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The sun rises above the savannah and the earth starts to move. In the distance, giraffe begin to browse the tall trees in search of a morning meal. As a sacred ibis stretches its wings to welcome the day, Thomson’s gazelles kick up their heels in a playful daily ritual. Not far away atop a rustic balcony, a family sips morning coffee and has a front row seat on this quiet rite of nature.

Until now, the only place this could happen was a wildlife reserve in Africa. Soon, guests at Walt Disney World Resort can recreate this experience every day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Opening April 16, 2001, the 1,293-room deluxe resort will showcase the wonder and romance of Africa, from the hand-carved furnishings and the gourmet cuisine served in its three restaurants to the splendor of a 33-acre savannah around the resort where animals roam freely.

"We’re trying to capture an image that is not only symbolic of Africa but is culturally relevant,” said project manager Jim Kwasnowski of Walt Disney Imagineering.

In fact, Disney Imagineers visited more than 20 African lodges for inspiration and research. What they created is amazing.

Here’s a quick tour:

Namukelekile! (Zulu - nă mu ke’ le ke le): Welcome All of You!

The entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, featuring lush foliage, leads to the thatched-roofed main lobby. The lodge’s shape -- resembling a horseshoe -- is based on the traditional kraal (pronounced “crawl”), or corral, a design used in African villages to keep homes and livestock safe from harm.

Designed by Peter Dominick (who also designed Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort), the six-story resort features towering thatched roofs complemented by rich woods and golden tones. The grand lobby features a large, mud fireplace, natural lighting and giant dormer windows that provide spectacular views of sunrises and sunsets over the animal-filled savannah.

At night, incandescent lighting twinkles, resembling fireflies and soft-glowing campfires. Just outside the lobby, an elevated kopje, or rock outcropping, puts guests within 15 feet of the animals, and gives an extraordinary, near-panoramic view of the animal reserve.

Guest Rooms: Handcrafted Beauty

Nestled on 75 acres west of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is built in the middle of its own savannah, providing most of the rooms views into the animal sanctuary, with other rooms offering views of the Uzima Pool and Springs. Guestroom balconies overlooking the reserve put guests within 30 feet of the rich grasslands.

Each of the lodge’s 1,293 rooms feature handcrafted furniture and art -- much of it made in Zimbabwe. Rich woods and vibrant colors showcase the art of African craftsmanship. For instance, some headboard designs have been inspired by “butterfly” masks. The Royal Suite features a domed, hut-like living room that’s truly “fit for a king” with a kitchen, dining room and sweeping porches offering spectacular views of the savannah.

Accommodations range in size from standard rooms, to one- and two-bedroom suites. Concierge-level rooms also are available. Each room sleeps four to eight guests with a variety of choices. King-size beds, queen-size beds and bunk beds are available in rooms throughout the resort.

A World of Amenities

Famous Disney service and deluxe amenities combine to create an unforgettable adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The resort features a 9,000-square-foot, themed feature pool -- which offers a poolside view of the savannah -- as well as two bubbling spas. Featured for the younger set: a children’s activity center, pool and play area.

A Culinary Journey

The resort’s restaurants “will recreate the flavors of Africa,” says Dieter Hannig, vice president of Walt Disney World Food & Beverage. “As the world gets smaller, we have the opportunity to be a trend-setter, borrowing flavors from many of the 53 countries in the continent of Africa . . . fruits from Kenya, spices from North Africa, basic products, bold flavors.”

Hannig, who was once a hotel chef in Kenya, journeyed to Africa with other Walt Disney World chefs to research the latest cooking trends and to hear culinary experiences from African chefs. He’s taken that influence and instilled it in each of the restaurant locations at the new resort.

The resort’s signature restaurant is Jiko-The Cooking Place, where Chef Serge Burckel melds cuisines from around the globe, harmoniously combining ingredients from different cultures: banana leaf-steamed Chilean sea bass with asparagus puree, mushrooms and apples; oven-baked garlic chicken tagine with grapefruit, olives and herbs; a whole roasted papaya stuffed with spicy minced beef. Appetizers are equally imaginative, like foie gras dumplings with lentil broth and dried fruits, or maize tamales with truffle oil, herbs and spices. Jiko is Swahili for “cooking place.”

"The menu is a blend of influences from Europe, India and Asia that respect the African culture and history,” says Burckel. Along with the adjacent Cape Town Wine Room and Cape Town Lounge, Jiko will feature South African wines. Jiko’s interior design, inspired by Disney’s “The Lion King,” is by Jeffrey Beers, known for his wildly creative interiors.

Boma-Flavors of Africa is the name of the family “marketplace” restaurant featuring an exhibit kitchen with a wood-burning grill and rotisserie. Boma in Swahili is “an open, natural space that provides a safe and sheltered place in the bush.” The 270-seat restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner.

Two other dining locations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Mara, named after the Mara River, a quick-service eatery serving breakfast, lunch and dinner -- and Victoria Falls, the mezzanine lounge overlooking Boma, will serve gourmet coffee and teas, South African vintage wines, international beers and cocktails.

24-Hour Animal Viewing Opportunities

The savannahs will be home to more than 200 mammals and birds representing a cross-section of the African palette -- greater kudu, Grant’s zebra, wildebeest, Congo buffalo, giraffe, impala, marabou stork to name a few. Forty percent of the mammal species are Walt Disney World-exclusive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The hoofstock and birds will roam freely on the savannah where resort guests may enjoy 24-hour viewing opportunities.

Landscape: The Art of the Earth

Landscape design at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge began long before the resort opened its doors, with the first vegetation planted and secured two years ago. The rich environment is designed to simulate the landscape systems of the African continent -- forested lands, river systems, grasslands and the bush. Tall thryalis and pampas grass cover the ground in front of the resort, while red and pink hibiscus, bright clusters of red, orange and scarlet Ixora, fragrant white jasmine and green pygmy date palms border the Uzima Pool. Behind the lodge on Arusha Rock kopje is the signature tree, Peltophorum dubium -- or Yellow Flame Tree -- the canopy tree most recognized as the one on the African plain.

Art: A Celebration of Culture

Reflecting the romance and beauty of African culture, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features an extensive collection of museum-quality art, with more than 200 pieces in guestrooms and public spaces.

In fact, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge contracted an art consultant to bring the collection of authentic African art to Walt Disney World Resort. “The idea is to show that Africa is a vast continent full of gifted and culturally diverse people,” said Charles Davis, the resort’s curator.

The centerpiece of the resort’s collection is the Igbo Ijele 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, weighs 300 pounds 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.

Programs for All Ages

A series of kid-friendly programs and adult enrichment opportunities at the resort increase guests’ knowledge and appreciation of the African culture. Children can hear African folklore around the outdoor firepit, become a “Junior Safari Researcher” or “Junior Chef of the day” at the resort. Guests of all ages can also learn from the lodge’s Savannah Guides in programs that show differences in animals’ physical and naturalistic behavior, while adults take part in wine tasting (the resort boasts the largest collection of South African wines anywhere in the United States) or a self-guided tour of the resort’s extensive art collection.

Authentic Merchandise in the Marketplace

The festive, 5,300-square-foot Zawadi Marketplace will carry authentic crafts, clothing and other distinctive merchandise from Africa. Woodcarvings, Zulu baskets, hand-painted dishes, batik fabrics, hand-made jewelry, even clothing inspired by African tribal wear will be offered. African artisans will also demonstrate wood carving, painting, jewelry making and more. Character and resort logo merchandise also will be available.

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