Simba’s Activity Center Overview: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney Vacation Club’s Community Halls are popular spaces meant for relaxing activities such as crafting, painting, and playing games. But did you know that there are a couple of other similar locations on Disney property that fall a little short of the “Community Hall” designation? These are known as Activity Centers - they’re operated by the Disney Recreation team and not associated with DVC. Their offerings are a bit more limited, and their hours are more varied, but they’re hidden gems and wonderful places to spend some time!
One of these amazing Activity Centers, Simba’s Activity Center, can be found on the Jambo House side of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This space was used as a childcare facility called Simba’s Cubhouse years ago but was converted into an Activity Center once Disney stopped offering onsite childcare. It’s located on the bottom level of Jambo House, near Uzima Springs Pool, The Mara, and Pumbaa’s Fun and Games Arcade. You’ll walk past the arcade and head straight inside the building, and Simba’s Activity Center will be right in front of you. And it’s next to a laundry room as well, making this a great place to hang out while you’re doing laundry.
It’s open daily from 11:00 AM-9:00 PM, and kids aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. However, that makes this the perfect place for teens to spend a few hours while their parents go have a nice meal at Jiko! The room is adorably Lion King-themed, and there are always some friendly Cast Members there to show you around. There are a lot of activities available, both free and paid, so let’s go over the free activities first.
If you’re interested in free crafts, you’ll find coloring pages and scratch art already waiting for you at a few tables. For younger children, there are blocks, Legos, animal figures, and storybooks. The whole family will enjoy the Heritage Scavenger Hunt, pin trading, and board games for all ages. And for gamers, there’s a selection of Nintendo Switch and Xbox games available.
There are also quite a few paid crafts offered in Simba’s Activity Center. Activities vary, but right now there are several make-your-own jewelry options, DIY tumblers, fuse beads, glasses holders, make-your-own Mickey ears, mini canvases, and keychains. Prices are relatively affordable and range from $2-15. If you’re interested in doing any of these activities, please see a Cast Member and they’ll take your payment and get you started.
Another very popular paid craft is painting ceramics. These range from $3-20, and there are a lot of different pieces to choose from. There are two painting methods available - you can either paint your ceramic pieces with acrylic paint or glaze them and have them fired in a kiln. Acrylic paint is brighter and dries quickly. If you go with acrylic paint you can take your painted ceramic piece with you as soon as you’ve finished painting, or you can leave it with a Cast Member to spray it with a glossy sealant. It will need to stay in Simba’s Activity Center to dry overnight, and your finished piece will be ready to pick up the following day. If you choose to glaze your piece, the final product will be food-safe and washable. You’ll paint it with glaze and leave it with a Cast Member to be fired in a kiln. The firing process takes a couple of days, however, so you will need to do this project toward the beginning of your trip so you can make sure it’s finished and ready to be picked up before your check-out date.
The Recreation team also hosts a sweet bedtime story event inside Simba’s Activity Center! Visit the activity center any night that the Movie Under the Stars is scheduled to be shown at Jambo House (right now, that’s on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and kids can enjoy a bedtime story 30 minutes before the movie begins. And anytime there’s inclement weather and the Movie Under the Stars needs to be moved indoors, it will be shown here inside Simba’s Activity Center.
Simba’s Activity Center is such a cozy area to simply relax, watch a movie, or read a book. It’s a peaceful space with cozy furniture, low lighting, and a generally quiet atmosphere - not many guests realize this activity center exists, so you’re likely to have the room to yourself. It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours indoors on a rainy day. They often have new crafts themed to holiday seasons or new Disney movies, so even if you’ve been here before, it’s worth a visit every trip to see what’s new! You do not need to be a resort guest to spend time here! Everybody’s welcome, so even if you’re staying off Disney property and happen to be at Animal Kingdom Lodge for a dining reservation, Simba’s Activity Center is available to you. Be sure to stop by and take advantage of everything Simba’s Activity Center offers!
Simba’s Activity Center | Daily from 11:00 AM-9:00 PM | Jambo House
*Activity dates and times listed here were accurate at the time this review was published. Resort activities and activity schedules may change month-to-month, so be sure to check the current Animal Kingdom Lodge Recreation Calendar for updated times/dates when making plans to participate.
