Boma with kids?

[Tikicristi]

Hi
We booked a very last-minute trip for Oct. b/c of free dining - this is only our 2nd visit to WDW. Being so last-minute, our dining options for table service are limited. We were lucky to get all we wanted for the first 3 days, but our last day there, which will be at MK, there are very few choices. We heard from a friend that Boma is very good but is it ok for kids? We only have one DD, age 7 (will be 8 in Nov). Is there anything fun for her - like can you see animals out the windows there? The only other option open for dinner that evening right now is Cape May.

Will it be hard to get to Boma from MK? I am checking for cancellations elsewhere every day till we leave but not sure we'll get anything else.

Other option is to use 2 TS credits in one day - can we do that? The day before we have bfast at O'hana but are headed to Epcot that day and considered San Angel Inn for dinner as it's available.

Any advice, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[freshmanjs]

Hi
We booked a very last-minute trip for Oct. b/c of free dining - this is only our 2nd visit to WDW. Being so last-minute, our dining options for table service are limited. We were lucky to get all we wanted for the first 3 days, but our last day there, which will be at MK, there are very few choices. We heard from a friend that Boma is very good but is it ok for kids? We only have one DD, age 7 (will be 8 in Nov). Is there anything fun for her - like can you see animals out the windows there? The only other option open for dinner that evening right now is Cape May.

Will it be hard to get to Boma from MK? I am checking for cancellations elsewhere every day till we leave but not sure we'll get anything else.

Other option is to use 2 TS credits in one day - can we do that? The day before we have bfast at O'hana but are headed to Epcot that day and considered San Angel Inn for dinner as it's available.

Any advice, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Boma is great. My kids love it (and have for years). they have a kids section of the buffet with mac & cheese, pasta and meatballs, mashed potatoes. So, if they aren't feeling adventurous, they will still be happy.

MK to AKL via bus. No problem.

Boma is the only place that we hit every single trip. Enjoy.

 

[minnie mum]

Hi
We booked a very last-minute trip for Oct. b/c of free dining - this is only our 2nd visit to WDW. Being so last-minute, our dining options for table service are limited. We were lucky to get all we wanted for the first 3 days, but our last day there, which will be at MK, there are very few choices. We heard from a friend that Boma is very good but is it ok for kids? We only have one DD, age 7 (will be 8 in Nov). Is there anything fun for her - like can you see animals out the windows there? The only other option open for dinner that evening right now is Cape May.

Will it be hard to get to Boma from MK? I am checking for cancellations elsewhere every day till we leave but not sure we'll get anything else.

Other option is to use 2 TS credits in one day - can we do that? The day before we have bfast at O'hana but are headed to Epcot that day and considered San Angel Inn for dinner as it's available.

Any advice, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Boma is a buffet with African influenced food options. There are a great many different selections of food to choose from. I'm sure your DD will find lots to eat. It is not a character meal, so I'm not sure what kind of fun you are looking for You can't see the savannahs from Boma- you may be thinking of Sanaa at Kidani. Boma is located inside Jambo house at AKL. To get there from MK take the bus. Given the travel time, I wouldn't choose this option if you want to return to a park that night.

Cape May is also a buffet, with seafood options.

You certainly may use 2 TS credits in one day if you wish.

 

[mevelandry]

Boma is great (really worth it) and if it's not very kid-oriented, you are still going to have a lot of fun watching the animals around before or after your meal.

 

[Planogirl]

Boma is great for all ages. You can see the animals before and after you eat.

 

[Tikicristi]

Thanks everyone. Our reservation is kinda late and it's our last night there before driving home to NC the next day, so I doubt we'd go back to the park that night anyway. The food sounds yummy, I just wondered if others had taken kids and they enjoyed it, that's what I mean by fun for kids.

 

[purple figment]

Boma is a very good buffet. It has many familiar dishes and additional ones with African overtones and seasonings. You cannot see the animals from inside of Boma, but you can go out to the walkways to see them if it is still light outside.

Getting to Boma is easy from MK; just take the AKL bus, but time consuming. If you are planning to return to the MK after dinner I would strongly recommend that you have dinner closer to the MK.

You can use 2 TS in one day. The credits will be given to you when you check in and it is up to you to decide when you want to use them so having 'Ohana and San Angel Inn on the same day is fine. In that case you could have a CS dinner in the MK or at one of the MK resorts in place of Boma.

 

[the who #3]

boma has been our fav for the last ten yrs. the kids age 11 and 20 still love it.

i would advise going to ak early and go out on the sav. to see the animals. when you go down to the lower level where boma is, go out the door toward the swimming pool and walk to the outside of the pool area. there is an area there where you can see the animals. sometimes they are really close at that time of the day.

 

[pixieMandy]

Hi
We booked a very last-minute trip for Oct. b/c of free dining - this is only our 2nd visit to WDW. Being so last-minute, our dining options for table service are limited. We were lucky to get all we wanted for the first 3 days, but our last day there, which will be at MK, there are very few choices. We heard from a friend that Boma is very good but is it ok for kids? We only have one DD, age 7 (will be 8 in Nov). Is there anything fun for her - like can you see animals out the windows there? The only other option open for dinner that evening right now is Cape May.

Will it be hard to get to Boma from MK? I am checking for cancellations elsewhere every day till we leave but not sure we'll get anything else.

Other option is to use 2 TS credits in one day - can we do that? The day before we have bfast at O'hana but are headed to Epcot that day and considered San Angel Inn for dinner as it's available.

Any advice, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

My kids (6&8) LOVE Boma and request it every trip. The food is great, and you can go to the viewing area after you eat to see the animals if you like. Just take the bus to AKL from MK. You can use as many credits in a day as you like, the amount of credits available to you on the dining plan is for your whole trip and you can use several per day or none each day.

 

[Lita]

We went with our 6 and 4 year old girls this past May and they found plenty to eat. This is my DH's favorite spot now. He says this is a must do on all future WDW trips.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[TDC Nala]

You cannot see animals from the windows at Boma (except the 2 legged kind - birds and humans.)

The only restaurant where you can see that is Sanaa.

There is a "kids pod" with favorites like chicken strips, spaghetti and meatballs (served separately), mac and cheese.

 

[wiigirl]

Boma is great (really worth it) and if it's not very kid-oriented, you are still going to have a lot of fun watching the animals around before or after your meal.

 

[stef12280]

I have 2 children 8 and 9 and we went to Boma 2 years ago. We are heading to WDW in 19 days and yes we are eating at Boma agina, my kids asked if we could have breakfast there. You wont regret it was my favorite of our entire vacation. The hotel is beautiful give yourself some time to walk around and explore. They also have the best gift shop and the hotel

 

[Andie272]

I have been on the fence about this meal also. I am almost in the same situation as the OP. We booked late and are going to MVMCP the first day we are there, got a reservation to Boma for before we can get into the park for the party. My DH is not that adventurous when it comes to food. Do you think he will be able to find food to eat. I would hate for him to eat chicken fingers and mac and cheese after paying for an adult dinner

What do you think?

 

[cgattis]

I think Boma is a great pre-party choice--eat a nice big meal and just snack at the party to avoid wasting time at a meal. But if it's really going to bother you if your DH only eats "kid food" at that price, you might be disappointed. That's pretty much what mine did!! But he got full, didn't care, and I really enjoyed mine, so I just tried to ignore the cost.

Also, to the OP, if your ressie is late enough, you might be able to do the night vision viewing or storytelling too--check with the front desk. That would be a nice relaxing end to a great trip

 

[smiths02]

I have been on the fence about this meal also. I am almost in the same situation as the OP. We booked late and are going to MVMCP the first day we are there, got a reservation to Boma for before we can get into the park for the party. My DH is not that adventurous when it comes to food. Do you think he will be able to find food to eat. I would hate for him to eat chicken fingers and mac and cheese after paying for an adult dinner

What do you think?

I thought you could get into MK for the party as early as 4. Boma will not be open until around 5pm or so for dinner. Unless you are staying at AKL, I don't think that is the best choice for the meal before an evening at MK. I would choose an MK area resort (Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary), my own resort, or a restaurant inside the MK.


I really enjoy Boma, but I don't enjoy running around WDW to eat. I think having to do that (yes, my poor planning) pretty much soured me on Cape May although everyone RAVES about it on the DIS.

 

[Coconuts]

Good thread. I've been thinking the same thing; I've wanted to go there for ages but the family vetoed it on our last trip.

 

[Andie272]

I thought you could get into MK for the party as early as 4. Boma will not be open until around 5pm or so for dinner. Unless you are staying at AKL, I don't think that is the best choice for the meal before an evening at MK. I would choose an MK area resort (Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary), my own resort, or a restaurant inside the MK.


I really enjoy Boma, but I don't enjoy running around WDW to eat. I think having to do that (yes, my poor planning) pretty much soured me on Cape May although everyone RAVES about it on the DIS.

Thanks, I actually have a reservation at 4:55, so you are probably right. I should cancel it and worse case eat quick serve at my hotel before going to the party.

I am still holding out hope that my nephew who is a cast member can get us into BOG that day!

 

[mariafh]

My DD, now age 16, is one of the most fussiest eaters there is. We been going to Boma on every trip for the last 4 trips. Reasons why is (1) good and often interesting food (2) there have so many choices there will be at least a few things DD will eat. The first trip we were there our DD was 7. A super choice - something for everyone.

 

[Andie272]

Thank you all for the responses. Mainly due to time, I am changing my plans for that day. We are going to have a late lunch 1:40 at GF Cafe, then see the Gingerbread houses at GF and take some holiday pictures, then hop on the monorail to MK for 4pm admission. I felt like I was going to losing MK time and since we are only doing 1 other MK day, I wanted as much time as possible,

Any thoughts on GF Cafe? Seemed very basic.