AK and AKL, Boma and Rainforest Cafe

[MommySiobhan]

From another post I read, it got my dining plans thinking.

Is AKL really close in distance to AK Park? Walking distance or bus ride? How far?

I currently have an ADR at Rainforest Cafe but am considering Boma with all of the good reports I've read. Which would you choose?

 

[Robert P]

AK to AKL by bus is the only way using WDW transpo. Walking not allowed, and there are no sidewalks for it. I would estimate bus travel time to be less than 4-5 minutes, easily.

We like both RFC and Boma. Both have their plusses and minuses. If you haven't tried it yet, and are staying at AKL, I would say try Boma this trip, if for no other reason than you are in the same hotel as the restaurant, and won't have to take a bus anywhere.

 

[GinnyFavers]

Animal Kingdom Lodge only has busses for access to all the theme parks, including Animal Kingdom.

However, they are some of the fastest ride and wait times of any resort's busses, and I think you will not find it inconvenient.

Absolutely do Boma over Rain Forest Cafe if you can only pick one! RFC's food is often bad, sometimes mediocre, and only occasionally good. The service there is very slow and spotty, too. The only reason I go into RFC is because they market so aggressively to kids that my son begs to go eat there. I buy him his $10 kids meal (I kid you not, you have to pay for a drink seperately and there's an upcharge for fries from chips) and maybe I'll have an appetizer. I stopped bothering to order real food for myself, it's too gross.

Boma is yummy.

 

[byoung]

Is AKL really close in distance to AK Park? Walking distance or bus ride? How far?

Bus ride, no walking path.

I currently have an ADR at Rainforest Cafe but am considering Boma with all of the good reports I've read. Which would you choose?

I think Boma's is the best buffet in DISNEY.

 

[CaptHook34]

AKL is as close as a small bus ride to Animal Kingdom. It is the closest resort to the Animal Kingdom. I just recently ate at Boma, and i must say it was my favorite restaurant i ate at Disney. Good Seating, excellent food.

 

[LBelle]

We have an ADR at Boma on Aug. 30th. With all the rehabs going on at AKL, does anybody know if the animals will still be out in the viewing area at that time?

Thanks!

 

[kathie859]

Another vote for Boma over RFC.....I can't wait to go there again in October. The food is so good with some items that you just won't find anywhere else

 

[TaraPA]

I thought I read on here somewhere that the animals were moved for their safety during construction. But then again there seems to be lots of conflicting AKL info lately! Boma is GREAT. You can't see the animals from inside Boma, just from other parts of AKL. Boma & RFC are totally different in my opinion, so it depends on how old your kids are I guess. My kids prefer RFC because of the theming. It does have a much more fun atmosphere than Boma. Boma is just done up in African decoration. RFC however, while we do eat there every trip, does not have the best food in my opinion. Pretty much dressed up fast food. Boma is a culinary delight. That buffet had so many new things (an old favorites like chicken fingers, mac & cheese, etc) that I couldn't even try them all. But everything I did try was fantastic, and I can't wait to go back again. We stayed at AKL last year so it was convenient, but I would travel to get to Boma from any other resort, onsite or offsite, just for the food. It was my favorite food on the whole trip!

 

[MommySiobhan]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

So for a 'picky vegetarian' like myself, would Boma have some selections for me?

I read chicken and mac and chz so I know the picky of the kids will be covered

I'm sure the kids would prefer RC because of the theming, but I don't know, something is just calling to me about Boma.

 

[KatiebugsMom]

Every trip to WDW is about a trip to Boma for my family.......and with my upcoming stay at AKV next January it was very hard for my DH to agree to have a meal at a place other then Boma. Like pulling teeth to have him concede to CRT for lunch and only because Boma does not serve lunch.....

I make it a whole day with going to AK early magic hours then a bus trip to AKL, dinner at Boma then bus to DTD for a bus exchange to my resort. Very easy!!

Also for a vegetarian you will have a ball at Boma. Lots to eat and try. Potatoes with Afritude, olive hummus, mango vinagrette with greens, avocado and papaya salad and on and on. Also the setup is a pod base buffet with stations manned by a chef. I love talking to the chefs and they are happy to make sure you understand all the offerings and I have seen them with people who have had food allergies or issues, taking them to each station and very carefully explain each item. It is one of the best run restaurants on property, IMO.

Go and enjoy you will not be sorry!

 

[TaraPA]

There were plenty of vegan foods there to try - but if you're concerned I HIGHLY recommend taking the free culinary tour offered by the hotel - I think it was around 4pm every day, at the Jiko podium (across the hall from Boma). The day I went I was the only one there - so I didn't have to share any of the appetizers they brought out to sample! They showed me around the kitchen at Jiko & I had some great flat bread with different spreads & hummus to try (what is the plural of hummus??? hummi? hummuses? Nothing sounded right!) Then we walked across to Boma & the chef went through every offering with me. I'm so glad I did that, so later at our 6pm ressie I could tell the kids everything that was there.

 

[moose4mouse]

mmmmmmmmm.... Boma!

 

[DisBride2007]

Definitely try Boma. RFC is a chain, you can get it anywhere. You can only have Boma at AKL! We go out of our way for it, every trip.

 

[Amyg]

Boma for sure!

Although I have never tried RFC and have wanted to, we choose Boma simply because that is the only one there is! RFC is a chain so we could possibly go to another city and try it. In any case, Boma is my favorite buffet in WDW! Some of the flavors are just wonderful! If you do go to Boma, try the Ginger Carrol soup! It sounded strange to me but the flavor was so yummy! Also, lots of people like the Zebra Domes although I was not impressed myself.

Have fun!

 

[TxRabbit]

I would definitely vote for Boma.

The only concern I bring up is that Boma doesn't serve lunch. So if your ADRs are for a lunchish time, you would have to rework your plans to eat at Boma. If you can plan accordingly, there are also other things to participate in at AKL. There is storytime by the fire, there is the little parade from the shop, there is night vision animal watching (assuming that would still be going on with the construction ). Nothing I would go out of my way to do, but if you could coordinate it with your dining plans, this would give you something more to do at the resort besides just eat. AKL is beautiful in it's own right, and with kids, I know that I like to have a little something more that bus, eat, bus in the planning.

 

[MommySiobhan]

Thanks everyone!
Sounds like Boma it will be. I hope they have something available.

We're going to do dinner after being at AK Park.

Can't wait to try something that sounds so tasty!

 

[heimlichfan]

Definitely try Boma. RFC is a chain, you can get it anywhere. You can only have Boma at AKL! We go out of our way for it, every trip.

My thoughts exactly! RFC is fun but it can be found in many places around the country. Boma is amazing, and is only found at the World! DH and I ate there for the first time last January and it was fabulous. Definitely a top WDW restaurant.

 

[MommySiobhan]

Right, we have one in one of the malls not too far.

We can always go for a trip if we desire. Don't know why I didn't think of that.