Disney opens African-style game resort

Animal Kingdom Lodge recreates 33-acre savannah village complete with wild animals

Disney opens African-style game resort

Report by Juliet Dennis

Wild thing: the resort is home to over 230 species of wildlife

WALT Disney World has opened its Animal Kingdom Lodge in a 33-acre African-style game reserve in Orlando.

Bookings are now being taken for the deluxe 1,293-room property which offers guests views of over 230 types of animals and birds in its private savannah.

“It is already in some tour operators’ brochures and bookings have started,” said a spokeswoman.

Animal Kingdom is Disney’s 18th resort property in Orlando. More than 20 authentic African lodges were visited before building began to recreate the feel of a real safari. Vegetation was planted two years ago to create the necessary environment for the animals.

The five-storey Animal Kingdom is shaped in a traditional kraal – an African village designed to keep animals safe – and includes a 9,000sq ft swimming pool with a view of the savannah, two spas and rooms ranging from standard to one- and two-bedroom suites with hand-crafted African furniture.

For children, there is an activity centre, pool and play area and programmes to designed to increase awareness of African culture.

For adults, there is South African wine tasting and self-guided tours of the resort’s extensive art collection.

The opening comes as Disney announces the completion of the first phase of its new budget hotel resort, Pop Century.

Disney’s 19th property, Pop Century, will open its first phase of rooms in December.

The 5,760-room resort hotel will give guests an experience of 20th-century US popular culture with larger-than-life icons.

Each pair of buildings will be themed to a different decade from the 1900s to the 1990s, with cultural icons such as a giant jukebox from the 1950s and a yo-yo for the 1960s marking the entrances.

&#42 Booking information is available through Disney’s website www.disneytravelagents.com or on 0870 2424910.