Sanaa and Beaches and Cream timing questions

[mombrontrent]

I have never been to this restaurant but have wanted to try it for a long time. We never book lunch reservations but I'm considering it for next week Monday January 16th so that we can see the animals. Right now we have this day as our non park day after a late night at MK. I had been planning on spending the afternoon swimming (weather permitting, looking good as of right now) and going to Disney springs before our beaches and cream dinner at 6:50. I tentatively booked a reservation for Sanaa at 2:10 so that we could get some swimming in first before lunch and have time to go to Disney springs before dinner. I would also consider booking the earliest dinner at sanaa at 5:10 and ditching beaches and cream if it would still be light enough to see the animals? and if we eat a big lunch at 2:10 will we be hungry for dinner at 6:50? I could book an earlier lunch but that would get out our swimming time, ugh sometimes I hate all this over planning!

My other option is to cancel beaches and cream and go the next day which is our HS day. I have no dining reservations this day and just snagged a 5:20 dinner. How long would it take to walk over to the restaurant? I definitely want to be back in HS to catch the star wars fireworks that start at 7:45 but would want to be there earlier to get a decent viewing spot.

 

[beesly]

I've never been to Disney Springs or to Beaches and Cream, but I went to Sanaa for the first time back in April with a 2:20 lunch reservation and I'd go back in a heartbeat. Both the atmosphere and the food are incredible.

Some things for you to consider:
Sunset is just before 6:00pm on 1/16. If you get the earliest dinner time, I'd think you could still see the animals for at least part of your dinner - just thinking about the light. What I don't know is what time(s) the animals might be called in for feeding or other care - someone who knows more about the AKL savanna animals can hopefully speak to that.

For your second scenario: I've read here that the walk between DHS and Epcot is about 20 minutes, depending on your pace. If you're actually seated exactly at your ADR time (not guaranteed), spend an hour at dinner, and assume your pace will be slower on the walk back because you'll be full, you'd be cutting it really close to catch the SW show, much less be there early to grab a good viewing spot.

Personally, I'd have a big, amazing lunch at Sanaa and then get dessert at B&C. You'll remember eating amazing food at Sanaa while watching the animals outside the window. The burger or chicken sandwich from B&C? Probably more forgettable.

 

[mombrontrent]

I've never been to Disney Springs or to Beaches and Cream, but I went to Sanaa for the first time back in April with a 2:20 lunch reservation and I'd go back in a heartbeat. Both the atmosphere and the food are incredible.

Some things for you to consider:
Sunset is just before 6:00pm on 1/16. If you get the earliest dinner time, I'd think you could still see the animals for at least part of your dinner - just thinking about the light. What I don't know is what time(s) the animals might be called in for feeding or other care - someone who knows more about the AKL savanna animals can hopefully speak to that.

For your second scenario: I've read here that the walk between DHS and Epcot is about 20 minutes, depending on your pace. If you're actually seated exactly at your ADR time (not guaranteed), spend an hour at dinner, and assume your pace will be slower on the walk back because you'll be full, you'd be cutting it really close to catch the SW show, much less be there early to grab a good viewing spot.

Personally, I'd have a big, amazing lunch at Sanaa and then get dessert at B&C. You'll remember eating amazing food at Sanaa while watching the animals outside the window. The burger or chicken sandwich from B&C? Probably more forgettable.

Thanks for your input, after talking it over with Dh and getting my daughters (ages 10 and 14) approval I've cancelled both the beaches and cream reservations and made a dinner reservation for Sanaa at 5:20 on our free day. I figure we can sleep in, swim at the resort and head on over to AKL a little early to check out the resort and have dinner before spending a couple hours at Disney springs after dinner. Can't wait! We'll be at Disney one week from today!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Also wanted to mention that Ample Hills at the Boardwalk and Vivoli Gelato at DS are so yummy and homemade and much better than B&C (Edy's).

 

[cgattis]

Thanks for your input, after taking it over with Dh and getting my daughters (ages 10 and 14) approval I've cancelled both the beaches and cream reservations and made a dinner reservation for Sanaa at 5:20 on our free day. I figure we can sleep in, swim at the resort and head on over to AKL a little early to check out the resort and have dinner before spending a couple hours at Disney springs after dinner. Can't wait! We'll be at Disney one week from today!

Good plan. Remember there are multiple viewing areas around the resort, and there are sometimes CMs at those areas who are very knowledgeable about the animals. There's a spot near the pool, in addition to the off-lobby overlook and the deck behind Sanaa. I'm guessing there are others I'm missing, not to mention the views from the large windows along the room hallways. We found we could see much more from those areas than even a window table at Sanaa (although we had a great closeup of a bunny--same kind we see at home--at our window LOL). Have fun!! We love AKL.

 

[beesly]

Thanks for your input, after talking it over with Dh and getting my daughters (ages 10 and 14) approval I've cancelled both the beaches and cream reservations and made a dinner reservation for Sanaa at 5:20 on our free day. I figure we can sleep in, swim at the resort and head on over to AKL a little early to check out the resort and have dinner before spending a couple hours at Disney springs after dinner. Can't wait! We'll be at Disney one week from today!

Have fun! Here's a link to the January recreation calendar for AKL if you want to see what else will be going on before you get there.