Keep Calm and Go to Disney! 10/21 - 11/4/14 COMPLETE

[kastoney]

Missed the start of your report but all caught up now.

Oh so glad your yachtsman dinner turned out well. Not sure I would have given them another chance but clearly it was a food decision. Your dessert looks ah-maz-ing, especially that caramel gelato.

I'm so envious of the Italian dinner. That mozzarella and your ravioli look so good. Couple that with the wine pairings and I'm sold.

Can't believe you made it to AKL on time. Talk about skiing of your teeth. I'd never heard of the safari dinner before, so I can't wait to hear more. And of course the price tag ; )

 

[jabead]

Sorry for the delay in posting my safari review. I took at least a 100 photos so it took awhile to go through them all and choose just 25 (the limit for each post). But finally here is...

Part 2 - The Safari







At a few minutes before 4:00 our two guides arrived at the Jiko Wine Room to introduce themselves and lead us outside to the hotel's main entrance where our safari vehicle awaited us...






Once we had boarded, we set off on our tour of the savannas which surround Animal Kingdom Lodge resort...






Animal Kingdom Lodge is made up of two buildings, Kidani Village and Jambo house and there are four savannas surrounding the Lodge: Sunset, Arusha, Uzima and the newest one, Pembe (not listed on the above map). Each of these savannas is the home to different animals and birds, with the exception of the Reticulated Giraffes, which were in all three of the savannas we toured. Our safari began with the Sunset savanna, which is located over on the Kidani Village side of the resort. We reached the savanna by passing through a "backstage" barn area and our guide told us about the animals which are housed there. I always find these "behind the scenes" areas and information very interesting. Once we had entered the savanna, we were quickly greeted by this curious ostrich, who came within arm's reach of our vehicle...






I don't recall exactly what this hoofed animal was so I'll go with a white antelope...







Next we were able to see the beautiful Kidani building from an animal's point of view...







Then we came across the first of many giraffes that we saw during our safari...






I'll warn you now that I took many giraffe photos, as they are my favorite of all the animals and birds on the AKL savannas. I was thrilled when we got "up close and personal" with this beautiful giraffe...






And then another giraffe...







But even more beautiful than a giraffe eating, is a giraffe on the move...













Ok, you are probably ready to see something other than giraffes now, right? Like maybe this Marabou stork...






Some Ankole Cattle...






Next is my, "One of these things is not like the others" photo...







Let's see, what else? Oh yes, this couple having a "not so private" dinner for two...






And this zebra seemed to have misplaced his stripes...





Not sure what this poor animal is, but he has broken off one of his horns. Ouch, that had to have hurt!...






And then the lyrics to "Home on the Range" come to mind when you see all the antelope that were playing...



Thomson's Gazelle






Kudu (not sure if Greater or Lesser?)






Common Eland






Roan Antelope



"And the skies are not cloudy all day."...





So in conclusion, the safari was an awesome experience and one that I would recommend to any animal lovers out there. If you enjoy the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom, I can almost guarantee that you will love this one. Our guide was a great combination of entertaining and informative. He told us some interesting stories which gave us an idea of the individual personalities of some of the animals we were seeing. And the best part for me was being able to take photos without a zoom lens or without the vehicle moving.


But the experience does not end here...if you are a foodie, the best was yet to come.​

Next up: Wanyama Safari Part 3 - Dinner at Jiko

 

[EmilieK]

Loving the reviws, keep them coming.

 

[ksack]

I think the misplaced stripes zebra just had a bad dye job...

 

[kastoney]

Wow, those safari pics are amazing. I can't believe all the animals surrounding the lodge that you don't always see. And you got so close to them. My stomach is rumbling getting ready for the food.

 

[vettegirl]

Can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[Linda67]

Beautiful photos Barb!

 

[Wood Nymph]

The safari looks really interesting. I love watching giraffes, too. What a beautiful day you had. I'm glad that we toured the AKL to see what it was like. They layout was hard to figure out until we actually walked around it.

 

[CanadianPaco]

So much fun to read your reviews!

 

[disneypofq05]

I am so glad I found your report. Your pictures are great...especially the animals. Everything you've eaten looks delicious and I can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!

 

[kimnscott]

cant wait to hear about the rest.

 

[jabead]

Although perhaps not as much as you would have done had my son not been around to 'help you out'

I wish Daniel had been there to help me out with more of my meals.

Awesome report so far Barb! I love the inclusion of non-food posts as well, combo trip/dining reports are my favourite ones to read!

I think it's great that you gave YS one last chance, and I'm glad it was a winner for you this time. After the awful experiences you had previously, I have to give you a lot of credit for going again. I don't think I would have been so gracious. I'm glad it all worked out.

I haven't seen the new lumberjack show being presented in the Canadian pavilion and have zero intention of doing so in the future. One 2 minute viewing of a YouTube video was more than enough for me!

Signing up to Save Off Kilter as we speak ...

Great start Barb, looking forward to more.

Yay, another Off Kilter fan! I'm not sure if there is enough of us to make a difference but we will not go down quietly.

Missed the start of your report but all caught up now.

Oh so glad your yachtsman dinner turned out well. Not sure I would have given them another chance but clearly it was a food decision. Your dessert looks ah-maz-ing, especially that caramel gelato.

I'm so envious of the Italian dinner. That mozzarella and your ravioli look so good. Couple that with the wine pairings and I'm sold.

Can't believe you made it to AKL on time. Talk about skiing of your teeth. I'd never heard of the safari dinner before, so I can't wait to hear more. And of course the price tag ; )

So glad to have you here Kari! Thankfully Yachtsman did redeem itself so I don't have to give up those yummy onion rolls after all. And the Italian lunch was wonderful. I would definitely recommend it if you ever have the opportunity. As for the price tag of the safari, well let's just say that there was a bad case of sticker shock in my near future.

Loving the reviws, keep them coming.

Thanks for reading! Next installment coming right up.

I think the misplaced stripes zebra just had a bad dye job...

Wow, those safari pics are amazing. I can't believe all the animals surrounding the lodge that you don't always see. And you got so close to them. My stomach is rumbling getting ready for the food.

While I really enjoyed doing the safari and seeing the animals up close, my favorite part was the dinner. I like animals but I love food!

Can't wait to hear the rest!

Part 3 coming right up!

Beautiful photos Barb!

Thanks Linda!

The safari looks really interesting. I love watching giraffes, too. What a beautiful day you had. I'm glad that we toured the AKL to see what it was like. They layout was hard to figure out until we actually walked around it.

AKL is really a beautiful resort. If it weren't so far away from all the parks (except AK), I would stay there more often. I'm actually considering Kidani Village for my next trip and booked a 1 BDR villa with a Bounce Back rate before I left. Whether I end up staying there or change it to another resort(s), who knows??

So much fun to read your reviews!

Glad you are enjoying them!

I am so glad I found your report. Your pictures are great...especially the animals. Everything you've eaten looks delicious and I can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!

I'm glad you found me. Thanks for reading!

cant wait to hear about the rest.

Part 3 coming your way very soon!

 

[jabead]

Wanyama Safari Part 3 - The Dinner



Following our nearly 2 hour long tour through the various savannas which surround the Animal Kingdom Lodge we disembarked from our safari vehicle at Jambo House and were led by our tour guide to the resort's signature restaurant.








And for those who might be interested, I took photos of Jiko's regular and Kids menus (as of Oct. 22, 2014)...

















Now on to our dinner. We were seated at one of the four-top tables not far from the window...







...which soon was filled with food.







But first, let's take a look at the special Wanyama Safari dinner menu...







Our server soon came to our table to introduce himself and I immediately recognized him. He was the same server that we had during my last dinner at Jiko in April. Although he was friendly and amusing, I remembered that he was somewhat lacking in attentiveness. After almost having the same bad server at Yachtsman Steakhouse at my first dinner the night before and now this happening on my second night, I was starting to get a case of bad server deja vu. And for those of you who read my last dining report, you know why I began to question my plan to dine at Flying Fish Café right about now.




Ok, now for the food. We were first given an amuse bouche which was not listed on the menu...



Blue Cheese Cheesecake topped with honey


This was really, really tasty. I love the combination of the salty blue cheese with the sweet honey. We also started with a cocktail, a Jiko Sunriser with Parrot Bay Rum and Banana Liqueur along with orange, pineapple, and cranberry juices. I really like fruity cocktails and had enjoyed this one during a previous visit to Jiko so I was happy that this was included in our Safari dinner.



Next a basket of three breads was served...







This included Khobz, Poppy Seed Lavash, and my favorite, House-made Naan...





The breads were accompanied by an assortment of four dips...






My favorite of these was the Kalamata Hummus (the tan one) which was made from mashed chickpeas blended with a sesame seed paste, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic, and kalamata olives.




For our next course we were each given our own plate with a sample of three of the appetizers which are listed on Jiko's regular menu...




From left to right: Inguday Tibs in Brik, Jiko Salad, and Crispy Duck "Bobotie" Roll



These were accompanied by our choice of two Graham Beck wines, one a white (Chenin Blanc) and the other a red (Cabernet Sauvignon). I generally prefer white wines so I chose the Chenin Blanc and I enjoyed it with both this course and the next one.




As for the appetizers, two of these were new to me but I had seen them on the menu previously and had wanted to try them. The first is the Jiko salad which consisted of summer greens (mostly frisee), watermelon, blueberries, caviar limes, smoked almonds, feta cheese, and lime-date vinaigrette. Since I'm not a fan of frisee, I didn't really care for the greens part of the salad but I did enjoy the feta cheese and watermelon. All in all though, it was my least favorite of the three. The duck bobotie roll was pretty good. I probably wouldn't order it again, but I'm glad that my curiosity was finally satisfied. Now the third sample on our plate is one of my favorite Disney World appetizers. The Inguday Tibs in Brik remind me of spanakopita, only even better in my opinion. In addition to the usual spinach and cheese, the tibs in brik also have mushrooms.




Here is photo of the full-size portion of the Inguday Tibs in Brik appetizer that was taken during a previous visit to Jiko...







Next came a huge onslaught of food, beginning with us each receiving a sampler plate containing three of Jiko's popular entrees...



From left and moving clockwise: Botswana-style "Seswaa" Beef Short Rib, Maize-crusted Monkfish with Tomato-Butter Sauce, and Harissa Chicken and Saffron Broth.

I'll start with my least favorite, which was the chicken. Although this was moist and juicy, I found it a little boring flavor-wise. It was by no means bad though, just not as good as the other two entrees. Regarding the short rib, this was something I had had before but didn't like. I have a very low tolerance for fatty meat and unfortunately I ran into this problem when I had the short rib at Jiko a few years ago. Thankfully it was not a problem this time. The meat was tender and flavorful and all of my dining companions said it was their favorite of the three entrees. Though I enjoyed it very much and would consider ordering the short rib again, my favorite was the fish. This was a mild tasting white fish with a very good maize (or cornmeal) crust. I had the full-size portion of this entree (pictured below) the last time I dined at Jiko (April 2014) and enjoyed it. It will be a difficult decision between having this again and giving the short rib another try on my next visit to Jiko.








Now for the side dishes, of which there were six. These were served family-style in bowls which were passed around the table. I didn't taste or get a photo of at least two of these, the vegetables of moment and the vegetable confit. I was beginning to get full by this time so had to pass on a few of these...I chose to skip the veggies! And speaking of veggies, I also didn't have any of the organic pole beans but at least I took a photo...






The other three sides I did try, as you can see from my plate...







Again I'll start with my least favorite, the Ancient Grain Pilaf...





This was ok, nothing special.




However, the other two side dishes were great...



The famous Jiko Macaroni & Cheese and Spoon Bread Souffle



The Macaroni & Cheese used to be served with Jiko's Filet, however that changed about three or four years ago. But that didn't stop guests from requesting it so they placed it on the Kids' menu in order to accommodate the many fans of their mac & cheese. Although the spoon bread was very good too, I believe that the macaroni & cheese was the unanimous favorite side dish at our table.




And that just leaves our desserts, which again we were each served a sampler platter of three of Jiko's desserts.




From left to right: Malva Pudding, Avocado Custard Cake with Blood, and Ghanaian Chocolate and Kenyan Coffee Pot de Creme Tart



Ok, let's switch it up this time and start with the best...




Ghanaian Chocolate and Kenyan Coffee Pot de Creme

This was delicious and though I was quite full by this time, I could not stop myself from eating all of this. My three dining companions were equally enamored with this dessert and we all agreed that it was by far the best dessert of the three.



Now for the other two...



Malva Pudding with Toasted Meringue, Lemon Curd, and Wild Strawberries & Avocado Custard Cake with Blood Orange Sorbet


My tablemates seemed to like the Malva Pudding but for me it was just okay. It had a spongy texture that I didn't care for, plus I'm not really a fan of lemon curd. As for the Avocado Custard Cake, we all agreed that this looked much better than it tasted. Actually this dessert had very little taste, which was disappointing considering how beautiful it looked.





That completed our meal, however there were two surprises yet to come...one good and one not so good. First the good surprise. We were each given a bag full of goodies to take home...





Our server then asked how the checks were to be divided. The couple was treating their friend, so we told him that only my check needed to be separate. When he returned with the two checks, I took a look at mine and saw the total of $380!!! As you may recall, I had forgotten to inquire as to the current price of the Wanyama Safari when I reserved it but the most recent information I found said the price was $190. Figuring this information might be outdated, I had budgeted as much as $250 for the safari. So as you can imagine, I immediately broke out into a cold sweat. As my mind began to frantically run through the plans for the remainder of my trip in an attempt to figure out what I was going to have to forfeit due to my stupid mistake, it was interrupted by four wonderful words, "Our bill is wrong." Yes, our server had me picking up the tab for their lady friend, so actually my bill was supposed to be only $190 (which included both tax and gratuity). So with that crisis averted and my bill corrected, I left feeling quite happy with my decision to do the Wanyama Safari and satisfied that I had gotten my money's worth. ​

Next up: Check in at Animal Kingdom Lodge, followed by Breakfast at Boma

 

[dvc4life]

What a wonderful safari and dining experience! How awesome to see all the animals so close. And your pictures are so clear. Plus you had lots of different foods to try.

My question though, is on the plate with the main course was that a hair between the ribs and the fish? I sure hope not and that it was just a smudge or something on the photo.

And I'm so glad that they got the bill corrected. Oh my gosh, I don't blame you for sweating. What a sticker shock.

Can't wait for the next update!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Barb,

Thanks so much for giving us such a detailed account of the Wanyama Safari. You've definitely sold me on trying it someday, but I see you've got to go hungry. Love that you got to try so many of Jiko's specialties.

 

[jedijill]

Thanks for the awesome review! This is going on my bucket list for sure!

Jill in CO

 

[goodeats]

Wow! That makes me want to stay at AKL now to try it. So you don't need to stay concierge anymore?

 

[LuvEeyore]

Joining in late. However I got the information I've been looking for-Waynama Safari review. We are doing this in January. My Mom who is almost 80 my God daughter who turned 20 in October and wanted to be a vet til she found out she had to take care of sick animalswho is also a foodie and my self who will be turning 50 while in Disney. I would say I made a great choice. Thanks for the updated information.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip and dining choices.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Oh Barb, I have to say Jiko has never really interested me and after staying at AKL once we put it on the "That was cool but been there done that list' but I am fairly certain you have changed my mind. I so want to experience this! This looks like it was fantastic!

 

[kastoney]

OMG I about fainted when I saw the $300+ price tag. Not sure how you kept yourself composed. I would have freaked out. So good on disney for actually keeping the price static. I'd pay $180 for that experience.

Now for the food, it all looks amazing but I kept thinking for as much money as it costs they could give you some items not on the menu. Of course that would mean missing the short ribs, which are move of my all time favs.