Have you ever wondered which Walt Disney World restaurants give you the most bang for your Disney Dining Plan buck? Wonder no longer as we discuss which restaurants we think are the best value for your dining plan credits!
Happy listening!
On our January girls trip, I got to experience Boma for the first time. Jamie and Tara had already been there before so they filled me in on what to expect. They love this African inspired buffet in the main building of Animal Kingdom Lodge and so did I. I’m sure you will too!
First of all, don’t get hung up on the “African inspired” part. Yes, there are a few things on the buffet you might not be familiar with, but overall, there is enough selection and enough familiar that everyone is going to find something that they like.
Again, it is a buffet. The price includes a non-alcoholic beverage plus all you care to eat. Buffet items include: a variety of salads, a carving station that includes prime rib, a variety of soups, several different vegetables and sides, a bread selection, and a very extensive dessert collection. Don’t worry, there are still standbys like mashed potatoes, different fruits, assorted hummus, and even sweet potato fries!
There was so much to choose from, I’m sure I didn’t try it all. I have to say I liked everything I tried, some things I liked better than others, of course. There is a tomato salad at the beginning of the buffet line that I just adored. I really liked the chicken corn chowder, and the prime rib was amazing.
Speaking of prime rib, at that station there are a variety of sauces you can choose from to accompany your meat. I decided to try them all. There’s a chipotle sauce that’s very smoky, a pesto with pecans, a tamarind barbecue sauce that’s amazing, and the Boma mustard. Save yourself some time and head straight for the mustard. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s everything you ever need in life.
Let’s move on to dessert. Go ahead and grab yourself a few of those Zebra Domes because they’re the signature dessert here at Boma. They’re a wonderfully light chocolate filling housed in white chocolate with a dark chocolate drizzle and they are so, so good. I also tasted the apple cobbler which was great. Other dessert offerings are assorted cookies and brownies, key lime cheesecakes, and even panna cotta.
I am truly not an adventurous eater and I have to say that I loved Boma and I can’t wait to go back. So I highly suggest everyone step out of their comfort zones and give it a try! You won’t be sorry!
Jambo! Join us this week as we give you an in depth look at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We’ll give you the inside scoop on the activities, the rooms, the dining, and the special events located within this gorgeous African-themed resort.
Happy listening!
One of Disney’s Deluxe category resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge is an African safari adventure themed resort located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Pros:
-Food options. Jambo House is home to Boma, an African themed buffet (which is delicious, review to follow!), Jiko, a signature dining experience with an extensive South African wine collection, and The Mara, a quick service restaurant with some African flair.
-Simba’s Cubhouse, the onsite Children’s Activity Center where your child can be entertained by Disney staff members while you get a parents’ night out!
-The pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House is gorgeous! It also is equipped with a water slide, and a zero entry shallow end.
-The savannahs! By far the number one draw to Animal Kingdom Lodge is the savannah views. You can choose a Savannah view room, where you can wake up in the morning and take your coffee out on the balcony to view over 30 species of animals just outside your door. However, even if you decide not to stay in a savannah view room there are viewing stations throughout the hotel, including just off the lobby. You can even grab a “field guide” from the concierge desk to help you identify the animals you are seeing. During my visit we also met some incredibly knowledgable Animal Specialists out in one of the viewing areas who was happy to answer any questions we had… and we had a lot! It’s always fun to talk to these unique Disney cast members.
Cons:
-Animal Kingdom Lodge is located further from Disney’s Magic Kingdom than any other resort on property. While I personally don’t find this to be much of an issue at all (the bus ride is 20 minutes, which is about as long as some hotels that share buses) some families may find this not to their liking.
Room photos:
Sitting area
Two queen beds
Entryway
Bathroom
Area just outside the bathroom door with double sink and large mirror
Balcony with table and two chairs
Resort Photos:
Sitting area and fire outside the lobby
Jambo House Lobby
Animals on the savannah!
Overall I’d absolutely recommend Animal Kingdom Lodge as a must visit resort. If you’re not so sure, next time you’re at Animal Kingdom just take a quick 5 minute bus ride over to Jambo House to have lunch or dinner and see the savannahs. After that I’m sure Animal Kingdom Lodge will be a top contender for your next stay! Another benefit to this resort is that it is one of only three Disney resorts that currently offers a bunk bed option. For siblings who aren’t good at sharing beds these bunk beds can be a vacation saver! Animal Kingdom Lodge is also one of Disney’s most reasonably priced deluxe resorts. If you’re interested in visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney World in general please click the “Free Vacation Planning!” tab at the top of this page and one of the Dole Whipped ladies would be happy to help you find the best option for your family!
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