Disney
Animal Kindom Resort
 Here,
most balconies overlook a picturesque savanna where giraffe, zebra
and other exotic animals roam about a spacious wildlife reserve.
Only resort animals - not those at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme
Park - will be visible. Hand-crafted furnishings and African decor
welcome you to a world of comfort complete with all the beauty of
nature...and all the magic of Disney. This 1,293-room, five-story
resort will create the atmosphere of a 140-acre wildlife preserve in
southern Africa. It is located nearly a mile southwest of the
entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.
Designed by Peter Dominick, of Disney's Wilderness Lodge fame,
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge will follow the kraal African village
design, a semi-circle concept with a distinctive "theme" carried
throughout its architecture, landscape and interior designs.
 "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. The visual treat will begin on arrival as
guests discover a rolling 33-acre plain unfolding before them
through one of the resort?s larger-than-life picture windows. Here
guests can walk along the elevated kopje, or rock outcropping, and
enjoy a nearly panoramic view of roaming animals and flowing streams.
Guests will enter the lobby of this five-storey, 800,000-square-foot
resort on the third floor. This large space will frame the central
pasture at the rear of the resort with a huge picture window. From
this window, guests will see the kopje (pronounced 'copy'), or large
rock formation, which will extend into the pasture. Guests will be
able to walk along this elevated kopje into a viewing area and see
animals on three sides. Although the guests will see the animals up
close, they won't be able to touch them.
 Throughout
the resort, guests will discover examples of authentic African
architecture and design, from thatched ceilings to rich wood and
golden tones. Features include a large mud fireplace in the lobby
and natural lighting fixtures designed to accentuate spectacular
sunrises and sunsets. At night, incandescent lighting will resemble
twinkling fire-flies and soft-glowing campfires.
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Burj Al
Arab
The Emirate of Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates,
sitting between the waters of the Gulf and the desert and the Al
Hajar mountain range. Dubai is a truly fascinating blend of the
ancient traditions of Arabia and the Bedouin, the influence of Islam
and a thriving, modern commercialism. Even at the beginning of this
century, the way of life had hardly changed over hundreds of years
and was centred around merchants from Iran and India, Bedouins
traversing the desert from wadi to oasis, spices and gold being
traded.
Today, remnants of this old way of life are still visible and great
efforts are being made to restore traditional houses and to show
village life although new buildings are air-conditioned towers of
steel and glass, shopping centres vie with ancient souqs and the
traditional art of falconry exists alongside golf and horse-racing.
Dubai has a huge number of attractions, from its hot climate, warm
waters and sandy beaches to the appeal of the sand dunes of the
desert, its array of goods in both traditional and modern shops, to
its approachability and available insight for the western visitor to
Arab culture coupled with outstanding quality of accommodation and
service.
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