Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge vs Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Photo: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Photo: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
At a Glance
| Animal Kingdom Lodge | Grand Floridian | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Deluxe | Deluxe |
| Area | Animal Kingdom Resort Area | Magic Kingdom Resort Area |
| Transportation | Bus | Monorail, Walk, Boat, Bus |
| Table-Service Dining | 3 restaurants | 8 restaurants |
| Quick-Service Dining | 8 locations | 6 locations |
| Pool Amenities | Pool, Hot Tub, Water Slide | Pool, Quiet Pool |
| Extended Evening Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Top Highlight | Savanna views with real African animals from room balconies | Monorail access to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT |
Tier
Animal Kingdom Lodge
DeluxeGrand Floridian
DeluxeArea
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Animal Kingdom Resort AreaGrand Floridian
Magic Kingdom Resort AreaTransportation
Animal Kingdom Lodge
BusGrand Floridian
Monorail, Walk, Boat, BusTable-Service Dining
Animal Kingdom Lodge
3 restaurantsGrand Floridian
8 restaurantsQuick-Service Dining
Animal Kingdom Lodge
8 locationsGrand Floridian
6 locationsPool Amenities
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Pool, Hot Tub, Water SlideGrand Floridian
Pool, Quiet PoolExtended Evening Hours
Animal Kingdom Lodge
YesGrand Floridian
YesTop Highlight
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Savanna views with real African animals from room balconiesGrand Floridian
Monorail access to Magic Kingdom and EPCOTOverview
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
A deluxe safari-style resort where guest rooms and public spaces overlook savannas with African wildlife.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Victorian flagship resort on Seven Seas Lagoon, positioned on the monorail loop west of Magic Kingdom.
Amenities
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Recreation
- Pool
- Playground
- Kid's Club
- Arcade
- Running Trail
- Tennis Courts
- Hot Tub
- Water Slide
- Campfire Program
Wellness
- Fitness Center
- Spa
Rooms
- rooms and suites with club-level service
- Club Level
Other
- Gift Shop
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Recreation
- Pool
- Quiet Pool
- water play area for little ones
- seven seas lagoon — enjoy fishing, boating and more
- Boat Rental
- Playground
- Running Trail (~1 mile loop)
- Tennis Courts
- Marina
Wellness
- Spa
- haircuts, manicures, pedicures and more
- Fitness Center
Rooms
- rooms and suites with club-level service
- Club Level
Other
- Laundry Facilities
- Business Center
Transportation
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
-
Monorail
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT
-
Walk
Magic Kingdom Park
-
Boat
Magic Kingdom Park
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Pros
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Savanna views with real African animals from room balconies
- Unrivaled cultural and thematic authenticity among Disney resorts
- Outstanding dining lineup including Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa
- Largest African art collection in the United States on display
- Priced below most other Deluxe resorts for the quality offered
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Monorail access to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
- Flagship luxury resort with Victorian theming and grand lobby
- Top dining including Victoria and Alberts signature restaurant
- Walking path to Magic Kingdom makes it the second-closest resort
- Multiple pools, spa, marina, and extensive resort amenities
Cons
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Bus-only transportation to all parks, no monorail or boat options
- Feeling of isolation from other parks besides Animal Kingdom
- Hallways are extremely long, far walks from room to lobby
- Animals are not always visible from savanna view rooms
- Room construction noise may be ongoing during renovation periods
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Most expensive Disney-owned resort at Walt Disney World
- Victorian theming feels formal and can be stiff for young children
- Far from Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom by bus
- Main building can feel crowded with non-guests visiting for dining
- DVC villas are in a separate building from main hotel rooms
On-Site Dining
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
-
Boma - Flavors of Africa
Table ServiceAfrican, American
breakfast · dinner
View menu -
Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar
Quick ServiceAfrican
snack
View menu -
Jiko - The Cooking Place
Table ServiceAfrican
dinner
View menu -
Kidani Village Breakfast at Sanaa
Quick ServiceAfrican, Indian
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Maji Pool Bar
Quick ServiceAfrican, American
snack
View menu -
Sanaa
Table ServiceAfrican, Indian
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Sanaa Lounge
Quick ServiceAfrican, Indian
snack
View menu -
Sanaa To Go
Quick ServiceAfrican, Indian
lunch · dinner
View menu -
The Mara
Quick ServiceAmerican, African
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Uzima Springs Pool Bar
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Victoria Falls Lounge
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
-
1900 Park Fare
Table ServiceAmerican
breakfast · dinner
View menu -
Beaches Pool Bar & Grill
Quick ServiceAmerican
lunch
View menu -
Cítricos
Table ServiceAmerican
dinner
View menu -
Cítricos Lounge
Quick ServiceAmerican, Mediterranean
snack
View menu -
Courtyard Pool Bar
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Enchanted Rose
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Gasparilla Island Grill
Quick ServiceAmerican
breakfast · lunch · dinner · snack
View menu -
Grand Floridian Cafe
Table ServiceAmerican
breakfast · lunch · dinner
View menu -
Narcoossee's
Table ServiceAmerican, Seafood
dinner
View menu -
Queen Victoria's Room at Victoria & Albert's
Table Servicedinner
View menu -
The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert's
Table ServiceAmerican, Prix Fixe
dinner
View menu -
The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s
Table ServiceAmerican
lunch · dinner
View menu -
The Perch at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table Dinner
Table Servicedinner
View menu
Community Discussions
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Animal Kingdom Lodge : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Animal Kingdom Lodge Tips : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Is Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort view worth it? r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Is the animal kingdom lodge worth it? : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Nothing beats the quietness of the animal Kingdom lodge ... r/WaltDisneyWorld
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Grand Floridian experience : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Grand Floridian recs? : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Grand Floridian vs Other Deluxe Resorts : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Have any of you regretted splurging for theme park view at ... r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Is it worth the price to stay at Grand Floridian? r/WaltDisneyWorld
Videos
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
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