Animal Kingdom Eats: Up to Date Dining Options for Jambo House and Kidani Village
With so many changes happening at Walt Disney World, it is easy to get confused with what is and is not being offered to guests. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase all of the dining options that are currently available to guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House and Kidani Village!
Currently, the main dining option for guests staying at Jambo House and Kidani Village is Sanaa.
Located a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village, Sanaa offers African cooking with Indian flavors. Sanaa sits right on the Savanna, giving guests the opportunity to see some animals while dining!
Starting at 7 am every morning, Sanaa offers its Kuamsha Breakfast. Turning into a casual, quick-service restaurant, the classic breakfast options we all love with an African twist. From Spiced Hollandaise and Coconut Drop Biscuits to Boerewors Sausage and Chai Whipped Cream, these delicious dishes are an amazing way to start the day!
If you are more of a get-up-and-go person in the morning, trying to get to the park for rope drop, Sanaa also offers great grab and go options for guests. Traditional favorites like yogurt parfaits and fruit plates are sold alongside African favorites of banana bread with house-made African chocolate hazelnut spread and African breakfast cereal. Whichever option you choose, you will definitely be starting your day off right!
Starting at 11:30, Sanaa gets changed over to the table service restaurant many have come to love!
Their lunch menu is offered from 11:30 am to 2 pm, and then the dinner menu is offered from 5 pm to 9 pm every day. This is their standard menu, offering slow-cooked meats, vegetarian delicacies, and the infamous Indian-style Bread Service.
While the Bread Service is an absolute favorite of my mine, there are many other delicious options as well. The Grilled New York Strip offered at dinner is so tender and comes with delicious potatoes and harvest vegetables. Alternatively, the Potjie Inspired is a great option for guests looking to try a few different things. The butter chicken is a favorite, but the option to pick two pieces of your entree is a great way to mix and match and try so much, especially if you’re sharing!
Attached to Sanaa, you can find the Sanaa Lounge. Typically, the lounge is reserved for people looking to grab a drink and a little bite to eat. However, to accommodate the new social distancing restrictions, they have opened the lounge into extended seating for Sanaa. This provides the restaurant the option to allow more guests into the restaurant at once while still maintaining space between parties.
Another new option Sanaa is offering is Table Service To Go ordering. Similar to Mobile Ordering at quick-service locations around Walt Disney World, Sanaa’s Table Service To Go option gives guests the opportunity to experience their Sanaa favorites wherever they like. Using your My Disney Experience app, you can find the option by searching “Sanaa To Go.”
When ordering, you will select a pickup time for your order. The app does remind you that as everything is cooked to order, the preparation time will be similar to eating in at a table service restaurant. This is definitely something to keep in mind when ordering your meal. Most of Sanaa’s regular menu is available for mobile orders throughout the day. However, similar to the sit-down restaurant, between 2 pm and 5 pm, there is no cooking staff available, so the menu for ordering is much more limited.
Once your order is ready for pick up, the app will let you know where to pick up your order, which is typically the front desk at Kidani Village. Payment for the order can be made right through the app; just make sure you have a credit card attached to your account.
This mobile ordering option is great for guests who were not able to snag a reservation at Sanaa or guests staying at the Animal Kingdom Villas, as you can take the meal back to your room to enjoy on your balcony or at your table!
Not in the mood for a big meal for lunch or dinner? Time to visit the Maji Pool Bar! Located next to the Samawati Springs Pool, the Maji Pool Bar offers quick service meal options from 11 am to 9 pm daily. While the menu is quite small, there are some delicious meal options. A pulled pork sandwich or chili cheese dog are some of the heavier options, while the Chicken Caesar and Black-Eyed Peas Harvest Salads offer a lighter choice. There is even a couple of kids’ meals, snacks, and desserts, so there is something for everyone at your party! The Maji Pool Bar is also a great place to grab a delicious cocktail or tasty non-alcoholic beverage. This is definitely a place you should check out while staying in the Animal Kingdom Villas!
It is worth mentioning that all of the dining options currently open are located at Kidani Village. People staying at Jambo House are probably wondering, “Where do I go to eat?”.
Thankfully, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas are able to use all of the amenities at both buildings, and it is super easy to access them! There is a shuttle that runs between both buildings all day long, so all you need to do is hop on the shuttle, and it will take you right to the front door of the other building. Since the ride is about 2 minutes, you should never have to wait more than about 10 minutes for a shuttle. However, if you are not in the mood to wait for the shuttle, or you would rather take a nice stroll, you can certainly walk between buildings as well. The walk is about 10 minutes long, and there is a convenient path with signs to safely walk between the buildings.
Walt Disney World is ever-changing right now, and it is a lot to keep up with. However, I am excited to see what else will be reopening in the future! While the dining options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas are limited to what is normally available, I believe that the restaurants that are currently open offer a great selection of options for everyone!
~Alyssa
