A quick, afternoon jaunt around Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House
And Magic, Noted's YouTube debut!
This post is part of the Sights and Sounds series, which captures the ambience of some of my favorite spots around the Disney parks and resorts. Paid subscribers get early access to trip-related content so if you’d like to read before the rest and support the publication, you can do so here.
If you’d like to read more of these posts, feel free to check out the archives.
Maybe now more than ever, there’s one thing I know to be true — few things can calm my mind and nervous system faster than the sights and sounds of my favorite spots across Disney property. They’re familiar, comforting, and nostalgic, and they mentally transport me to a place I love and feel most at ease.
There’s a couple ways that I get this lil’ dosage of Disney — watching livestreams from the parks (I’m partial to Daily FastPass) and walkthrough videos on YouTube (4K WDW is my go-to).
But on our previous trip I thought, “why don’t I try making some of these videos myself?” So, here we are!
For my first ambience video, I chose the resort that we called home during our trip, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House. If you’ve ever taken a stroll around this resort, you already know that it’s oozing with all the best vibes.
My filming timeframe was short because we were fixin’ to head to the airport, but I hope I was able to capture some of what makes this resort so special and memorable.
Moments of note from the video
The utterly-breathtaking lobby — Between the smokey, amber scent, the abundance of natural light, and the friendliness of the Cast Members (“CMs”), the lobby of this resort just feels like a warm hug. Not only that but it’s also home to one of the largest collections of African art in the country so if you happen to be visiting Jambo House, definitely carve out some time to explore the lobby and nearby overlooks and chat with the cultural representatives found throughout.
Victoria Falls Lounge — I love this lounge for the location and ambience. It’s positioned in a way where it’s located just below the lobby and right above Boma so it has an awesome, open-air atmosphere that allows guests to keep an eye on everything going on around them. The lighting in and around the lounge also gets dim into the evening hours, which makes for a super cozy spot to enjoy a nice cocktail. For even cozier vibes, be sure to snag a spot at the nearby fire pit.
Boma and Jiko — I simply couldn’t make a post about Animal Kingdom Lodge without mentioning some of its stand-out dining locations. Boma — Flavors of Africa is a buffet-style restaurant that’s open for both breakfast and dinner, and Jiko — The Cooking Place is a beloved, upscale dinner spot for dishes that center African, Indian, and Mediterranean flavors.
The Mara — This is one of my favorite quick service restaurants on property. Not only does it serve up excellent food offerings that aren’t really found elsewhere, but it also has laid-back vibes and plenty of seating. I’ve also had so many wonderful interactions with CMs here. Oh, and be sure to check out the baobab tree centered in the outdoor seating area right outside the entrance. Yes, it’s real and can be spotted around the 07:52 mark in the video above.
Uzima Springs Pool and spas — This 11,000-square-foot pool is adjacent to the Uzima Savanna and features a 67-foot-long waterslide. There are two spas — one near the flamingo habitat and one near the Hakuna Matata Playground. The former is mostly unshaded so if you don’t want to be boiling in a hot tub in the sun, I’d recommend the latter. If you’re in need of an icy libation, the Uzima Springs Pool Bar is right next to the pool.
Zawadi Marketplace — This is the Jambo House gift shop and grocery marketplace, and it’s located right off the lobby. However, there’s also an entrance on the way to and from the bus stop so if you need to grab something real quick, it’s the perfect place to do so. I love this gift shop because it’s large and generally pretty quiet. Since Animal Kingdom Lodge is a deluxe resort, some high-end brands (i.e. Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Nike, etc.) are sold here which can be a nice change of pace from the usual clothing selections found in the shops. You’ll also spot some Animal Kingdom-themed merchandise here.
Recent posts from our May trip
That’s all, folks! I mentioned in previous posts that I would be dabbling in some different content, and this post is just the beginning of that. There’s more on the way, so stay tuned!
Now, a question for you — what are some of your favorite spots in the parks or resorts for some feel-good ambience? Drop your answer in a comment and let us know!
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