Jiko vs. A Few Diff Options

[DisneyJColeMom]

Hi all! Looking for some different perspectives! Never really had Jiko on my radar before, but while I was trying to get a reservation for the last day of our trip, I noticed it come up as available & decided to take it for dinner. It says its Signature dining, does that mean very delicious, or just very expensive? The other options that seem to be available for me are Beaches & Cream, The Boathouse & Morimoto Asia both @ Disney Springs, and Chef Mickey dinner. What would you pick? Also, if we make our way to AKL for that reservation, will we be able to walk around & explore the resort and see Savanna animals or no?

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Depends on what time it is - if it’s still bright out then yes you can explore the resort and see animals.

Jiko’s food is good. We wore our park clothes but avoided tank tops (bare shoulders). It was pricy, not California Grill pricy but Disney signature dining pricy. The menu is a la carte so you pay for what you order. Nice decor and service. Nothing mind blowing.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/jiko-the-cooking-place/menus/

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

Depends on what time it is - if it’s still bright out then yes you can explore the resort and see animals.

Jiko’s food is good. We wore our park clothes but avoided tank tops (bare shoulders). It was pricy, not California Grill pricy but Disney signature dining pricy. The menu is a la carte so you pay for what you order. Nice decor and service. Nothing mind blowing.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/jiko-the-cooking-place/menus/

I found on our last Disney trip (which was our first trip) that even though I found some of the restaurants to have beautiful or fun atmospheres, my mind hasn’t been blown by ANY of the food. BOG & CRT I loved the restaurants themes & decor but NOT the food. And those were the 2 best ones for us. Didnt really enjoy TREX food or H&V but again the places were fun looking & cute. Hoping to find a restaurant where we leave & say that was DELISH!!

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I found on our last Disney trip (which was our first trip) that even though I found some of the restaurants to have beautiful or fun atmospheres, my mind hasn’t been blown by ANY of the food. BOG & CRT I loved the restaurants themes & decor but NOT the food. And those were the 2 best ones for us. Didnt really enjoy TREX food or H&V but again the places were fun looking & cute. Hoping to find a restaurant where we leave & say that was DELISH!!

We really like Boma and Sanaa. AKL has phenomenal food offerings in general imo. Boma is DH’s favourite.

My daughter loves breakfast at Cape May Cafe. I’m not as convinced of it’s top tier status lol but the omelette station is great.

Toledo is probably my newest discovery for good food. They also have a lounge right by Toledo that is fabulous to check out.

I hear good things about Topolino’s. Looking forward to trying it.

Totally agree with you for BOG, CRT, and T-Rex. Haven’t tried H&V yet but it is not high on the list. Hollywood Brown Derby is probably best for food at HS, but I prefer to Skyliner to Primo Piatto at Riviera if I can.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

We really like Boma and Sanaa. AKL has phenomenal food offerings in general imo. Boma is DH’s favourite.

My daughter loves breakfast at Cape May Cafe. I’m not as convinced of it’s top tier status lol but the omelette station is great.

Toledo is probably my newest discovery for good food. They also have a lounge right by Toledo that is fabulous to check out.

I hear good things about Topolino’s. Looking forward to trying it.

Totally agree with you for BOG, CRT, and T-Rex. Haven’t tried H&V yet but it is not high on the list. Hollywood Brown Derby is probably best for food at HS, but I prefer to Skyliner to Primo Piatto at Riviera if I can.

Thanks!! These are the kind of tips I’m looking for!!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Beaches and cream had been on our bucket list for years. Finally went last visit and were super disappointed.

The 2 DS options are only so so.

Jiko is AMAZING, though honestly the abbreviated menu is a little disappointing vs some of the older picks. Still, if you like that kind of food it’s one of my very favorites. Tiffins is another that is under the radar a bit but similarly awesome. Put differently, if you like Tiffins you will like Jiko.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I forgot Chef Mickey was in the mix as well. That’s mostly about atmosphere. Food is not good.

Have you ever been to Nobu? If that is your frame of reference Morimoto Asia will be a huge disappointment. It’s…fine…but nothing like his signature restaurants.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

Had some time today to sit and search some reviews and am really thinking Id like us to try Jiko! My 2 restaurants I really wanted to get during our trip, Space 220 for my 9 year old and Topolino’s Terrace for me LOL, I wasn’t able to get. This last reservation I was trying for a late lunch/early dinner as our plane leaves the next morning SUPER early! Ive always wanted to visit Animal Kingdom Lodge, maybe we’ll plan to get there with some time before our reservation so we can see some giraffes! I think my son would love that.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I forgot Chef Mickey was in the mix as well. That’s mostly about atmosphere. Food is not good.

Have you ever been to Nobu? If that is your frame of reference Morimoto Asia will be a huge disappointment. It’s…fine…but nothing like his signature restaurants.

That’s sad! I was hoping to hear Morimoto would be good. The pictures I saw with the long chandeliers were so pretty. And Chef Mickeys, we had breakfast there last time & it was our son’s favorite (but DH & I didn’t like the food). I would have maybe been willing to do it again bc I couldn’t get any other character meals & he was just so into it last time! But def not looking forward to an unappetizing meal for lots of $$$. I think safari animals would make up for Mickey LOL! We are skipping Animal Kingdom this trip bc we don’t have time for all the parks.