Should You Eat at Animal Kingdom?

Last year, I stuck my head in the lion’s mouth by asking a simple question.

I wondered whether people should eat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

At the time most people disagreed with me, but a couple of those restaurants have closed since then, so I think I had a point.

Today, I’m going to kick the hornet’s nest by asking an even tougher question.

Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Should you eat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

This answer is NOT cut and dried right now.

A Confession

Animal Kingdom

I’ll do this one backwards by spoiling my answer right at the start.

We’ll be at Animal Kingdom next week, and I fully intend to dine at Flame Tree Barbecue.

Photo: Disney

I’ll actually grab and go here, as my wife prefers Satu’li Canteen, which doesn’t currently offer an entree I can eat.

So, I’m already saying yes here, albeit with caveats.

We won’t be dining at a Table Service restaurant during our visit, and most of the food we eat here will be snacks, primarily ice cream treats.

We’re adopting this approach because we view Animal Kingdom as a hit and run mission this summer.

Animal Kingdom

Other than the obvious stuff, this park only offers a few attractions we’re prioritizing.

Keep in mind that we’re adults traveling without children, which means we’re not the target audience for the park’s huge summer addition.

We’ll probably check out Bluey’s Wild World if the lines are reasonable, but I’ll be doing it for informational purposes to relay to MickeyBlog readers.

This isn’t something I’d seek out on my own, despite my obvious respect for Bluey.

I primarily visit Disney parks for the rides, the atmosphere, and the character greetings.

Since I’m not an avid Bluey viewer, the appeal of this new experience is largely wasted on me.

I’m fully aware that it’s going to be huge, though, and am thrilled that Animal Kingdom is adding Bluey.

I mention all this as I lead to the reasons some guests won’t eat at Animal Kingdom.

The First Reason You May Eat Elsewhere

Bluey’s Best Day Ever at Disneyland Resort

With DinoLand U.S.A. closed and the Tropical Americas still a year away, Animal Kingdom is operating at less than maximum capacity this summer.

For frequent park guests, Bluey is the only new thing right now.

Disney

Fans skipping that experience won’t find much new here.

Really, the only new experience other than Bluey at this park is Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Disney

Every other ride here has been available for at least nine years

With DINOSAUR no longer an option, guests can take a hit and run approach at this park.

Photo: Disney

You can target the two rides at Pandora – The World of Avatar, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest.

Then, you can make your way back to the Zootopia show, and that’s it! You’ve hit all the non-animal highlights at this park.

Disney

Since you can do that quickly, you may prefer to wait until you’re somewhere else to eat a meal.

Many frequent guests do a half day at Animal Kingdom and a half day at Magic Kingdom/EPCOT.

If that’s your approach, you might wait until you’re at the second park to eat.

The Second Reason You Might Eat Elsewhere

Restaurantosaurus

Then, we have the palate discussion. At Animal Kingdom, you can sample exquisite fare from Africa and parts of Asia at many restaurants.

How popular is this cuisine? Well, Disney just rewrote the menu at one of the restaurants in Africa to make it the new Restaurantosaurus.

The company wouldn’t do that if Harambe Market’s African cuisine were wildly popular. That’s just math.

As someone with a comically childlike palate, I’m sadly on team Restaurantosaurus here.

Though I often lambaste Rainforest Cafe at the front of the park, I’m grateful that it’s there.

I know that I can find something thoroughly mediocre and bland on the menu.

Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

I can’t always do that at my beloved Yak & Yeti Restaurant.

Real talk: Parents, do you think your kids will prefer the intentionally strange menu at Satu’li Canteen over the options at Pizzafari?

We all know the answer here. Do you know how you avoid that compromise?

You eat somewhere else on the Walt Disney World campus.

Why You May Eat at Animal Kingdom

Image Credit: Disney

I casually listed several reasons why you’ll choose an Animal Kingdom restaurant.

Before I get to those, let’s start with the obvious one: you’re there.

Image Credit: Disney

This is the biggest Disney World park, and someone in your party may get hangry. If so, you’ll just go ahead and eat.

In the process, you’re likely to discover delicacies that expand your palate.

I swear by the protein bowls at Satu’li Canteen even though my diet precludes them now.

Yak & Yeti serves several entrees I’d normally never put in my mouth, yet I love them here due to the quality of the recipes and cooking.

Then, we have Flame Tree Barbecue, which for a long time was the unquestioned winner of the title Best Barbecue at Disney World.

That claim has grown more competitive over the past decade, yet Flame Tree Barbecue remains at or near the top of the list.

Yak & Yeti has competition for the best fine dining experience at the park, with many guests swearing by Tiffin’s Restaurant.

This Signature Dining experience costs the most of anything I’ll mention today, but you definitely will get your money’s worth.

Photo: Disney

Animal Kingdom’s Africa area hosts Tusker House Restaurant, one of the most popular character meals of any Disney theme park in the world.

This place is a de facto buffet where Mickey Mouse comes to your table. How great is that?

Photo: Disney

To a larger point, I’ve just named five exemplary dining options at Animal Kingdom, all of which you can choose during a park visit.

I’d argue that foodies eat better at Animal Kingdom than either of the other parks not named EPCOT.

Final Thoughts

Gorgeous detailed interior of Tusker House! Credit: Smart Mouse Travel

This conversation doesn’t have a clear cut answer.

I’m voting with my wallet by eating at Animal Kingdom during my upcoming visit.

Photo:Yak & Yeti

However, I agree with the logic that Animal Kingdom is currently a half-day park.

Everything will change the instant the Tropical Americas open, but that’s a year from now.

Chicken Fried Rice Side Dish

For the time being, there are only six experiences on my upcoming Animal Kingdom itinerary.

If I do them quickly are am just not hungry that morning, there’s every chance in the world I punt on my current plans.

Photo: Disney

In a perfect world, we’d all rather eat at EPCOT for every meal, every day of our lives.

So, if your itinerary breaks right during an Animal Kingdom visit, you don’t need to eat at this park.

Photo: Disney

You can absolutely do so if that’s your preference, but it’s certainly not a necessity.

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Feature photo: Disney