Best time to dine at Sanaa?

[hellokittiemama]

I'm wondering if there is an optimal time to book for Sanaa to see the most animals? Is it dusk or prior?

Also wondering if Sanaa is child friendly enough to go with kids (ages 5 and 9)

Which would be better to book for a wedding anniversary

Sanaa or Jiko

 

[jagafen]

I hope the answer is 5:00...that's when we'll be eating there. I think it's fine for a 5 and 9 year old, but for an Anniversary dinner, I'd put the kiddos in the kid's club and go to Jiko and have a mommy/daddy dinner!

 

[TDC Nala]

To see the most animals I'd go for lunch.

 

[catne]

we ate there May 2009 at around 5:30 and that was a great viewing time. Zebras & giraffes all around...very good viewing. There was some sort of feed strategically placed fairly close to the windows (looked like mini-hay bales, sort of.) That brought the animals in nice & close.

I wouldn't count on "dusk"...the animals had all but disappeared by about 6:30that night, though the sun didn't go down until after 8:30 that week...the server told us they actually had the animals in their night quarters area before 7:00 p.m. every night, regardless of if the sun goes down later, because the animals did better on a set schedule & getting settled in for the night before dark allowed for the keepers to make sure all the animals were accounted for.

 

[hellokittiemama]

I moved my 6:45pm to a 5:40pm, and hope there are still animals there at that time!!!

What is the seating like in there? Are there window view seats?

 

[TDC Nala]

There are a few tables right by the windows. You may or may not get one.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

anytime...it was really good...and probably like the other restaurants at AKL...will most likely be ignored by the masses

 

[nytimez]

I ate there when my daughter was 4 and she seemed to enjoy it -- the food (pizza, which was different from, and slightly better than, the usual WDW pizza) and atmosphere. At dark, you can't see much out the windows. On the other hand, you could still enjoy a post-meal stroll outside and see whatever animals are out there after dinner.

 

[disneybex]

I didn't realise this was an issue but I have now rescheduled for 6pm had 7.55pm before. So thanks!

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

I wouldn't count on "dusk"...the animals had all but disappeared by about 6:30that night, though the sun didn't go down until after 8:30 that week...the server told us they actually had the animals in their night quarters area before 7:00 p.m. every night, regardless of if the sun goes down later, because the animals did better on a set schedule & getting settled in for the night before dark allowed for the keepers to make sure all the animals were accounted for.

I thought at one time, AKL offered night viewing of the animals and even offered guests night vision goggles to view them with. Or maybe I imagined this...

 

[nytimez]

I thought at one time, AKL offered night viewing of the animals and even offered guests night vision goggles to view them with. Or maybe I imagined this...

They go in... and they come back out. There are animals out at night. And there are times when there are no animals out at all, even during the day.

 

[Simba's Mom]

To see the most animals I'd go for lunch.

I went for lunch and I was kind of hoping there was a time with more animals because I saw very few.The long black snake that went slithering past my window was one of the few animals I saw. On the other hand, the sunny atmosphere made it a very enjoyable time.

 

[TDC Nala]

Every time I've seen a lot of animals it was at lunch, including the giraffes who walked right up and stretched over as far as they could to look right at the window. As for "at what time will there be more animals" it all depends on the animals themselves and where they decide to be, they've got a whole savanna to wander around in. Food is put out for them at certain times so they might wander where people can see them, but that doesn't mean they will. After dark they may be out but it will be difficult to see them from inside the restaurant.

 

[tlcslp]

I hope the answer is 5:00...that's when we'll be eating there. I think it's fine for a 5 and 9 year old, but for an Anniversary dinner, I'd put the kiddos in the kid's club and go to Jiko and have a mommy/daddy dinner!

Ditto!
We're eating around 5, and also putting DS in Simba's Cubhouse another nite so mom and dad can enjoy Jiko!

 

[scot@dvcstore]

Anytime your hungry and before the sun sets for the evening. Animals are still there when the sun sets but more difficult to seen as it gets dark. Enjoy your vacation and your meal.