Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Animal Kingdom Lodge Animal Viewing Times Recommendations???

Sarus Crane

Sarus Crane

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I plan on visiting Disney in November and will be staying at DAKL was wondering if there are any specific known times to see the animals really active. With White Oak Conservation still not offering tours I plan on making this trip a priority for filming Roan and Lesser Kudu with Marabou Storks and the Greater Flamingo flock not far behind. Although I will be staying on site I plan on spending one of the days as a half day at one of the parks with the afternoon and evening spent filming the savannas and around the lodge and their extensive collection of African art. If anyone can give me any tips I'd greatly appreciate it. Also, are there any good specific hotspots at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios to film birds up close?

As a side note I won't be going to Animal Kingdom itself as I hate that Kilimanjaro Safaris doesn't stop to let you get good footage, its too shaky and ever since the Eld's Deer herd left the whole park doesn't seem to have the charm it used to in the 2010's.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
I think I might also stay at DAK lodge when I go in March then I can watch the hippos all day thanks for telling me about it!:p
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There are NO hippos at the lodge ONLY at Animal Kingdom Park. You can view them on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride. If you do the add on Wild Africa Trek ($230) they stop you at the hippo habitat before you walk over it via a bridge. If you plan on viewing them continually all day Gorilla Falls is your best bet.
 
Roan, kudu, and stork should not be a problem to shoot. You will also certainly see addax, ostrich, giraffe, and zebra. Pembe savannah also has vulture and the elusive steenbok.

The earlier AM is a very good time to view the savannah animals at all of the Lodges, there is a walkway between the buildings as well, so you don't have to get in your car.

If you go to the end of the buildings on the savannah side there are open stairways, they are really good places to get views that you can't get from other angles. I would recommend doing that from several levels to get a really good vista from different elevations. I know that Jambo house has stairways that you can reach from the main lobby (with quite a walk), but I am not sure about Kidani Village. I found the late afternoon best to be closer to the main lodge viewing areas, that is when the animals seemed to be closer to the Arusha Rock overlook.

Pembe can be tough to see if you don't have a room on that savannah. However, there is an overlook beside that pool area. The other savannahs have overlooks from their respective lodges.

November should be really nice weather, but warm days are still likely. Rain is very unlikely, but possible.

You can read my full review from June 2022 here.
 
I've had my best success seeing them in mid-late afternoon into early evening (I should note I've never actually stayed here, or visited before maybe 11 am or noon). Roan have always been very visible on the savannah that's straight back from the entrance, which is also where I've seen lesser kudu in the past but not on my most recent visit. I've seen the pelicans on this savannah being fed during this timeframe - based on my photo timestamps it looks like it was around 5:15 pm. The marabous are on the savannah accessible near Sanaa, and I've seen leaves being hung up for the giraffes (and the eland that can reach them) here around 4:30 pm.

I'm not sure about photography specifically, but I've consistently seen huge crowds of white ibis and the occasional great egret in the seating area next to Columbia Harbor House in Magic Kingdom. I imagine taking pictures of them eating discarded fried foods against a brick background isn't your actual goal here though, so I've seen ibises fairly often in a more natural-looking setting as you go around the left side of the central Walt/Mickey statue, and lots of waterfowl as you approach Tomorrowland from Main Street. No advice for Epcot or Hollywood Studios - on my most recent visit last month, the only bird I recorded at Hollywood Studios was a single house sparrow, and Epcot was only slightly better with a few waterfowl (presumed mallards) and grackles. I get that Animal Kingdom doesn't offer what you're looking for in terms of their captive animals, but I saw a much broader selection of wild birds there than Hollywood Studios and Epcot combined (plus lots of marsh rabbits).
 
Oh, I should mention that the sun rises over the savannah, so getting good photos in the AM can be a bit of a challenge at some angles and times. The later afternoon makes a really good time to take photos at the lodge.

Also, if you go to the Jambo house stairwell between Arusha and Uzima savannah's you can see a smaller fenced off area of the Sunset savannah. I am not sure if this is for medical reasons or what, but I saw a sitatunga there.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Roan, kudu, and stork should not be a problem to shoot. You will also certainly see addax, ostrich, giraffe, and zebra. Pembe savannah also has vulture and the elusive steenbok.

The earlier AM is a very good time to view the savannah animals at all of the Lodges, there is a walkway between the buildings as well, so you don't have to get in your car.

If you go to the end of the buildings on the savannah side there are open stairways, they are really good places to get views that you can't get from other angles. I would recommend doing that from several levels to get a really good vista from different elevations. I know that Jambo house has stairways that you can reach from the main lobby (with quite a walk), but I am not sure about Kidani Village. I found the late afternoon best to be closer to the main lodge viewing areas, that is when the animals seemed to be closer to the Arusha Rock overlook.

Pembe can be tough to see if you don't have a room on that savannah. However, there is an overlook beside that pool area. The other savannahs have overlooks from their respective lodges.

November should be really nice weather, but warm days are still likely. Rain is very unlikely, but possible.

You can read my full review from June 2022 here.
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Those are some GREAT tips!!!!
As far as things at the parks I'm not really into Disney as a whole so my short list of priorities for rides and attractions are:

Magic Kingdom
-Tron
-Space Mountain
-Seven Dwarves Mine Train
-Haunted Mansion

Epcot
-Guardians of the Galaxy

Hollywood Studios
-Rock n' Rollercoaster
-Toy Story Mania
-Live Action Little Mermaid Meet & Greet
-The Incredibles Meet & Greet

Other than that I just want some Disney food and to film around Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Boardwalk one of the evenings I'm there. I'm sure I can shuffle around a couple of things on the itinerary list, but a couple of the rides like Tron & Guardians have to be done first thing in the morning unless I want to wait in a line and waste time that could be spent filming at other locations.
 
I found the food at the lodge to be really good, breakfast being a decent deal. I recommend using the app to order ahead, the line can be really long to wait to order and then get the food at the quick service restaurants....and make a reservation for the restaurants you want as soon as you can.
 
Have you read up on the virtual queues? They were doing those (with no normal standby line) for both Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy at least as of a month ago, seem to still be doing them now, and I assume they will be a month from now too. They're super convenient, assuming you get a spot in them, but it also means you'll wind up riding whenever you get assigned to, not necessarily first thing in the morning. But man, Guardians in particular is so worth it.

Check it out here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/

Also want to chime in that the food everywhere is really amazing, but particularly at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa and especially Boma are probably my two favorite Disney restaurants I've eaten at, and Disney sets a high bar. Sanaa also offers safari view seating which is just great.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
Have you read up on the virtual queues? They were doing those (with no normal standby line) for both Tron and Guardians of the Galaxy at least as of a month ago, seem to still be doing them now, and I assume they will be a month from now too. They're super convenient, assuming you get a spot in them, but it also means you'll wind up riding whenever you get assigned to, not necessarily first thing in the morning. But man, Guardians in particular is so worth it.

Check it out here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/

Also want to chime in that the food everywhere is really amazing, but particularly at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa and especially Boma are probably my two favorite Disney restaurants I've eaten at, and Disney sets a high bar. Sanaa also offers safari view seating which is just great.
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Thanks for the heads up about the vitual que and the app. As someone who's ridden much bigger thrilling coasters at other parks I have very mixed feelings for Tron and hope that guardians will live up to the hype. But its hard when you ride bigger faster coasters at other places like Fury 325, Millennium Force, SheiKra, Montu etc.... plus I hate waiting in long lines. Last time I rode Everest in 2017 I was like "this such a BABY RIDE!!!" As for dining I have limits for food options since I have an intolerance for lactose so I have to pick carefully. But I'm looking forward to getting a Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom!
 
I think you might wind up being surprised with how well Disney can accommodate special diets if you've never delved into it before (sorry if you have and I'm misreading). The first thing they always ask is if you have any allergies or other dietary needs. I'm a vegetarian, and every single time I've sat down at a restaurant at Disney they have absolutely bent over backwards to make sure I was getting a good and substantial meal (without me even asking anything beyond saying I'm veg), even going so far as to ask whether or not I eat gelatin and offering an entirely unique dessert lineup when I said I do not - I've never been anywhere that exhibits that level of care for their patron's diets. Obviously lactose intolerance is a completely different beast, but I'd still be very surprised if they didn't manage to treat you well.

I know this is getting off track from the actual animals aspect, but I'm not even really a "Disney person" either and I can't resist the opportunity to sing praises for Disney dining.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
I think you might wind up being surprised with how well Disney can accommodate special diets if you've never delved into it before (sorry if you have and I'm misreading). The first thing they always ask is if you have any allergies or other dietary needs. I'm a vegetarian, and every single time I've sat down at a restaurant at Disney they have absolutely bent over backwards to make sure I was getting a good and substantial meal (without me even asking anything beyond saying I'm veg), even going so far as to ask whether or not I eat gelatin and offering an entirely unique dessert lineup when I said I do not - I've never been anywhere that exhibits that level of care for their patron's diets. Obviously lactose intolerance is a completely different beast, but I'd still be very surprised if they didn't manage to treat you well.

I know this is getting off track from the actual animals aspect, but I'm not even really a "Disney person" either and I can't resist the opportunity to sing praises for Disney dining.
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Glad they have such good service and concern for food allergies. Yeah I'm looking forward to leaving Disney 10 lbs heavier LOL!!!!
 
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