"Dine with Animal Specialists... an "Untamed" Lunch at Sanaa"

[Burnt Toast]

Hey all, just wanted to drop a note about a new lunch offering that is available at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge called "Dine with Animal Specialists... an "Untamed" Lunch at Sanaa". Advertising for this is pretty limited since it launched two weeks ago but it's available every Wednesday for a single seating for up to 12 Guests per day at 11:30am to 1:15pm. While there is no age limit, there is a recommended age of 8 and up.

If you wanted to learn and speak with folks at the Resort that care for our wonderful animals everyday, this is your chance similar to the "Lunch with an Imagineer" offering at Disney's Hollywood Studios. With this you get a four-course lunch, offering trios of some of the wonderful food offerings at Sanaa with every course. Children can order a "complete meal" off the children's menu or order a la carte.

When I did the preview it was the Indian Bread Service (with all the sauces), the trio of their salads (chickpeas with cucumber & tomato, watermelon with lime & radish, and the roasted beets), trio of their slow cooked in gravy items (chicken in the red curry, shrimp in the green curry, and a bowl of rice), and the trio of desserts (chocolate cake, passion fruit kulfi, and the wonderful signature chai cream). Lots of food even though it's small samples.

Price is $49.00 for folks ages 10+ and $29.00 for children ages 3-9 with a portion of the price going to Disney's Wildlife Conservation Fund. Tax and gratuity is included and Disney Dining Plan / Tables in Wonderland is not accepted.

The only way you can book this new offering currently (until it is officially "in the dining reservation system" later this year) is through a Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge Cast Member. If you would like to book, shoot me a PM with; your name, number of folks in your party, allergy and/or dietary requirements, contact number, first names of everyone in your party and ages of the children, and the date that you are interested in attending (Wednesdays only). This offering is available to any Guest visiting the Walt Disney World Resort (in other words you do not need to be a staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge).

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM or just reply here and I'll try to answer them ASAP. 8

 

[Figment2]

We know Steve M one of the animal curators. Since we had a large group last October, we asked him to do a special lunch with us at Sanaa. He shared photos with us of his recent trip to Africa. Every one of us (about 20) loved this lunch and his presentation. We had some of AK management at our lunch and it was mentioned that it may become a tour.

All I can say is BOOK THIS! We learned so much (like they took photos of the feet of animals in Africa to compare to animals on the savannah to make sure wear and tear is the same). We always knew that Disney is meticulous when it comes to show but WHO KNEW!

I already know I'll be contacting you to sign up for October!

Thanks for the info!

Cyn

 

[sarahgirl]

Do you know what is on the menu?

 

[Burnt Toast]

When I did the preview it was the Indian Bread Service (with all the sauces), the trio of their salads (chickpeas with cucumber & tomato, watermelon with lime & radish, and the roasted beets), trio of their slow cooked in gravy items (chicken in the red curry, shrimp in the green curry, and a bowl of rice), and the trio of desserts (chocolate cake, passion fruit kulfi, and the wonderful signature chai cream). Lots of food even though it's small samples.

For the ones that have already sent me PMs, I'll print them out and take them in on Sunday for processing and I will send you a message back when I get them booked. Also I forgot but please let me know if there's any allergies or any dietary food requirements so I can pass that along as well. Thanks!!!

 

[wendym]

All sounds lovely! Sent you a pm to see if I can book for July.
Many thanks for your kind offer
Wendy

 

[disneyfav4ever]

This sounds great! Do you know if they have a vegetarian menu available?

 

[Burnt Toast]

This sounds great! Do you know if they have a vegetarian menu available?

I don't know exactly what it is but as long as it's noted in the reservation then they can rip up something nice for ya. Otherwise if you leave your number in the PM as it gets closer to your reservation then they can call you and give you options/alternate menus as well.

 

[minniebeth]

This sounds like an incredible experience~ just out of curiosity, how far out can you book? Does it follow the 180 days booking? Thanks!

 

[honugirl]

This sounds fantastic and something I'd really be interested in! How do they accomodate food allergies? Here comes the list of known allergies/intolerances: wheat/gluten, chicken egg, salmon, shrimp, crab.

Thanks!

ETA: all those are for me, the other person that would be attending eats anything and everything. I'm much more of a delicate flower. ha ha ha

 

[Burnt Toast]

Make sure to send me a PM with the appropriate information (name, party size, phone number, allergies) so I can pass that along to the appropriate folks.

This sounds fantastic and something I'd really be interested in! How do they accomodate food allergies? Here comes the list of known allergies/intolerances: wheat/gluten, chicken egg, salmon, shrimp, crab.

Thanks!

ETA: all those are for me, the other person that would be attending eats anything and everything. I'm much more of a delicate flower. ha ha ha

 

[Burnt Toast]

Currently no, because this offering is not "in the system" yet, we are tracking reservations through spreadsheet... the old school way from back before we had the system we use now. I would say not too far out (like please don't PM me about next year! Ha ha!) but if it's within this year then it should be okay... we'll make something happen (I'll just have them add more pages to the sheet... heh heh).

This sounds like an incredible experience~ just out of curiosity, how far out can you book? Does it follow the 180 days booking? Thanks!

 

[ssc021796]

Just when I thought I couldn't blow my husbands mind on his 40th... this comes along. He wants to live and work at AKL. Best I can do is DVC.
We won't be there until Jan 2012 so I'm hoping it will be online, if not I'll be dropping you a note. But do you know if they could substitute something from the kids menu for my gal who will be 6? She will love the animal guys too, but is a picky eater.
thank you thank you thank you!

 

[Burnt Toast]

Honestly I would have to say that the Sanaa chefs are probably the most accommodating on property, it's one of my favorite restaurants and I try to go there all the time. For next year, yah... I'd hold off in sending me a PM for now. The next update of the dining reservation program that we use is in the fall so that's when this offering will be added to the system (they wait for batches of things to be added/subtracted before making an update, go figure).

As for the kids menu, there's a lot of kid friendly stuff on the kids menu but if they wanted something from the adult offerings, I'm pretty sure that can be accommodated. Otherwise I'll find out what the kids offerings exactly entails but I'm sure it'll be some of the same offerings that they have on the children's menu everyday.

Just when I thought I couldn't blow my husbands mind on his 40th... this comes along. He wants to live and work at AKL. Best I can do is DVC.
We won't be there until Jan 2012 so I'm hoping it will be online, if not I'll be dropping you a note. But do you know if they could substitute something from the kids menu for my gal who will be 6? She will love the animal guys too, but is a picky eater.
thank you thank you thank you!

 

[Burnt Toast]

Oops... a clarification.

Children can order a "complete meal" off the children's menu or order a la carte.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Just updated to note that I do need a phone number for booking. Just name, number of adults and children in your party, allergy and/or dietary requirements, and the date that you are interested in booking for (Wednesdays only). I also need the names of everyone in your party (just first names is fine) and if they are a child, then their age (anyone under 18).

Most all dates are wide open until the end of the year with the exception of October 26th (only room for one that day).

 

[JenSop]

So do you think this would be a good extra thing for those of us who have already done Wanyama? We LOVED it when we did it and just LOVE AKV. (Our home resort.) I've eaten at Sanaa my last three trips, but don't have it planned for this June. Perhaps we should add it.....

 

[Burnt Toast]

Well, Wanyama is the ultimate offering that DAKL has... but seeing I've done both myself as well, I think this is a good addition for those that 1) want something different or a more relaxed setting to speak with the Animal Programs folks and 2) have kids who are too young to participate in Wanyama. Plus personally I like the food at Sanaa more then Jiko.

So do you think this would be a good extra thing for those of us who have already done Wanyama? We LOVED it when we did it and just LOVE AKV. (Our home resort.) I've eaten at Sanaa my last three trips, but don't have it planned for this June. Perhaps we should add it.....

 

[bsmcneil]

Just updated to note that I do NOT need a phone number for booking. Just name, number of adults and children in your party, allergy and/or dietary requirements, and the date that you are interested in booking for (Wednesdays only).

Most all dates are wide open until the end of the year with the exception of October 26th (only room for one that day).

ACH!!!!!!!!!!! I was hoping for that date (how odd, given the randomness of dates) for my soon to be wife and I. I hope this program continues - sounds great!

 

[Burnt Toast]

Just wanted to drop a note that booking has changed slightly and I DO need a contact number for bookings as well as the first names of everyone in your party and if they are a child, then their age as well (ages 17 and under).

Thanks!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

OMG, thank for the info on this-it sounds like something I'd definitely want to do. The only problem is that you said that it's only offered on Wednesday, and technically I won't be staying at the AKV on Wednesday night. I'm staying thru Tuesday nite and checking out Wednesday. Is that OK-come to think of it, I don't remember if you even have to be staying at AKV to book it. I'm transferring over to BCV that day, so timing's not a problem.
The other thing is that I've got the Wanyama Safari booked for Monday night (this is the last week in September, BTW, and I'm solo). Would you recommend doing both of these or substituting lunch at Sanaa for Wanyama. I'm not really afraid of "overload"-I'm fascinated with all things related to the animals at AKV.