Friday, July 25, 2008

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge pictorial tribute - Part one



The recent article about the beautiful tokyo Disneyland Hotel gave me the idea to do a series of pictorial articles about Disney theme park most beautiful hotels. So, after the TDL Hotel, here is the second article, and this one is all about the stunning Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Designed by WDI Imagineers, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, as we know, is located inside Animal Kingdom and facing Animal Kingdom African savannah.



If you've never stayed at the hotel or never saw a picture of the lobby in good resolution you are going to understand why this lobby is a "wow!".



Hand-carved furnishings, rich wood and vibrant colors at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offer Walt Disney World Resort guests the finest in authentic African architecture and design.




The centerpiece of the art collection at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is the Igbo Ijele (pronounced e-bo e-gelay) mask, featured in the lobby. The Ijele, created by the Igbo people of Africa, is a massive creation that towers more than 16 feet tall and is eight feet in width. In Africa, the mask signifies an important event or celebration and makes rare appearances. No other Ijele, which is the largest mask in tropical Africa, is known to exist outside of Igbo land.



Imagine walking out onto your guest-room balcony for a view of animals and tropical birds roaming through a savannah and working wildlife reserve. Altogether, more than 200 mammals and birds populate the 33-acre savannah at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Many guestroom balconies overlook the savannah, putting guests within 30 feet of the animals.




Can you spot Mickey? Walt Disney World Resort is filled with "hidden" Mickeys -- silhouettes and abstract images of Mickey Mouse cleverly hidden by Walt Disney Imagineers across the Vacation Kingdom -- including a Mickey-shaped pattern on a giraffe carved into Arusha Rock at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.



Landscaping creates the beautiful and diverse look of an African landscape at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge



With décor inspired by the opening scenes of Disney's The Lion King, the Jiko restaurant offers sophisticated, African-inspired cuisine and a stellar South African wine list.




Here is a picture of a room.



The Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge captures the yuletide spirit of the holiday season with cultural decor and warm traditions, even at Christmas.



A new Disney Vacation Club Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, will include a village of vacation homes. To be located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, the new accommodations are scheduled for development in phases with an anticipated opening beginning fall 2007, with completion scheduled for spring 2009.



A distinctively themed lobby, pictured in this artist rendering, and a new village of Vacation Homes will be part of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas.



In the part two of this pictorial article, we will have a look at the incredible - i should stay stunning - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Presidential suite. Don't miss it !

Artwork and Photos: copyright Disney

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