Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa Restaurant Review #MonkeyKingdomEvent

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sanaa review
Sanaa, which means “Work of Art” in Swahili, is a beautiful restaurant located in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village.  This hidden gem serves a mix of African and Indian cuisine made with authentic cooking methods and flavors at a moderate price.  I had the opportunity to dine there for lunch a few weeks ago as part of the Monkey Kingdom Event with 24 other bloggers.  We had the opportunity to not only experience the food but also Dine with an Animal Specialist which is something anyone can do.  I suggest going for lunch and try to get a table by the window so you can see all the amazing views as you look outside at all of the animals such as zebras and giraffes.  You won’t be able to see the animals as much if you go at night since it will be dark but they do have night vision goggles outside in the viewing area that you can use after your meal if you do go for dinner. 20150415_121200 (1024x576)We started our meal with a bread flight that had various types of Indian-style breads such as Naan and Kucha.  It was served with various accompaniments such as chutney, hummus, etc.  Some where sweet, some were spicy, all were incredibly delicious.  There was something for everyone with this bread appetizer.

Indian-style Bread Service

Choice of Three Breads – Traditional Naan, Garlic-Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kucha, or Paneer Paratha. Choice of Three Accompaniments – Red Chile Sambal, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Coconut Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Spicy Jalapeño-Lime Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, or Tamarind Chutney

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Our next course was a salad sampler course that had several salads including chickpeas with cucumber and tomato and my favorite, a watermelon cucumber salad.  All of the salads were delicious and tasted incredibly fresh.

Salad Sampler

Choice of Three Salads: Chickpeas with Cucumber and Tomato; Watermelon, Cucumber and Fennel; Kachumbari; Mango; or Bhel Puri

20150415_124408 (1024x576)   For our main course we were served Basmati rice with 2 different dishes, Goan Seafood Curry and Butter Chicken.  The Goan Seafood Curry was delicious but the Butter Chicken was my FAVORITE!  It was so flavorful and had such a smooth, delicate sauce.  I am craving it just thinking about it.  If you only get one thing at Sanaa make sure it is the Butter Chicken.

Slow-cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-seasoned

Choice of Two served with Basmati Rice or Five-Grain Pilaf – Butter Chicken, Goan Seafood Curry, Chicken Vindaloo, Spicy Durban Shrimp, or Beef Short Ribs

11182248_10153168361345027_5134649308128788875_nThanks As Mom Sees It for this picture of the delicious desserts.  I was so excited about the desserts that I forgot to take a picture before I dove in! All 3 desserts in the dessert trio were as delicious as they looked.  They were presented together on a plate with a fancy layer of chocolate to tie the whole dessert together.  Each one was equally as rich and decadent as the next.  The Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse was sweet, rich, and perfect for any chocolate lover.  The Banana Cheesecake was smooth and had just the right amount of sweetness.  And the Kulfi was sweet and delicious.  It is similar to an ice cream and the perfect way to end our meal.

Dessert Trio

Tanzanian Chocolate Mousse, Banana Cheesecake, and Seasonal Kulfi

Here’s a Sanaa menu  sample.  What I love about Sanaa is that I stepped out of my comfort zone and ate things I’ve never had before but loved it all.  The chefs at Sanaa are very accommodating.  If you have a special dietary restriction they work with you to make a meal that you’ll love.  In our group we had several bloggers with allergies and a few vegetarians and the chef came out personally to go over the menu with them, offer them alternative choices, and make sure they had food they would love.  Sanaa is one of my new favorite places to go when I go to Walt Disney World and I can’t wait to take my family there the next time we’re in town. Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!! P1240408 Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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10 Things I Learned About Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge #MonkeyKingdomEvent

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gregWhile attending the Monkey Kingdom Event in Orlando last week for the release of Monkey Kingdom which is in theaters now, 24 bloggers and I had the opportunity to chat with Greg Peccie, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Animal Operations Manager.

Step into the heart of Africa at this magnificent Resort hotel. Inspired by the traditional African kraal, the horseshoe-curved design provides spectacular views of 4 lush savannas that over 200 hoofed animals and birds call home. Delight in dazzling pool areas, exciting animal programs and one of the largest collections of African art in the United States as you experience your own African safari adventure with a touch of Disney magic. 

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  • Every Disney resort has an activity calendar with events and activities that are happening at that resport.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has even more going on.  Animal Kingdom Lodge is like it’s own vacation because there is so much to do there.  It can take several days just to explore all there is to do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge such as activities with cultural reps, a recreation team, pools, and just checking out all of the art and architecture.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has cultural reps that serve as Savanna Guides.  They come from Africa on a 12 month visa to share their culture and experiences but they are also on the animal education team.  They lead activities and specialize in things like hospitality, conservation, safari driving, and more.) They bring the sense of Africa to life in the resort.
  • You can Dine with Animal Specialists at the Sanaa restaurant at the resort (keep an eye out for my upcoming review of Sanaa).  The specialist will be an animal keeper, a manager, or Greg Peccie, the Operations Manager himself.  Mr. Peccie is also an animal curator for the lodge.
  •  Dine with Animal Specialists is a great way for guests to try new foods and learn about animals.  You don’t have to stay on property or be a Walt Disney World guest to come for this experience.  It is $49 for adults 10 and up and $29 for children 3-9, while it is recommended for children 8 and up.
  • For all the other tours offered at the lodge participants do need to be a WDW hotel guest.DSC_0036 (681x1024)
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is 46 acres large and has over 250 animals.  These animals don’t go to the parks, they live at this resort.  They are their own self contained zoo.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge’s daytime animal team has 25 animal keepers, 4 managers, plus Greg Peccie the general manager. A second night team works from 6 pm to 5 am and consists of 10 keepers and 2 managers.
  • At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge it is a 24 hour operation to take care of the animals and the animals are given the highest level of care.  PETA has even been invited in to check on the animals and make sure everything is being done correctly.  From 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. the animals are brought back into the barn to feed them, take care of them, etc.  During this time work is done in the savanna for maintenance with the animals in safety.DSC_0031 (1024x681)
  • Animals are bred to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or other zoos.  They don’t bring animals from the wild to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.  They are committed to doing what is right for the animals and giving them the best life.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge helps with conservation around the world through Disney’s Conservation Fund.  A portion of the proceeds from the Dine with an Animal Specialist goes towards helping animals through Disney’s Conservation Fund.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers Evening Safaris 7 days a week where guests are driven through savannas and then treated to a 5 course dinner at Jiko. Guests have to be staying at Kidani Village or Jambo House to be a part of the Evening Safari.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a Night Safari that is 1 hour long and does have a dining component to it.  During this safari guest are given military grade night vision goggles to observe the animals at night.

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Discover over 30 species of African wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, kudu and flamingos. Identify each species with a Wildlife Field Guide (found in your Guest Room, with extras available from the Lobby Concierge), and learn more about African animals and ecosystems during fun programs led by Animal Specialists.

Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!!

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Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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What I Learned on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour #MonkeyKingdomEvent

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20150415_064522 (1024x576)Did you know that there are many behind the scenes tours available at each of the Walt Disney World Parks?  Last week while part of a blogger press trip for Disneynature’s new movie that is now in theaters, Monkey Kingdom, I went on the Backstage Tales Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  On the tour we had the opportunity to take a fascinating look at how Disney Cast Members tend to the 1,500-plus inhabitants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. We toured the facilities where the animals are cared for and learned so much about the park, the animals, and even things about Walt Disney himself.  During our tour we were given headsets to wear so we could easily hear our tour guides as we walked along the tour.  Participants in this tour are given special Backstage Tales Tour water bottles as a keepsake and to use to bring water with them on the tour.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is a lushly landscaped oasis that’s home to more than 1,500 animals representing 250 species. During the Backstage Tales tour, you’ll learn all about the unique challenges involved in helping them thrive as you:

  • Explore backstage animal-housing areas.
  • Visit the Animal Nutrition Center and see how over 4 tons of food are prepared and distributed each day.
  • Tour the state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, where you may even witness animals being treated.
  • Stop by the Animal Programs Administration building and learn how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation and animal well-being.

Cameras aren’t allowed in the backstage areas so I don’t have many pictures to share but here are 10 things I learned on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour. 20150415_074010 (1024x576)

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  • Walt Disney would go outside under a “dreaming” tree and sketch and dream as a child. He loved animals so he wanted to capture the true nature of animals in movies. He brought live animals into the studio for the artists to observe for movies like Bambi so they would be drawn more authentically.  He wanted to connect people and animals.
  • In parts of Animal Kingdom the ground rises so guests have to walk up a bit of an incline.  This was done purposely to slow guests down so they could take in scenery.
  • Disney conservationists work with the people of the lands where the animals are from to help in their home countries.
  • Animal Kingdom was designed so guests would have to cross bridge to each new land. Each new land was given an authentic feel with authentic plants.
  • In the aviary nest boxes simulates cavities in trees for birds to nest. Amazingly the birds are counted several times per day with binoculars.  That’s A LOT of birds to count!  They are banded for identification.  A clicker is used to get the birds to come. They are trained to come for food with a click and this helps get them to come to be counted, too.
  • Even the cell tower is themed and camouflaged as a tree .
  • The Kilimanjaro Safari is bumpy on purpose. The designers wanted it to be more authentic so they brought a beverage cup filled with liquid with them when they tested it out.  If the liquid spilled then it was bumpy enough.
  • The animals that Disney works with aren’t forced to do anything.  If they don’t want to come, they aren’t forced to.  They are trained with food to do things such as come, walk back, go left, go right, be still, and other tasks.  These trained tasks all help teach the animals to do things that they would need to do during a veterinary exam so they will willingly work with the trainers and vets.  Another example of this is that the kimono dragons are taught to stand up and put their feet up on their cage from a young age.  This way when the trainers, vets, etc. needs to check their feet or trim their nails the animal will willingly give their feet.  The rhinos were even taught to urinate on command so they can get a sterile sample.
  • All the animals are given different types of enrichment items like sticks, toys, etc. to keep them happy and entertained.
  • There are 2.6 elephants at Animal Kingdom. That’s 2 male and 6 female in zoo shorthand.
  • Some animals at Animal Kingdom are on birth control just like humans such as a patch or depo shot!
  • Disney’s horticulturists help pollinate with feather dusters to grow gourds and other plants.
  • Elephants eat about 30 bales of hay a day each!
  • Animals at Animal Kingdom eat produce from the same high quality source as humans. If humans wouldn’t eat it they don’t serve it to the animals.  It looked delish!
  • Elephants are pregnant for almost 2 years at a time!  I’m glad I’m not an elephant!
  • No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage. However, photography is allowed and encouraged in non-backstage areas.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour is $90 per person (additional park admission required).  A portion of the tour proceeds is donated to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.

20150415_111438 (576x1024)Our Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour Guides

Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!!
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Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Cori's Cozy Corner Disclosure Policy