Hi France,
Thank you so much for visiting planDisney with your question. We on the planDisney panel love helping guests to plan magical vacations!
Boma - Flavors of Africa is an absolute favorite of my family and friends when visiting Walt Disney World. It is a must-do dining location for our travel party! The food is absolutely delicious, and it has loads of options, including an array of choices for our vegetarian friend. I love the soups - no matter what the selection is on any given day, they are all delicious!
In terms of when you can arrive at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge for this reservation, I think that you will find that you can arrive as early as you would like, especially if you are looking to arrive a couple of hours early to experience Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. There is a lot to do at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. You might want to head out back to view the animals on the savanna, which I highly recommend! I find
Zawadi Marketplace, located right in the lobby, to be one of the best merchandise locations at a Disney resort hotel. The offerings are wide and unique - do pay them a visit! Finally, you might want to have a cocktail before your dinner at the lovely
Victoria Falls Lounge overlooking Boma. This is a relaxing and elegant place to unwind.
If you are traveling by car to this dinner reservation, the cast member at the gate may ask for your name and reservation. Typically, you can park at a Disney resort hotel for a few hours in order to dine at the resort. However, I think it would not be a problem for you to arrive early if you explain that you would like to do some shopping and see the animals! If you are arriving by
Disney transportation, you will not need to check in with the cast member at the gate.
I hope that these thoughts are helpful for you, France. Please do feel free to come back to planDisney with any further planning questions you may have!
~ Mona Leigh