It's Official! Tusker House turning into TS

[Paul in CT]

What's going to happen to Donald's Breakfastasaurous (sp?)?? Is that closing? We love Tusker House. I hope the food quality doesn't change. It seems like so many of the buffets have the same stuff.

The cinnamon rolls have already changed for the worse at the Bakery counter at TH. If it goes to a fixed price buffet, my DW and I will not be eating there anymore.

 

[kandb]

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time ) but I bet Yak and Yeti is not going to accept the DDP and one reason that they are switching Tusker house to a TS is so they can offer a TS option to people on the DDP. Maybe they feel that a lot of people would complain that Y & Y will not accept the DDP. Could I be right? Linda

 

[jcc0621]

The Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom is being converted from a quick-service restaurant to a buffet restaurant. This location will soon offer a character breakfast buffet and a non-character lunch/dinner buffet, starting on November 18th.

Donald's Safari Breakfast Buffet will be offered from 8:00 am to 10:30 am featuring Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy (characters subject to change without notice.) The lunch / dinner buffet (no characters) will be offered from 11:30 am - park close. Reservations for all meal periods will be accepted by calling 407-WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance.

In order for Tusker House Restaurant to be converted to a buffet restaurant, it will be closed for refurbishment from August 20 until November 17.

After the refurbishment, Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery will continue to serve patries and coffee from the outdoor window.

With the character breakfast opening at Tusker House Restaurant, Donald's Breakfastosaurus character breakfast at Restaurantosaurus will be discontinued after November 5.

Restaurantosaurus will continue to be open for lunch / dinner as a quick-service restaurant. Hours of operation will be 10:30 a.m. until park close

 

[Praying Colonel]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1448305

 

[Colleen27]

I think the indoor seating is exactly why it is TH that's changing rather than Flame Tree, and I think that sucks... It was nice having an air conditioned CS. One of my biggest complaints with Disney dining overall is that there are so few CS options that give you a little break from the Florida heat. And we don't even go during the summer; if it was bad in Oct, I can only imagine what July is like!

I do wonder how they'll handle dinner too. I can't imagine that a TS place that closes at 5 or 6 is going to be very popular for dinner. I think the focus on TS at AK is sort of weird, in light of the limited hours, but maybe it is a sign of other changes on the way.

As far as the remaining CS options, isn't Y&Y supposed to have both TS and CS sides? So that will add one not long after they take TH away.

 

[LovintheLodge]

Just what WDW needs--another buffet.

Tusker House was my favorite CS restaurant in any of the parks. I'm very sorry to hear it's going away in its current form, especially for such a mediocre alternative. I wish they'd just build an additional restaurant instead of taking away a quality choice.

I totally agree. This was a great (air conditioned!) CS option. And the prices were reasonable.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Dang it!!!! A quick CS lunch at Tusker House was one thing we always counted on at AK. A TS restaurant probably won't be so quick and it will cost a lot more ... BOO DISNEY!!!!!

 

[MomofKatie]

For some reason, I am now starting to think AK may be preparing for staying open later. I just don't think a park that closes at 5 most of the year can support 3 TS restaurants. So, that makes me think they will start staying open until at least 7. Maybe we'll even see a nighttime parade eventually?? Pure speculation on my part, of course...

 

[TinkerbellMama]

For some reason, I am now starting to think AK may be preparing for staying open later. I just don't think a park that closes at 5 most of the year can support 3 TS restaurants. So, that makes me think they will start staying open until at least 7. Maybe we'll even see a nighttime parade eventually?? Pure speculation on my part, of course...

I think you're probably right. I don't think they'd be sinking all this money into AK and NOT keep it open later. Now that there will be so much TS and they have EE...the animals aren't the only attractions anymore and staying open later is feasible. It's all about the $$$!

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

I agree, I'm willing to bet this is part of an effort to attract more business into the AK. What with EE and a brand new TS and now this, I'm thinking they are planning to stay open. AK is already a half day for many visitors as it is, and I'm thinking that they are trying to attract more people into the park by staying open later. I absolutely love AK, and I really hope that they are planning on extending the park hours.

 

[The Sweetness]

Sounds good to me! Extend AKs hours Theres still plenty to do w/out the trails and safari

 

[richard_andmel]

The other thing I don't think they have taken into account is that AK is always so hot, at least half of the year a lot of people couldn't eat a big meal.

 

[marivaid]

While I'm not happy that Tusker House is closing (we'll have to work it into our July itinerary somehow) I gotta say, Donald's Breakfastausorus definitely NEEDED a new location. The way it's set up now in a place that turns into a CS at 11 is just not working IMO. The characters were very rushed and the line at the buffet took forever.

 

[SnowWitch]

BOOHOO. We love Tusker House, it has been a family favorite since it opened. Its a shame they are removing a very good CS choice for yet another character meal. I guess Donald's Breakfast is so popular they need more seating for more customers for a more expensive meal. Sorry we are not huge fans of most buffets and to add one just is not exciting news for us.

 

[granmaz]

I saw the rumour earlier and sad it is definite! We love Tusker House as it is and the salmon is lovely!!! I don't like barbecued ribs etc so we are a little out of CS options at AK. Perhaps Donalds's Brontosaurus may become a good CS. If not it will be 2 parks with poor CS - MGM is bad too.

On the other hand, opening later would be good.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think not TS but a buffet??

 

[HeatherFeather]

I hope you are NOT right. I love TH just the way it is...

 

[marivaid]

Doubt it. Y&Y will be operated by Landry's Restaurants, like Rainforest Cafe. If they take the DDP at RFC I don't see why this one wouldn't.

I think Disney is making Tusker House a TS simply because AK needs more "real" restaurants. Not to mention Restaurantosaurus is getting too small to host Donald's character breakfast.

JMO of course and I'm no expert.

 

[Milobaby]

They take the DDP at Rainforest Cafe? They didn't last time I was there in 5/06.

 

[marivaid]

They take the DDP at Rainforest Cafe? They didn't last time I was there in 5/06.

OK I need to check my facts before I post LOL.. RFC is not on the DDP. I was thinking of Planet Hollywood in DTD.