Christmas Comes to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village (Holiday Photos)

The mere mention of our first Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge brings back sweet memories. Before our visit, we’d heard many stories about how the resort’s elaborate Christmas tree embellished the lobby.

It was late in the evening when we arrived. We were greeted by the soft ambiance of golden lights strung on the Christmas tree. Jambo! A welcoming voice broke the silence. That’s how you’re greeted when you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We were off to find our room shortly after, exhausted from our travel day yet still excited to see what animals we might find upon waking the next morning.

Years later, I still cherish the memories made on that wonderful trip. It’s no secret that we rank Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as the best deluxe resort at Walt Disney World. However, Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is like icing on the cake.

So, as we continue our holiday coverage, we find ourselves stopping at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village. Below, we’ll preview those special touches of Christmas at the resort, including the beautiful trees.

This article was updated on November 23, 2023.

The Jambo House Christmas tree sits in the center of the lobby.

It’s common to find the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge bustling with guests throughout the holiday season. However, given the size of the lobby, there is often plenty of room for guests to relax and visit with family and friends.

Many visit the resort for the sole purpose of seeing its Christmas tree. While the lobby is magnificent, the tree and decor add extra warmth during the holidays.

Lights reflect on the hardwood floors surrounding the tree, creating a pixie dust effect.

Here are a few photos of the ornaments.

During this visit, I took the elevator a couple of floors up to get a better vantage point.

You can see the custom gingerbread display that sits a few feet away from the tree.

We have a separate article with photos of the gingerbread giraffe and zebra at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It includes details about this newer tradition.

Everything is gorgeous.

Christmas at Kidani Village

If you have the time, you might enjoy taking the shuttle or walking to Kidani Village. Or, if you’re taking a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge from a theme park, you might start at Kidani Village. The buses, except for Disney Springs, will drop off at Kidani Village first. Then, you can take the shuttle to Jambo House when you’re finished. The shuttle picks up and drops guests off at the resort’s entrance. It runs approximately every 10 minutes.

Kidani Village is a boutique version of Jambo House. While everything at Jambo House is larger than life, Kidani is quite the opposite. Nonetheless, it’s every bit as unique.

African-inspired decorations adorn the exterior entrance.

The lobby of Kidani Village will take your breath away. It has these incredible pieces of art that double as light fixtures.

A pretty tree sits near the windows that overlooks the savanna.

Here are a few of the decorations.

During your visit, you might enjoy lunch or dinner at Sanaa, breakfast or dinner at Boma, Flavors of Africa, or dinner at Jiko, the resort’s fine dining location. Each of these restaurants will require a reservation. You can also dine at The Mara, the quick service at Jambo House, anytime during your visit.

For more information about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you might enjoy one of the following articles:

For more Christmas at Walt Disney World, try these:

What Do You Think?

What are your thoughts on Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? Have you ever visited? If so, did you visit during Christmas to see the tree?