Choosing a time for Sanaa?

[tlcdoula]

We are planning a trip the end of August and I would really like to try Sanaa. Was thinking we could go for lunch or dinner on our AK day.

Wondering what time would be best, of course before it is dark but would it be worth it to leave the park for lunch and then go back or am I better off making a reservation for dinner at the end of the day?

I guess the other issue will be if AK is open later that day.. Any suggestions?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you want to be able to see out the windows, you need to be there before nightfall. It is going to depend on what you wish to do if AK hours are extended, and how late the park is open if they are, as to whether a late lunch or early dinner would suit you best. If your intent is to stay at the park until closing, you'd have to fix it early enough to still be light outside, but not too late to go back to the park.

 

[OhThePain]

AK is probably my favorite park. However, given the size, leaving and then going back is not something I care much to do. It is a pretty long walk from anywhere inside the park to the buses and from the buses to anywhere inside the park (not counting The Oasis, which is a great area that is often overlooked). I would either make the ADR for lunch (11:30) before actually going to AK and then staying till close (which should be quite a bit later than what is posted now, assuming there are no more set-backs) or make the ADR for dinner if you do not plan to partake in any of the nighttime events.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We are doing a lunch at 1 pm on one of our July AK days. Having been to both Sanaa and AK several times, this is what I think works best.

We will have time to do our morning FP+ and FOTLK, then we will head to the restaurant. On an evening when AK closes at 5 pm, we would schedule a 6 pm at Sanaa. However, since AK should be open later for our dates in July (and yours in August), I would not want to take away from our night in the park. I think Sanaa will be a cool mid-day break from a hot day at AK.

We love Sanaa. It is such a wonderful restaurant. Definitely worth the brief trek from AK over to AKL.

 

[tlcdoula]

Thank you for the replies, so many decisions... I am waiting to see if free dining is offered so we can book and stay on site. If not we will be staying off site. Hopefully the later hours will be released soon...

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We're making an ADR for about an hour before sunset.

 

[cmph]

Sanaa is our favorite! We ate there twice on our last trip. The first was an 11:30am lunch, and we went to AK after, until closing; no Rivers of Light to consider though. We had arrived the day before on a verrrry early flight and still stayed in the parks the entire day, so we knew we'd want to sleep in and planned accordingly. The next was an early dinner, 5:30 or 6ish, planned for HS day b/c we knew we wouldn't be in that park for a full day. We weren't staying in AKL, but at CSR, which wasn't that far. We took a cab when we went to lunch, and a cab after dinner, which was pretty cheap and quick. I can't predict what the hours will be for AK, but simply in terms of which dining experience was "better" - that's a bit of a wash. Much of the menu is the same for both meals, but check both out just in case something you really want is only available at one or the other. Both meals offered great animal viewing - just request a table next to the window. My recommendation would be to either plan for dinner after AK (assuming no night show) or after another park you aren't spending the full day at and aren't going back for the night show. The bus to Kidani from HS or Epcot isn't bad at all, distance-wise. And don't forget to make time to walk out onto the savanna viewing platform before or after your meal!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We prefer the lunch over the dinner.
. . . the fare is a little lighter
. . . the price is better
. . . the appys and salads are the same
. . . the lower number of people eating
. . . the ability to see animals on the Savannah

 

[MinMou]

I was just thinking I needed to post a question about how to time eating at Sanaa, and I find this thread. Amazing!
We will be there in the winter, so I think we need to plan to eat here for lunch. I just wonder if there will be enough time to see the majority of the park after lunch, before Rivers of Light.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I was just thinking I needed to post a question about how to time eating at Sanaa, and I find this thread. Amazing!
We will be there in the winter, so I think we need to plan to eat here for lunch. I just wonder if there will be enough time to see the majority of the park after lunch, before Rivers of Light.

For us, AK is an all day park. When we arrive at 9 and leave at 5 with a break for lunch (even at the park), we still can't see and do everything.

I think it would be nearly impossible to see and do everything from, say, 1-7. You could see a lot, but there would be quite a few things you would have to skip. I think there will be a lot of guests who want to see all of the new nighttime activities, so I imagine that the park will be significantly more crowded toward late afternoon and evening. The morning is such a beautiful time to be in AK. I would suggest lunch at AK, but I would not skip the morning in the park.

 

[MinMou]

For us, AK is an all day park. When we arrive at 9 and leave at 5 with a break for lunch (even at the park), we still can't see and do everything.

I think it would be nearly impossible to see and do everything from, say, 1-7. You could see a lot, but there would be quite a few things you would have to skip. I think there will be a lot of guests who want to see all of the new nighttime activities, so I imagine that the park will be significantly more crowded toward late afternoon and evening. The morning is such a beautiful time to be in AK. I would suggest lunch at AK, but I would not skip the morning in the park.

Thank you for this info/advice. I am trying to figure out how to fit Sanaa into our AK day. I figured that going to the park, then leaving in the middle of the day to rush to Kidani and then get back to the park would be difficult/awkward with a preschooler. I'll just have to see how tall he is, figure out what he won't be able to do, and then see whether 6-7 hours will be enough.

 

[OhThePain]

Thank you for this info/advice. I am trying to figure out how to fit Sanaa into our AK day. I figured that going to the park, then leaving in the middle of the day to rush to Kidani and then get back to the park would be difficult/awkward with a preschooler. I'll just have to see how tall he is, figure out what he won't be able to do, and then see whether 6-7 hours will be enough.

From the looks of your signature, you are planning a trip for almost 2 years from now. AK will be a fairly different beast (pun intended) by then. Don't even start to bother with your AK planning yet. Between the night time stuff coming out in the next couple of weeks and AVATAR Land (for better or worse) opening next year and all different park hours, as well as the things that can happen in your own life in that time, you are just better off waiting a year or so before you start to think about how much time you want to spend at AK and where you might want to eat. There is just no telling how much time will be enough for anyone. All you are going to do is get yourself into a tizzy.

 

[MinMou]

From the looks of your signature, you are planning a trip for almost 2 years from now. AK will be a fairly different beast (pun intended) by then. Don't even start to bother with your AK planning yet. Between the night time stuff coming out in the next couple of weeks and AVATAR Land (for better or worse) opening next year and all different park hours, as well as the things that can happen in your own life in that time, you are just better off waiting a year or so before you start to think about how much time you want to spend at AK and where you might want to eat. There is just no telling how much time will be enough for anyone. All you are going to do is get yourself into a tizzy.

If we weren't interested in eating at Sana'a, this would barely be on my radar.

 

[cmph]

If we weren't interested in eating at Sana'a, this would barely be on my radar.

Just for some timing perspective, the time we had 11:30 lunch at Sanaa, we were able to then do the following before park close: EE (fp), Dinosaur (fp), Safari (fp), an extra EE single rider for DH; Lion King show, Flights of Wonder, Finding Nemo show, and It's Tough to Be a Bug. This was a 15th anniversary trip for us, so no kids this time - so no character meets or frequent potty breaks or nap or anything. We were heading out to a dinner res at our resort but otherwise *maybe* could have fit in one more ride. Except without the nighttime stuff, the rides there close down rather quickly before close, at least in our experience. We've tried to hit EE right before close to find it roped off; same with Kali. Anyway - if you want to meet characters, walk a trail, ride Primeval Whirl (why??? lol) or the Triceratops, you'll definitely want to be there longer than us. Next time we go with the kids (unless we're giant meanies who go without them again HAHAHA; 10yo is still mad) - I would absolutely plan to be there longer. The bus ride is fast, but if you don't want to wait to take it - cabs will be there and that would be a short, cheap ride. We'll do Sanaa late lunch and plan to just cab over if the bus isn't sitting there waiting.

 

[tlcdoula]

I have made a reservation for a late lunch on our first day at the parks. I want to do MK the first day and we have a reservation for BOG at 8:05 that morning. I am leaning towards staying at MK till around 2pm then heading for a late lunch and then maybe we can do the evening at AK if they have late hours.

What are the opinions on using FP+ for evening attractions?