A Few Dining Questions- Mexico, Kona, and AKL

[stitch09]

Hello everyone!

We've been to WDW several times, but this next trip we are planning on trying some new restaurants. I was wondering if you could answer my questions, because I'm trying to decide between certain new restaurants and others we have eaten at before.

Some background information: it will be my Mom and myself, making a short trip before my check-in date for the Disney College Program! We've never been on the DDP before as we've always stayed at the Swan, but we're going to stay at Pop Century to save some money so will be trying it for the first time. Neither of us are picky and love trying new things. I believe we will be arriving on Friday, 8/12 in the afternoon, and we will be in the parks 8/13-8/16. For our first day I'm thinking Raglan Road in DTD. I know for sure that we will eat at Via Napoli since it is new and I've read great reviews. Time for the questions:

1. We ate at San Angel Inn last year and loved it! We are considering La Hacienda, but I'm not really sure... has anyone been to both and can say which we should choose? Just stick with what we're familiar with or is the new restaurant worth it? I would love to watch Illuminations from the restaurant...

2. I've read great things about breakfast at Kona Cafe, but neither of us are big breakfast people. We'd prefer to save our TS credit for dinners. Is Kona's dinner just as worth it? (We've been to Ohana probably 3 times).

3. I've read great reviews about Sanaa at AKL, and the bread platter sounds amazing, but can someone confirm my thoughts? We are of course huge fans of Boma but this place sounds great...

Thanks for any input!!

 

[figment_jii]

[Edit] Deleted post because I mis-understood your question. You were asking about dinner, not breakfast at Kona.

 

[kt_mom]

We've had lunch at Kona and thought it was good. But the breakfast is great. We are doing it on our next trip but we'll probably just pay ouf of pocket for it instead of using a TS credit.

Sorry, I don't know anything about the other two.

 

[BNukem]

We went to Kona for dinner in the spring, I got the Tuna Oscar, loved it !!! DH got the sustainable fish, it was ok. DDs both got the Ginger Crusted Ribeye, it was a very big steak and both girls loved it. Desserts there were also very good. We also got the duck dumpling appetizer for my 2 yr old, she loved them.

 

[snykymom]

2. I've read great things about breakfast at Kona Cafe, but neither of us are big breakfast people. We'd prefer to save our TS credit for dinners. Is Kona's dinner just as worth it? (We've been to Ohana probably 3 times).

I had an excellent dinner at Kona. I'm also not a breakfast person, so I can't compare.

3. I've read great reviews about Sanaa at AKL, and the bread platter sounds amazing, but can someone confirm my thoughts? We are of course huge fans of Boma but this place sounds great...

Haven't been to Sanaa yet - trying it on the next trip. But just wanted to point out that the bread platter is an appetizer, and so not on the regular DP. It's included on the deluxe DP, or you'll have to pay out of pocket for it.

 

[catne]

have been to both San Angel and La Hacienda...we really like both. Hubby & I got a meat platter to share at La Hacienda (can't remember the name of it, but was a big platter with several kinds of meal, veggies, and sides...a little bit of lots of different things...it's listed "for 2" on the menu, but if you're both on the dining plan & decide to share they will let you order it. Did not care for the desserts at La Hacienda.) We like the ambiance at San Angel better...unless you get lucky at La Hacienda and get window seats during Illuminations (but keep in mind about 1/3 of the restaurant has no view at all of Illuminations.) Of the two, I'd say if I had to choose one, I'd probably go back to San Angel...

Kona dinner is very good...love the teriyaki steak. And the desserts are outstanding...love the banana creme brulee (with fudge base...yum)

As other person noted, the bread platter at Sanaa is not an entree so you would have to pay extra for it. If you do book Sanaa, book early dinner (like before 6:00 PM) and try to get window seats so you can see the animals on the savannah from your table.

 

[disneygirlmass]

The Kona Cafe and Ohana are great dinner meals...I've eaten lunch at the Kona Cafe, but I prefer dinner there...also, if you could get a dinner reservation at Ohana during the fireworks, there is a great view if you get a table near a window

 

[stitch09]

Thanks for all of the replies, and thanks for letting me know that appetizers are not included on the regular DP- I just assumed they were. I'll mention that to my mom, but looking at the price differences in the plans (we don't need 2 snacks per day or the resort mug, and we probably won't NEED an appetizer at every meal), if we want something like the bread platter we will just pay out of pocket.

I'm gonna go ahead and book Kona and let my mom choose between Sanaa and Boma.

Now, can anyone else give an opinion as whether to choose La Hacienda or San Angel Inn? Thanks!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

San Angel Inn!! I'm counting the days till I get back there!! 22 days!!

 

[stitch09]

San Angel Inn!! I'm counting the days till I get back there!! 22 days!!

Thanks! I love the enthusiasm! I was actually just comparing the menu's while sitting in my mythology class (I know, I know, All-Star Student here! ), and especially since I found out the regular DP does not include appetizers, the San Angel Inn menu just looks a lot better. I think we'll stick with that, even though we just ate there last year.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

yeah... i should be the employee of the month here at work i'm too exhausted to do work after being up all night with the weather people telling me my house was going to blow away any minute. we spent 3 hours downstairs and finally got to sleep at 3... and the alarm went off at 5:30am i'm going to dis it up today, lol.

if you do get an appetizer out of pocket... their tortilla soup is soooooo good. la hacienda just doesn't have anything on the menu for us. there's nothing i could even turn into something i would eat.

 

[jdisnut]

If you know you like San Angel, this sounds like a perfect opportunity to go again! Both Mexican restaurants in World Showcase garner mixed reviews. Typically, I'd recommend you try something new, but I think there's a legitimate chance you'll regret that decision in this situation.

I'm not much of a breakfast eater, either, and I actually prefer Kona for dinner, despite the glowing breakfast reviews. I strongly suggest you try the dinner!

Definitely try Sanaa. It's a wonderful addition to the Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurant lineup. I adore Boma, too, but I suspect you may leave Sanaa with a new favorite!

 

[stitch09]

yeah... i should be the employee of the month here at work i'm too exhausted to do work after being up all night with the weather people telling me my house was going to blow away any minute. we spent 3 hours downstairs and finally got to sleep at 3... and the alarm went off at 5:30am i'm going to dis it up today, lol.

if you do get an appetizer out of pocket... their tortilla soup is soooooo good. la hacienda just doesn't have anything on the menu for us. there's nothing i could even turn into something i would eat.

Tortilla soup does look very good! I am a lover of all Mexican food, but like you said, there really isn't anything at La Hacienda that screams "order me!" whereas at San Angel Inn I could order anything! (I had the Combinacion Poblana last time and may very well order it again if it's still on the menu!) I'm also looking forward to chilling at the bar waiting for our ADR- I'll finally be 21 in June!! Last summer my cousin and brother snuck me a few sips of their *ahem* refreshments and man were they awesome!

We had tornado warnings here too last night. I actually got to leave work early because of it. Work is in the basement of our alumni center and when I returned to my apartment I said to myself "hmm probably should have stayed in a basement and not walked home to a 2nd story building!" Brains- sometimes they're missing!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

You will LOVE Kona for dinner! The service and the food are excellent. It's a family favorite and a must-do of ours every trip! The teriyaki steak is wonderful!

Sanaa is also great! Try the orange sesame cake and the chai cream for dessert! AMAZING!!

As far as San Angel or La Hacienda, I have only ever been to San Angel, but even so, I say stick with what you know and love. If nothing jumps out at you at La Hacienda, then go the one you know you'll find something you'll love at!

 

[stitch09]

If you know you like San Angel, this sounds like a perfect opportunity to go again! Both Mexican restaurants in World Showcase garner mixed reviews. Typically, I'd recommend you try something new, but I think there's a legitimate chance you'll regret that decision in this situation.

I'm not much of a breakfast eater, either, and I actually prefer Kona for dinner, despite the glowing breakfast reviews. I strongly suggest you try the dinner!

Definitely try Sanaa. It's a wonderful addition to the Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurant lineup. I adore Boma, too, but I suspect you may leave Sanaa with a new favorite!

Fantastic response! You answered every one of my questions- thanks! I am keeping both Kona and Sanaa! I also like trying new things, and Raglan Road, Kona, Sanaa, and Via Napoli are all new to us, so I feel like one "old" restaurant is totally fine! We're also going to try a few new CS- Casey's Corner, Flame Tree BBQ, and Earl of Sandwich (well I've never had it but my mom went twice when down there with my dad in March!!).

 

[stitch09]

You will LOVE Kona for dinner! The service and the food are excellent. It's a family favorite and a must-do of ours every trip! The teriyaki steak is wonderful!

Sanaa is also great! Try the orange sesame cake and the chai cream for dessert! AMAZING!!

As far as San Angel or La Hacienda, I have only ever been to San Angel, but even so, I say stick with what you know and love. If nothing jumps out at you at La Hacienda, then go the one you know you'll find something you'll love at!

Thanks for the opinions, I'm really excited now! First year we went to Ohana we actually chose Kona Cafe first but then saw that Ohana was all-you-can-eat with a bunch of meats (which my dad is picky but a big meat-eater). We decided that the menu was more fitting for us (my brother and I were much younger and a little pickier at the time) and switched our ADR to Ohana.

To be honest I was already eyeing the chai cream!

 

[rlahansler]

Hello everyone!

We've been to WDW several times, but this next trip we are planning on trying some new restaurants. I was wondering if you could answer my questions, because I'm trying to decide between certain new restaurants and others we have eaten at before.

Some background information: it will be my Mom and myself, making a short trip before my check-in date for the Disney College Program! We've never been on the DDP before as we've always stayed at the Swan, but we're going to stay at Pop Century to save some money so will be trying it for the first time. Neither of us are picky and love trying new things. I believe we will be arriving on Friday, 8/12 in the afternoon, and we will be in the parks 8/13-8/16. For our first day I'm thinking Raglan Road in DTD. I know for sure that we will eat at Via Napoli since it is new and I've read great reviews. Time for the questions:

1. We ate at San Angel Inn last year and loved it! We are considering La Hacienda, but I'm not really sure... has anyone been to both and can say which we should choose? Just stick with what we're familiar with or is the new restaurant worth it? I would love to watch Illuminations from the restaurant...

2. I've read great things about breakfast at Kona Cafe, but neither of us are big breakfast people. We'd prefer to save our TS credit for dinners. Is Kona's dinner just as worth it? (We've been to Ohana probably 3 times).

3. I've read great reviews about Sanaa at AKL, and the bread platter sounds amazing, but can someone confirm my thoughts? We are of course huge fans of Boma but this place sounds great...

Thanks for any input!!

I can only answer #1

Ate at both last month. Ate lunch at San Angel Inn and had dinner reservations for 730p one night. The dinner was very very good. Told the server that we were in no hurry, which at first did not go well with him until he saw how many margeritas my husband and I were going to have. The view was awesome. They raise the curtains (we asked for a window seat and got one). They also pipe in the music. It was a great time!!! San Angel we had lunch one afternoon, no big deal. Highly recommend the new restaurant!!!