What's with the overwhelming love for Boma?

[LargoLori]

For some reason we just can't get into Boma. We have been there 2 times for dinner and both times we were not very impressed. We do however love Tusker House at AK. I do want to try Boma for Breakfast though.

 

[chrisw127]

I like Boma, but I don't love it. That has more to do with the fact that I'm not crazy about buffets rather than the food. To me, the food is lightyears away from what you'd get at a typical buffet in your hometown. It's fresh and plentiful and there's a lot of variety. I also loved the desserts--some of them would have been at home in a dessert trio at a signature restaurant (and I say that as someone who bakes and is very snooty about other people's baking). But, for me, it's still a buffet which means I have to run back and forth from the buffet to the table to bring my kids their food, which is too reminiscent of home.

 

[jamstew]

Not a fan, although I've been several times since it seems to be the place of choice for a lot of my DIS friends when we get together

 

[jdisnut]

I love Boma, especially for dinner. It's the only buffet on property I feel that strongly about. The dishes are creative, and the setting is perfect. It's worth going there just to see the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's my favorite Disney resort.

But it's not just about the atmosphere. I have always adored the food. I think I can make an entire meal just sampling all the soups!

 

[mrsltg]

Boma's food selection was fine for a buffet. We didn't find anything in particular that had a wow factor. The restaurant had a terrible time in seating guest within a reasonable ADR window...easily waiting over 40 minutes for our table.

This was our experience, as well. Prior to 9/08, we'd eater dinner and breakfast there probably about 7-8 times. We loved the dinner, especially. However, on the above mentioned trip, it was packed. I mean, wall-to-wall people! There was a line about 15 minutes long just to get to the meat pod. While I recognize you can start anywhere you want on the line, it was bad... It really turned me off to the point where I almost walked across the hall to one of my favorites, Jiko. The food was good at Boma, but the crowds were unbelievable. Bring your patience if you go during prime dinner hour!

 

[B-Ride]

With Boma, the experience starts the moment you arrive at AKL.

The resort is beautiful and the gift shop is the best on property filled with many African themed items that you don't see in any other gift shop. We always show up for our ADR early just to browse.

As for Boma, we just love the food. My wife is not a fan of buffets as she believes the quality is traded off for quantity, but she loves Boma. We have eaten at both Crystal Palace and Cape May and enjoyed them both but Boma is the only one we return to every year.

The food isn't wildly exotic but it is different than the other restaurants at WDW and it is authentic. My wife was born in South Africa and many of the foods bring back memories for her.

For the first timer, a buffet is a perfect way to sample the different types of foods. There is something for everybody (well almost everybody) and most people should be able to find things they enjoy. Everyone has different tastes and there is no way to say in advance that you will like it but I say give it a try. If nothing else you will enjoy visiting AKL and you can always eat from the kiddie area if you find the African dishes too exotic.

But as others have said, be prepared to wait. We usually have a 20-30 minute wait at Boma. I think it is because they just can't get the guests to leave. There are just too many different foods to try.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Boma is the only buffet at WDW that we care to eat at. I like the fact that they have several items that you do not find on yout normal buffet. There soups are outstanding.

 

[goofy4prez]

I like Boma and would do it again. However, like most WDW restaurants I wouldn't consider any of them to be great (except V & A), and Boma while good, is far from great. Would I consider Boma a must do every time back at WDW ? No,but It is a place that I would go back to again.

 

[PammieJ]

We typically try 4-5 new restaurants each time we visit, but Boma is always on our list. The food is different and very, very tasty. Part of the Disney experience for is is an opportunity to try new and interesting things! After all, I'm not flying to Orlando from New England just for chicken nuggets! (not that I'd eat them anyway) DH and I are fans of all kinds of different foods, so 'unusual' spices or flavors usually intrigue us. Not everyone likes different, so that's probably why there are those folks who didn't enjoy it. But the size of the buffet, atmosphere and variety of flavors, makes this is a must-visit for us. I agree that Cape May is nice, but again, we live in Maine, and every other restaurant here offers fresh seafood. We've tried other buffets... Biergarten is nice, too, and DH is a great fan of the bier. But Boma is our #1 choice for a buffet.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think I love Boma so much because it's something different, that I don't get at home, and the quality of the food is excellant.

 

[luvdisney00]

IMHO, Boma was ...... okay. I can't rant and rave that "It was HORRIBLE" or "We will never eat there again!" because I didn't really feel that strongly about it all. The food was good, the restaurant was okay, the service was good, the hotel is beautiful. I don't think of myself as a picky eater and thought I got a good sampling of items on the buffet. Having said that, I've eaten there and don't feel the need to go there again. But then of course, your mileage may vary!

I agree totally. We liked it, the food was good and definitely more interesting than alot of the buffets on property, but I wouldn't say we have to eat there each trip.We didn't plan on eating there this summer, but maybe next trip. I will say, though, you should try it once. It's worth it just to see AKL, the hotel is really beautiful.

 

[samshane]

Love Boma - it is the only place we always go to. I told the kids I have all these character dinners planned - but we're going to Boma for mom. Like another poster said - DH and I love the soups! The food is different froma ll the other buffets, and something I just cannot get around here.

My daughter likes the music - she does the bobblehead Boma dance as we like to call it Now - my kids are not into as much as DH and I are - but we need to have one dinner for us.

 

[Crawfish]

It's been a few years since I last ate at Boma. I loved it, but for some reason haven't made it back. This trip I'm thinking about going again. Is this restaurant easy to get into, or should I make an ADR?

 

[ilovejsparrow]

Boma breakfast is awesome!! Very fresh, very delicious. Dinner buffet food doesn't appeal to me but we never miss the breakfast buffet!

 

[DVC mom]

We love the late meal at Boma! It has a WIDE variety of foods for everyone in our group. We can try things we'd never order and we can always find "safe" items for those not too adventurous. They also have the best soup section (and I NEVER eat soup). The sweets are just wonderful!

If you have not spent time looking at Jambo House and Kidanni you might want to take your time and check it out while you are there. You might also want to check out the fire pit story telling times as well as the night vision equipment at Jambo. The store at Jambo is my all time favorite resort store on property.

We ate here our first trip to WDW (anniversary) and loved the whole package. We bought two contracts here through Disney our next anniversary. We have stayed all across property and it still remains our favorite overall resort.

 

[saradela]

The soup!!! OMG! BOMAS SOUP!!!!!!

 

[CindeBella]

I like the breakfast at Boma but do not like the dinner.

What is the breakfast like? We have upcoming reservations .

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I really enjoy Boma, but there are some members of our family who would rather eat at other restaurants.

 

[DanG07]

Not to sound like a broken record, but the reason people love Boma (including me) is that it is not a typical buffet and has a variety of meals that you don't experience ordinarily. Everyone from vegans to meat-eaters can find delicious food there and walk away feeling that you got your money's worth. The soups and the deserts also stick out as above and beyond the typical buffet soups and deserts. As Simon Cowell usually tells the Idol singers, did you have a "wow" moment and will people remember your performance tomorrow? Boma hits both of those factors.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

A Unique thing about Boma (and Sanaa at Kidani village) is that you can actually take a free culinary tour there. Every day at 4 pm they offer the tour. We did this last year and it was really nice to check it out before booking a reservation since the menu is rather exotic.

Just show up at 4pm at the Boma podium and let them know you are there for the tour. You do not have to be a guest at AKL or any Disney resort. The tour is free and takes about 15-20 minutes. They tell you about the reasons for the design of the restaurant and they describe the different dishes on the buffet and walk you through it (as the food is being set up for dinner). It is really an interesting tour.
They gave us some samples of the food as well. We got to try a small scoop of our choice of soup. (I found it to be SURPRISINGLY spicey). We also got to try one of the famous zebra dome cakes that are made with an african liquour. (I didn't find them all that special..kinda reminded me of a little debbie cake).

So, if you are up in the air, go take the free tour and then you and your family can decide for yourselve. Sadly, as much as I enjoyed the tour, we all felt that we wouldn't enjoy the food.