Hiya Patty! Welcome to planDisney! It's always great to speak with a fellow Palmetto State resident!
Oh boy! Your Walt Disney World vacation is fast approaching! I'm sure you must be over the top excited for it to finally arrive. I hope you were able to snag all the
Advanced Dining Reservations you were hoping for! The morning of that 60-day mark when dining reservations become available is always an exciting yet stressful day in my household. You can also add and modify your reservations up until the day of your visit, so if you happened to not get the one you wanted, I would continue to check on its availability.
It seems like you plan to spend some time at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge during your stay! I absolutely adore this resort and it holds a special place in my family's hearts. Besides the resort being stunning and absolutely beautiful, it is rooted in cultural representation, which is indicative of its décor and culinary arts. And by the way, there is a savanna just out back, with giraffes and zebras just roaming around! How cool is that!
There was a time when both
Boma - Flavors of Africa and
Jiko - The Cooking Place, held culinary food tours each day in the late afternoon. You would have to arrive about 15 minutes early to sign up, and then a tour guide from the resort would take you through the restaurants, teaching you about the cuisine and décor. It was complimentary and a great added bonus if you happened to be at the resort during this time. There would also be a light sampling of some food items on the menus.
I did get a chance to speak with a Cast Member, and at this time, these tours have not returned to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you're staying at this resort, I would check with the front desk upon arrival to see if it has been brought back by the time of your visit. Experiences are returning at all times to the Walt Disney World Resort, so you never know if some pixie dust will come your way on this one!
Patty, I hope you have a magical trip next month!
Stop back any time to see us at planDisney!
See ya real soon!
Greg