Dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village

This is part of a series on Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village. 
Click here to read our overview of Kidani Village.

I couldn’t finish up our series on Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village without mentioning the food. We are a family of foodies. We have always encouraged our kids to stretch outside of their comfort level with food. They have eaten things like alligator, escargot, caviar, sushi, and rattlesnake. The awesome thing is they liked most of it, especially the snake and gator.

So when I wanted to go to Sanna – The Art of African Cooking with Indian Flavors at Kidani Village for my birthday, I knew it would be no big deal. Indian flavors are big in our home! Sanaa is Swahili for artwork, so you will be dining surrounded by handcrafted African decor inspired by an East African spice market.

Sanaa is the only restaurant in Kidani Village. You do have Maji Pool Bar for cocktails and food as well as Sanaa Lounge, which has a full bar, African beers, wines, and appetizers. You also have 5 other dining options at Jambo House which is only a 10-minute walk or courtesy shuttle ride away. One of the hits there, Boma – Flavors of Africa is a family restaurant open for breakfast and dinner that captures life in the African Marketplace. One of the two restaurants at Jambo House that recommends reservations.

Speaking of reservations, if you decide to dine at Sanaa, make a reservation. Sanaa is very popular both with tourists and the locals. To make your reservation you can either call ahead to the restaurant, utilize concierge, or use the MyDisney Experience App.

Not only will you experience African-inspired cooking with an Indian touch at Sanaa but it is also the only restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge that offers dining with a savanna view. So be sure to arrive early for your reservation and request a window seat. Just know as window seating is limited, you still may have to wait a bit longer than your planned dinner reservation time, but the view is worth the wait.

Animal viewing is definitely best in Sanaa with a window seat table. You will see a wide variety of animals as they stroll through the savanna. We saw giraffes, water buffalo, gazelle, various bird species and more while we dined. We even had some interaction with a duck who maybe thought we were eating its friends and a crazy bird who was attacking its reflection in the window.

No worries if you can’t wait for window seating, the Kidani Rock overlook is right outside the restaurant and lobby area where you can even find some nice wooden rockers to lounge in either before or after dinner.

As for the food itself, Sanaa’s most raved about item is the Indian-Style Bread Service that comes with 5 different breads and 9 dipping sauces. It is absolutely amazing!

There is plenty to choose from on the menu for both adults and kids, even the pickiest of eaters. Disney restaurants always do a great job of making sure there is something for everyone, even those with allergies and food sensitivities. Kids, ages 9 and under have a create-your-own meal option in which they can choose one entree and two sides. Adults can build their own meal as well, or choose from one of the regular menu items.

The kid’s dessert options are super cute too. Eden opted for Pumba’s Dessert Grub (dirt pudding), while Xen had the African Shield Dessert, a cookie with edible paint. He thoroughly enjoyed taking his time to paint his cookie before it was gobbled up.

Between bread service and our entrees, Mark and I had no room for dessert, however, it was my birthday and the staff at Sanaa know how to make a birthday girl feel special. I was given a raspberry whipped dessert with white chocolate dusted with Happy Birthday and a giraffe in cocoa powder. The cast members also sang Happy Birthday, complete with banging African drums, not once but twice. The video below was the second time as someone forgot to push record the first go. Oops!

The dining experience at Sanaa was unique and we all enjoyed celebrating my 40th birthday dinner there. I now consider it one of my favorite Disney restaurants and plan on dining there again in the near future. What is your favorite Disney Dining Experience? Be sure to share below.