Episode #156: Exploring Unique Food Offerings at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom

Discover the culinary wonders of Disney's Animal Kingdom as we guide you through some of the park's most unique and delectable dining experiences. Ever wondered where to find the best churros or a serene spot to relax while savoring exotic flavors? We promise to introduce you to hidden gems like Nomad Lounge, where you can indulge in the Tiffin's bread service and exceptional churros. Whether you're a Disney food connoisseur or a first-time visitor, we'll share our top recommendations to make your dining adventure unforgettable.

We'll also take you on a savory journey through updated menu items and exclusive dishes at Animal Kingdom. Find out where to get the best shaved ice from Caravan Road and authentic pizza from Terra Treats. Plus, we highlight kid-friendly options like grilled teriyaki chicken and Korean Impossible meatballs, making sure there's something for everyone in the family. To wrap up, we share a heartwarming five-star review from listeners Bex, Phil, and Prinny, and encourage more feedback to keep our podcast thriving. Tune in for an episode packed with delicious discoveries and essential tips for your next Disney adventure!

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:21

Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 156. Today we are discussing food you can only find at Animal Kingdom. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk disney merch. So this week at disneystorecom we're keeping it inside out too themed. If you haven't seen the movie, definitely recommend it. It was great.

Speaker 1: 0:57

My microphone's on great movie yes, it was so good yes, and being a you know, a parent, or just someone that is an adult like you're going to understand it even more and then having a preteen as well yes, we have a boy, so it's not to that extreme, but but still still yes so this week's disney merch on disneystorecom is priced at $19.99 and it is the inside out to Disney Doorables figure set. And this includes your nine emotion figures from joy, fear, sadness, anxiety, embarrassment, envy, anger, disgust. And is it in you?

Speaker 2: 1:37

Yes.

Speaker 1: 1:38

Boredom basically is what.

Speaker 2: 1:40

Boredom I thought was boredom and the new was like the lazy one, but kind of chill the lazy yes yes yes, so anyways, it includes these nine emotion figures.

Speaker 1: 1:53

And again, it is at disneystorecom priced at $19.99. Normally I don't. I'm not big on the durables, but I I guess, with the movie being fresh on my mind, this just really caught my attention. And we also have merch. If you go to our website, circleofparkscom, click on merch, it takes you directly to the t public website. In there you can find stickers, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, t-shirts and more. So please go check that out thank you everybody for joining us.

Speaker 2: 2:21

Episode number 156, foods you Can Only Find at Animal Kingdom. But before we get to this, the way you go to the parks has been announced today. Starting July 24, 2024, new Lightning Lane procedures. They just announced today. What's today's date? The 25th June 25th?

Speaker 1: 2:47

Today is June 25th, but this will not take effect until July, 24th July 24th.

Speaker 2: 2:52

So plan ahead and save time in line, says Walt Disney World's Upside. With our new Lightning Lane passes, skip the standby line and join a shorter line for select attractions and experiences. Instead, purchase a Lightning lane multi-pass mostly. That reminds me of that uh sci-fi movie with bruce willis the multi-pass oh, and with that that lady, yes, yes, you know what we're talking I know uh.

Speaker 1: 3:20

Fifth element yes, multi-pass, multi-pass.

Speaker 2: 3:25

I'm gonna think of that every time we do this purchase a lightning lane multi-pass, a lightning lane sink, lightning lane single pass or both, and enjoy your magic in every moment of your day. I don't know how much magic's gonna be enjoyed with that, but but it's all changing. It's all changing. The new lightning lane multi-pass multi-pass and lightning lane single pass can be purchased and used starting July 24th 2024. Visiting before July 24th we are Disney Genie Plus service, and individual Lightning Lane entry will still be available for your visit. So what's new? So you may now purchase your Lightning Lane passes days in advance of your park visit for added convenience when you arrive, says Disney. So this is.

Speaker 2: 4:10

FastPass Plus, but paid.

Speaker 1: 4:12

Right, yeah, pretty much sounds like it.

Speaker 2: 4:16

Choose your attraction and arrival window before purchasing a pass, so you know what to expect. Okay, I kind of like that, kind of yeah. Make plans for multiple days all in the same day. This makes it easier to plan your visit. Travel planner erica's running around with like her hair, like pulling her hair out today like what is going on with this.

Speaker 2: 4:36

All right, so lightning lane multi-pass enjoy multiple experiences. When you purchase a multi-pass, you can plan ahead of your visit and choose up to three multi-pass experiences and arrival windows in a theme park excuse me. Once you're in the park and enjoy your first and enjoy your first multi-pass experience you may be able to make an additional selection, subject to availability. Excuse me and enjoy photo perks. Receive digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from your day Capture with Disney PhotoPass service plus access Disney PhotoPass lenses. Disney PhotoPass terms and conditions may apply, so I'm still confused on this.

Speaker 1: 5:16

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:17

So a Lightning Lane single pass Ride a top attraction, save time in line with the Lightning Lane single pass for one of our most in-demand attractions. Those not available with Lightning Lane multi-pass purchase up to two single passes per day. So this is the individual paid Lightning Lanes.

Speaker 1: 5:33

So it'd be like Tron Guardians of the.

Speaker 2: 5:34

Galaxy Mine Train, those? Okay. So the Lightning Lane single pass are the? Oh, they have a picture of Tron and Mine Train on there, okay, well, there you go. When to purchase passes. Guests of Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can purchase passes to I can't read and talk very good Up to seven days in advance of their stay, and other guests can purchase passes up to three days in advance of their park visit. So it's not the 60 days, no, it 90 days with the fast pass plus, remember it's been so long, but I believe it was so at least you're not doing that yeah how to purchase and use passes.

Speaker 2: 6:16

Learn how to purchase a lightning lane pass and then make the most of it during a fun filled theme park visit. What are lightning lane passes? Discover two. To purchase Lightning Lane pass it's skipping through everything, sorry. So Lightning Lane passes are the normal attractions. Right, the single lane are the. This is confusing. Have you figured?

Speaker 1: 6:38

it out. Yeah, I was like well, I haven't really gone through it that much and maybe we edit this out until you know more.

Speaker 2: 6:43

No, we're leaving it in because I want our listeners to be just as confused as we are yes, so there will be more to come and I'm sure we will have more to come. That's the name of my other podcast that I did.

Speaker 1: 6:56

We've completely gone off the rails yes, there will be more information coming out and, of course, travel planner erica will be able to help she's running around like anxiety from inside out too, today but she'll be able to help sort through this. So sorry that it's all blah blah and then is that what we have, so but you know, anytime they announce something new or a change like this, especially when it's dealt with genie plus it always seems a bit confusing until you thoroughly go through it and break it down this is really confusing but I have a feeling it's it's easier than it was.

Speaker 2: 7:30

We just need to take a few moments and look at it a bit further well, how you go to the parks after july 24th is going to be completely different than it is today on june 25th, as we record. So yes maybe we'll try to do that. I don't know.

Speaker 1: 7:46

It's confusing let's just see what else gets released with it, how it, how it breaks down. Study it a bit more. Good luck. Talk with travel planner erica on it she can.

Speaker 2: 7:56

Definitely she'll be able to help you, for sure.

Speaker 1: 7:58

But until then, good luck yes, and I'm not going to go into nearly as much detail or confusion as I was just writing reading from the website but if you didn't hear, yesterday they had some holiday news.

Speaker 1: 8:14

So if you're someone that loves the holidays, then they made some announcements yesterday that Jollywood Nights will be returning to Disney's Hollywood Studios and they released dates of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. So you might want to check some of that out as well. Again, I'm not going to dive into too many details, but at least you have some dates that have been released.

Speaker 2: 8:38

Okay. So the problem I have with this stuff is now we rush to get to the holidays. Now. No, like January through June goes, goes so slow. And then when june hits and they announce the stuff, it's like boom, august, halloween parties, halloween parties through october, then boom, it's christmas and things like everything gets rushed through now like the year is rushed.

Speaker 1: 8:57

I don't, I don't like that it maybe it's just me no I think it's just how, how things happen and I don't, I mean, I don't really feel like it flies by anyway until like october, november, december, but uh, you may have seen too that I shared on our stories on instagram and facebook a link that would take you to a preview of some disney merch for the holidays as well. And, if you know, there's about seven things that I like.

Speaker 2: 9:25

All right. Oh, and if you were on our Instagram and wished Brittany a happy birthday yesterday? Thank you so much. She is 29 years old.

Speaker 1: 9:33

Thank you. Go back to that. I would love to Thank you everybody. Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2: 9:37

And so we're getting to food now.

Speaker 1: 9:39

Finally to the episode Finally getting to food.

Speaker 2: 9:48

To finally getting to food. There may or may not be some changes to menu. Well one for sure changes to the columbia harbor house menu.

Speaker 1: 9:51

The hush puppies are gone yeah, so if you remember, just two episodes ago we did you know unique foods in magic kingdom and so that one is now currently off their menu, but we hope they bring it back and there are also reports this is unconfirmed that the fruit waffle and chicken and waffle are gone from sleepy hollow.

Speaker 2: 10:12

This is unconfirmed, though it's unconfirmed, but it's.

Speaker 1: 10:15

It's so hard for me to believe. To take both, much less one. That's crazy, yeah, and I know, like just from things that I shared on instagram and stuff like those are very popular yes, yeah, very, that's why they were on our list.

Speaker 2: 10:30

Yes, yeah, extremely popular. So, going forward, when we talk about this food, just enjoy the entertainment, because it may not be there tomorrow right, you never know when they could make changes.

Speaker 1: 10:40

You know, or that sometimes you know they're known to change menus up at places and then they get feedback from people and they're like, all right, you know what, we're bringing that back on the menu all right, all right, so we're going to animal kingdom.

Speaker 2: 10:50

This is our favorite park and I think, in my opinion, this is the second best park for food. Yes, I I think certain people don't think you can do a full day in animal kingdom. I think you can do a full day in Animal Kingdom. I think you can do a full day just eating food.

Speaker 1: 11:09

Well, and I think if you're not going just for the rides and you take the time and enjoy the food and the shows and the trails, as we've talked about, then it's a full day.

Speaker 2: 11:19

Yeah, some people don't like that though.

Speaker 1: 11:21

Right, if you're going strictly just for rides and that's it, then yeah, it's not going to be.

Speaker 2: 11:26

Leave. I want you to leave. Leave at noon, I'm good.

Speaker 1: 11:31

But there are a lot of unique foods in Animal Kingdom and some of these can be found at little carts. Some of them are going to be sit-down restaurants quick service so let's dive in. All right of them are going to be sit-down restaurants quick service, so let's dive in, all right.

Speaker 2: 11:45

So the first place we're going and this may be my favorite place in, not just animal kingdom, but maybe the entire walt disney world I don't, that's a big statement, one of? Yeah, because one of I think we say that about a handful of places so we're going to nomad lounge, which is the lounge area for the like the the tiffins restaurant right, right, yes and this is where it's just decorated beautifully. The atmosphere is so peaceful you can get a seat outside on the river.

Speaker 1: 12:18

It's beautiful and it's located in the discovery island section of the park yeah.

Speaker 2: 12:23

So what is unique stuff do they have here that you can't find in Walt Disney World Anywhere else?

Speaker 1: 12:28

Right, Well, so quite a few things actually. One thing is, the main restaurant, Tiffin's, is known for their bread service and they do serve that here as well. So the Tiffin's bread service it is $18. But it's served with coconut curry sauce, guava sauce, ginger pear chutney.

Speaker 2: 12:48

Yes.

Speaker 1: 12:49

And it is good and the sauces are unique. So definitely, if you're wanting to try something different, that is one thing. Now, the next thing I'm about to mention before diving into some other items this isn't necessarily unique, but this is where you're going to find the best ones in Walt Disney World. Let me talk about this, okay.

Speaker 2: 13:09

These are better than in Disneyland.

Speaker 1: 13:12

Big statement.

Speaker 2: 13:14

Big statement the churros here are better than in Disneyland. Yes, I said it, they are better than in Disneyland.

Speaker 1: 13:22

They're warm, just so crisp, but soft at the same time they're not stale, better than disneyland yeah, because in most other places in walt disney world horrible they are not good. Just you know, we've heard things from just how, how the, the weather, the humidity, all that place factors into it, compared to the ones in Disneyland. I don't know, but the churros here are just wonderful, wonderful.

Speaker 2: 13:49

We've had. We'll sit down with like three orders of them, yes, and go through them.

Speaker 1: 13:54

Yes, now they do have some other items, you know, from pineapple glaze, pork belly, grilled chicken satay, which is grilled skewer chicken thighs, curry marinade, cilantro, pickled green papaya and peanut sauce.

Speaker 2: 14:06

Delicious yes.

Speaker 1: 14:08

And then they have Bangkok chicken wings, which is crispy chicken wings, fish sauce, caramel, peanuts and cilantro. They have Korean barbecue, mushroom bao buns and some other items as well.

Speaker 2: 14:21

Yeah, and so this is where you can also get the Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale. They make this. For what was that restaurant? Jungle Cruise, skipper Canteen, skipper Canteen, yeah, so you can also get it here as well, and they have a lot of unique drinks.

Speaker 2: 14:35

They have a lot of very unique cocktails here. So here's what you do for the adults. You have a couple of tigresses and you go right, everest, that's fun. Just a couple More than that not going to go. Well, yeah, but two tempting tigresses and go get on and tell them to dial back the sweetness a little bit. If you don't like a sweet old-fashioned, I don't like mine super sweet.

Speaker 1: 15:03

Right.

Speaker 2: 15:04

Great, just great. But yeah, unfashioned, I don't like mine too. Super sweet, right, great, just great. But yeah, this is a very unique restaurant, very unique food and drink items, and they can make a lot of mocktails for your kids as well, if you like that they can do a lot of those. It's just a great atmosphere, great to get out of.

Speaker 1: 15:20

I want to say the stress of the park, but this park isn't stressful no, it's not, but just you know, to kind of sit back and chill a little bit, really chill out.

Speaker 2: 15:28

And they have. If you want to sit outside, it does get hot, but they can close the curtains around there. Right so it's not unbearable yeah, but the furniture outside is very comfortable, very, very good all right, moving on from nomad, that's gonna be tough to top right there where we go next so now we're headed to harambe fruit market, and this is located in the africa part of the park yep in harambe market.

Speaker 1: 15:53

In harambe market oh yes, in harambe market yes, so Harambee Fruit Market. One of the things that they're most known for is grilled corn on the cob so good, and you can get it with or without African spices.

Speaker 2: 16:07

Get it with the spices, trust me, and it's $5.29. This is not just a snack. You can make this a meal. It's so good yeah.

Speaker 1: 16:14

See, you've tried it. I yeah, see, you've tried it. I have, I've had it. It looks good.

Speaker 2: 16:17

It's got like the tamarind sauce Tahin, tahin, tamarind, what I'm saying, tahin, so good, that's the only thing really unique here. You can get chips and a hot dog, but come here for the corn.

Speaker 1: 16:29

Yes.

Speaker 2: 16:29

All right, moving on.

Speaker 1: 16:34

Moving on.

Speaker 2: 16:34

So, Mr seasoned fries I could not find the menu I couldn't either.

Speaker 1: 16:39

So I'm kind of like I don't know if, if it's still there, I wouldn't see.

Speaker 2: 16:45

I can't imagine that they would get rid of it as popular as this is well, you know, they're getting rid of the fruit waffle who knows?

Speaker 1: 16:50

so this may or may not still be an animal kingdom, but if it is, it is a cart as you're heading into. Is it asia?

Speaker 2: 16:57

it's between africa and asia. Yes, and on the right hand. So it's between Africa and Asia. Yes, it's on the right-hand side.

Speaker 1: 17:00

So it's seasoned fries and you might be thinking, okay, yeah, great French fries, what they're so good. But they have a different seasoning on them and they are often served with sriracha, mayo dipping sauce. Now, at times they do offer other sauces. I don't think it's as regular as it used to be. No, it's as regular as it used to be. So, you know, in the past they've had like some different types of like curry, ketchup and stuff like that. So, but they it is a good snack, you know, especially if you have some picky eaters and everything, then I definitely would recommend this if it is still there.

Speaker 2: 17:29

Yeah, it's kind of like the tahini sauce or I keep saying sauce, tahini seasoning but a little bit of a spice, a little more.

Speaker 2: 17:37

Not as tangy but a little bit of a spice, a little more not as tangy. No, yeah, definitely delicious, all right. Next on our menu is eight spoon cafe, and this is another little snack cart. I want to talk about these carts for a minute. These carts go perfectly along with the theme of animal kingdom. The whole idea behind animal kingdom was to get you lost and to get you to explore in these little carts, if you're not just kind of wandering around to get lost you're gonna pass, you're gonna pass right.

Speaker 2: 18:10

If you're on, if you're in a mad dash to get to expedition everest or to flight of passage or to the safari, you're gonna walk right past these places and not even notice them.

Speaker 1: 18:20

It took us how long a few trips to fit to find these places yeah, I mean to really start noticing them, you know, because in when you're in a hurry, you might just, out of the corner of your eye, be thinking oh, it's just another popcorn or popsicle cart but it's not they're not so.

Speaker 2: 18:35

eight spoon cafe is just past the exit of it's Tough to Be a Bug or the Tree of Life trails that go behind the trail, the tree. So it's just past there and again it's a very small cart. They have very limited hours, usually like 11 to 4.

Speaker 1: 18:52

Right.

Speaker 2: 18:54

And what they're known for here. They have a lot of macaroni and cheese, but what they're most famous for here is pulled pork jelly donut sandwich. Now, we've personally not had this before because I don't just. That doesn't sound good to me. But it is a very unique item. It's pulled pork stuffed jelly donut with slaw.

Speaker 1: 19:14

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:15

That's definitely unique $6.99. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:18

So if that interests you, you know $6.99. Give it a try. But yeah, definitely like what Zach was saying, though these carts like again, some of them are the popcorn and popsicles and stuff, but about half of them are going to be places like this.

Speaker 2: 19:34

Yes, all right. Moving on to, in my opinion, not just the best quick service restaurant in Animal Kingdom, I think it is the best quick service restaurant in all of Walt Disney World. Where are we going, brittany?

Speaker 1: 19:47

We are going to Satouli Canteen. Just a beautiful place, and this is inside Pandora, the world of Avatar.

Speaker 2: 19:55

Yeah, so this is themed to Avatar. It's in an old RDA building, it's quick service. It's quick service, but it's themed to an old RDA building they made into like the mess hall. Sorry, mobile order here. Yes, mobile order, but this is where you're going to find your chicken bowls and steak bowls and rice bowls and all that, and they make so many different variations of it. This is where you're going to find your famous cheeseburger pods.

Speaker 1: 20:23

Yes.

Speaker 2: 20:23

Better than the egg rolls.

Speaker 1: 20:25

No.

Speaker 2: 20:26

The cheeseburger pods here are just amazing and you can also get like a dough-wrapped hot dog on the kids' menu so delicious. But the food here is so unique and it's so good.

Speaker 1: 20:37

Right.

Speaker 2: 20:37

You're not finding this anywhere else in Walt Disney World.

Speaker 1: 20:40

Yeah, and the cheeseburger pods, now they are very good. You know they're Balbons, they are good. I still argue that the spring roll cart in Magic Kingdom tastes better, that's fine. But if you're someone that wants to try, like maybe several items on this, then you could get, like the kids, cheeseburger steamed pod and it comes with one instead of two. That way you have room to try other things and I actually do this sometimes yes, and so the cheeseburger pods.

Speaker 1: 21:06

It's steamed cheeseburger pods stuffed with ground beef, ketchup, mustard, pickle and cheddar, served with vegetable chips. And then, cutie, if you go the kids meal route, and then yeah, something about that, that wrapped hot dog in the dough that zach was mentioning, off the kids menu it's delicious it tastes really good.

Speaker 1: 21:24

Yes, and then the bowls. Like especially mobile ordering like you, can, you know, specify like what you do and don't want inside the bowls. But if you get it the way it comes, you can get a smoked chim chim chimmy cherry braised chimcherry braised beef and wood grilled chicken and it's paired with garlic and olive oil, topped with crunchy vegetable slaw and boba balls and served with your choice of base and sauce, so it could be like noodles or rice and so forth.

Speaker 2: 21:57

Right, and the prices here are a little pricey. This is where you're going to get a really good value out of that quick service dining credit. You're definitely getting your value out of that credit here, because some of the bowls are $17.49.

Speaker 1: 22:10

But they are filling.

Speaker 2: 22:11

They are very filling. The adult cheeseburger steam pods are $13.29. And so, yeah, and there's also some very unique alcoholic beverages you can get here as well. We will talk about a couple of them a little bit later, though. Yes, all right, that does it for satouli canteen. Go check it out. The music, the atmosphere, it's just so good. I recommend you go eat dinner there and then jump in line at flight of passage right before park close that's that's that's what we recommend. At least me anyway.

Speaker 1: 22:41

Yeah, but I mean any time of day, though. Definitely, if you are over in that area, definitely try it out.

Speaker 2: 22:47

Yeah, and if you would like to go try out the Cheeseburger Pods, you know who to reach out to right.

Speaker 1: 22:51

Who is?

Speaker 2: 22:51

that the official sponsor of this podcast, main Street Travel Company. We use them for all of our Disney and non-Disney vacation needs. They can plan your Walt Disney World Disneyland Disney Cruise Line which announcement about that coming soon for next year, All right, adventures by Disney Alani Disneyland Paris, and your Hilton Head and Vero Beach Disney Resorts. They can plan those and book them for you as well, exclusively for our, our listeners. If you book your next disney cruise with them, you will get up to a thousand dollars on board credit. Several of y'all have been taken advantage of that.

Speaker 2: 23:27

thank you very much, we do appreciate that thank you, if you book your adventures by disney trip with them, they'll get up to a thousand dollars. Catch back, which I want to go to the socal trip. Right, I think that'd be fun. You go to the studios, you go to the SoCal trip Right. I think that'd be fun. You go to the studios, you go to Imagineering, you go to the archives and you go to Disneyland and you stay at the Grand Californian. That's a good little.

Speaker 1: 23:47

Yeah, we'll have to do that one day.

Speaker 2: 23:48

Fun little trip, yeah, and if you book your Walt Disney World vacation with them you will and mention our podcast you will get a $25, I'm sorry. You'll get a gift card based on the value of that trip. And if you book with our travel planner, travel Planner Erica, she's going to throw an additional $25 onto Walt Disney World. If you book Disneyland with Travel Planner Erica she loves that park so much she's throwing a $100 gift card on top of that.

Speaker 1: 24:12

Right, yes, it's her home park. It's her home park.

Speaker 2: 24:13

She loves it. So not only are they going to save you time, stress, wasted energy, pulling your hair out like anxiety from inside out too, with the new genie plot, whatever it's called.

Speaker 1: 24:23

Right or remembering when to make your dining reservations.

Speaker 2: 24:25

They're going to do all that for you and it doesn't cost you anything. It's free to use our services. Yeah, so they're amazing. Go check them out. They're at wwwmain street travel cocom. They're on Instagram, facebook and YouTube. And my favorite thing about them not that they're great enough, but they have full-time agents sitting in an office. They're not part-time agents that will get back to you after their day job. You can call them 1-800-593-1262, monday through Friday, 10 am 5 pm, central Time. Again, tell them we sent you. Take Evangelist special offers. Save some money. Take the stress out of planning. Let them take care of it.

Speaker 1: 25:02

They're amazing yes.

Speaker 2: 25:03

All right, next on our list we are going to another little cart that, if you don't know where it's- at, you will walk right past it, right?

Speaker 1: 25:10

So this is the Smiling Crocodile located Discovery Island area of the park and you'll know where it's located because they have crocodiles out front smiling at you and it has a lunch and dinner menu.

Speaker 2: 25:24

You're rolling your eyes at me, like the kids do when I make dad jokes.

Speaker 1: 25:27

Yes, yeah, so they have a lunch and dinner menu and they are known for street tacos and also barbacoa nachos.

Speaker 2: 25:38

So good.

Speaker 1: 25:39

Tacos and also barbacoa nachos. So good, yes. So the different versions of street tacos. You can get pulled pork, or you can get chicken, or you can get just street corn tacos and they are priced at $9.99. So let's say you're getting the pulled pork street tacos, it's two pulled pork tacos tossed in our house-made sauce with lime crema. Pork tacos tossed in our house-made sauce with lime crema, tahia cheese, cabbage and pickled onion, served with a side of chips and salsa. If you want the barbacoa nachos, it's the barbacoa beef on tricolor tortilla chips topped with queso cheese, lime crema and pico de gallo.

Speaker 2: 26:16

Yeah, so you cannot mix and match tacos. We tried to do that remember, Because we wanted to try that remember because we wanted to try the chicken and the pork. Yeah, no, I can't do that, so we got two of you, we got both, and you can take these back behind on the water well, let me clarify because that's a little confusing.

Speaker 1: 26:32

You can't do one of each, so we got, like the full plates of.

Speaker 2: 26:34

Yes, we got the full orders of the pulled pork and the full orders of chicken taco taco and we just had one to eat. But to go sit, go down to the seating area behind Flame Tree Barbecue on the river. It's so peaceful, there's nobody down there. Yes, delicious great tacos. You'll walk right past this place if you're not looking for it, so good, highly recommend it.

Speaker 1: 26:55

Yes, now, we did not try this, but they do have a beverage Guava Limeade, so if you like limeades, then you may want to give that a try as well.

Speaker 2: 27:04

All right. Where are we going next?

Speaker 1: 27:05

Next we are moving to Kusafari Coffee Shop and Bakery.

Speaker 2: 27:10

You said that better than I would have, and so it is known mainly for snacks.

Speaker 1: 27:27

they have flatbreads and in wraps, and they have a marinated pork flatbread. That looks good, yeah. So the marinated pork flatbread is marinated pork topped with cucumber, tomato salad, harissa aioli, greens and served with seasoned house-made chips for $10.99. The harissa chicken wrap is harissa chicken salad with vegetables in an avocado spread and a spinach tortilla, served with seasoned house-made chips. And then they have a couple of other options as well. They also have an impossible gatsby, which is a pita pocket filled with a plant-based picadillo tomato pepper relish and crispy potato sticks topped with a plant-based aioli, served with the seasoned house-made chips.

Speaker 2: 28:09

All right, moving on, we are going to Pongu Pongu, one of my favorite places. This is in Pandora. As you exit from the gift shop, from Wind Traders, off of Flight of Passage, it's to the left.

Speaker 1: 28:23

And I sometimes forget. It's there, it's so good.

Speaker 2: 28:27

So for breakfast, they have two unique items for breakfast. If my computer would cooperate with me, do you need me? I got it Okay. First is Marshall's Favorite Stuffed Pancake Sandwich. This is a stuffed pancake with sausage, guava, jelly, egg and cheese for $8.99. I want to try this. It looks so good.

Speaker 1: 28:45

Like I don't know, the guava jelly. Like, thinking about it, it kind of like I don't know, but everyone says that it just balances it out. Well, yeah.

Speaker 2: 28:53

And then the pangu lumpia, which you can get. This for Lumpia, lumpia, whatever you say it. Pineapple cream cheese, spring roll. I don't know about this, but it's $3.79. Brittany, you're more of a spring roll person than I am. Would you try it, though, to be honest, but the main thing you're coming here for is for the drinks. Now they have a non-alcoholic beverage called the Night Blossom. It's layers of apple and dessert pear limeade topped with boba balls. Sounds really, really sweet.

Speaker 1: 29:21

Yes, never had it.

Speaker 2: 29:22

But here's where you can get two drinks you cannot find anywhere else except Pandora. Okay, and this is the Boara High Country Ale. It's an amber ale with the spicy hop aroma for $11.25. Or my favorite Hawk's Grog Ale. It's a fruity hop with notes of apricot and peach. So good, and it is green in color, very unique, looking, very Pandora-ish, looking Very good. We'll talk more about this in a little bit, but you can get it here and it's a tulip canteen yes only two places in walt disney world you can get hawk scrog ill.

Speaker 2: 30:00

All right. Where are we going to next?

Speaker 1: 30:01

so next we're going to tamu tamu in africa. Now they have two different menus one is a snack menu and one is a breakfast menu.

Speaker 2: 30:10

So for breakfast, I know why you like this.

Speaker 1: 30:14

They have a colossal Mickey cinnamon roll. Is that what you were thinking?

Speaker 2: 30:18

No.

Speaker 1: 30:19

Oh, okay, well, we'll get to that then. But a colossal Mickey cinnamon roll. And this is a larger than life cinnamon roll in the shape of Mickey Mouse, featuring royal blue icing. So I know you can get cinnamon rolls at various, various places, but they're not always going to be shaped as mickey, much less with blue icing. And that is priced at seven dollars and 49 cents now on. Are you looking at breakfast still?

Speaker 1: 30:42

no, I'm on snack, so hold on, okay. And also, you know they have other things here, such as blueberry muffins, sausage, egg and cheese biscuits, twist guava and cream cheese, danish croissant. They also have a honey pistachio croissant at breakfast time. Now, moving on to the snack they have. They have Dole Whips.

Speaker 2: 31:06

This is where. Yeah, I thought this is where you were going.

Speaker 1: 31:08

Well, but the unique item here is a pineapple crisp sundae. It is pineapple crisp cake, vanilla ice cream, pineapple caramel and crispy streusel topping. Now it sounds super sweet. I'm out, but everyone said that I have like watched, has said that this is really delicious, so that is the unique snack item I found.

Speaker 2: 31:34

I will take your word for it.

Speaker 1: 31:35

Okay.

Speaker 2: 31:35

All right, so we're moving on. We're going to go to Dinoland.

Speaker 1: 31:39

Yes for the next two.

Speaker 2: 31:40

For the next two and we're going to go to a little place called Trilobites. Now, this is where you can get just basic snacks, but they do have one unique item here, and it's buffalo chicken chips, and I've had these before and they are so good house made chips served with buffalo chicken and blue cheese dressing, topped with tomato and celery relish. Nine dollars and 79 cents is it great? No, is it different than what you get other places? Yes, that's why I made this list. It is different, unique. It's not going to knock your socks off like something at nomad lounge or something like that, but it's unique to this place and you're not going to. I haven't seen buffalo chicken chips anywhere else in walt disney world of view yeah, no, I don't think so no and then they just have your typical.

Speaker 2: 32:22

They have a churro. Don't get the churro, don't get it there, don't get it there and just uh, a few other items, but but yeah, mainly just the Buffalo Chicken Chips.

Speaker 1: 32:30

So and then, while you're still on this side of the park, heading on to Dino Bite Snacks, this place is known for their ice cream cookie sandwiches that are made with fresh baked cookies, and it's usually your chocolate chip cookies, but seasonally or special occasions, they have been known to change the type of cookie as well these look massive yes and I think it would just be way too sweet for me.

Speaker 2: 32:58

Yeah, so that's me though.

Speaker 1: 32:59

so, like you're, the one currently on the menu is the chocolate chip cookies and it's vanilla ice cream served in between those and again, they are freshly baked and it is priced at seven dollars and 79 cents, so it is a healthy portion, yeah.

Speaker 2: 33:11

All right, where are we? Oh, we're going to Yak and Yeti local food cafes.

Speaker 1: 33:14

Yes, so the next two are both Yak and Yeti. One is the local food cafes, and then the next one will be the main restaurant.

Speaker 2: 33:22

So the local food cafes is a quick service portion of this, and this is where I want to go when we go next month. We have yet to eat here and it's a quick service.

Speaker 1: 33:31

Okay.

Speaker 2: 33:32

And they have some very unique items here. But they have an American Kobe cheeseburger for $18.99. Now I have heard that this is underrated, one of the best burgers on property. It may be it may be so that's what I'm going to get. It may be it may be so that's what I'm going to get. But they have honey, sesame chicken, firecracker shrimp, the Kobe cheeseburger, Korean fried chicken sandwich. I bet that one's really good too. Yes, they have rib tips, which I know that's probably what Ryan will get. Ooh, sweet and sour. Ooh, Sweet and sour. Tempura shrimp I love tempura. Teriyaki chicken salad, vegetable tikka masala and then a veggie burger. So there's a lot of unique items for a quick service place.

Speaker 1: 34:17

Right.

Speaker 2: 34:18

Here.

Speaker 1: 34:18

Yes. And then, you know, for sides they have pork, egg rolls, chicken fried rice, pork pot stickers, french fries. So yeah, it's a bigger menu than I thought. And then for the kids they have things you know, cheeseburgers and chicken strips as well, or an Uncrustable.

Speaker 2: 34:33

Yeah, so definitely, this is a more unique quick service place and one that a lot of people don't think know about. Even we haven't even been here yet so definitely when we go next month, this will be where we eat, probably dinner at. I would imagine yeah, Because we have a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Because we have a breakfast, lunch or dinner because we have a breakfast reservation, but yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:50

Well, it would be a late, late lunch if it was.

Speaker 2: 34:53

It'd be a late lunch, early dinner, because this is going to be a long day for us. Yes, all right.

Speaker 1: 34:58

Yeah. So moving on to the sit-down restaurant of Yak and Yeti, so you know it does share some of those same items. You know from the pork pot stickers and egg rolls and firecracker shrimp. You know they do have calamari for your small plates. They have lettuce cups, uh, korean fried chicken. They have different soups and salads, but something that is just really, really good here. I mean, many things are, but they have. Why am I not seeing it right?

Speaker 2: 35:32

now are you on lunch menu dinner menu.

Speaker 1: 35:35

Uh, oh, there it is. So under their specialties, chicken thika masala, and it is so good, very flavorful. It's boneless chicken breast marinated in yogurt and freshly ground herbs cooked in a traditional masala sauce jasmine rice and garlic naan. And it was delicious, a huge portion.

Speaker 2: 35:55

It is priced at $27.99, but I would say you get your money's worth on that dish yes, when you come to a place like this I just got the steak and shrimp get something more specialized, because it wasn't I. I didn't think it was that good, but you know, a steak's a steak, right, right. Get something that's more like supposed to be here, like something like the chicken tikka masala or the Korean beef or something like that.

Speaker 1: 36:22

Yeah, you know, and they have like lo mein dishes and you know rice bowls and you know wok items. You know, know, like the pork belly bowl, honey chicken, like you said, the korean beef, you know. Then they also have that same burger on the menu as well, the kobe beef burger.

Speaker 2: 36:39

Yes, it's six dollars more expensive yes, yes and they have a. They have the baktapur duck for 37, not included in the disney dining plan an exception. So we are noticing more as we go through these menus.

Speaker 2: 36:53

There's going to be some items Pay attention to this, because some items are not going to be included in the Disney Dining Plan. Also, yak and Yeti is owned by Landry's Restaurant Group, which is the same restaurant group that owns Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex and the aquarium restaurants, so you'll be able to use your landry's perks here as well so keep that in mind. Good to know all right, moving on from yak and yeti moving on, we are going to flame tree barbecue now.

Speaker 1: 37:22

The the meat that is barbecued here is good, but this is unique because of something else that it does not involve barbecue.

Speaker 2: 37:31

What is?

Speaker 1: 37:31

that it is the Flamingo Cupcake.

Speaker 2: 37:34

Okay, my computer, there we go.

Speaker 1: 37:36

Now, this is strawberry cake, strawberry compote, filling, guava buttercream, pink, crispy, pearls, sugar, flamingo and white chocolate wings.

Speaker 2: 37:48

Seems way too sweet to me.

Speaker 1: 37:49

Yes, I agree, I think it would be a bit too sweet for me as well, but that is one unique item here. Now, this restaurant, though, like I would definitely recommend for other things as well, because you know, we've said it before barbecue. We're from Tennessee, but this is some decent barbecue, it's pretty good.

Speaker 2: 38:09

It's pretty good. It's not going to knock your socks off, but it's pretty good. And if you want a good, filling quick service meal, you're going to get your value out of your quick service credit here as well. Right Because most stuff's like what $18, $19 here?

Speaker 1: 38:22

Well, some are like $12 and $15, but if you want to go full on with ribs, chicken and pulled pork, then get the sampler for eighteen dollars.

Speaker 2: 38:28

Yeah, so you're definitely going to get your value out of your disney quick service dining credit here. Yes, all right, moving on to tiffin's. Now we have eaten at tiffin's. It was our very first trip wait before you go too far they have.

Speaker 1: 38:42

They have changed the menu, though, some too for the kids, so just let me know so this is their signature restaurant, tiffin's, and know we did not have the best experience.

Speaker 2: 38:54

However, our kids were a lot younger, hangry and not having the best experience either, and so I would like to give this another try, but the prices here are very expensive and it is two dining service credits for this? Oh wow, Two, because it's a signature restaurant. Two, you know two dining service credits for this? Oh wow, Two, because it's a signature restaurant.

Speaker 1: 39:13

Two, you know. So that's something you really have to think about. I would like to try it one more time and I was looking, you know, through the menu and some of the items have changed since the boys went and so it might be a little bit better experience, because they are known for some unique items Just on the kids menu. At the time, a few years ago, they were a bit too unique, especially for pickier eaters. So now again, most of this menu is unique and they have updated several items and currently, because it is the Lion King's 30th anniversary, they have a Remember who you Are dessert remember who you are dessert, and this is kenyan coffee mousse filled with caramelized bananas, chai chantilly, banana caramel sauce, chocolate coffee crumble, chocolate lion king decor and a sun made of sugar yeah, I'm wearing my hakuna matata shirt today yes, the dad, hakuna matata shirt yeah, everybody's even wearing yeah, it's red, it's red yeah, so this restaurant has some very unique items my and it has.

Speaker 1: 40:15

Yes, it has that bread service that we mentioned earlier for at nomad lounge, so that same tiffin signature bread service and they have. Like the pork belly we mentioned.

Speaker 2: 40:24

They have some items such as charred octopus that would be interesting to try yeah, go ahead I was thinking the butter chicken here may be pretty good too yeah $39. I had the surfing turf when we went a while ago and it was delicious, but again I think it may have been too fancy for us at the time with the kids right so again, just our experience, but not a knock on the restaurant. Everybody has great things to say about the restaurant.

Speaker 1: 40:51

We were just distracted by fussy kids and everything else Exactly Now, you know, on their kids menu, you know, they do offer like grilled teriyaki chicken thighs, grilled shrimp, grilled steak, korean impossible meatballs, you know. And then they have fruit seasoned vegetables, green beans, rice, mac and cheese, cookies and cream brownie, you know, and then they have fruit seasoned vegetables, green beans, rice, mac and cheese, cookies and cream brownie, you know. So there are some things that they may feel more comfortable with yeah, all right, so moving on where we go for our last place.

Speaker 1: 41:23

Yes, so the last place is caravan road another, another little food cart. Yes, and this is located in Asia, yep, and so they are more known for shaved ice, things like that. So, from watermelon, mango passion fruit to tropical slushy, you know pina colada flavor, but they also have this thing called kakigori.

Speaker 2: 41:50

There you go and it. This is japanese shaved ice dessert flavored with watermelon in sweetened condensed milk it's 5 49 and I think we should try this next time we go yeah, I am open to trying it yeah, so that will do it for unique items you can find in animal kingdom. Only some great places again. I think you could spend a whole day here, just like on a foodie tour right trying all of these?

Speaker 1: 42:17

in my opinion, yes. So if you don't? Think it's a full day park then, then don't that's fine, more for us yeah, and you know, and there are some other places that we didn't mention that might have, you know, some slightly different twist on some beverages and things like that.

Speaker 2: 42:31

Definitely some unique beverages here and that kind of. We didn't even talk about Tusker House, but they have some unique carved meats there and other items that you can get as well on the buffet that you can't get on normal buffets around Walt Disney World. We will be talking about those later. But yeah, there's some great places, and don't sleep on these little carts right there may be.

Speaker 2: 42:53

Yes, they have the popcorn out front and the popcorn buckets and that, but they may have something else in there that you're not expecting. We didn't even talk about terra treats yeah that's a little pizza place across from pizza far that actually serves real pizza right, yeah, go there for pizza and go there. Don't go to pizza for you, yeah so there's just so much great hidden not hidden, but kind of hidden in plain sight yeah in animal kingdom again.

Speaker 2: 43:16

The imagineers wanted you to get lost and explore and kind of stumble upon this, these things yes yeah, you sound. It's looking like you have something to say well, no, I forgot that.

Speaker 1: 43:26

You showed me something that I wanted to add to the end, but I don't have a copy of it.

Speaker 2: 43:32

What is that?

Speaker 1: 43:33

Another review. Yes, I was going to get there, oh sorry.

Speaker 2: 43:35

We have another review. Thank you, a five-star review from Bex and Phil and Prinny. This was on Apple Podcasts. Thank you, the title is Love this Podcast and they gave five stars, by the way. Oh, thank you love this podcast and they gave five stars, by the way. Oh, thank you. They said please keep doing the podcast.

Speaker 1: 43:53

We are. We're not stopping. I guess they heard us talking about it on the last episode you're one of the best disney pods out there.

Speaker 2: 43:57

Love you guys. Well, thank you so much. Yes, thank you. I don't know if we're the one of the best, but thank you, we do appreciate that yes, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1: 44:04

and yeah, you know, it was just in the moment a few weeks ago where we were talking about it, but you know, thank you. These reviews do help, you know, put a smile on our faces that, okay, people are listening and we do enjoy doing this.

Speaker 2: 44:17

We do. Thank you very much for that review, and if you want to leave us a review, go to Apple Podcasts, leave us five stars and a review, and you can also go to Spotify. You can't leave a review on Spotify, but you can leave five stars there, so go ahead and do that too. We appreciate that.

Speaker 1: 44:32

Honesty please.

Speaker 2: 44:34

I don't want honesty. I want people to tell me what I want to hear. Okay, we're doing great. We're one of the best ones out there. Thank you for that.

Speaker 1: 44:41

Yes.

Speaker 2: 44:41

Thank you. So Disney trivia. This week I posted a video of a beautiful green concoction and asked where I don't know if it looked beautiful or not.

Speaker 2: 44:50

It's beautiful, asked what it was and where can you get it from, and the answer is it's the Hawks Grog Ale. And you can get it in Pongu Pongu, in Pandora, also at Satooli Canteen. And this week's winner, he's back. He's been gone a few weeks. From X, sweeney is this week's Disney trivia winner. Congratulations, sweeney. Look for trivia. Thursday Will be Epcot. Now, there's just so much to Epcot. I think we find one unique item from each country. I think that's how we have to do it, right?

Speaker 1: 45:24

Yeah, in this case, Because we don't want to do anything about the festivals, because it changes throughout the year, so we want to do something from places that are there all year but with there being so many in World Showcase and outside, of. World Showcase. It may be that we do what Zach just said and do one from each.

Speaker 2: 45:43

So one item from each country in Epcot. So look for that next week. Thank you so much for listening. If you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to leave us a review. Let us know you're listening. We really do appreciate that. If you want to support us financially, book your next vacation with Main Street Travel Company. Thank you so much to those of you that have You're saving money. Time. Stress it, lets them know you're listening as well. And a lot of y'all have. We really do appreciate that and they appreciate that too. Again, go check them out for those special offers. Again, tell them we sent you. You can email us circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website's wwwcircleofparkscom and we're on Facebook, instagram and X all at Circle of Parks. And again, thank you so much for listening. We really do appreciate it. We'll talk to you next week.

Speaker 1: 46:28

Talk to you next week. Thank you, bye.