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Can You Walk from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom Park?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is one of the most serene locations at Disney World.

With the Animal Kingdom Lodge not too far away, it’s easy to think you can stroll between the two.

Unfortunately, you can’t walk from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom Park, as there’s no pedestrian path efficiently connecting these locations. (You’d need to cross the Osceola Parkway and walk for miles in the opposite direction!) Traveling by car or using the in-park motorcoach is safer and quicker, taking approximately 10 minutes from one site to the other.

Using a vehicle to travel between Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Park is not only the better option, it saves your valuable time and energy for more park-related fun.

How Do I Get to Animal Kingdom From Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge?

People walking around the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom

A rental car is the most convenient way to move between the two locations.

The distance between them is about 2.5 miles and takes around 10-15 minutes.

There is an on-site shuttle, but with your own car, you won’t need to consult a timetable, and you can take advantage of the free regular parking at the park and resort.

If you don’t have a car, the internal bus service at Disney World is a viable option.

The only downside is that the buses arrive every 15-20 minutes, so you can’t get to the park on your own terms. 

But other than obeying a schedule, everything else is smooth-sailing – the shuttles even arrive at Animal Kingdom faster than a car, getting you to the fun 5 minutes sooner.

You also don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot.

A third possible option is using Uber or Lyft.

Hail one of them through their respective apps, and the price comes to roughly $10.

The final option is hypothetical – for now.  

While the aerial gondolas of the Disney Skyliner system don’t have a station at the park yet, they may someday link Animal Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

At the time of writing, Disney has no official plans to add this system to the two locations, but it’s something to look out for in the near future.

How Long Does It Take To Walk From Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge To Animal Kingdom?

People hiking through a trail in the World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It takes at least an hour to walk from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, but that’s not counting stops (and you’re going to make several).

Though the terrain is not rough, the route between the two locations isn’t the easiest to navigate.

Blocked roads and restricted pathways make the journey harder than it should be, which is why building a walking path has been a challenge for Disney.

Even if Disney could figure out something feasible, it would only reduce walking time by about half, and there’s nothing Disney can do about the variable Florida weather.

Orlando is usually hot or rainy, so vehicle-based transport is the best option for quickly getting to the park while staying cool and dry.

What’s The Distance Between Animal Kingdom Lodge And Other Disney Theme Parks?

While the distance between the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Park is a reasonable 2.5 miles, the Lodge is farther away from the other Disney parks.

It’s about 6 miles to Hollywood Studios, 8 miles to Epcot, and 12 miles to the Magic Kingdom.

You will definitely need a vehicle to get to these parks from Animal Kingdom Lodge.

What Does Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Have To Offer?

Out of the couple dozen resorts at Disney World, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is, undoubtedly, the most unique.

This Disney resort is as close to an African safari as you can get in North America.

It covers a sizable area of land populated by wild animals indigenous to the African savanna, including giraffes, zebras, a myriad of birds, and other herbivorous wildlife.

If distance is what’s keeping you from considering the Animal Kingdom Lodge, check out what’s on offer before discarding it from your list.

1. Savannas

An elephant near a body of water at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom Lodge has three main private savannas covering 11 acres: the Sunset Savanna, the Arusha Savanna, and the Uzima Savanna.

There’s also the Pembe Savanna, but it’s nowhere near as big (or popular) as the other three.

These are the animals you’re likely to find in each savanna:

  • Sunset Savanna – Male giraffes, bongos, impalas, Thomson’s gazelles, ostriches, Ankole cattle, waterbuck, African crown cranes, stork, and blue cranes
  • Arusha Savanna – Pelicans, geese, giraffe, Ankole cattle, zebra, wildebeest, eland, and gemsbok
  • Uzima Savanna – Giraffes, impala, kudu, bongo, blesbok, and Thomson’s gazelles
  • Pember Savanna – Nyala, impala, waterbuck, spur-winged geese, ground hornbill, red river hogs, ostrich, and okapi.

Select rooms offer stunning views of one or two of the savannas, allowing you to soak in the sights from the comfort of your balcony.

You can also view the wildlife without staying at the hotel.

You can check out the Sunset Savanna from the Jambo House, and the Kidani lobby overlooks it.

The Arusha Savanna is visible from the main lobby of Jambo House and the hallways of the Zebra and Kudu trail.

The Uzima Savanna is visible from the Uzima Springs pool area, while the Pembe Savanna can be seen through select windows at the Kidani House.

2. Disney Deluxe Villas

The resort offers high-end villas at Kidani Village and Jambo House, spacious enough for multiple or extended families.

These unique rooms offer a premium vacation experience featuring a fully equipped kitchen, a whirlpool tub, a Pack’ n Play crib (if you’re traveling with an infant), and much more.

The availability of special features depends on the number of bedrooms selected. 

A three-bedroom villa offers a bit of everything, while a one-bedroom may lack some elements.

Deluxe Studios are the smallest and can sleep up to four guests and an infant, while three-bedroom villas are the most spacious, sleeping up to twelve guests and an infant.

These premium accommodations come at a price, with studios ranging from $500-$1,500 per night and a three-bedroom villa costing anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 per night.

3. Eateries and Recreation

Animal Kingdom Lodge has a variety of restaurants, each giving you a taste of Africa.

Sanaa is a fan favorite and serves East African cuisine with an Indian twist.

The theming tells you all you need to know about the food as African-inspired artifacts and furniture set the tone and atmosphere of the dining room.

Other exquisite restaurants like Jiko, Boma, and Victoria Falls Lounge also offer an exceptional dining experience.

In addition to the incredible grounds, the Lodge features a massive 11,000-square-foot pool visible from most of the surrounding areas.

You can enjoy a nice cold drink at the bar while the kids have a good time in the wading pool, giving everyone a fun and relaxing time at the Lodge.

Is Staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Worth It?

Multiple people outside of the Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the higher-end resorts at Disney World.

The main factor for consideration is budget, while the distance to other park areas is a close second.

You won’t regret a full stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge – if you can afford it.

The resort offers an unforgettable experience you’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else.

However, it’s not the end of the world if you want to spend your money on other things.

You can easily get most of the services and amenities at other on-site and off-site resorts. 

And while the savannas are the biggest miss, you can make a special trip to one of the resort’s eateries to enjoy the wildlife while you dine.

If you do choose to stay at the Lodge, I suggest planning an extended stay at Disney World because you will lose some time traveling to and from the parks.

Conclusion

If you’re planning a stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, know it’ll cost you a pretty penny, and make sure you can handle the distance between the resort and the rest of the theme parks.

Animal Kingdom is the nearest Disney World park, but even then, you will need to use a car or the on-site bus service to get there efficiently.

Walking between the Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Park is not recommended, and if you choose to do it, the absence of reliable pathways makes it challenging. 

You’ll have to take a roundabout path that takes at least an hour, and in Florida weather, it can either be a hot journey or a wet one – or both!

I suggest saving your energy for your day at the parks and leaving the transportation logistics to the professionals.

If you’ve taken all this into account and choose to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, it is sure to be an incredible and memorable hotel experience.