Fans of Jiko-The Cooking Place and Boma-Flavors of Africa have a new reason to dine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as Sanaa debuts May 1 in the resort’s new Kidani Village expansion.

The new Walt Disney World restaurant’s unusual name, pronounced “Sah-NAH,” is the Swahili word for “artwork.” With interiors inspired by African art and remarkable views of the resort’s Sunset Savannah through 9-foot windows, diners experience “the art of African cooking with Indian flavors” in the 150-seat, family-oriented restaurant located on the ground floor just below the lobby.

Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa – Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders,” said Chef Bob Getchell. “The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa.”

The most indelible mark on the cuisine of the region was made by Indian traders who introduced curries, spice blends and breads. Central to African-Indian cuisine is the use of the tandoor oven, essentially a large clay pot similar to a pizza oven. The tandoor provides very high, dry heat that creates a crisp outer layer and moist interior. Along with meats, a favorite tandoor oven treat is the Indian bread naan, which is slapped directly onto the oven’s clay walls and allowed to bake until puffy and lightly browned. The Sanaa kitchen will have two custom tandoor ovens.

Specialties include tandoori chicken, lamb and shrimp, slow-cooked curries, and braised short ribs. “Don’t think of curry as spicy,” said Chef Getchell, “but as a centuries-old cooking method that allows flavors to fully develop in the meats, vegetables, and sauces.” The base blend of seasonings for Sanaa’s curries include cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, coriander, nutmeg, fennel seed, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and more. The turmeric is what gives many curry dishes their characteristic yellow color.

Appetizers such as lamb kefta with tamarind-dried papaya sauce, and unusual salads like okra, radishes and tomato, roasted beets, and carrot, orange and mint start the dining experience.

Entrées include the tandoori-roasted meats, curries, and sides such as dahl (stewed lentils), curried crushed potatoes, stir-fried green beans and slow-cooked spinach and paneer (a mild South Asian cheese). Indian style flatbreads including naan, roti, and paratha are paired with chutneys, Indian style pickles and raita (yogurt-based dip).

For guests who prefer more American flavors, there is a grilled pork chop and club sandwich at lunch, and grilled flank steak at dinner.

Sweets are the final adventure, including mango pudding, cardamom-butter cake, papaya with sea salt and lime and vanilla-coconut rice pudding.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. An adjacent 24-seat lounge serves African wines, beer and spirits. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE.

Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney Vacation Club.

Tags: Animal Kingdom, dining, Resorts, dvc

Service available to guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Disney Vacation Club resorts open as of February 2009

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2009) – Walt Disney World Resort launched a new Online Check-In Service today, designed to simplify and streamline guest arrivals. The new service is complimentary and available to guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts open as of February 2009.

Within 10 days of their arrival dates, guests are able to provide check-in information, advise the resort of their arrival times and request room preferences (although those cannot be guaranteed). Guests can also register the names of all the people in their party and provide a credit card to cover charges at the resort hotel.

Upon arrival at their resorts, guests visit a special welcome location where their room keys and other registration material are waiting. Disney cast members are also available to provide additional information and answer questions.

Meeting professionals can also arrange private group check-in at a Disney resort convention center or other locations.

“Our new Online Check-In Service offers added convenience and time savings for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of Resort Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. “It’s the latest benefit created as part of our continuous effort to provide a seamless and hassle-free arrival experience for our guests as they begin their Disney vacation.”

Online Check-In Service is the newest Disney service designed to simplify the travel and arrival process. Guests staying at select Walt Disney World hotels get an extra dose of pixie dust with great perks and services including: Complimentary on-property transportation; Disney’s Magical Express, which offers complimentary airport shuttle and luggage delivery; and Extra Magic Hours, where each day one of the Walt Disney World theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to three hours later, providing extra time in the parks to experience select attractions.

For more information about the new Online Check-In Service or to make a resort reservation, call 407/W-DISNEY or your local travel agent or click on disneyworld.com.
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Tags: disney, Resorts

The wilderness lodge is one of the deluxe resorts near the Magic Kingdom. It is not a Monorail a resort but you can use a boat or bus to get to many places on property from this resort. I personally love this resort, the lobby is large but very warm and welcoming. You can spend hours just sitting near the fireplace reading a book or listening to music in a rocking chair. The water fall water starts from a little geyser in the lobby, so you sit in front of this stream of water in the lobby with a cocktail and just relax. The music in the lobby adds to the theme of the resort. There are 2 pools to enjoy, one is a family pool and the other is a quiet pool. There is plenty of recreation in the area too.

Below is some the Disney Official information about the Wilderness resort

Disney's Wilderness Lodge is a full-service Disney Deluxe Resort hotel with 727 Guest rooms. Inspired by the Great American Northwest National Park lodges from the turn of the 20th century, this architecturally grand Resort honors American craftsmanship and artistry, and celebrates the majesty of the unspoiled wilderness.

Features of Disney's Wilderness Lodge include:

• a stunning 7-story lobby built from 85 loads of Lodgepole Pine
• an 82-foot tall lobby fireplace
• a bubbling spring that flows into a creek, tumbles over a sparkling waterfall and empties into the featured swimming pool
• Fire Rock Geyser, fashioned after Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful, that erupts on the hour with a plume of water jetting 120 feet into the air
• 727 Guest rooms with themes of wildlife, nature and Native American designs
• Old Faithful Club, located on the 7th floor, available to Guests of Concierge category rooms
• Honeymoon Suites with marble whirlpool tubs

Dining Options

Dining at Disney's Wilderness Lodge includes 3 restaurants, one lounge and a poolside snack bar that cover the range from fine dining to quick-service snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals at Disney's Wilderness Lodge range from $12 to $60 per person. Price range is based on average Guest check, not including alcohol, tax and tip.

Amenities and Services

Amenities and Services at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, a Disney Deluxe Resort hotel, feature cable TV, room service, a health club and spa, laundry facilities and services, and babysitting services. Internet access is available for an additional fee.

Recreation

Recreation at Disney's Wilderness Lodge centers around the great outdoors and include pools, playgrounds, watercraft rentals, a health club and spa, and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Room Types and Pricing

Room rates at Disney's Wilderness Lodge start at $240 per night, plus tax in a standard room most nights during Value Season. Additional per adult charges apply for more than 2 adults per room. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply.

Room types at Disney's Wilderness Lodge offer standard views, wood views and courtyard views; some rooms provide the chance to watch Fire Rock Geyser erupt from the room's private balcony.

Suites are available at the Old Faithful Club category, with Concierge Service. Club Level Rooms include access to Club category lounge, complimentary Health Club access, and additional services.

Transportation

Transportation at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is complimentary for Resort hotel Guests. Magic Kingdom Theme Park can be reached from Disney's Wilderness Lodge by boat or bus. Other destinations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including Disney Theme Parks and Disney Water Parks, are also accessable from Disney's Wilderness Lodge by complimentary bus and boat transportation.

Benefits

Benefits of staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge include:

Additional time, or Extra Magic Hours, at select Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Complimentary transportation between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Orlando International Airport with Disney's Magical Express service
Complimentary transportation between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and destinations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including Disney Theme Parks and Disney Water Parks
Key to the World Card, a combination of hotel key, Theme Park ticket and shopping charge card
Package delivery from select Disney shops to Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Signature Disney service from Disney Cast Members, available to assist you 24 hours a day
Walt Disney World Accommodations

Disney's Wilderness Lodge is one of 8 Disney Deluxe Resort hotels—and one of more than 20 hotels and accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.

Link to Disney site
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/wilderness-lodge-resort/

Tags: wilderness lodge, Magic Kingdom, Resorts

On thursday Night I had Dinner at Artist Point. This is consider a signature restaurant for Disney. Which means excellent food and a little on the pricey side. This is a not a cheap dinner.

Artist Point serves specialties from the Pacific Northwest where the focus is on seafood, sirloins and game. Though menu options change seasonally, the kitchen's signature dish is a cedar plank-roasted salmon. For dessert, the chef's special creation is an Artist Point cobbler: seasonal berries and house-made black raspberry ice cream.

I would add this as a must dine restaurant. I have eaten here several times and this restaurant never disappoints.

Tags: Resorts, dining, wilderness lodge

On Wednesday I had dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café. This is NOT a quiet restaurant to have a romantic dinner. This is a family friendly restaurant that really caters to families. They keep the kids entertained. The food can be family style or a la carte. If you have never eaten here I have one tip for you, ask for the ketchup and then stnad back and let the fun begin. I have had the meatloaf here and it is always excellent. There is lots of napkin waving, singing, riding ponies and just good old fashion family fun. it is a must restaurant on my list.

Tags: Resorts, dining, wilderness lodge

I had Breakfast this morning at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary resort I have start with it was great to have a character meal with the FAB 5 !!!! I made a ADR for this dining as well and this was the longest I had to wait for a table so far. I would estimate it was about 10 to 12 minutes. The food was very good for a buffet. The characters that were Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald. Each character comes to your table and will take pictures and sign autographs and even have some fun with family members. For me this is a must do restaurant for anyone, or any family.

Tags: Resorts, Restaurants