Home » Walt Disney World » Resorts » Resort Guides » Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Guide » Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tours

Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tours

Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tours

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers two free tours of the restaurants around the resort. Not only are these Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tours great afternoon diversions, but you also get to sample FREE food!

 Culinary Tour: Jiko and Boma      Cultural Tour: Sanaa

Culinary Tour: Jiko and Boma

The culinary tour of Jiko – The Cooking Place and Boma – Flavors of Africa is a FREE 30-minute excursion into the cultural aspects of these great restaurants. The tour begins in the lobby of Jiko and guests simply show up a few minutes prior to the 4:15pm start time. You do not even have to be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge to participate.

The tour is led by a cultural representative who can share stories and first-hand experiences that bring to life the design elements and culinary selection of the two restaurants. Your guide will take you in and around both Jiko and Boma as the restaurants are busy preparing for dinner. As you tour the restaurants you will be able to sample a few small items. Typically guests get to sample a soup and one of the popular zebra dome desserts.

This tour is not a major event, but is a great addition to a day at Disney without going to the parks. This tour could also help you to decide where you want to eat dinner if you plan to dine at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but are not sure which restaurant best suits your tastes. Younger children may not enjoy the culinary tour as it is an informational session full of facts, history, and culture; however, it is a fun 30-minute diversion for those looking for a unique experience.

Cultural Tour: Sanaa

The cultural tour of Sanaa is a 30-minute FREE tour around the Sanaa restaurant. Guests wishing to participate simply arrive at Sanaa at the scheduled time of the tour. For times see the Animal Kingdom Lodge Recreation Calendar.

This tour is led be a cultural representative who will share personal stories combined with information about the design and history of the restaurant. This tour is held as Sanaa is preparing for the evening’s dinner, and guests are invited to sample a small taste of what is served. Typically the small sample includes breads and toppings for tasting.

The Cultural Tour of Sanaa is great for anyone interested in dining at Sanaa but unsure based upon the African-inspired menu. This is also a fun addition to a day at Disney without a park ticket, especially since there is so much to see and do around Animal Kingdom Lodge. This tour may not be well-suited for small children as it is informative in nature. This experience could be a good way to test if your child is prepared for other tour experiences around Walt Disney World if you are hoping to experience another tour during your visit.

Scroll to Top