SUSTAINABLE REASONS TO LOVE DISNEY ’ S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
KIMBERLY MASIMORE
If you could stay at one of the
most beautiful hotels on property , surrounded by nature , and know you were saving the earth at the same time , would you do it ? Disney ’ s Animal Kingdom Lodge ( AKL ) was designed to transport you to life on an African savanna , yet some hidden features tell a more meaningful tale .
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE BEGINNINGS Disney ’ s vision of the project was to be a magnificent resort created with an African theme . Disney designed the lodge to give the guests the illusion of being in
Africa , looking onto the African savanna , complete with live African animals to be viewed from guest room balconies .
Disney constructed the lodge to appear as though it were assembled with rough carved heavy wood members and thatch roofing , but it is actually fireresistive construction as required for the size and type of the project . The structure is primarily reinforced concrete with artificial thatch roofing specially developed for Disney ’ s Animal Kingdom Lodge .
The interior décor is brilliantly African
ABOVE : An indoor lounge with savanna views . PHOTO BY CLIFF WANG PREVIOUS PAGE : This staircase has a hidden lion face when you look at it straight-on . PHOTO BY CLIFF WANG