Hi there, Ann! Welcome to planDisney - I'm so glad you found us, and I'm happy to lend a helping hand to a fellow Midwesterner. It looks like you'll be arriving at
Walt Disney World Resort in just a few weeks, and I'm happy to chat about some of the fantastic dining options that can be found at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village. Let's get to it!
This question is absolutely speaking to me, as the two Animal Kingdom resorts are home to some of our family's favorite dining spots on property. You can't go wrong with dinner at
Boma (Lodge) or
Sanaa (Villas), but let me tell you a little more about each of them so you can make an informed decision.
- Boma is an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant that has a wide variety of choices, ranging from standard options like macaroni and cheese to more adventurous, African-inspired dishes. Boma also features the legendary Zebra Domes, which are a popular dessert found at the resort.
- Sanaa is a sit-down restaurant with an Indian-inspired menu. It's one of our family's favorite spots, and we always have dinner here every time we visit. The bread service is super popular and it is absolutely worth the hype! There is a kids' menu with pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, and kid-friendly sides and desserts.
Ann, having visited with our girls when they were young, I would probably give the nod to Sanaa, as I often found buffets hard to navigate with little ones! Another advantage of Sanaa is that the restaurant looks out on the savanna, and there are usually animals wandering by all throughout your meal! Just outside the restaurant entrance, there is an observation outlook - you can always take a restless kiddo out there while you wait for your food (which I have absolutely done!).
If you're staying at either the Lodge or the Villas, there is a shuttle to transport Guests between the two resorts - or it's about a 10-minute walk. So, regardless of where you're staying, you can easily get to the other location, depending on where you choose to enjoy dinner.
I hope this information is helpful for your planning purposes, Ann! Thanks so much for stopping by planDisney, and please come back anytime if we can help with additional questions.
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan