Hi there, Robbin!
Thank you for bringing your question to us at planDisney. Dining at
Walt Disney World Resort is one of my favorite topics, so I'm thrilled to provide a bit of guidance for you.
Since it is located inside
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, to enjoy a meal at
Tusker House Restaurant guests will need to have a valid theme park ticket for the day they are hoping to dine. In addition to valid park entry, it is also highly recommended that guests
make an advance dining reservation to secure their table. You can view available dining reservations in the My Disney Experience mobile app or online.
If you were hoping to dine near Disney's Animal Kingdom without a theme park ticket, I recommend making a reservation at
Rainforest Cafe. The restaurant is located just outside of the entrance to the theme park, so no valid theme park entry is required to experience the adventure that awaits inside. As a note, when making a reservation be sure to verify that you are booking the Animal Kingdom location and not the Rainforest Cafe in
Disney Springs.
If it was the character experiences in Tusker House Restaurant that appealed to you, there are several
character dining experiences available in Disney Resort Collection hotels throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
- Chef Mickey's in Disney's Contemporary Resort
- 'Ohana in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
- Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White in Disney's Wilderness Lodge
- Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera in Disney's Riviera Resort
- Cape May Cafe in Disney's Beach Club Resort
Since the restaurants listed above do not require valid park entry for the day, dining reservations often fill up quickly, so I would suggest making a reservation as soon as possible.
I hope this information was helpful, Robbin! If any additional questions arise before your vacation, feel free to
stop back by!
Cheers to 2024,
Lizzie