Victoria Falls Lounge at Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of Walt Disney World’s best-kept secrets. Here’s why we love it so much.
Edit 08-18-2022: Did you know that the Victoria Falls Lounge has a new signature drink? Check out The Seychelles Martini below!
Some folks are rope-drop-and-parade Disney people, while others are more late-night-and-secret-spaces type of people.
Me, I fall in the latter category. Don’t get me wrong, I love the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort, and I enjoy the parades– but I have a secret.
I can’t stand crowds. In the middle of a parade crowd, I get anxious. When I feel boxed in at the push to get in –or out– of a theme park, my heart starts to race and my eyes dart around, looking for a path to freedom.
After any significant time spent in the hustle and bustle of a crowded park, I need to recharge somewhere quiet and relatively (well, for Walt Disney World, anyway) uncrowded. This did not improve during the COVID lockdown.
That’s why, when my husband and I recovered our Annual Passes, we returned to our standbys throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, the tried and true ones we would retreat to after a stint in the parks. And, over the years, there’s one place that’s always offered me the respite I need: Victoria Falls Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Victoria Falls Lounge: What You Need to Know
Peri Peri Scallops and Hot Tapas. Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Hours: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM every day
Location: Animal Kingdom Lodge, upstairs from Jiko
Menu: Limited food offerings, but come here for the wine and the scotch; tap for the full menu
Where Is Victoria Falls Lounge?
Courtesy of Disney
Victoria Falls Lounge is a bar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, in Jambo House. You can find the lounge upstairs from Jiko, although, for some reason, few people do.
Related: Victoria Falls Lounge is one of the reasons AKL was named a top resort for foodies
I’ve always suspected that Victoria Falls’ decidedly grown-up vibe (there’s really nothing for kids here—no kids menu and, quite honestly, probably a little boring for tots) that keeps families away. Unless you’re staying at Jambo House, Victoria Falls may not be on your radar. But it should be, and here’s why.
Victoria Falls Lounge Review: What Makes It Worth the Trip?
African-Inspired Tapas. Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
You can either catch a bus or drive yourself to Animal Kingdom Lodge to check out Victoria Falls Lounge, but either way, it’s worth the extra time (bus rides, I’ve noticed, are an average 30-minute trip from anywhere to anywhere else on property) it takes to end your evening at this upstairs lounge.
Head to Victoria Falls Lounge after dinner, or for dinner if you have a light appetite. Other than a burger, the food offerings, while tasty, aren’t the typical Disney dining options: You can choose from goat cheese dip, marinated olives with almonds, or slap chips.
Of course, you can order all four and have a nice little feast for two, but you’re not here for the food. No, you’re here for the peace and quiet—and the drinks.
What Should You Drink at Victoria Falls Lounge?
Courtesy of Disney
The drink menu at Victoria Falls is, in a word, outstanding. Steer clear of (most) of the beer and mixed drinks —you can get most of these at other Walt Disney World Resort venues. Trust me: You’re here for what you can’t get elsewhere.
I tend to order the Black Pearl Oro Shiraz Blend, which hails from the Western Cape province of South Africa, but I definitely don’t turn up my nose at the Stark-Condé Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch. And, of course, they have wine flights, in case you don’t know which wine to order, or if you want to taste them all.
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
My husband loves Victoria Falls Lounge because they have a robust Scotch menu. This is the bar serious scotch drinkers will appreciate, because in addition to standbys such as Johnnie Walker Black and Glenlivet, Victoria Falls Lounge has Johnnie Walker Blue and, if you’re really serious about your nightcap, The Macallan 25.
Signature Drink: The Seychelles Martini
Photo by Dani Mortiz-Long
Contributor, Dani Moritz-Long: “The Seychelles Martini — which blends Cruxland Gin, Raspberry Liqueur, and Pineapple Juice — is a potent but sweet combination that delights both the taste buds and the eye. The martini is served with a floating and glowing lotus flower that only adds to the delight of this beverage offering.”
Photo by Dani Mortiz-Long
Is Victoria Falls Lounge Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! This is the appeal of Victoria Falls Lounge: Disney has so carefully curated what’s on offer here that they’ve made the lounge the go-to for guests who want to have a nice sip of scotch or lush glass of wine.
In doing so, they’ve also created a space where, at the end of a long Disney day, you can remember the things you did, saw, and loved—from a comfortable plush chair in a dark, quiet space. Far, far away from the crowds.
What’s your favorite quiet spot at Walt Disney World? Tell us over on our Facebook page!
