One of my lifetime goals is to stay at every Walt Disney World resort (and maybe every type of room). As a result, I’ll also be visiting every resort gym on WDW property, and I want to show you what I think of them! So come along with me as we check out Zahanati Fitness Center.

Zahanati Fitness Center: The Basics

Zahanati Fitness Center is one of two fitness centers at Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL). Zahanati is located near the Uzima Springs pool in Jambo House while Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center is located near Samawati Springs Pool in Kidani Village.

Overall, this gym has Life-Fitness and Cybex branded equipment you’d expect from a hotel gym:

• 3 bikes
• 5 treadmills
• 2 ellipticals
• Dumbells (5 to 50lbs)
• 2 benches and a sit-up bench
• 2 exercise balls
• 1 bosu ball
• A variety of machines, including:
  • Cable machine
  • Cable squat
  • Knee extension
  • Leg press
  • Lat pull down
  • Overhead press
  • Chest press
  • Leg lift

However, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that the equipment is on the older side. I’m not sure if it’s the color scheme of AKL that contrasted this gym with a standard 24 Hour Fitness or Anytime Fitness or if the equipment truly was dated. Regardless, the equipment still suited my workout!

Oddly enough, I’ve also been to the Boardwalk Inn’s gym (which opened 5 years before AKL) and thought that the equipment there was more up-to-date. Again, it could be the resort theming that led me to feeling this way.

Fitness Center Details and Amenities

On the My Disney Experience App, Zahanati was listed as being open from 6:00am to 9:00pm, but when I arrived at the fitness center at 5:50am, there were already a few people working out. When looking up the fitness center on the WDW website, Zahanati was listed as open 24 hours – go figure!

Of course, Zahanati provides plenty of towels to use during or after your workout. There’s a water fountain, but no water bottle filling station, which can be a hassle for those that bring their own bottle. 

Zahanati also offers massage services but at the time of this review, massage services have been on hold since WKL re-opened during the pandemic. Other amenities include men’s and women’s locker rooms, steam rooms, showers, and saunas.

My Final Thoughts

What I would love the most out of this gym though is more space. While the gym (and spa) capacity is set at 150 people, when I showed up at 6am, I was 1 of 5 people there and it felt very cramped. For example, between the rack of dumbells and the elliptical was about 5 feet of space, which barely leaves enough room for one person to do their workout, let alone an additional person to pass by to grab dumbells. I also felt like I was always in someone’s way whenever doing an exercises, even though I was as close to the wall/mirror as possible.

My take: Use this gym on your non-park day and either in the middle or toward the end of the day. During my stay, I found that the gym was close to empty during these times. This is likely because guests are out at the theme parks, resort hopping, or exploring Orlando.

Overall, the Zahanati Fitness Center does the job. It has plenty of good equipment, it feels clean and well-maintained, it doesn’t feel stuffy, and it’s not smelly, even with its small space. Of course, in the case of a busy gym, modifying your workout will be a necessity.

It’s important to note that guests must be 14 years and older to use the facility. Additionally, guests 14-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

If you like what you read, go ahead and like my post and share it with your friends. If you have any suggestions, comments, or ideas you would like me to blog about in the future, feel free to leave a comment down below!