The not so live version of dining w/ Disers, in Castles & on Safari! The Wrap! 2/26

[IheartDDuck]

We ate at Tortuga Tavern in July. It was decent enough, but then again, I'm okay with cheese goo. If you're not a fan of cheese goo, it's definitely not up your alley.

Mimosa...yes please!

Who wouldn't take one of everything to try for the appetizers? I thought that was normal.

Jiko is a great restaurant. LOVE!

Love the amuse bouche that he gave you! Yum yum yum.

The short ribs look absolutely incredible. I'm not a rib eater, but I'm telling you, I might have to try them at Jiko.

Hahahaha. "Who are you?" That's just priceless.

 

[emmysmommy]

I probably should not have read that update before I had my breakfast bar. Now I'm craving cookies for breakfast.

I can't wait to read about the Sunrise Safari...I so want to do that the next time we stay at AKL.

Hi Kathy! yeah... sorry about that! I'm a victim of my own cravings now... dinner is too far away and cookies are too close.

I'm glad we did that tour, I would definitely do it again.

I love rice krispee treats in the CL... They are always my go to! (And the coke too... But I'm trying to kick the soda habit)

Yum! the only thing better than those rice krispy treats are the dipped ones.

Good for you in kicking the habit. I should follow suit.

Great dessert update. I just love the dresses you guys wore!

Thanks Lori!

Well the diet coke DOES balance things out

Don't ya think!! It probably mean't that brownie was just fine to add to my plate.

The real world sucks - why isn't there a lounge close to my bedroom that's full of cookies and brownies for me to take to my bed
Oh and I fear you have blown your Pepsi contract

Ha ha Linda! I hear ya. I want turn down service too with little chocolates!

Actually, that would be our pal Rachel who works for that competitor. Heck, my company has nothing over my head for my contract!!

Looks yummy!! I am impressed that you made it to the elevator with your treats! I may have snacked all the way back to the room!

Hi Christen! You are assuming a whole lot. Who said I made it to the elevator with the food intact?? You'll never know!

Absolutely! If you ever want to have a meet at DL, DCA, or DTD, let me know - I am in Placentia, about 20 minutes from you, except I am in the North

I may message you sometime!!

@ Product Placement!!

My diet Pepsi's always are to counteract all the calories in my desserts, which is why there are 0 calories in any Disney food item...especially desserts

Exactly!! Although my waistline begged to differ by the end of our trip. Actually, still does.

We ate at Tortuga Tavern in July. It was decent enough, but then again, I'm okay with cheese goo. If you're not a fan of cheese goo, it's definitely not up your alley.

Mimosa...yes please!

Who wouldn't take one of everything to try for the appetizers? I thought that was normal.

Jiko is a great restaurant. LOVE!

Love the amuse bouche that he gave you! Yum yum yum.

The short ribs look absolutely incredible. I'm not a rib eater, but I'm telling you, I might have to try them at Jiko.

Hahahaha. "Who are you?" That's just priceless.

Hi Dani! You're a cheese goo lover huh? I'll have to not use that against you.

I'm glad that I get no judgment from you for my selection of apps at TL!!

I'm not a real rib fan either but I have to say those ribs were awesome. They are more like a pot roast than a "pick it up and gnaw on it" rib.

Ahh one of my finer moments with Chef Jon.

 

[emmysmommy]

Day 3: Sun. Aug. 18th - Sunrise Safari Breakfast​

Breakfast is included in the Kilimanjaro Sunrise Safari tour. This is a buffet type experience following the conclusion of the safari. It takes place in a back room of the Pizzafari restaurant at AK. (As I told Barb in the live dining thread, no worries there was no pizza or breadsticks on the menu.)

Since the tour is only offered to CL guests staying at AKL there is a limited number of people attending this dining event.

The tables were set up similar to the Wishes Dessert Party with name card tents identifying the safari party. We were turned lose to find our table and let me tell you that is more difficult than it appears when you are distracted by all the tables of food. After a 180 degree tour around the restaurant I found the table right next to the entrance. It was a tiny two top table next to a friendly family. The tables actually had linen napkins which seemed a bit incongruous for a counter-service joint. (Nice, just odd it all Im saying.)

Over in my TR I will talk more about our interaction with Eddy, our tour guide. I had first noticed him during our February trip when we stayed at AKL and he was interacting with the guests and animals. We had been chatting before the safari and we picked back up the conversation before they turned us loose with the food. Nice kid.

Lets run down the food and beverage choices with photos.

Beverage table juices, coffee, and tea

Pastries, fresh fruit and yogurt w/ granola & dried fruit

Close up fresh fruit with some cereal options

Close up danishes/pastries

Yogurt toppings

Omelet bar

Hot dishes side 1

Biscuits and Gravy

Roasted Potatoes

Blintz (crepes?) with Strawberry Sauce

Bacon & Ham

Sausage with Peppers and Onion

Not sure?? Grits or Pap??

Scrambled Eggs

And the featured item: Bananas Foster French Toast with Plantains: Imagine a cross between Tonga Toast at Kona Café and Poohs Puffed French Toast at Crystal Palace:

Our plates of food:

Close up of food

What you may ask ended up on my plate? For starters, I had to try the banana foster French toast with some scrambled eggs, a blintz with strawberry sauce, a cinnamon roll, and some fresh fruit. You may notice a little tub of cream cheese on the table as well. They psyched me out since I grabbed that thinking there were bagels set out. Nope, no bagels. It was just a teaser tub of cream cheese. Im still not sure what was the companion food for this. Does anyone see an item that goes with cream cheese?

So what did I think of these items? Again, starting with the banana foster French toast - It was a little disappointing for being so hyped up by the staff. It was rather dry and chewy even with syrup. Moving on to the scrambled eggs no compliants there. The cinnamon roll was a little dry as well but the blintz with a ricotta filling was pretty tasty. I chose the jungle juice for my beverage which was the same stuff they serve around AKL.
Em had pretty much the same thing as me but loved the blintzs. She also poured a bowl of Fruit Loops; assuming everyone is familiar with this food that I've found by the handfuls over the years tucked away in car seats and nooks and crannies of high chairs.

It may sound like a rather disappointing meal since I didn't rave about anything in particular; however, it was rather nice even if the food didn't elicit any emotional reaction.

After we were finished eating Eddy came back over to chat again. We ended up talking so long that the chef came over to chat as well so we took more photos. That's what we do!

I felt at this point like we should either offer to help with dishes or leave since they needed to open the restaurant for all patrons. Before we left Eddy gave me his number and said that he would be more than glad to take us on a private tour next time we return. (No weirdness here folks, he was just a nice kid who loved his job!) I warned him that these photos would be on Facebook. He actually gave me his name to tag/friend him on FB. So with that.... Thank you Eddy my newest FB friend!!

Next Up: Yak and Yeti Lunch

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[princess_momma]

I cannot WAIT for the day that I get to stay club level. It looks like a complete DREAM to be spoiled like that. And also, if you are wondering who would want hot chocolate in the heat. That would be my son, Landon. It was very hot out today, he was actually complaining about it...but when we stopped by Starbucks, he wanted some hot chocolate over chocolate milk!

Is AKL the only place that offers something even more exclusive like a Sunrise Safari breakfast?

I think it looks like it has some pretty good offerings! And I love how great your tour guide was! I love how he gave you his info and that offer for next time! It's like they think we won't come back without promises of private tours or something! But if they insist!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Very cool with the Sunrise Safari buffet. We don't own with DVC in AKL, so we can't ever book in a window long enough to get CL at the resort. Hopefully the stars will align one day and I'll get in!

Oooohhh, that french toast with the plantains looks good! I love plantains. I'm sorry that it was disappointing though.

 

[KatMark]

Brenda, I didn't realize you had to stay CL to do the Sunrise Safari. I guess that's out for us.

I'm so sorry the food wasn't as good as you were hoping. Disappointing about that French toast.

Look at you...Miss Popular with photos from the guide and the chef. I want to be you when I grow up.

 

[disneyobsessed808]

i don't think i've ever commented on your threads before, but i have been following for a while. love your reviews and pictures.

if i remember correctly, didn't you also get a number from a young male waiter at chefs de france! so this is the second time. congratulations!

 

[Linda67]

You and Em are certainly high rollers Brenda - what a way to start a day

Such a great perk of staying CL.

Apart from the obvious (lounges, food etc.) I can't think of any other resort CL that offers such a cool added extra as this one at AKL? - really makes it worthwhile stumping up the extra cash to me

 

[disneyquilter]

Nice review! Bummer for the food but what do you do? Win some, lose some. Sometimes Disney hits the nail on the head with their menus and other times, they miss the mark completely. I would be a tad annoyed for spending money on the Sunrise Safari if there was subpar breakfast and a subpar tour, but when the animals are the main attraction, I guess I wouldn't complain too much either about the Fruit Loop breakfast I mean, heck, when I am at Disney, I tend to be a bit of a Pollyanna and play the Glad Game when I can. Can't wait for the future review.

 

[jmm476]

Wow the food looked great at the safari breakfast. What a shame that the French toast didn't meet expectations.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[pattiken]

I keep saying this but those CL perks keep adding up. I didn't realize you had to b CL to do this.

Breakfast looked good, nice presentation.. Maybe they forgot to put the bagels out and left them in the back? Lol
Lol about the guide giving you his number and the weirdness comment..very nice of him to do that for sure.

 

[vettegirl]

The food pictures look great, bummer about the food. However the experience of the safari sounds amazing as it's so exclusive.

 

[peachmermaid]

Looks nice! I see you're missing a biscuit though. Too bad the food wasn't awesome but yay for making a new friend!! Cast members are awesome.

 

[gunner2010]

subbin

 

[scottny]

Great report. Not something someone prepping for gastric sleeve surgery should be reading but it all looked so good.

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

Wow the Sunrise Safari breakfast looks great! Looking forward to reading about the actual safari in your TR. I would love to do that, but I don't see a CL stay anytime in my near future. I want to do the safari just for that banana french toast! It speaks to me.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

The Sunrise Safari breakfast sounds like a cool experience! Looking forward to your take on Y&Y - we ate there for the first time in April.

 

[livsmom04]

Wow! The safari breakfast looks awesome! I'm really digging the omelet station.

 

[Tinker12]

Great review of the safari! The food looks amazing! I try not to drool on the computer screen when I see the food photos.

I'm excited that we are leaving in a week but disappointed that we are still not going to Jiko after 7 trips.... oh well. Maybe next year!!

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in