Complete Guide to Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House (w/review)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo House is a Deluxe Villa Resort that is also a Disney Vacation Club Resort.

You can also find Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village on the same property.

This resort is unique in that you get to see animals walking the grounds, just as if you were on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom. It’s a special resort.

Here’s everything you need to know about Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Dedicated buses, less expensive than most Deluxe Resorts, great on-site restaurants, 1 of the most gorgeous WDW resorts, Savanna View rooms have view of animals, during less busy times upgrades are often possible

Cons: Not within viewing or walking distance of any theme parks, Standard View could be disappointing, rooms are smaller than average Deluxe Rooms, on-site restaurants are African and may not appeal to everyone

Overview

Jambo House is inspired by the traditional “kraal,” which is a horseshoe-curved design that offers views savannas where over 30 species of African wildlife can be seen. There’s also African-themed dining, fun pool areas, a range of room selections, including spacious studios and multi-bedroom villas.  

There’s even another Disney Vacation Club resort on property: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village. Animal Kingdom Lodge offers regular guest rooms, whereas the “Villas” refer to DVC accommodations available at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. All of the resorts also share the same dining locations.

Because Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, and Kidani Village are so close to each other, Disney provides an internal shuttle to transport guests between the resorts.

The views are unbeatable and to see African animals roaming, all while staring at a 4 lush savannas is unforgettable. Below is everything you need to know about Jambo House.

Rooms And Bathrooms

Jambo House has several room offerings. You can choose from studios, villas, and even rooms with Club-Level Service.

You can even sleep up to 12 people, depending on the type of room you book. There are room layouts below, if you’d like to check them out.

Rooms feature the standard amenities, including a hairdryer, TV, free WiFi, a coffee maker, telephone, in-room safe, and an iron and ironing board. There are also a range of views, including either one of the savannas, landscaping, pool, or the parking area.

The rooms also have both standard and USB outlets scattered around, with some near the beds and TV stands. Unfortunately, there isn’t space underneath the beds for storing luggage. But, there are closest and drawers for you to place your items.

What makes Jambo House rooms great is that they have more amenities than your average Walt Disney World resort, like toasters, microwaves, full-size kitchens or kitchenettes, and some even have a washer, a dryer, and a dishwasher.

As for the bathrooms, they have a nice amount of counter space. Keep in mind that some of the sink and vanity areas in the bathrooms don’t have a separate door. But, there is a door separating the shower/tub combo and toilet.

Now, let’s take a look at the rooms and their offerings.

Studios

• Deluxe Studio — Standard View: Views of Landscaping or Parking Area; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Spacious accommodations include a kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony
• Deluxe Studio — Savanna View: Views of Savanna; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony
• Studio — Value: Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette with small fridge and microwave, and a balcony

Villas

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Savanna View: Views of One of the Savannas; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Value:Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa; Full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer 
• 1 Bedroom Villa — Standard View: Views of Landscape or Parking Area; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Great for families, villas include a full kitchen, a dining area, a balcony, a washer and dryer

• 3 Bedroom Grand Villa — Savanna View: Views of One of the Savannas; Savanna views can be enjoyed throughout this 2300 sq. ft. space—game room included; 1 King Bed and 4 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa

Studios and Villas with Club-Level Service

These rooms and suites have standard amenities, in addition to Club-Level Service perks. They include:

• Evening turndown
• Secured key access to the club-level lounge (serves refreshments 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily)
• Complimentary fax assistance
• Access to Concierge service at the Kilimanjaro Club

Guests also have access to a DVD Player and Disney Signature Services for personal assistance with your trip.

Here are the rooms:

• Deluxe Studio — Club Level: Views of Pool or One of the Savannas; 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa; Kitchenette, a balcony, and access to the Kilimanjaro Club

• 1 Bedroom Villa — Club Level: Views of Pool or One of the Savannas; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair; Full kitchen, a dining area, and access to the Kilimanjaro Club

Note: There are also both wheelchair and hearing accessible rooms available that include accessible bathrooms and visual alarms.

Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House Room Options

Room type(s)	Bed size	Max people per room	Floor plan
Studio – Value Views of Landscaping or Parking Area	1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa	4
Deluxe Studio – Standard View Views of Landscaping or Parking Area	1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa	4
Deluxe Studio – Savanna View Views of Savanna	1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa	4
1 Bedroom Villa – Value Views of Landscape or Parking Area	1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa	4
1 Bedroom Villa – Standard View Views of Landscape or Parking Area	1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair	5
1 Bedroom Villa – Savanna View Views of One of the Savannas	1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair	5
3 Bedroom Grand Villa – Savanna View Views of One of the Savannas	1 King Bed and 4 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa	12
Deluxe Studio – Club Level Views of Pool or One of the Savannas	1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa	4
1 Bedroom Villa – Club Level Views of Pool or One of the Savannas	1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair	5

VIDEO: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort tour (rooms, pools, dining)

Checking In And Out

When it comes to checking in and out, you have a few options: at the front desk, online through the official Walt Disney World website, or via the My Disney Experience app.

The lobby is located in the main building. Even though the front desk is there to assist guests, especially with checking in and checking out, all Disney World Resort guests are encouraged to check-in online or by using MDE.

• Checking-In: After you check-in online or using the app, you’ll receive a room-ready notification via next. You can then use your MagicBand or MDE’s digital key feature to unlock your room door.
• Checking-Out: Currently, guests will automatically be checked out of their rooms. But, if you have unresolved charges to your hotel folio, you’ll need to visit the front desk.

Note: Guests also have the option of to chat virtually with resort Cast Members via MDE for any assistance. 

Jambo House shares a lobby with Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here you’ll find much of the main dining and the Zawadi Marketplace, the resort’s gift shop.

The pickup and dropoff location for Mears Connect (which is the replacement for Magical Express) and the bus stop are also right outside the main lobby, along with luggage storage for those who have checked out or are waiting to check in.

Note: Resort Airline Check-In and Magical Express are no longer available.

Package Delivery & Pick Up

You can have packages and groceries delivered to your Disney Resort hotel, along with shipping select items home.

Here’s everything you need to know about having packages delivered and picking them up.

Grocery Delivery

You can have groceries delivered directly to your Disney Resort hotel. Dry-good storage and refrigerated storage are offered (subject to availability).

Important: a $6 fee will be charged to your room account for each grocery delivery order brought to your room by Bell Services or Luggage Assistance. Or, you can pick up these deliveries yourself from Bell Services or Luggage Assistance — at no charge.

Select items will need to be picked up in person, like alcohol. Most grocery delivery services require an individual of age to sign for alcohol and to show valid identification. Disney Resort hotels will not accept these types of orders on behalf of you.

Resort Hotel Delivery (temporarily unavailable)

If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can have park souvenirs delivered to your hotel instead of carrying them around with you all day.

Just tell the Cast Member at checkout that you want your purchase delivered to your hotel. You’ll usually pick up these items at your hotel’s gift shop (a Cast Member should tell you the designated pick-up location).

Home Delivery

In-park purchases can also be shipped to your home via UPS or FedEx for an additional fee.

Sending and Receiving Mail

Sending Mail

You can mail postcards, letters, and packages from the theme parks and select Disney Resort hotels.

Letter and Postcards
Postcards and letters with postage already applied can be mailed from any mail box located throughout the theme parks and at the Front Desk of Disney Resort hotels.

Packages
You can ship pre-packed, pre-labeled packages at the Front Desk or Concierge desk of most Disney Resort hotels. Hotels that include an onsite Business Center, including Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, can also ship packages for you.

Regular shipping and handling fees will apply.

Purchasing Postage
Postage stamps are available for purchase at various gift shops including:

• Art of Disney (Epcot)
• Celebrity 5 & 10 (Hollywood Studios)
• Disney Springs Welcome Center (Disney Springs)
• Disney Traders (Epcot)
• Garden Gate Gifts (Animal Kingdom)
• Heritage Manor (Epcot)
• Main Street Chamber of Commerce (Magic Kingdom)
• Mickey’s Gift Station (Transportation and Ticket Center)
• Mickey’s of Hollywood (Hollywood Studios)
• Movieland Memorabilia (Hollywood Studios)
• Newsstand (Magic Kingdom)
• The Outpost Shop (Animal Kingdom)
• Sundries (Disney Springs)

Receiving Mail

If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can receive mail throughout your stay. Occasionally, some guests will ship items in advance of their vacation to help save luggage space.

If you want to receive mail during your vacation, be sure the letter or package:

• Includes the mailing address of your Disney Resort Hotel
• Clearly features the word “Guest” on the front and the date of your arrival

Important: a $6 per package handling fee will apply to all packages that are received through the Front Desk or are delivered to your Disney Resort hotel room.

Parking

Although parking at Disney World resort hotels used to cost a nightly fee for resort guests, Disney has changed their policy so that parking is now free for all on-site resort guests. This change was implemented on January 10, 2023.

Valet parking is also available for $33 per night.

Complimentary standard self-parking is available for non-resort guests exploring dining, shopping, entertainment, and other experiences during the day.

We also have a complete Walt Disney World parking guide you can browse.

Important: Valet parking might not always be available.

Resort Map

Amenities And Shops

There are several amenities offered to guests at Jambo House, including a gift shop, on-site laundry services, and even the chance to watch movies outside on a big screen! 

Important note: Some of the following amenities might not be available at all times.

• Johari Treasures: Find souvenirs, snacks, and plenty of Disney items.
• Zawadi Marketplace: Purchase sundires, snacks, souvenirs, and more.

• Laundry Services: There are 24-hour self-service laundry facilities available. Villas with one or more bedrooms also feature in-unit washers and dryers.
• Dry Cleaning Services: Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are also an option.

• Movies Under the Stars: Watch complimentary Disney movies by the Uzima Springs Pool.
• Jambo House Campfire Activities: Roast marshmallows around a campfire.

• Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center: workout facility and sauna with massages and facial treatments.
• Childcare Services: In-room babysitting for children 6 months to 12 years old.

Pools And Recreation

There’s one main pool at Jambo House, but the pool at Kidani Village is only a short walk. If you need a non-park day, we recommended spending the day at your hotel and enjoying the Disney Resort pool.

Important note: Some of the pools and recreation options might not be available at all times.

The pool available is:

• Uzima Springs Pool: An 11,000 square-foot pool with 234,980 gallons of water. It has a zero-depth entry point and a 67-foot-long waterslide. There’s also a bar and lounge nearby.
• Samawati Springs Pool (located at Kidani Village): 128-foot waterslide and zero-depth-entry with a nearby lounge and bar nearby with refreshments and snacks. There’s also a water playground for kids called Uwanja Camp that features 3 distinct zones for kids of all ages. The zones include: the Observation Station (ages 4 and younger), the Departure Zone (5 to 7 years old), and Base Camp (ages 8 and up).

Some other recreational options include:

• Hakuna Matata Playground

• Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade

• Simba’s Playhouse: A Lion King-themed clubhouse hosting complimentary activities for kids

• Wild About Painting: on select days and for $50 per person (plus tax), you can create art and enjoy a complimentary drink 

How to get from Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House to anywhere at Disney World

There is one form of complimentary transportation available at Jambo House: Walt Disney World buses. You can find the bus stop near the front of the main building.  All of the different ways to get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to anywhere in Disney World is listed below.

Dining options at Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

There are plenty of dining options available at Animal Kingdom Lodge, including lounges, Quick Service spots, and several Table Service choices, like the popular Sanaa (the bread service is a must!). At select locations, Mobile Ordering is also available.

Plus, Sanaa also features Mobile Dine Check-In, meaning you’ll check-in using the My Disney Experience app rather than going to the host stand. When your table is ready, you’ll be notified to proceed to a specific location.

Sanaa also has Table Service To Go, which allows guests to Mobile Order and take their meal back to their room. You can read more about the dining options below.

Quick Service

The Mara

This is a food court-style restaurant with several stations that serve burgers, falafel, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and more.

Location type: Food Court
Type of food: American, African
Meals served: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, & late-night dining

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Quick Service credit
• Pros: Wide variety of options on the menu, including the very popular Zebra Domes which make a tasty dessert, mobile ordering in My Disney Experience available
• Cons:  Gets very busy during peak times

Table Service

Boma – Flavors of Africa

Boma is a popular African themed buffet that features unique African fare in addition to some standard American favorites, plus the popular Zebra Dome dessert.

Location type: Buffet
Type of food: African, Indian
Meals served: Breakfast & dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Pros: Fantastic food and a great way to sample African foods (save room for great desserts though, including the popular Zebra Domes)
• Cons:  Small tables that are often close together

Jiko – The Cooking Place

Jiko features wood-burning ovens, traditional African, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisine, and an extensive list of African wines.

Location type: Fine/Signature Dining
Type of food: African
Meals served: Dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 2 Table Service credits
• Pros: One of the best restaurants at Disney World with delicious food and great ambiance
• Cons:  Expensive (but to most people, it’s worth every penny)

Everything Else

If you want to grab a beverage to drink by the pool or while you’re hanging at the resort, you may want to try the outdoor bar.

Uzima Springs Pool Bar

Location type: Pool Bar
Type of food: A pool bar that serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Standard bar menu available, as well as some African imports
• Cons: Disney Dining Plan credits not accepted

Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar

Location type: Lounge
Type of food: Cocktails, wine, and beer plus a selection of items from the Jiko menu

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Extensive drink list, including a nice wine selection (many of them are from Africa)
• Cons: Limited seating

Victoria Falls Lounge

Location type: Lounge
Type of food: Cocktails, wine, and beer plus a selection of lounge fare

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Extensive drink list, including a nice wine selection (many of them are from Africa)
• Cons: Limited seating

Dining options at Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, and Jambo House share the same dining options. You can read more about the dining options below.

Table Service

Sanaa

Sanaa is home to the very popular Bread Service and features African cooking with Indian flavors all with views of the Sunset Savanna.

Location type: Casual Dining
Type of food: African, Indian
Meals served: Breakfast, lunch, & dinner

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credits
• Pros: 1 of the best restaurants at Disney World with great service, fantastic food (be sure to get the bread service!), and savanna views
• Cons:  Getting there can be kind of a chore if you aren’t staying at the resort (driving is fastest, but you can take a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge and get off at the Kidani stop)

Everything Else

If you want to grab a beverage to drink by the pool or while you’re hanging at the resort, you may want to try the outdoor bar.

Maji Pool Bar

Location type: Quick Service
Type of food: A pool bar that serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and a small selection of entrees

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Quick Service Credit
• Pros:  Great place to get a drink and snack while spending time by the pool
• Cons: Service can be slow

Sanaa Lounge

Location type: Lounge
Type of food: Cocktails, wine, and beer plus a handful of appetizers

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Pros:  Nice ambiance, ability to grab a drink and order the super popular bread service that’s also served inside the restaurant
• Cons: Getting there can be kind of a chore if you aren’t staying at the resort (driving is fastest, but you can take a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge and get off at the Kidani stop)

Trip reports that included Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge Trip Reports

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Heather Thomas

With 15+ years planning Disney World trips, Heather joined WDW Prep in 2014 to help others plan for their own families. As the WDW Prep Editor, she travels monthly to stay current and has helped propel the site to millions of views per year. Email Heather

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