Would you keep Boma?

[sunny_stace]

Hello!

My family and I are driving down to WDW in October and we currently have a 5:10pm Boma reservation on the day of our arrival. However, due to a change in plans we now won't likely make it to our resort until 3 or 4ish that afternoon. We're trying to decide if we should push it to a later time (though we will have spent all day in the car with three little ones), just keep it as it is (though we might be late or rushed and not fresh as a daisy after driving overnight!) or trade it for something else on. We have no park planned on our arrival or departure day.
Our current ADR's are:
Boma - dinner - arrival day (no park)
(day 2 - DHS, no ADRs)
Ohana - breakfast (day 3 - MK)
Chef Mickey's - breakfast (day 4 - AK)
Crystal Palace - breakfast (day 5 - MK)
Be Our Guest - lunch (day 5 - MK)
Akershus - lunch (day 6 - Epcot)
Raglan Road - dinner (departure day, no park)

We are on the dining plan so we will each have 1 TS credit to use. What would you do?

 

[Sparrow624]

Where are you staying?

 

[sunny_stace]

We are staying at CBR but we don't particularly want to eat at the resort's TS restaurant.

 

[Sparrow624]

Making Boma from CBR will be tight. If you check in at 4, depending on transportation, you might not make it. I would try to move it back or go elsewhere. We ate there, 1st night, and we checked in at AKL at 4pm...our reservation was at 5pm. We unpacked, got dressed, and made it...but we were staying there.

 

[gototheleft]

I think you might be pushing it on your first day.. What about going to Yak and Yeti on your Animal Kingdom day for Dinner? If your reservations at Chef Mickey are early you could do two big meals that day... Yak and Yeti ribs are yummy..go for the cream cheese won tons for dessert...

 

[itchin2go]

I would try to push the ADR to a later time, and then also take a taxi. I love Boma.

 

[chinarider]

I wouldnt like to rush and stress about it. Plane could be late etc....but Boma is one of our favs so maybe go the next day instead?

 

[sunny_stace]

We are driving down so we would just drive over. How long would the drive from CBR to AKL take? (sorry, forgot to ask that originally too!)

 

[itchin2go]

We are driving down so we would just drive over. How long would the drive from CBR to AKL take? (sorry, forgot to ask that originally too!)

In that case, just try to move it to later. I think it was our first trip when we had to frantically call and move our dinner ADR because check in took so long. Leave yourself a bigger buffer.

 

[fsupharm77]

If I were arriving near 4, i would drive over to AKL before checking in, look around there, eat dinner, then go check in to CBR

 

[Disnsyncey]

If I were arriving near 4, i would drive over to AKL before checking in, look around there, eat dinner, then go check in to CBR

AKL might even be a great place to get into the Disney spirit, go straight there, burn off some steam that the little ones may have by wandering around and looking at all the animals!

 

[sunny_stace]

Thanks so much for all your great ideas! I'm glad to hear so many of you love Boma! It's the one restaurant we have that none of us have ever been to before and it would be great to get to try something new! I'm going to suggest we try to push the ADR back a bit and see what we can get!

 

[Nancyg56]

If you cannot push it back, I agree that heading straight to AKL might be a good way to keep the ADR. You could check in online ahead of time, so they know you when are coming, and you know that once you do arrive at your resort you do not need to leave. You can settle in, let the kids play or swim, and then relax for the rest of the evening.

 

[cate2]

Boma is also my favourite Disney restaurant and probably a perfect choice for an arrival day - the food is fantastic (especially for buffet), the space is great and there's a large gift shop there well worth wandering through.

 

[DizDaD7]

Do Not get rid of BOMA's...It's the Best buffet ( hate to call it that, because it's way more ) on all WDW property IMHO...

Like others have already stated, I'd also say head straight to AKL.....For you'll have so much to do and see here, honestly you'll run out of time , because there are so many different things to see here. Head back once you're completely done and relax at your own resrt..

 

[itchin2go]

Boma is also my favourite Disney restaurant and probably a perfect choice for an arrival day - the food is fantastic (especially for buffet), the space is great and there's a large gift shop there well worth wandering through.

Oh, I love that gift shop. I love AKL in general - the lobby, the viewing areas, the lounge, Boma, the Mara, etc. Of the Disney resorts we stayed it, it's my fave. And it's my favorite one just to visit.

 

[sunny_stace]

We are now also considering heading straight there! The only thing we worry about in the case of heading right to AKL is that we will have just driven 15 hours overnight and through the morning/early afternoon. The kids will likely be antsy at best (they are 4, 7, and 8) and we will all need some freshening up! Clothes will need to be changed and children wiped down I haven't been to AKL in years and never with kids. Is there somewhere that those sorts of things can be done without being a guest at the resort?

After hearing all the Boma enthusiasm we really don't want to give it up! Thanks again all!

 

[Ceryssa]

I'd definitely try to push it back if possible. I don't think you could make the time as is. I love that place though, so I'd definitely keep it if at all possible.

 

[DizDaD7]

We are now also considering heading straight there! The only thing we worry about in the case of heading right to AKL is that we will have just driven 15 hours overnight and through the morning/early afternoon. The kids will likely be antsy at best (they are 4, 7, and 8) and we will all need some freshening up! Clothes will need to be changed and children wiped down I haven't been to AKL in years and never with kids. Is there somewhere that those sorts of things can be done without being a guest at the resort?

After hearing all the Boma enthusiasm we really don't want to give it up! Thanks again all!

There's a bathroom/changeroom/washroom which is on the ground floor. This is close to the arcade, and right down from The mara near the pool....

Make sure you have an extra small bag of clothes packed, & you can easily wash and freshen up there.. No questions asked, nor will you be denied any type of access...Once done, you could visit Community Hall at Kidani, you can go out to Arusha Rock & take in the views, you can go out to any of the vearandas, and sit and people/animal watch. You can also go to the educational area/ off of the main lobby, and there are plenty of CM's from Africa on hand that will basically give them all sorts of history lessons and show you different things. Wander by the pool, and see the flamingos. Check out the other restaurants, or have a drink in Victoria Falls lounge. There's a ton more which eludes me right now but, easily have plenty to do..