Club level rooms are a luxury service for select rooms at Deluxe and Moderate Disney World resorts. These concierge rooms can cost anywhere from $200 to $800+ per night in more than a standard room. But, is Club Level really worth the cost?

Animal Kingdom Lodge Club Level Perks

Club level is a higher service tier at select Disney World Deluxe and Moderate resorts. There are two main perks available through Club Level: concierge and the club lounge. Sadly, ’concierge’ service doesn’t mean much at Disney. The cast members are able to answer questions throughout booking and leading all the way up through your vacation.

But, they do not provide any additional service or advantage such as securing lightening lanes or exclusive dining reservations. THAT would be worth paying for. You can ask your concierge to book dining, but they do not have access to any more reservations than you would find online.

The Lounge, on the other hand, is a big perk for a lot of folks. It’s an isolated area of the hotel available only to guests staying in a Club Level room, and throughout the day there is a rotating selection of complimentary food and beverages. It quick turns your Disney World vacation into nearly an all inclusive trip.

At Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Clube Level rooms are all in Jambo House which is where you can find iconic dining locations like Boma and Jako.

Other Disney Hotels with Club Level

These concierge rooms are available at a number of Disney World hotels though.

• Coronado Springs (Moderate) – Chronos Club
• The Contemporary – Atrium Club
• Wilderness Lodge – Old Faithful Club
• Grand Floridian – Royal Palm Club
• Polynesian Village – King Kamehameha Club
• Yacht Club – Regatta Club
• Beach Club – Stone Harbor Club
• BoardWalk – Innkeeper’s Club

Booking Kilimanjaro Club

Our journey to the Kilimanjaro Club was a bit unexpected. As we were planning a big trip to celebrate both my birthday and our wedding anniversary, I tried to make a last minute reservation at Animal Kingdom Lodge for the final days of our trip through a DVC Rental. But I wasn’t quick enough and missed out on the deal – by the way DVC rentals are a FANTASTIC way to find big savings during your newt vacation.

But I’d seen the goods and spent too many hours picturing the luxurious stay I thought I was getting, so I went to book directly through Disney. Except, the only room type left was Club Level. It was less than 30 days before our check-in date, so I was not surprised.

The cost was a few hundred dollars more per night over a standard savanna view room (but quite a bit more than the All Star Sports room booked for the first part of his trip). And since it is a special occasion, we opted to splurge on ourselves a bit.

PIXIE POINTER: Looking to add a bit of bougie to your Disney Vacation while sticking to a budget? A Disney World Split Stay is exactly what you need.

The booking process on the Disney World website is simple and straightforward. Simply search for the dates you are looking to stay and select the “Club Level” option. During check-out you’ll be asked about special requests and any dietary restrictions. We received a phone call the morning after booking to see if we had any questions and ask again about special requests and restrictions.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Club Level Check-In

On the day prior to our arrival, we received a call from the concierge. During this call we were asked, again, about special requests and dietary restrictions. They also asked when we expected to arrive and how we would be transporting ourselves and our luggage.

We spent the first 9 days of this trip at the All Star Sports resort, so it was easy enough to drop our luggage with the service cast members at check-out for complimentary transport to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

With check-out at 11:00am and check-in at 4:00pm, we spent the afternoon exploring Disney Springs. A non-ticketed dining and entertainment district within Disney World.

Upon arriving in the AKL lobby for check-in we were approached for assistance by a cast member who, upon confirming our Club Level reservation, escorted us directly to the Kilimanjaro Club. The host again confirmed our reservation, checking our Id’s for verification, before handing over a few trinkets and welcoming us to the club.

Club Level Rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge

The club level rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge are located on floors 4, 5, and 6 in Jambo House. Making for a short and easy trip to the Kilimanjaro Club on the 6th floor. Savanna view studios and both savanna and non-savanna view suites are available as Club Level. Rooms can be booked either directly through Disney World or through a DVC Rental company, dependent upon availability.

Our room was on the 4th floor near the main lobby, but on the opposite side of the elevators. While this wasn’t a major inconvenience for us, we were booked in an accessible room for some reason which made the location feel like an odd choice. There is not much, if any, difference between club and non-club level rooms beyond the location.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is easily one of, if not, the most beautiful resorts at Disney World. The rooms are luxurious with large floor plans, pillowy mattresses, and infamous balcony patios. There is plenty of theming but it’s subtle, it doesn’t slap you in the face with murals from The Lion King (looking at you Value Resorts).

The washroom is spaciously designed with a walk-in shower and large vanity. Most rooms do have a bath, which I would have preferred, I believe the walk-in set-up is specific to the accessible rooms.

Amenities included an in-room mini fridge and coffee maker with supplies. The mini fridge we put to good use, but opted to visit the Kilimanjaro Club for coffee each morning.

The view, of course, is iconic.

The savanna was most active during the late afternoon during our stay. I had dreamt of drinking my morning coffee on the patio while watching giraffe and zebra enjoy a breakfast of their own, but we hardly saw any animals in the area before lunch. There are feed stations placed strategically in the savanna to encourage the animals to hang out near the rooms and patios, but at the end of the day these are wild animals and they just didn’t particularly care about my brunch plans.

The Kilimanjaro Club

Located on the 4th floor, the Kilimanjaro Club is the primary perk of Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s a discrete and exclusive area above the main lobby available only to Club Level guests. The club and club-level rooms are the only areas on the floor, and cannot be access by elevator without a club-level room key. Swanky. The host verified who we were on the first day, but otherwise they simply said “hello” each time we arrived.

The lounge is filled with booths, tables, and chairs welcoming guests to enjoy the area throughout the day. A small corner of the room is set up with shorter chairs and a tv that was playing Bluey each time we visited.

Along the backwall is a buffet area featuring a variety of snacks and small plates which rotate throughout the day.

Beverages, including water, juice, specialty coffee, and more are available.

A nearby cooler is stocked with a wide selection of canned and bottled soft drinks and juices.

Services at the Kilimanjaro Club

There are (4) main services throughout the day, but we found there’s something available pretty much all day.

Miamko – Adventurous Awakenings (breakfast) 7:00am – 10:30am

In the early morning hours there is large selection of breakfast meats, pastries, and fresh fruit as well as yogurt and granola. We also saw Turkey Bobotie, a met and vegetable casserole, from Boma. Coffee, water, and juices are available self serve but you can also ask for a Mimosa or Bloody Mary

Vitafunio – Safari Snacks 11:30am – 4:00 pm

There isn’t much in the way of lunch entrees, but we were more than happy with the selections of snacks. Guests are welcome to DIY a trail, or safari, mix with ingredients such as goldfish, dried fruit, crackers, mixed nuts and chocolate chips. Lighter fare including vegetables, pita, and crackers are available alongside multiple hummus and ranch dips. And of course, no mid-day snack could be complete without an Uncrustable.

Kisikusiku — Twilight Offerings (Dinner) 5:00PM To 7:00PM

During the evening the Kilimanjaro Club is saturated with small bites from Jiko and Boma such as meat skewers, ribs, soup, and chicken wings. Uncrustables are still available as are the veggies and hummus. A selection of beverages including African beer and Wine are additionally provided.

Rehema — Evening Indulgences (Desserts & Cordials) 8:00PM To 10:00PM

In the late hours of the night you can find delectable deserts such as pineapple cheesecake, chocolate covered strawberries and even the infamous zebra domes. Cordials, such as Frangelico, Bailey’s, Drambuie, and Grand Marnier are also available.

Is Kilimanjaro Club Level Worth the Cost?

It’s difficult to justify the additional cost of Club Level for most of the Disney World resorts. It’s often several hundred dollars per night on top an already steep price tag. For what it’s worth, Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge is the most affordable averaging $100-150 extra per night over a Savanna view rom.

We absolutely loved staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the luxury of the Kilimanjaro Club was a big part of that. Make no mistake though, it’s definitely a luxury. The ease of popping over for a coffee and snack cannot be overstated. Near 24 hour access to food and beverages, alcohol included, at no additional cost is a game changer. The perk is even better for larger groups staying in a single room as the cost per person goes done and everyone can eat, or drink, their weight through the purchase price.

That being said, no – Club Level isn’t worth the price if you are spending time in the parks. The numbers just don’t make sense if you aren’t going to be there all day to take full advantage. I do recommend the option for guests looking at a split stay though. During this trip we stayed at All Star Sports for the majority of the time, when we planned to go into the parks and would end up buying food there. But the last 2 nights of our trip we moved to Animal Kingdom Lodge where we spent all day sneaking snacks from the Kilimanjaro Lounge and enjoying them from our room while watching the animals roam. Now that is more than worth the cost in my book.

The post Animal Kingdom Lodge Club Level: Is It Worth The Splurge appeared first on .

This app allows you to submit your preferred reservation requests and it scans the Disney website. When the desired reservation becomes available, you receive a notification. However, the reservations fill up very quickly.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge has been on my bucket list for a while, and this was my first time experiencing the animal kingdom up close. I couldn’t wait to get there and see what all the hype was about. On this trip, I had a rental car, so I drove to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and informed the parking attendant that we had a reservation. We then found the parking structure, although it took us a couple of minutes to figure out the signs.

Once parked, we took the elevators from the structure directly into the hotel and walked down the hall to check in for our dining reservation. We were told there would be a short wait, so we were recommended to spend some time on the lookout patio. The view from the lookout point near Sanaa was absolutely breathtaking. It’s easy to see why this resort is a favorite among Disney fans.

The scenery is stunning, and being able to see the animals up close at any time of day is amazing. We saw giraffes, gazelles, other horned animals, and some peculiar birds that were quite entertaining. It was a great way to pass the few minutes until our table was ready. After a short 15-minute wait, they were ready to seat us.

Atmosphere and Interior

The beauty and storytelling of Animal Kingdom Lodge continued inside the restaurant itself. The picturesque windows offered a view of the hotel’s savannah, filled with more of those beautiful animals, some of which even interacted with nearby diners. The centerpiece of the restaurant was a magnificent tree, with branches extending across the ceiling and lanterns hanging from them.

The interior design had a welcoming and rustic feel. There was a contrast between the light plastered walls and the rich, vibrant colors of the seating and decor. The room had a lively atmosphere, with guests not only enjoying their meals but also interacting with the animals through the windows.

Menu Options at Sanaa

Once seated, we were provided with menus, although they were fairly useless to us as we had already reviewed the entire menu beforehand. However, it was still nice to have them. Since it was still early in the day, we decided to skip the adult beverages and had lemonade.

The menu at Sanaa offers a wide range of choices, making it difficult to decide. However, there is one appetizer that stands out and should not be missed when visiting Sanaa: the Bread Service. It’s the reason people come to Sanaa, and it was certainly the reason I was there.

Sanaa Bread Service

For those unfamiliar, the Bread Service is a famous appetizer available at Sanaa. It’s one of the most popular reasons people visit and is a must-try dish. The dish consists of five different breads: traditional naan, garlic naan, ginger naan, spiced naan, and onion kulcha.

Alongside these delicious flatbreads are nine accompanying sauces: cucumber raita, roasted red pepper hummus, mango chutney, tomato-date jam, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, garlic pickle, red chili sambal, and a spicy “10th sauce” that can be requested in addition to the traditional sauces.

I must warn you, the 10th sauce is extremely hot and quite expensive. As a fan of hot sauce myself and having tried various spicy sauces, including those featured on the show Hot Ones, I found this sauce to be very hot but also quite enjoyable.

Potjie-Inspired

For our main entree, we decided to split a dish since the Bread Service was already quite filling. We ordered the Potjie-Inspired dish. Which comes with one option from the “Journey” section (meat-based) and one from the “Harvest” section (plant-based) served with a side of Basmati Rice. We chose the Butter Chicken and Rajma Masala, and both dishes were absolutely fabulous.

Butter Chicken

The Butter Chicken at Sanaa had a rich and earthy flavor that tantalized the taste buds. The meat was incredibly tender, practically melting in your mouth with each bite. The dish was a perfect balance of spices, with a subtle heat that added depth to the flavors without overpowering them. The sauce was creamy and velvety, coating the chicken with its luscious texture.

The combination of aromatic spices, such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric, created a harmonious blend of flavors that left a lasting impression. Each piece of chicken was meticulously cooked, ensuring that it remained juicy and succulent. The dish was a true delight, showcasing the artistry and skill of the chefs at Sanaa.

Whether you’re a fan of Indian cuisine or simply looking to explore new flavors, the Butter Chicken at Sanaa is a must-try dish that will leave you craving for more.

Rajma Masala

The Masala at Sanaa was a complex and savory dish that delighted the taste buds. It had a rich combination of spices, creating a symphony of flavors that danced on the palate. The masala had a distinct hint of curry spice, which added depth and warmth to the dish.

While I personally am not a big fan of curry due to its strong flavors of cinnamon, I could still appreciate the skillful cooking and seasoning of the masala. The spices were well-balanced, allowing each ingredient to shine without overpowering the others. The dish had a savory and aromatic profile, with the spices working harmoniously to create a memorable dining experience.

If you enjoy the bold and vibrant flavors of curry, you will likely find this masala to be a delightful choice. It showcases the culinary expertise and attention to detail that Sanaa is known for.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

I highly recommend visiting Sanaa. Since reservations are difficult to secure, I suggest setting a calendar reminder when they become available for booking during your vacation window or using Mouse Weight to receive notifications for the desired reservation. You can set up to five notifications for free, and they also offer a subscription for a few dollars a month. When you visit Sanaa, be sure to try the Bread Service.

And don’t forget to ask for the 10th sauce after you’re done with the bread. The sauces are incredibly delicious and complement any dish you order. Take advantage of the extra condiments and keep them at your table. Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to our server for providing us with a great dining experience.

The post Sanaa Review at Animal Kingdom Lodge appeared first on .