OFFICIAL New Animal Kingdom Experiences UPDATE 5/28: Reports from first night in Post #2

[BrittyRo]

I've substituted sides at several signature restaurants. Usually they prefer to swap "sets" of sides and not individual items, but if you insist, they'll probably be willing to do just the one item.

Thank you very much!! Yeah Lentil stew with tomato mint chutney doesn't sounds appealing to me while the couscous with dried fruits and olives sounds divine. I hope they can just swap it!

 

[pmurph]

I got the dining package breakfast for TH for JB for 8:10 am in July. We are staying at AKL so I figure we can be at AK for several hours in the morning, head back to the resort for rest and pool time, and then head back to AK for the show.

Even though I don't consider myself a picky eater, with the exception of maybe the Lobster-popcorn Thai curry soup, the Tiffins menu doesn't really appeal to me at all. Plus, TH is the perfect opportunity for my in-laws, who haven't *really* ever been to Disney to get some pictures with the characters.

I'm actually quite surprised that ROL will not be showing in July, but am looking forward to reading on the boards about the JB show before our July trip, to really see what people think of it! I am looking forward to seeing the show!

 

[yulilin3]

Anyone else thinks that having JB show on the schedule until Sept 5th is just a placeholder and they might change it with RoL whenever that's fixed? That's what they did with the SW fireworks, basically gave us times and days for the old show until the end of June and then they announced the new show will start June 17th taking the place of the old one...whatever happened to RoL must be a huge mess if they are not sure to fix it in 4 months

 

[jimim]

Question I know probably won't be able to be answered (since the restaurant hasn't opened yet) but at Tiffins for the lamb chop entree would I be able to substitute the lentils for say couscous? (Are signature restaurants good at substituting in general) I'm a picky eater and well lentils don't sound very appealing to me...

I sub sides all the time at sign places. They might be diff but I have never had an issue anywhere. The lamb does look good and I would be doing the same as u. I really like couscous.

 

[pmurph]

Anyone else thinks that having JB show on the schedule until Sept 5th is just a placeholder and they might change it with RoL whenever that's fixed? That's what they did with the SW fireworks, basically gave us times and days for the old show until the end of June and then they announced the new show will start June 17th taking the place of the old one...whatever happened to RoL must be a huge mess if they are not sure to fix it in 4 months

I certainly wouldn't know, but I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they'll do the switch over before September 5.

As long as my dining package reservation allows me reserved access to whatever show is showing at the time on my AK day, I'm happy! At this point, I'm going to choose to have high hopes/expectations for either show to be really enjoyable
And since I plan on the fact that this will not be my last trip to AK , then I'm fine with the JB show. Especially assuming the ROL would be a long running show.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Anyone else thinks that having JB show on the schedule until Sept 5th is just a placeholder and they might change it with RoL whenever that's fixed? That's what they did with the SW fireworks, basically gave us times and days for the old show until the end of June and then they announced the new show will start June 17th taking the place of the old one...whatever happened to RoL must be a huge mess if they are not sure to fix it in 4 months

I thought about that and to be honest, I don't much care which show it is in Aug when I booked for!! If it's JB, fine -- I'll catch RoL in Nov (or some other trip). If it's RoL, fine -- I'm not that into JB anyway!

 

[Huff]

Wish disney would release schedule for AKL Park hours after September 5th.

 

[Momtwofour]

Wish disney would release schedule for AKL Park hours after September 5th.

I'm right there with you!!!

 

[AngiTN]

Got TH breakfast package reservations for 10:30. I had been considering doing breakfast there even before JB was announced with the package. But now I'm wondering if I can be in AK from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm. Is there enough to do? Every time I've gone it's closed at 5:00. I'm wondering if we'll be ready to leave by 6:30. Anyone thinking something similar?

I plan to take a break just like I do with any other park that closes late

Anyone else thinks that having JB show on the schedule until Sept 5th is just a placeholder and they might change it with RoL whenever that's fixed? That's what they did with the SW fireworks, basically gave us times and days for the old show until the end of June and then they announced the new show will start June 17th taking the place of the old one...whatever happened to RoL must be a huge mess if they are not sure to fix it in 4 months

Yes, I do believe that is exactly why their plans only go through 9/5
They hope (and pray) they can get RoL off the skids by then
I don't think they'll switch before then and if they can't get RoL done by 9/5 they'll extend JB till they do

 

[Mom of Jack 2009]

I emailed the WDW exec office about the scheduling problems I was having and I was given an anytime FP for each person in our party for every day of our trip. I think this is the stop gap for any and all issues at Disney.

Is the WDW exec email different than the one they post on their website? I haven't had much luck getting questions answered from that address.

 

[Stageman12]

Was able to switch our regular TH dinner ADR to the JB package. Looking forward to the later hours and different atmosphere.

 

[jknc]

Was able to switch our regular TH dinner ADR to the JB package. Looking forward to the later hours and different atmosphere.

Did you book a different time or call them to add it to your current TH ressie?

 

[soniam]

Did you book a different time or call them to add it to your current TH ressie?

It's a new reservation, whether you do it online or call. Online, if your current ADR conflicts with the time you want the package, it will ask you to cancel the original ADR but says it won't cancel until the package ressie is confirmed. This is what I did yesterday, when changing a Tiffins ADR to the package.

 

[jknc]

It's a new reservation, whether you do it online or call. Online, if your current ADR conflicts with the time you want the package, it will ask you to cancel the original ADR but says it won't cancel until the package ressie is confirmed. This is what I did yesterday, when changing a Tiffins ADR to the package.

I understand the booking process, but what it sounded like to me was he simply converted an existing TH ressie to a JB ressie.
Are they allowing such a thing? I would assume they would since so many regular TH ressies are booked.

 

[soniam]

I understand the booking process, but what it sounded like to me was he simply converted an existing TH ressie to a JB ressie.
Are they allowing such a thing? I would assume they would since so many regular TH ressies are booked.

No, they won't allow that. There's only so many packages that they can have. One would have had to have been available anyway. I think people are just using language that can be misunderstood. Also, if they called in, then it could seem like it was being converted to a package. When really, the CM canceled the first one and booked the second one. It's a matter of semantics, sort of, kind of like people saying they converted their resort reservation to a special discount or free dining.

 

[ckelly14]

Is anyone else excited about Tiffins? I think the menu looks awesome, and despite being a solo traveler in July for a conference, I made a table for 1 reservation during my AK day. I'm glad that Disney didn't go the safe route for this restaurant. I hope to get there and eat before the menu is changed a la Skipper's Canteen!

 

[soniam]

Is anyone else excited about Tiffins? I think the menu looks awesome, and despite being a solo traveler in July for a conference, I made a table for 1 reservation during my AK day. I'm glad that Disney didn't go the safe route for this restaurant. I hope to get there and eat before the menu is changed a la Skipper's Canteen!

We're excited. We didn't make it to Skipper's in March. I suspect their menu will change before we get to eat there, and we had really been looking forward to it. We were going to eat at Tiffins even if we couldn't get the package. However, I finally did get one, which was an added bonus. The fish crudo appetizer sounds good. For entrees, I am thinking about the Chermoula Chicken, prawns, halibut, or sustainable fish. They all look good, so I can't decide. I think DH will get the pork tenderloin or the strip loin. My only disappointment is that the only real chocolate dessert has bananas. DH hates bananas. This is how Skipper's is though.

EDIT: And it will be great to get an adult beverage with this menu. Skipper's was just screaming for cocktails.

 

[BayouQueen]

Is anyone else excited about Tiffins? I think the menu looks awesome, and despite being a solo traveler in July for a conference, I made a table for 1 reservation during my AK day. I'm glad that Disney didn't go the safe route for this restaurant. I hope to get there and eat before the menu is changed a la Skipper's Canteen!

I'm super excited. I'm thinking the whole dining experience will be totally immersive, in a way it couldn't be if it was plain 'ol stuff on the menu. I plan to get my group to order different things to share around and really get into the adventurous mood of it all. I saw a pic of the fried whole fish on the WDW website. I'm going' for it!!!

 

[cheryl1976]

I'm excited as well. So happy that they stuck to their guns on this one despite the rumored changes to Skipper Canteen. Not going until late fall so I hope the menu lasts until then. In my world vacations are for trying restaurants and food I don't have just around the corner at home.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Is anyone else excited about Tiffins? I think the menu looks awesome, and despite being a solo traveler in July for a conference, I made a table for 1 reservation during my AK day. I'm glad that Disney didn't go the safe route for this restaurant. I hope to get there and eat before the menu is changed a la Skipper's Canteen!

I agree 100%!! My whole family is looking forward to it, including DD9 and DS11!