Sanaa Restaurant at Disney World Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sanaa Restaurant at Disney World Animal Kingdom Lodge

We can pinpoint our discovery of Sanaa to one fateful afternoon early in our Disney adventures, on the Wild Africa Trek. While out at lunch on the African Savanna with our fellow trekkers drinking our absolute favorite Disney drink, POG, someone asked if we had tried Sanaa yet. Clueless, we said no. Wait, the resorts had restaurants? What? Like not just the cafeteria? Then someone said, “You have to try the Bread Service!” In fact, everyone seemed to agree. So not only were we going to venture out to a resort restaurant, but apparently, we were also ordering the bread. Sanaa at Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Lodge can be found in Kidani Village. Here is everything you need to know about this amazing restaurant at Disney. 

Sanaa Bread Service at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sanaa Restaurant Atmosphere

Nestled on the ground floor of the Kidani Village main building, this restaurant offers views of the savanna, tea service, bread service, the sweetest desserts, and authentic potjie. Just trust us on this. No matter what you order, you will love it here. With classic African decor, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the roaming animals outside, Sanaa offers an experience like no other. 

Sanaa Restaurant

The Sanaa Restaurant itself offers up a quick-service breakfast, and table service lunch and dinner options. Advanced Dining Reservations are highly recommended. However, you can also take advantage of Sanaa’s To-Go Menu! 

 

Sanaa Lounge at Animal Kingdo Lodge

Sanaa Restaurant Lounge at Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Sanaa Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a wonderful option if you’re looking for a quick snack or drink. Tucked into the corner of the Sanaa Restaurant the Sanaa Lounge is open from 7:00 AM to 11 PM. This little lounge offers up the famous Bread Service, samosas, small plates, and more. Check out the Sanaa Lounge Menu to see the full drink and food lineup. However, the Sanaa Lounge does close between 3-5 PM daily. Guests that visit the Lounge before 3 pm have access to the FULL Sanaa Menu. Whereas after 5 pm, only the Sanaa Lounge Menu offerings are available. If you want to eat at Sanaa at the last minute or don’t have a reservation for Sanaa, you can head to the lounge as an alternative. 

Sanaa Menu

The Sanaa Bread Service

Sanaa at Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Lodge is KNOWN for its Bread Service. Mind you this is just comprised of a variety of Naan bread and Dipping Sauces. But it all feels a little different at Sanaa. You get one of each flavor of the Naan and we only got three sauces this time around, but you can get all nine sauces if it strikes your fancy. This appetizer is something you will inhale and make you forget you have “real food” coming. It is really really good. And the flavors are varied enough to appease everyone. The kids will love the mango chutney and those more daring should definitely be trying the pickles and jalapeno.

Dinner at Sanaa

The Sanaa Menu is African-themed, so there will definitely be things you cannot pronounce, but no worries, just ask your server. They know the stuff by heart and can make recommendations if you don’t know where to start. This dish is the African Inspired Biryani with vegetables. Topped with herbs and almonds and crisps, this dish is amazing and one I will continue to order just because I would make it every day if I could figure out how. 

The Potjie-Inspired dishes are the ones you will see on everyone’s tables in little stainless steel bowls. You get your pick of different meats, veggies, rice, and a sauce. The servers will tell you the best way to eat this meal is by layering the rice, vegetables, meat, and sauce, like a little tower on your plate. And yes they even have some butter chicken for the picky eaters.

Desserts at Sanaa Restaurant

Desserts at Sanaa change from the regular menu based on the season. They are sophisticated and pretty. The triple Mousse with Strawberries is sweet and bitter with darker chocolate. And we also got a banana almond toffee cake. The mousse was a little too banana-y but still really good. The children’s desserts are our favorite simply because they tend to be brownies in cute animal shapes.  Always fun.

How do you Get to Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Sanaa is located at Animal Kingdom Lodge is found on the ground floor of the main house at Kidani Village. Not Jambo House. You can grab a Disney Bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge from any Disney Park, or Disney Springs. Once on the Animal Kingdom Lodge bus, it’s the first stop, not the second. However if you accidentally end up at Jambo House, there is an internal shuttle that loops every 10 minutes. You can also use the walkway between the two properties, accessible from the front of each building. 

Is Disney’s Sanaa Restaurant Kid-Friendly?

Yes! We love Sanaa for kids because the experience of watching animals on the savannah while you eat is such fun. If the Sanaa menu feels a little too grown-up for you, don’t worry, there is also a kid’s menu to choose from. And just wait until dessert! Because at Sanaa, they make it extra special for kids, and it’s a wonderful treat they will definitely remember. 

How Much Does Sanaa Cost?

As one of Walt Disney World’s most AFFORDABLE Table-Service Restaurants, Sanaa offers dishes ranging from $15- $34.99 per person. If you’re looking for unique dining, in good portion sizes, then Sanaa offers a great budget-friendly dining experience at Disney. 

Does Sanaa Take the Disney Dining Plan?

Yes, you can use the Disney Dining Plan at Sanaa. Sanaa offers table service for lunch and dinner and it’s worth one table-service dining credit. Sanaa’s breakfast is considered quick-service and counts as one quick service credit. 

Do You Need a Reservation for Disney’s Sanaa Restaurant?

Yes. It’s highly recommended there you make a reservation for Sanaa. You can do this in the My Disney Experience App or on the Sanaa page of Disney’s website.  If you are in a bind and find you don’t have a reservation but still want access to the full menu at Sanaa, then you can head to the Sanaa Lounge and wait for a table to open. The Sanaa Lounge is open 7:00 AM- 11:00 PM. 

Does Sanaa Serve Breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Sanaa Restaurant serves breakfast daily. But currently, it’s offered as a Grab-n-Go setup from 7-10 AM. Check out the Breakfast Menu at Sanaa for all the options. Reservations are not required. 

Can you Order Food from Sanaa To Go?

Yes! Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa Restaurant has Mobile Order and you are able to Order Sanaa To Go. Just head to the My Disney Experience App. In the search bar, type Sanaa and you will see Sanaa To Go as an option. The Sanaa To Go Menu is offered from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and again from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Serving up both Potjie, Biryani, Steak, and more are all part of this menu. Check the app for the latest items available on the menu. 

Does Sanaa Have Tea Service?

Yes! One of the things we learned just by chance is that there are a variety of loose leaf teas offered at Sanaa. While this isn’t any surprise, since we are avid visitors of the Garden View Tea Room at the Grand Floridian, we were thrilled to see that Sanaa offered tea as well. If you order tea, it comes in its own teapot. You can also grab a Press Pot Coffee (Kenya AA) if that’s more to your liking. 

Assam

  • Organic Assam – Harvested in Northeastern India and known for its full-bodied malty character
  • Golden Assam – This second flush, large-leaf golden tipped Assam produces a full-bodied cup of tea

Chai

  • Herbal Spice Chai – Naturally caffeine-free original house blend of hand-ground spices has the same complexity and richness of a traditional black tea Chai
  • Mosala Black Tea Chai – Complex blend of fresh spices and Indian Black tea

Darjeeling

  • White Tip Darjeeling – Treasured for its ripe, complex flavor and floral bouquet
  • Thunderbolt Darjeeling – The “champagne of black tea” is named for the region, as Darjeeling literally means Land of the Thunderbolts

Rooibos

  • Organic Rooibos – This famous “red bush” tea hailing from South Africa is naturally caffeine-free, organically grown, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
  • Earl Gray Rooibos – Caffeine-free, features South African “red bush” blended with bergamot orange
  • Mango Rooibos – “Red Bush” scented with tropical mango, Rooibos is rich in antioxidants and a good source of iron and potassium
  • Pina Colada Rooibos – Transport yourself to a tropical paradise beach with a sip of this pina colada-inspired Rooibos
  • Vanilla Rooibos – Vanilla bean sweetens this Roobios, organically grown, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, naturally caffeine-free
  • Hazelnut Rooibos – Sweet, earthy, Rooibos, carefully blended with the warmth of hazelnuts yield a rich and medium-bodied infusion

Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge

If you arrive early for your dining reservation, you can meander around the resort, check out the rocking chairs on the porches or the small rooms adjacent to the lobby with fireplaces and African art. Sanaa has become one of our favorite Disney restaurants and one we try to frequent whenever we know we’re going to need to get away from the parks. If you’re traveling during a busy time at the parks take a break and stop by Animal Kingdom Lodge. We’re quite sure you’ll quickly fall in love with it as much as we have. 

Sanaa Restaurant at Walt disney World Review. Sanaa To-Go, Sanaa Lounge and Menus.

 

Co-Founder and Director at Polka Dot Pixie Co LLC | Website | + posts

Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.


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