Jambo, Diane!
That’s “hello” in Swahili, something you’ll hear often around the Africa section of
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, home to the incredible
Tusker House Restaurant. This is one of my family’s favorite traditions on our Walt Disney World Resort vacations, and on our last trip we had the same dining experience as you’re planning so I’m happy to help share the details with you.
In my opinion, you’ve hit the dining reservation jackpot! Your 10:25 A.M. dining reservation for Tusker House Restaurant is technically a breakfast reservation. This means you can expect a plentiful buffet of both traditional African and familiar American breakfast offerings when you arrive - even the famous jungle juice mix of passionfruit, orange, and guava. For the time of your reservation, you will be charged the
breakfast rate shown on the menu. However, you’re correct in assuming that the menu will soon turnover to lunch during your visit, around 11:00 A.M. To me, this is ideal because you can have the best of both worlds and experience even more variety of the glorious worldly foods at this special restaurant but still only pay the lower breakfast per-person fee.
There will be plenty of breakfast items left when you arrive, and I suggest you take an extra plate of anything that especially pleases you which is distinctly breakfast on that first visit to the epic buffet. Your server and the hosts at the buffet stations can share the details of exactly when an item may be taken away in exchange for a lunch entree, but please know it’s a gradual changeover and not an instant change. In fact, when we last visited, I remember a few stations remaining open with breakfast items long into the official “lunch” time.
I love Tusker House for its welcoming hospitality and unique theming that makes me feel like I’m adventuring in the great savannahs of Africa! I still get comfort foods from a familiar environment while getting a taste of something new. Be sure to ask about some local dishes along the way as you explore the buffet, and maybe come away with a new favorite dish! We didn't even talk about the fun characters you'll encounter -- Mickey and friends in their safari gear always make us smile, and I love asking them about their own adventures on safari when they swing by our table.
I hope this reassures you that you’re going to have an amazing breakfast at Tusker House but also get to sample some of the lunchtime favorites at the breakfast cost! It’s truly a great reservation time which allows you to enjoy a few attractions before taking this leisurely meal break mid-morning.
Please let us know if you have any other questions as you finalize your plans for a wild time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. It’s always such a special day together!
Kwaherini (go well),
Amy