WDW Daily News

It’s time to send your taste buds on a wild safari through Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park with a yummy limited-time Tasting Sampler! With this new offering, you can taste your way around Disney’s Animal Kingdom and enjoy preferred seating for the second showing of the breathtaking “Rivers of Light” nighttime show.

When Guests purchase the Tasting Sampler, they’ll receive a pre-loaded $35 digital gift card via email for only $30! This gift card will contain a bar code that can be added to their digital wallet and scanned at over 40 outdoor carts and kiosks throughout the park. They can then enjoy a delicious variety of savory and sweet plates and even specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages of their choosing!

In addition, during this limited time, you will be able to try out a few new offerings such as Shrimp Curry and Chicken Curry Bowls at Kusafiri Bakery, House-smoked Pastrami Sliders at Smiling Crocodile, Buffalo Chicken Chips at Trilo-Bites, Pulled Pork or Shrimp Mac and Cheese plates at Eight Spoon Cafe, Korean Fiery Beef Sliders and Tuna Bao at Caravan Road, and more! These items will only be available from Dec. 22, 2018 – Jan. 2, 2019.

Guests can also choose some of the park’s regular offerings such as popcorn, glazed nuts, craft beer, and ice cream to name a few. They can indugle in a refreshing Pineapple Dole Whip Float at Tamu Tamu or snack on some Pineapple Lumpia at Pongu Pongu. Or they can get a Chili Cheese Dog at Dino Diner or some Seasoned Fries at Mister Kamal’s?  To find out about all the participating locations, Guests can pick up a map at either Creature Comforts or Isle of Java

The Tasting Sampler is available online starting today for $30 per package. Each purchase includes a $35 digital gift card that can be used at select food & beverage carts and kiosks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan.2, 2019. The package also includes preferred seating for one person per gift card for the second showing of “Rivers of Light” on the night that you select during that timeframe.

Please note this experience can only be purchased online at DisneyWorld.com/Dine, or by calling 407 WDW-DINE or 407 939-3463 and must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to arriving at the park.

DISCLAIMER: The digital gift card that comes with the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tasting Sampler may only be used for food and beverage purchases at select carts and kiosks throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It cannot be used at quick-service or table-service restaurants and cannot be reloaded at any time. A limited number of Tasting Samplers will be available for each day.

You will soon have a chance to make a real connection with white rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® through an exciting new backstage animal experience called “Up Close with Rhinos.”

Starting Nov. 1, this 60-minute guided adventure will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at how our dedicated animal team cares for the white rhinos on Kilimanjaro Safaris and how Disney is helping save endangered rhinos in the wild. As part of this intimate experience, guests may even get a chance to touch a rhino.

One tour of “Up Close with Rhinos” will be offered each day at 11 a.m.. You can check in at 10:45 a.m. at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction entrance. To make a reservation, call 407-WDW-PLAY (407-939-7529). Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate, and the cost is $40 (plus tax).

You can now receive the royal treatment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park with two all-new Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Packages! Simba and his friends are inviting Guests to join in the festivities with a delicious meal at Tiffins Restaurant followed by special VIP seating at one of the most popular shows at Walt Disney World® Resort.

For both dining packages (Tier I and Tier II), you can savor a delectable lunch or dinner at Tiffins Restaurant on Discovery Island. They’ll enjoy a world-class three-course meal that includes one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert, and your choice of wine, beer, or a non-alcoholic beverage.

This seasonally-inspired menu features unique dishes from around the world. On the appetizer menu, Guest will begin their feast with items such as Avocado-and-Tomato Salad, Spiced Chickpea Falafel, and Charred Octopus. And for the main course, they can choose from a selection of mouthwatering entrées like Kamo Ramen (duck confit, soft-poached egg, spiced coconut broth, alba mushrooms, and chili-lime cashew), Shrimp and Grits (with Gulf white shrimp, Anson Mills grits, applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and smoked pepper jam), Surf and Turf (with grilled local beef tenderloin, butter poached lobster tail, Yukon gold potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and Cape Mountain Whiskey butter), or Fort McCoy Beef Tenderloin (with char-crusted beef tenderloin, loaded crushed potato, seasonal vegetables, bacon-sherry vinaigrette, and crispy shallots).

And of course there’s already room for a decadent dessert. Guests can indulge in the Guava Mousse, South American Ganache, or the Whipped Cheesecake.

Along with their meal, you will receive special vouchers for priority reserved VIP seating at Festival of the Lion King, a Broadway-style show filled with pageantry, puppetry, and popular songs from the film. They’ll even receive a commemorative cast photo that captures the moment forever.

With the Tier I dining package, Guests will continue the fun with a unique safari tour through the African outback, where over 34 distinct wildlife species seemingly roam free. Escorted by a special guide, Guests will ride through rugged terrain to see some of the world’s most exotic animals in their unique habitats. Tour guides will provide interesting information on the land and its residents for an unforgettable expedition.

The Tier I Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Package (which includes lunch or dinner at Tiffins Restaurant, priority VIP seating at Festival of the Lion King, and a safari tour) is $99 per adult and $49 per children ages 3-9 (tax and gratuities not included).

The Tier II Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Package (which includes lunch or dinner at Tiffins Restaurant and priority reserved seating at Festival of the Lion King) is $74 per adult and $29 for children ages 3-9 (tax and gratuities not included).

The Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Packages are available daily starting Aug.13-Nov. 21, 2018. Space is limited – so be sure to book in advance! Reservations are available beginning Aug. 2, 2018 via Walt Disney World Resort website or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (407 939-3463). All menu items and event experiences are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Each night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you can embrace the magic of nature during the beautiful nighttime experience, “Rivers of Light.” With captivating special effects, music, and animal folklore, this incredible show celebrates the beauty of all living things. And now, you can celebrate the beauty of sweet desserts with the new Rivers of Light Dessert Party.

With this new dining experience, you can add a sweet ending to your day by enjoying a beautiful buffet of Disney’s Animal Kingdom-themed desserts, snacks, and drinks before enjoying VIP views of “Rivers of Light.” Guests start by checking in 60 minutes prior to the main show (8:15 p.m. for a 9:15 p.m. show) at the Rivers of Light Asia Viewing Area Terrace located across from Expedition Everest. Here they’ll enjoy house-made desserts, snacks, specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, iced tea, lemonade, and water. When the show is about to start, they’ll head down to the VIP Seating Area, where they’ll enjoy exceptional views of Rivers of Light.

This exciting new dining experience will take place on select nights starting on Monday, August 6, 2018. Starting today you can book by visiting Disneyworld.com or by calling 407 WDW-DINE. The price is $79 for adults and $47 for children (tax inclusive) and must be paid for in full at the time of booking. Guests must be at least 21 years of age or older and able to present a valid form of ID to consume alcoholic beverages.