Located in Animal Kingdom, Tusker House is a smaller version of Boma-Flavors of Africa, but this place gives you meet and greets with some of the classic Disney characters dressed in their safari outfits. Just as with Boma, it is a buffet and costs only 1 table service credit, so it’s a cheap meet and greet meal. The down side is that the meet and greets only take place during breakfast and lunch. Reservations will require a credit card on file, and you will be charged $10 per person for no-shows or cancellation less than one day out.
Goofy during breakfast at Tusker House
It is quite a walk to get there, as it is in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom, but the walk is definitely worth it. The waiting area is very nice, as it resembles a small fort with a house atop it. Look over the edge of the walls by the river and you will see a few cannon, along with some fishing gear and some other things. There is a small bar located in the waiting area that is open to anyone. They have two or three pretty good beers here, Blue Moon and Safari Amber being two of the best. Several mixed drinks are also served here, and the bar gets busy on hot days. Anyway, it nice to sit outside while waiting for your table to be ready, all the while sipping a cold drink. Be sure to listen for the sounds coming from the house, as you will hear the crash of a few pans occasionally, and some normal conversations going on. It’s best to sit at the tables towards the back of the building, nearest the entrance to the restaurant to hear these.
Tusker House doesn’t have the extensive selection that Boma offers, but it does have enough authentic dishes to fill your culinary fancy of African foods. They also serve a few typical American dishes, so picky eaters will not go hungry. One special thing to mention is the kids section of the buffet. Here plain noodles, chicken nuggets, plain veggies and more provide the appeal for little ones. Fresh fruits, pasta, pastries, and desserts are always available. There is a carving station with delicious roasted meats and chicken. Also always present are cold salads, sautéed dishes, a few starches. The dining room is finished in nice orange and brown tones with African artifacts and posters hung on the walls. Tables are a dark mahogany color and are extremely thick with that hand carved look to the accents. It’s really a terrific place to eat, our favorite in Animal Kingdom.
Tusker House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is possible to reserve an early breakfast, before the park opens. Simply tell the cast members at the gate that you are dining at Tusker House for breakfast and they will allow you into the park, however you will not be able to walk anywhere other than a path leading to the restaurant. This does have the benefit of getting you breakfast and getting you into the park as well, so the early morning lines will not be an issue. You can also reserve a later dinner time, and may be able to finish up after park closing, same rules will apply, and cast members will ensure that you continue to head towards the exit, but take your time and snap a few pictures along the way. When this park is empty of guests, it is so relaxing and even more beautiful because it’s so serene. If you get the chance to be in the park at night when there are no guests, consider yourself lucky. Difficult to imagine, but the subtle and low lighting in this park makes it even more peaceful. Animal Kingdom rarely has park hours past 5:00pm anymore, but they may return in the future, especially once Avatarland opens.
Here is the site to read more about Tusker House: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/tusker-house/
planningforwdw 