Animal Kingdom Area Resorts at Walt Disney World
The Animal Kingdom Resort Area is one of the quietest and most spread-out resort areas at Walt Disney World. While these resorts are not connected by walking paths, boats, monorails, or the Disney Skyliner, they can still be a great choice depending on your family’s budget and travel style. We love staying in this area for specific types of trips, and it can be a great value at these resorts too!
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The biggest thing to know about staying in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area is that all of these resorts rely on bus transportation to get to the Walt Disney World theme parks. This area is farther out from many of the parks, which is something to consider when you’re planning your trip.
But there are also some big perks to staying here! This area includes some of the most budget-friendly Disney Resort options, a beautiful moderate resort with deluxe-style amenities, and one of the most unique deluxe resorts on Disney property.
Animal Kingdom Resort Area Highlights
- This resort area includes value, moderate, and deluxe resort options, so there is something for a variety of budgets.
- Disney’s All-Star Resorts are some of the most economical ways to stay on Walt Disney World property.
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has moderate pricing with some very deluxe-feeling amenities, especially in Gran Destino Tower.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most unique resorts at Walt Disney World, with beautiful savanna views and animal watching right at the resort.
- All of the resorts in this area use Disney bus transportation to get to the theme parks.
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Resorts in the Animal Kingdom Area
Are you thinking about staying near Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Here’s a look at the resorts in this area, along with my thoughts on which families each one may be best for.
Download the free Animal Kingdom Resort Area reference list to put with your planning materials!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most beautiful and peaceful resorts at Walt Disney World. This deluxe resort feels like a quiet escape from the busyness of the parks, and it is one of our favorite places to stay when we want a slower, more relaxing Disney trip.
The biggest highlight here is the animal viewing. Guests can watch animals right from the resort grounds, and some rooms even have savanna views. It is such a unique experience to wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and look out at giraffes, zebras, and other animals nearby.
Animal Kingdom Lodge also has some wonderful dining options, beautiful theming, and a more peaceful feel than many of the resorts that are closer to the parks. It is a great choice if your family enjoys quiet resort time and wants a place that feels a little more tucked away.
One of the best things about Animal Kingdom Lodge is that it can sometimes be one of the lower-priced deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World. If you are hoping to stay deluxe but still want to stretch your budget, this resort is definitely worth pricing out.
The main drawback is transportation. Animal Kingdom Lodge relies on buses to get to all four theme parks, so you won’t have monorail, boat, walking, or Skyliner access from this resort. If you don’t want to wait for the bus, using Lyft or Uber (or calling a Minnie Van!) can still be a more budget-friendly option than moving up to one of the deluxe resorts in the monorail or EPCOT Resort areas.
Read more about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in my review.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate Disney Resort that often feels much more upscale than you may expect from a moderate category resort. This is especially true if you stay in Gran Destino Tower, which has a beautiful, modern feel and some very deluxe-style spaces.
Coronado Springs is a large resort with a Southwest, Spanish, and Mexican-inspired design. The resort has pretty walking paths, a beautiful lake in the center, and several dining and lounge options that make it feel a little more grown-up and polished.
One of the highlights at Coronado Springs is the pool area. The Dig Site pool has a large Mayan pyramid feature, a waterslide, and plenty of space for families to enjoy a resort day. This can be a great resort choice if your family wants moderate pricing but still wants a more elevated feel.
Gran Destino Tower is especially worth considering if you like the idea of staying somewhere that feels closer to a deluxe hotel without paying deluxe resort prices. The lobby, rooms, lounges, and restaurant options here feel very different from many of the other moderate resorts.
One thing to know before booking Coronado Springs is that it is also a convention resort. There is a large convention center on property, and events are often hosted here. If you are not visiting for a convention, you may notice more adult groups, business travelers, or higher foot traffic around the resort during certain times.
Like the other resorts in this area, Coronado Springs uses bus transportation to get to all four theme parks.
Read more about Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in my review.
You can also read more about Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is one of the value resorts in the Animal Kingdom area, and it can be a great choice for families who want to stay on Disney property while keeping the resort budget lower.
This resort has large, colorful Disney movie theming throughout the property. You’ll find fun sections inspired by favorite Disney films, oversized icons, and a playful feel that kids often really enjoy.
All-Star Movies is not going to have the same amenities as a moderate or deluxe resort, but it does give you the Disney Resort perks, on-property convenience, and access to Disney bus transportation. For many families, that is exactly what they need for a park-focused trip.
If your family plans to spend most of your time in the theme parks and you mainly need a clean, fun place to sleep, All-Star Movies can be a smart budget option.
Read more about Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort in my review.
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort is another value resort in this area and is often one of the more affordable ways to stay at Walt Disney World.
The resort has music-inspired sections, colorful theming, and the same general value resort setup you’ll find at the other All-Star Resorts. It is simple, fun, and budget-friendly.
One thing families may want to look at here is the room options. All-Star Music has family suites, which can be helpful if you need more space than a standard value resort room. These can be a nice middle ground for families who want more room but still want to stay within a lower budget than many moderate or deluxe resort options.
Like the other All-Star Resorts, All-Star Music uses bus transportation to get to all of the Disney theme parks. Even though this area is farther out, buses usually run frequently, and we’ve often found the value resort buses to be very efficient.
Read more about Disney’s All-Star Music Resort in my review.
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is another budget-friendly value resort option in the Animal Kingdom area. This resort has bright sports-themed sections, oversized icons, and a very playful feel.
This can be a good choice if your family is looking for the lowest possible Disney Resort price while still staying on property. Like the other All-Star Resorts, it is not fancy, but it can be a great fit for a park-heavy trip where you are not planning to spend a lot of time at the resort.
All-Star Sports is especially popular with groups, sports teams, and families who want something simple and affordable. If the resort is mainly a place to sleep, shower, and head back out to the parks, this can be a practical option.
Transportation is by bus only, so you’ll want to plan a little extra time when heading to the parks, especially if you have dining reservations or early morning plans.
Read more about Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort in my review.
Transportation in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area
The most important thing to know about transportation in this area is that all of these resorts rely on Disney buses.
There are no walking paths to the theme parks, no monorail access, no boat transportation, and no Disney Skyliner access from these resorts.
That does not mean transportation here is bad, but it does mean you’ll want to plan around it. If you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, or one of the All-Star Resorts, give yourself extra travel time when heading to dining reservations, early park entry, or park hopping plans.
We have found that buses at the value resorts can run very frequently, and sometimes the wait feels shorter than it does at some of the deluxe resorts. But if you are in a hurry, using Lyft or Uber can be a helpful backup option.
For a full overview, read more about bus transportation at Walt Disney World and my Disney World Resort Transportation Guide.
Our Thoughts on the Animal Kingdom Resort Area
The Animal Kingdom Resort Area is not the most convenient location if your main priority is being close to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or Hollywood Studios. These resorts are farther out, and you will be using bus transportation to get everywhere.
But this area can still be a wonderful choice depending on your trip. We actually love staying in this area of Walt Disney World when we are looking for a quiet resort to head back to at the end of the day. And Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our family’ favorite resorts!
If you want one of the most affordable ways to stay on Disney property, the All-Star Resorts can be a great fit. These value resorts are often some of the lowest-priced Disney Resort options, especially when promotions are available!
If you want something a little more elevated while still staying in the moderate category, Coronado Springs is a fantastic option. Gran Destino Tower, the lounges, dining, and pool area all make this resort feel more upscale than you might expect.
And if you want a quiet, beautiful resort with a truly unique Disney experience, Animal Kingdom Lodge is hard to beat. The animal viewing, peaceful atmosphere, and lower deluxe pricing can make it a wonderful value for a deluxe stay.
If you are looking for budget-friendly Disney Resort options and a resort that feels a little more removed from the busyness of the parks, the Animal Kingdom Resort Area is definitely worth looking at!
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Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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