As a well known Disney addict in my circle of family and friends, I often get strange looks when I tell people that I don’t love Walt Disney World for its attractions. Sure, I race with the rest of the crazies at rope drop to get that amazing early morning ride on Seven Dwarves Mine Train or Soarin’. And yes, I obsess 60 days out to pick just the right fastpass+ options to optimize my time in the parks and to give me the ability to enjoy as much Disney magic as I can squeeze into a 16 hour park day. I, like other WDW park frequent fliers, can get caught up in commando touring- trying to pack in every ounce of magic that I possibly can before my body betrays me and I have to sleep. However, upon reflection at the end of each Walt Disney World visit, I find that the memories that I treasure the most are not from the attractions, but from the moments in between. These include fun or touching cast member interactions, peeks “behind the curtain”, unplanned periods of relaxation, and glimpses into the way that Disney magic brings joy into the hearts of others both young and old. As any good Disney theme park fan does, I keep an extensive Disney Bucket list. I noticed recently that the items on my list are not attractions, but instead are special experiences (both free and fee) that bring me such Disney joy. Recently, I had the chance to check one of these magical experiences off of my bucket list: the Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is held at Kidani Village in its beautiful restaurant, Sanaa, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon (lasting 90 minutes). This special dining experience has a fee of $50 for lunch with a small group of attendees and an Animal Specialist from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The attendees also get the opportunity to get an up close and personal introduction to one of the tortoises living there at Kidani Village after the amazing lunch.
When arriving at Sanaa, I was led to our table after a short wait, which was in an unpopulated area of the restaurant with a great view of the savannah. I was introduced to my fellow lunch companions (a family of 3), the wait staff, and the 2 Animal Specialists- yes, 2! Chris was the veteran Animal Specialist, and he was training Jessie, who had only been a cast member at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a few weeks. As a solo traveler, this lunch was a wonderful way to experience a delicious and unique dining situation without feeling the awkwardness of sitting alone. The dishes that we would be enjoying were described in detail, including the cooking methods, and the fun began! Immediately, the Animal Specialists put us all at ease, by giving extensive personal introductions and asking us to give brief introductions of ourselves.
As the introductions progressed, our first course arrived.. and yes, it was the notorious Sanaa bread service! If you have never had the opportunity to experience this, it is a delight- and as good as everyone says. There are 3 types of bread offered with 9 different sauces, ranging from sweet and cool to very spicy (I tried the first 6 of the 9…). After the bread service, we were served 3 different cold salads: a watermelon cucumber salad, a chickpea salad, and a tomato salad. Let me say this here- don’t be scared off by the style of cuisine at Sanaa. I am a reasonably picky eater and loved all of the food offered! The entrees were a butter chicken and a shrimp in green curry sauce with basmati rice. I do not eat shrimp, and the chef was very accommodating, offering me a serving of short ribs instead of the shrimp. The dessert trio topped off the very filling, delicious meal perfectly!
During the entirety of the meal, Chris and Jessie described what their daily responsibilities with the animals entailed. They took turns sharing interesting information about what it takes to care for the animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge around the clock (there is no “closing time” for them!). They detailed how the animals were monitored, fed, kept safe, moved from the savannah to the barn (for only a few hours each day), and received veterinary care. The importance of the breeding program was another very interesting topic. I especially loved their stories about individual animals’ personalities, and funny happenings around the savannah (like stolen candy from the golf cart!). Chris and Jessie also encouraged us to ask questions throughout, which led to us learning some fun facts that they might not have thought to share otherwise. Both Animal Specialists were great speakers and delightful lunch companions!
After lunch, we headed outside to meet one of the resident radiated tortoises (I can’t believe I have forgotten his name..but I do know that he is named after one of the chefs at Sanaa!). Chris and Jessie gave us great information about the radiated tortoise and we were given ample opportunities for photos of our new friend.
All in all, this was a remarkable educational dining experience. When participating in these types of “additional fee” experiences, I always ask myself, “is it worth the time/money spent away from the parks?” The answer in the case of the Untamed Lunch is a resounding “YES”! Between the delicious (and large) lunch, the totally unique setting, the educational opportunity, and the intimate exposure to the animal keepers of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I would highly recommend this experience in a heartbeat. It was well worth its cost and time commitment (and as a bonus, a portion of the cost goes to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund) . The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist is right at the top of my all-time favorite Walt Disney World experiences. Looks like I cross off one more item from my ever-growing Disney bucket list!
