Sanaa lunch questions help!

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Hi - for those who have been to Sanaa for lunch please tell about your experience. DH likes Boma & Tusker House so I thought this would be a fun place to try, especially after reading it overlooks the savannah.

Do you think we'd have a decent chance of seeing the animals for a lunch ADR during the heat of an August afternoon? Does anybody know if they feed the animals in the afternoon to increase the liklihood of them being active?

We won't have a car so we'll be relying on disney transporation. Looking at a map of AKL, I couldn't find it anywhere so a tip on the best way to get there would be appreciated

Thanks so much for your help

 

[jlk806]

We ate there like on Sept 1 or 2nd last year. We didnt have a ressie, we walked up like 10 minutes before they opened (they open at 11:30 I think?) and were told we could be seated as soon as they opened, and were given a pager. We were seated as soon as they opened, and were given a table right next to the window. We were staying at Kidani and my uncle who lives in Orlando was visiting us and we decided to try it.

As soon as we sat down, there were 2 large crane looking birds directly next to our window, which our son loved. During our meal, the giraffes, zebras, and long horned cattle also came up close to us. (we were staying at Kidani with a savanna view, so we were seeing these animals from our balcony the entire trip lol).

The food was very good also, even DH who is very picky (chicken fingers every meal) tried some new foods and liked them.

Sanaa is located at Kidani Village, NOT Jambo House. Take the bus to AKL and get off at Kidani Village (usually the 1st stop on the way back from the parks) and enter the lobby and take the elevator DOWN. Sanaa is located underneath the lobby.

 

[Ambassador]

We were there last week for lunch, and had nearly the same exact experience. Two cranes stand at the window looking in. Many animals we had not seen on the Jambo savanna were here, very close by. Don't know how the heat will affect the animals, but there are from Africa after all?

Our boys were more adventurous in their food selections too, and one discovered he loves Tandoori and Naan bread.

Perhaps the best bus connection for you is from your resort to the AK Park, then bus to AKL. Or maybe there are more frequent buses from the Transportation Center? Maybe ask this question on the Transportation Board.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Sounds like you had an awesome lunch experience Thanks for posting. This sounds like fun & probably worth the trip over (we thought Boma's was).

I didn't realize there was more than one stop at the AKL Last time we went over there was only 1 stop. I'll venture a guess then that Kidani has its own bus stops for returning to parks & that I don't need to go over to the AKL to p/u a bus out?

Thanks again.

 

[TDC Nala]

They have a few four-person tables right by the windows, but there are a number of tables from which there is no view of the windows.

there were 2 large crane looking birds directly next to our window, which our son loved.

According to the restaurant staff they are African crowned cranes, their names are Wilbur and Reuben, and they have learned to slip the "fence" that keeps the other animals from coming close. They like looking at their reflections in the windows, and if they decide that the reflections are actually other cranes they need to try and impress, they may dance for you.

I'll venture a guess then that Kidani has its own bus stops for returning to parks & that I don't need to go over to the AKL to p/u a bus out?

No, Kidani doesn't have separate buses. The Animal Kingdom Lodge buses go to both Kidani and Jambo House (the original AKL). These are actually separate buildings. They are relatively close to one another, although not right next door. Buses from theme parks will generally go to Kidani first. Buses from DTD will go to Jambo first.

Or maybe there are more frequent buses from the Transportation Center?

You cannot get a bus to any resort from the Transportation and Ticket Center. No idea which resort the OP is at, but if you're coming from a resort, you can take the bus to any park and switch to the AKL bus. The Animal Kingdom park may be the best spot to do this as it is the closest park to AKL. If you're coming from a park, just take the bus from that park to AKL.

 

[rafiki14]

I went on New Year's day. We showed up about 10 minutes late for our ADR (our own fault) but it then took them 45 minutes to seat us. They didn't seem terribly busy so it was a bit frustrating, but I will take the blame for that. So... don't be late

We walked out to see the animals while waiting and it was wonderful. The giraffe were so active and it was so peaceful out there.

Then during lunch we could see the zebras and giraffes the entire time. It was really pretty awesome.

And we loved, loved, loved, the Naan bread! Not so much the tandoori shrimp.

Overall, it was a great experience.

 

[ccgirl]

Hi - for those who have been to Sanaa for lunch please tell about your experience. DH likes Boma & Tusker House so I thought this would be a fun place to try, especially after reading it overlooks the savannah.

Do you think we'd have a decent chance of seeing the animals for a lunch ADR during the heat of an August afternoon? Does anybody know if they feed the animals in the afternoon to increase the liklihood of them being active?

We won't have a car so we'll be relying on disney transporation. Looking at a map of AKL, I couldn't find it anywhere so a tip on the best way to get there would be appreciated

Thanks so much for your help

Have you read the menu? The reason I ask is that my DH and myself are not picky eaters and we didn't care for this restaurant at all. We loved Boma but did not care for Sanaa at all. As to where it is located, it is located in the Kidani Section of Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you just want to see the savannah, you are free to roam around the resort which has quite a few lookout points.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And we loved, loved, loved, the Naan bread! Not so much the tandoori shrimp.

Overall, it was a great experience.

Why didn't you like the tandoori shrimp? I had the tandoori chicken, and I liked that, so I was thinking of trying the tandoori chicken next time, just for a little change.
Besides the savannah animals, I had a black snake right next to the window, with his head up looking at me. Fortunately the manager (Brandon?) saw it before me and came over and very calmly told me about it. If I'd seen it on my own, I would have freaked. [Who was that crazy woman who just went screaming by our table, running out of the resturant?] I'm really looking forward to lunch at Sanaa again.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Have you read the menu? The reason I ask is that my DH and myself are not picky eaters and we didn't care for this restaurant at all. We loved Boma but did not care for Sanaa at all. As to where it is located, it is located in the Kidani Section of Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you just want to see the savannah, you are free to roam around the resort which has quite a few lookout points.

DH loves trying new foods, he likes Indian & curry dishes and anything that makes you breathe fire so for him this will probably be exciting and different. Me, I'm usually willing to try new things as long as I don't have a mental block about it which would be things like escargot or sushi....

Since they have hamburgers on the lunch menu, I'll hope they can prepare that without all the spices for DS who less adventureous. Thanks for the heads up.

I think this is something that is worth trying at least once!

 

[TDC Nala]

Sanaa is not traditionally Indian and the food is not highly spiced (at least not with hot spices). There are hot relishes and pickles you can get with the bread service, if you want to add some heat, but don't expect any fire breathing without the sauces to help.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We ate lunch at Saana this past August when we stayed at Kidani and highly recommend it. We chose the first lunch seating (I can't remember if this was 11 or 11:30) and requested a table by the window. We saw lots of animals, had excellent service, and enjoyed our food. Can't wait to go back again!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

We ate lunch at Saana this past August when we stayed at Kidani and highly recommend it. We chose the first lunch seating (I can't remember if this was 11 or 11:30) and requested a table by the window. We saw lots of animals, had excellent service, and enjoyed our food. Can't wait to go back again!

Thanks for the tip

& also to other poster about the sauses - DH loves experimenting with stuff like that

 

[JLS]

Sanaa is outstanding - I highly recommend it. The service is wonderful, the restaurant is beautiful and is not packed with hundreds of people like many WDW restaurants. You will absolutely see the animals during lunch, probably very close up. Better to go for lunch than dinner for this reason (unless it is still light out when you eat dinner).

The tomato soup is delicious, The shrimp with green curry is one of the best entrees I have ever had. Everything is really good. Try it!!

 

[JennyDrake]

Naan bread was great. Tandoori chicken not so much. We had TERRIBLE service and not they were not busy at all. Trying again this trip.