Anyone ever leave AK to have lunch at Mara in AKL

[debbs0723]

This is our first time and I'm looking for excuses to see some of the resorts. I was wondering if any of you ever leave the AK to go have lunch at the Mara at AKL? We are not interested in dinner there because we already have chef mickey's for dinner that night but I was considering Mara.

I don't know if the food is better/worse than what we would get in the park that day but more concerned with how much trouble it is to get there using disney buses. If we do it we would be on the DDP so i'm hoping the Mara takes that and would also use it as a little break from the park then go back and stay the rest of the day until our chef mickey reservation.

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[*pixie*dust*]

This is our first time and I'm looking for excuses to see some of the resorts. I was wondering if any of you ever leave the AK to go have lunch at the Mara at AKL? We are not interested in dinner there because we already have chef mickey's for dinner that night but I was considering Mara.

I don't know if the food is better/worse than what we would get in the park that day but more concerned with how much trouble it is to get there using disney buses. If we do it we would be on the DDP so i'm hoping the Mara takes that and would also use it as a little break from the park then go back and stay the rest of the day until our chef mickey reservation.

Thanks,
Debbie

You would catch the resort bus to AK. Depending on when you are going it could be a 15 to 30 minute wait between buses. Mara is an ok counter service. Not really better or worse than food in the parks.

 

[MaryD73]

You would catch the resort bus to AK. Depending on when you are going it could be a 15 to 30 minute wait between buses. Mara is an ok counter service. Not really better or worse than food in the parks.

I agree with the above poster. Food is ok, BUT if you do go try their soups. We just came back and I had a long talk with the Mara chef. Their only freedom is with the soups, so they put a lot of effort into them. And every one of them I tried was fabulous! (especially the butternut squash - soooo good)

 

[LiteBrite]

Mara is a good enough counter service place. It would really be more about taking a mid-day break at the AKL, which could turn out to be a really good idea. The lodge is beautiful, and totally worth seeing on its own merit.

If you don't mind giving up the park time, I think you'd enjoy the trip, and the food at the Mara is certainly no worse than what you'd be eating at the park. On the other hand, if time is an issue, I would probably just stay at the park and grab some counter service there. I particularly like the hot Italian deli sandwich at Pizzafari.

 

[Belle5]

We have done this the last two trips (December 2007 and September 2008) and I must say it has been so totally worth it! I get the Chicken Pita and I order the good couscous (there is one that is not as appealing that my son got--kind of plain, I think). Zebra domes for dessert, mmmm....
My kids got African soups in a bread bowl. We LOVE the Mara for lunch!

 

[Pumbaa_]

AK closes so early I don't know if I would take prime time touring hours for a CS lunch.
If you want to see the resort, when you are done with AK, take the AKL bus, check out the resort, shop the store, see the animals, then catch a MK bus and walk over to the Contemporary for your dinner.

give you a nice break before dinner, let you see the resort and then easy back to MK for dinner. Just an option

 

[MEGADAN]

We do this everytime we go to AK. We go so my DH can have the African Stew. I usually get the fried shrimp or one of the salads. We always enjoy the quiet and beauty of AKL. It is a great plan!

 

[madalex]

The bus ride itself is very short (less than 5 minutes), so it will only take a lot of time if you are unfortunate enough to have a long wait for a bus either to or from AKL. As others have said, the Mara is okay food, but the AKL resort is absolutely beautiful and well worth taking the time to visit at some point during your trip.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Yes, Dec 06 we did that and the fried shrimp were mushy and the zebra domes were gross.

I wanted to leave AK, go check out AKL Xmas decor and then hop a bus back to MK. It was very easy to do but the food was just ick.

We did have breakfast at Mara last month and it was ok, the potatoes were the best but the rest was....eh