Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge vs Walt Disney World Swan

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Photo: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Deluxe Animal Kingdom Resort Area
Walt Disney World Swan

Photo: Walt Disney World Swan

Deluxe Epcot Resort Area
Alex Young
Alex Young
· Updated · 5 min read

At a Glance

Tier

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Deluxe

Walt Disney World Swan

Deluxe

Area

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Resort Area

Walt Disney World Swan

Epcot Resort Area

Transportation

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Bus

Walt Disney World Swan

Walk, Boat, Bus

Table-Service Dining

Animal Kingdom Lodge

3 restaurants

Walt Disney World Swan

5 restaurants

Quick-Service Dining

Animal Kingdom Lodge

8 locations

Walt Disney World Swan

3 locations

Pool Amenities

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Pool, Hot Tub, Water Slide

Walt Disney World Swan

Pool, Water Slide

Extended Evening Hours

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Yes

Walt Disney World Swan

Yes

Top Highlight

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Savanna views with real African animals from room balconies

Walt Disney World Swan

Same Crescent Lake location and EPCOT walking distance as the Dolphin

Overview

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

A deluxe safari-style resort where guest rooms and public spaces overlook savannas with African wildlife.

Walt Disney World Swan

A Marriott-operated on-property resort between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, with walking and boat access to both parks.

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

Walt Disney World Swan

Recreation

  • Pool
  • Water Slide
  • Volleyball
  • Tennis Courts
  • Jogging Trail
  • Arcade
  • Playground
  • Camp Dolphin for children ages 5-12 from 4PM to 11PM with themed activities, video games, arts and crafts
  • Swan watercraft rentals on the white sand beach; Boat Rental in Activities

Wellness

  • Fitness Center
  • Spa

Other

  • Child Care
  • Boat launch courtyard between Swan and Dolphin for Friendship launches
  • Disney Cabanas store at Swan; Resort Essentials boutique at Dolphin

Transportation

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

  • Bus

    Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs

Walt Disney World Swan

  • Walk

    EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Boat

    EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Bus

    Magic Kingdom Park, 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

Walt Disney World Swan

  • Same Crescent Lake location and EPCOT walking distance as the Dolphin
  • Marriott Bonvoy points eligible for stays and redemptions
  • Access to Dolphin's extensive dining and amenities via shared complex
  • Swan Reserve and Swan combined offer over 2,000 rooms in the complex
  • Competitively priced relative to Disney-owned Deluxe resorts nearby

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

Walt Disney World Swan

  • No Disney on-site Early Entry or advance Lightning Lane booking
  • Resort fees and parking fees add significantly to the nightly rate
  • Shared amenities with Dolphin mean crowded pools during peak times
  • Design is less Disney-immersive than Disney-owned resorts
  • Limited transportation compared to monorail or Skyliner resorts

On-Site Dining

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

  • Boma - Flavors of Africa

    Table Service

    African, American

    breakfast · dinner

    View menu
  • Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar

    Quick Service

    African

    snack

    View menu
  • Jiko - The Cooking Place

    Table Service

    African

    dinner

    View menu
  • Kidani Village Breakfast at Sanaa

    Quick Service

    African, Indian

    lunch · dinner

    View menu
  • Maji Pool Bar

    Quick Service

    African, American

    snack

    View menu
  • Sanaa

    Table Service

    African, Indian

    lunch · dinner

    View menu
  • Sanaa Lounge

    Quick Service

    African, Indian

    snack

    View menu
  • Sanaa To Go

    Quick Service

    African, Indian

    lunch · dinner

    View menu
  • The Mara

    Quick Service

    American, African

    lunch · dinner

    View menu
  • Uzima Springs Pool Bar

    Quick Service

    American

    snack

    View menu
  • Victoria Falls Lounge

    Quick Service

    American

    snack

    View menu

Walt Disney World Swan

  • Chill

    Table Service

    American

    dinner

    View menu
  • Garden Grove

    Table Service

    American

    breakfast

    View menu
  • Il Mulino

    Table Service

    Italian

    lunch · dinner

    View menu
  • Il Mulino Lounge

    Quick Service

    American

    snack

    View menu
  • Java

    Quick Service

    Quick Service - Coffee

    snack

    View menu
  • Kimonos

    Table Service

    Asian, Japanese, Sushi

    dinner · snack

    View menu
  • Kimonos Lounge

    Quick Service

    Asian, Japanese, Sushi

    snack

    View menu
  • Splash Pool Bar and Grill

    Table Service

    American

    snack

    View menu

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