclaim that the rooms seemed dated. They had been additionally very worn by the point of the refurbishment.
It’s an nearly an identical story with the villas at Kidani Village and Jambo Home. Some followers love the thematically-rich designs, others argue they’re a bit lengthy within the tooth and worse for put on. Personally, I don’t essentially assume these sentiments are at odds. I like the underlying themed design of the rooms, however they’re additionally dated and worn. A refresh is badly wanted, and was ~6 years in the past.
As evidenced with Boulder Ridge, the ‘darkish period’ for Walt Disney World room redesigns that concerned a variety of generic and really understated kinds is over. Imagineering has demonstrated a defter design contact with these and different latest DVC rooms. The group tasked with redesigns has hit its stride in trendy but sensible lodging which might be each well-themed and cozy, befitting each Disney and their value factors.
There’s a ton of depth through textures, patterns, and even issues like refined wallpaper. There’s a ton of colour–making this a big departure from the country and drab designs of the prior rooms–nevertheless it’s utilized successfully and these rooms nonetheless have an outdoorsy sensibility to them. The rooms nonetheless look comparatively relaxed and subdued, with calming colours. Most of those look improbable, and do an amazing job balancing modern conveniences with themed design, whereas by no means being overly busy or chaotic.
That is exactly what we’re anticipating at Kidani Village and Jambo Home, albeit within the visible id of Animal Kingdom Lodge. That’s excellent news as a result of, for my tastes, the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge stick the touchdown on well-themed with out being overwhelming. These are my favourite rooms of the usual choices at Wilderness Lodge, new #1 Disney Trip Membership studios, and proper up there with the new-ish rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge as one of the best themed lodging at Walt Disney World (pictured under).
Talking of which, this refurbishment is broadly being reported as being to the rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s straightforward to interpret the announcement that manner, as even the bulletin from Walt Disney World doesn’t clarify the place these refurbishments are taking place.
It’s our expectation that these refurbishments at Kidani Village and Jambo Home solely influence the DVC villas. The resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge was “simply” refurbished again in 2018-2019, as a part of a complete challenge that lasted over a 12 months. Whereas that’s now 6 years in the past, the resort rooms have held up very well.
In digging by means of my archives of resort refurbishments, it doesn’t seem that Walt Disney World ought to be fairly prepared for one more refurbishment at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The one manner I might see this taking place is that if the resort rooms are nonetheless generally receiving complaints about being drab and dreary.
That wouldn’t fully shock me, and if it’s the case, I might see the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge being rolled into this challenge as a fast gentle items refurbishment in 2027. That might make some extent of sense, as Animal Kingdom Lodge could be among the many subsequent resorts up for a light-weight refresh in the direction of the tail finish of this challenge.
In any case, the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge just isn’t a part of the laborious items refurbishment that can overhaul the Animal Kingdom Villas. No matter occurs to the DVC rooms might be materially totally different than the circa 2019 AKL rooms, and regardless of the future holds for the AKL resort rooms, it’ll be materially totally different from the upcoming DVC designs.
That is complicated, I do know, and is the byproduct of Jambo Home being dwelling to each Animal Kingdom Lodge (resort rooms) and the Animal Kingdom Villas. There was related confusion again through the phased reopening concerning the distinction between AKV and AKL.
With all of this mentioned, I’ll admit to being barely nervous concerning the room redos on the Animal Kingdom Villas.
Regardless that the brand new rooms at AKL turned out superior and had been an anomaly for his or her period, how a lot of that may very well be attributed to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde being the champion for all issues Animal Kingdom? He fought laborious to make sure that the park and its related resort maintained thematic integrity, even within the face of IP mandates and extra. Rohde is gone now.
Room reimaginings have typically gotten higher, not worse, since then, however might this be the exception the place the high-water mark was truly again in 2019? My intestine remains to be that it is a internet optimistic for the Animal Kingdom Villas, particularly given the present situation of the rooms, however I fear barely between ‘evolving trendy visitor preferences’ and the shortage of Rohde that we’re going to finish up with Lion King rooms versus the richly-themed design for which Animal Kingdom Lodge is thought.
When it comes to the influence to friends staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas and Kidani Village, there in all probability gained’t be a lot of 1. The final time Walt Disney World did a room reimagining in the principle lodge was a number of years in the past for the resort rooms. Throughout that, total flooring had been taken out of fee one after the other, and the work was solely performed throughout daytime hours.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge throughout that challenge, and I needed to exit of my option to see indicators of the work. I wouldn’t have even identified it was occurring, however for these and numerous hallways being blocked off, which was seen from the foyer under.
Should you’re staying above or under one of many flooring being labored on and you are inclined to take naps through the day, it’s totally attainable your expertise might differ. During which case, we’d merely suggest inserting a room request to be on a ground that’s a minimum of one-removed from the present progress.
In the end, there’s a variety of upcoming work at Animal Kingdom Lodge, each Jambo Home and Kidani Village, between now and 2027. All of this would possibly sound overwhelming, to the purpose that it makes you rethink staying right here. Until you’re actually averse to even gentle building noise, we wouldn’t fear about it. Make a room request and be performed with it.
Personally, this is not going to trigger us to rethink upcoming stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge–not even with a toddler who wants noon breaks for naps. Regardless that it’s going to final a number of years, the work is sufficiently remoted, focused, or off within the distance that it offers me no pause.
The development at Jambo Home and Kidani Village gained’t be as unhealthy as staying on the Polynesian throughout Island Tower building, Riviera Resort from Caribbean Seashore, Gran Destino Tower from the remainder of Coronado Springs, and even Disney Lakeshore Lodge from Fort Wilderness.
What we will do is wait till a enough variety of the room refurbishments are accomplished earlier than staying at Kidani Village or within the Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo Home earlier than reserving these with DVC factors. Though I like the thought of the “pure” themed design within the OG rooms, they had been trying extremely drained the final time we stayed in them, and that was a few years in the past for Jambo Home and even longer in the past for Kidani Village. DVC villas will not be one thing that ages like advantageous wine, so that they’re in all probability in even worse form now.
We’re glad to attend, particularly with wonderful new rooms coming on-line at Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek, and elsewhere. We’re cautiously optimistic that the consequence might be related on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Right here’s hoping that Imagineering can thread the needle, engaging in one thing that marries the look of the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort room redo from 2019 with Boulder Ridge. We’ll hold you posted!
Should you’re planning a WDW journey, we may also help! For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the development round Animal Kingdom Lodge between now and 2027? Excited for the room refurbishment at Jambo Home or Kidani Village? Have you ever stayed at AKL because the resort rooms had been redone in 2019? What did you consider these “new” rooms? Hoping that the top consequence right here is just like these and/or Boulder Ridge? Do you agree or disagree with our suggestion to make a room request reasonably than keep elsewhere? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has began to announce resort refurbishments for the subsequent couple of years. One of many largest upcoming resort tasks might be at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which now has confirmed dates from Fall 2025 by means of 2027. This shares particulars, plus our commentary concerning the impacts of the work and which rooms in all probability will not be modified.
That is one of some multi-year tasks which might be both at the moment underway or will begin quickly, an inventory that additionally contains the 12 months-Lengthy Pop Century Room Refurbishment, Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts Room Refurbishments Underway Till 2026 (or 2027) and Wilderness Lodge . These in all probability will not be the one resort renovations on the horizon, both–simply those that reach into 2026 or 2027. Control our Walt Disney World Lodge Development Tracker for additional updates.
As we’ve talked about elsewhere, lots of the Walt Disney World resort laborious & gentle items refurbishment timelines have been delayed because of the closure and the pent-up demand in its aftermath. The excellent news is that this hasn’t been as unhealthy on the resort aspect as with DVC properties, so Walt Disney World gained’t be spending the subsequent few years enjoying catch-up, however between a number of postponed tasks and the probability of larger-scale reimaginings and new building, there’s lots on the horizon.
Towards that backdrop, right here’s the official announcement from Walt Disney World concerning the multi-year Animal Kingdom Lodge refurbishment:
From October 2025 by means of Might 2026, Visitor rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will bear refurbishment, adopted by refurbishment work at Jambo Home from Might 2026 by means of January 2027. Throughout these instances, Friends might even see or hear building work within the space. All facilities will stay accessible all through the refurbishment.
This refurbishment was to be anticipated. As mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Resort Refurbishment Timeline, this was already introduced on the condominium affiliation assembly late final 12 months, and easily given a 2025-2026 timeline. What the newest replace does is slender down the dates, whereas additionally extending the top goal. No shock there, as later begins and longer timelines have grow to be the norm.
Though not formally said, this room redo at Kidani Village and Jambo Home is the long-awaited laborious items refurbishment. For these unfamiliar with this time period, it’s sometimes a gut-job throughout which the furnishings, flooring, fixtures, and different parts are changed. We refer to those as room reimaginings, as they normally lead to materially-different rooms. It’s sometimes a night-and-day distinction, with none of the identical furnishings or fixtures.
In between laborious items refurbishments, there are gentle items refurbishments to increase the lifetime of a specific room design, and to provide them a recent look that takes benefit of trade developments and improvements in design. Delicate items refurbishments sometimes contain updating furnishings, together with however not restricted to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
Walt Disney World has been using gentle items refurbishments fairly successfully within the final decade to introduce space-saving design options. Consequently, the road has been blurred between gentle and hards items refurbishments, to the purpose that we’ve seen large modifications throughout gentle items tasks (particularly on the DVC aspect) to put in new fold-down beds and make different main modifications.
We point out each varieties of room refurbishments and this line-blurring as a result of the Animal Kingdom Villas missed the boat for this. Whereas these rooms have acquired gentle items refurbishments beforehand, they’ve been minor and barely noticeable. Mainly simply swapping out some materials and carpet–I’m unsure I’d’ve been in a position to spot the variations if I didn’t have earlier than and after photographs.
This would be the first laborious items refurbishment because the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. Mix that with the pretty gentle nature of the gentle items refreshes, and neither Kidani Village nor Jambo Home have seen any main room renovations in over 15 years. Nearer to twenty years by the point this challenge is completed!
To one of the best of my information, that makes the Animal Kingdom Villas the oldest rooms at Walt Disney World proper now.
As for what to anticipate, the Animal Kingdom Villas are in an attention-grabbing spot the place they’ve missed two earlier waves of room refurbishments. They predate those that started round 2014 that generified rooms, they usually additionally missed the more moderen wave that started with Disney’s Riviera Resort.
This implies a few issues. The primary is that the Animal Kingdom Villas are extra thematically pure than subsequent new or redone rooms that adopted for concerning the subsequent decade. Throughout that point, there have been a variety of rooms that seemed like generic Marriott or Hiltons, one thing of which we had been extremely essential for some time.
Fortunately, the more moderen wave has been stronger thematically. Their observe file hasn’t been good, however the villas at BoardWalk, Seashore Membership, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, and so forth have been enhancements over their speedy predecessors. Just about each single DVC room redesign within the final 6 years has had a optimistic end result.
That is additionally true from a useful perspective, because the modifications that rolled out with Disney’s Riviera Resort have been rolled out in room redesigns. The outdated Animal Kingdom Villas opened lengthy earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds that began debuting in late 2019. These will completely be added throughout this refurbishment, simply as they’ve been added at Bay Lake Tower, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, and each different DVC resort that’s had its rooms refurbished since.
Given the developments over the past ~6 years, right here’s what else we are able to anticipate with the room reimaginings at Jambo Home and Kidani Village:
- Changing the couch sleeper with a combo couch-bed that pulls down from the wall
- Extra shops and charging ports
- Carpet changed by laminate flooring and space rug
- Disney artwork added to rooms
- Brighter and airier interiors with extra pops of colour
- Desk and chairs changed by fifth sleeper
- Improved and oblique lighting with extra fine-tuned management
Remember the fact that that is purely speculative based mostly on constant previous precedent within the final ~6 years. I wouldn’t thoughts if the AKV rooms retained the bedframes (which I contemplate timeless and iconic), in addition to the sunshine fixtures, framed artwork, and a few furnishings. However I wouldn’t rely on that. Once more, it’s a tough good refurbishment. What you see within the current rooms might be all ending up at Forged Connection & Property Management.
Right here’s a take a look at the brand new Boulder Ridge (Wilderness Lodge) rooms that can assist you visualize what this might appear to be:
As we’ve talked about repeatedly, the Boulder Ridge Villas are our new #1 rooms in all of Walt Disney World. That is in all probability the closest approximation for the before-after change you may anticipate on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Previous to their refurbishment, these Boulder Ridge rooms had been among the many oldest at Walt Disney World.
The Boulder Ridge rooms acquired a tough items refurbishment and had been gutted within the course of. The room acquired all-new decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds. The outdated Boulder Ridge rooms had been typically criticized for being darkish, drab and dreary. We appreciated the country model, and know a variety of different DVC members who agreed. However there additionally had been loads of complaints, and it’s laborious to disclaim that the rooms seemed dated. They had been additionally very worn by the point of the refurbishment.
It’s an nearly an identical story with the villas at Kidani Village and Jambo Home. Some followers love the thematically-rich designs, others argue they’re a bit lengthy within the tooth and worse for put on. Personally, I don’t essentially assume these sentiments are at odds. I like the underlying themed design of the rooms, however they’re additionally dated and worn. A refresh is badly wanted, and was ~6 years in the past.
As evidenced with Boulder Ridge, the ‘darkish period’ for Walt Disney World room redesigns that concerned a variety of generic and really understated kinds is over. Imagineering has demonstrated a defter design contact with these and different latest DVC rooms. The group tasked with redesigns has hit its stride in trendy but sensible lodging which might be each well-themed and cozy, befitting each Disney and their value factors.
There’s a ton of depth through textures, patterns, and even issues like refined wallpaper. There’s a ton of colour–making this a big departure from the country and drab designs of the prior rooms–nevertheless it’s utilized successfully and these rooms nonetheless have an outdoorsy sensibility to them. The rooms nonetheless look comparatively relaxed and subdued, with calming colours. Most of those look improbable, and do an amazing job balancing modern conveniences with themed design, whereas by no means being overly busy or chaotic.
That is exactly what we’re anticipating at Kidani Village and Jambo Home, albeit within the visible id of Animal Kingdom Lodge. That’s excellent news as a result of, for my tastes, the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge stick the touchdown on well-themed with out being overwhelming. These are my favourite rooms of the usual choices at Wilderness Lodge, new #1 Disney Trip Membership studios, and proper up there with the new-ish rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge as one of the best themed lodging at Walt Disney World (pictured under).
Talking of which, this refurbishment is broadly being reported as being to the rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s straightforward to interpret the announcement that manner, as even the bulletin from Walt Disney World doesn’t clarify the place these refurbishments are taking place.
It’s our expectation that these refurbishments at Kidani Village and Jambo Home solely influence the DVC villas. The resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge was “simply” refurbished again in 2018-2019, as a part of a complete challenge that lasted over a 12 months. Whereas that’s now 6 years in the past, the resort rooms have held up very well.
In digging by means of my archives of resort refurbishments, it doesn’t seem that Walt Disney World ought to be fairly prepared for one more refurbishment at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The one manner I might see this taking place is that if the resort rooms are nonetheless generally receiving complaints about being drab and dreary.
That wouldn’t fully shock me, and if it’s the case, I might see the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge being rolled into this challenge as a fast gentle items refurbishment in 2027. That might make some extent of sense, as Animal Kingdom Lodge could be among the many subsequent resorts up for a light-weight refresh in the direction of the tail finish of this challenge.
In any case, the resort aspect of Animal Kingdom Lodge just isn’t a part of the laborious items refurbishment that can overhaul the Animal Kingdom Villas. No matter occurs to the DVC rooms might be materially totally different than the circa 2019 AKL rooms, and regardless of the future holds for the AKL resort rooms, it’ll be materially totally different from the upcoming DVC designs.
That is complicated, I do know, and is the byproduct of Jambo Home being dwelling to each Animal Kingdom Lodge (resort rooms) and the Animal Kingdom Villas. There was related confusion again through the phased reopening concerning the distinction between AKV and AKL.
With all of this mentioned, I’ll admit to being barely nervous concerning the room redos on the Animal Kingdom Villas.
Regardless that the brand new rooms at AKL turned out superior and had been an anomaly for his or her period, how a lot of that may very well be attributed to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde being the champion for all issues Animal Kingdom? He fought laborious to make sure that the park and its related resort maintained thematic integrity, even within the face of IP mandates and extra. Rohde is gone now.
Room reimaginings have typically gotten higher, not worse, since then, however might this be the exception the place the high-water mark was truly again in 2019? My intestine remains to be that it is a internet optimistic for the Animal Kingdom Villas, particularly given the present situation of the rooms, however I fear barely between ‘evolving trendy visitor preferences’ and the shortage of Rohde that we’re going to finish up with Lion King rooms versus the richly-themed design for which Animal Kingdom Lodge is thought.
When it comes to the influence to friends staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas and Kidani Village, there in all probability gained’t be a lot of 1. The final time Walt Disney World did a room reimagining in the principle lodge was a number of years in the past for the resort rooms. Throughout that, total flooring had been taken out of fee one after the other, and the work was solely performed throughout daytime hours.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge throughout that challenge, and I needed to exit of my option to see indicators of the work. I wouldn’t have even identified it was occurring, however for these and numerous hallways being blocked off, which was seen from the foyer under.
Should you’re staying above or under one of many flooring being labored on and you are inclined to take naps through the day, it’s totally attainable your expertise might differ. During which case, we’d merely suggest inserting a room request to be on a ground that’s a minimum of one-removed from the present progress.
In the end, there’s a variety of upcoming work at Animal Kingdom Lodge, each Jambo Home and Kidani Village, between now and 2027. All of this would possibly sound overwhelming, to the purpose that it makes you rethink staying right here. Until you’re actually averse to even gentle building noise, we wouldn’t fear about it. Make a room request and be performed with it.
Personally, this is not going to trigger us to rethink upcoming stays at Animal Kingdom Lodge–not even with a toddler who wants noon breaks for naps. Regardless that it’s going to final a number of years, the work is sufficiently remoted, focused, or off within the distance that it offers me no pause.
The development at Jambo Home and Kidani Village gained’t be as unhealthy as staying on the Polynesian throughout Island Tower building, Riviera Resort from Caribbean Seashore, Gran Destino Tower from the remainder of Coronado Springs, and even Disney Lakeshore Lodge from Fort Wilderness.
What we will do is wait till a enough variety of the room refurbishments are accomplished earlier than staying at Kidani Village or within the Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo Home earlier than reserving these with DVC factors. Though I like the thought of the “pure” themed design within the OG rooms, they had been trying extremely drained the final time we stayed in them, and that was a few years in the past for Jambo Home and even longer in the past for Kidani Village. DVC villas will not be one thing that ages like advantageous wine, so that they’re in all probability in even worse form now.
We’re glad to attend, particularly with wonderful new rooms coming on-line at Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek, and elsewhere. We’re cautiously optimistic that the consequence might be related on the Animal Kingdom Villas. Right here’s hoping that Imagineering can thread the needle, engaging in one thing that marries the look of the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort room redo from 2019 with Boulder Ridge. We’ll hold you posted!
Should you’re planning a WDW journey, we may also help! For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the development round Animal Kingdom Lodge between now and 2027? Excited for the room refurbishment at Jambo Home or Kidani Village? Have you ever stayed at AKL because the resort rooms had been redone in 2019? What did you consider these “new” rooms? Hoping that the top consequence right here is just like these and/or Boulder Ridge? Do you agree or disagree with our suggestion to make a room request reasonably than keep elsewhere? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
