After my last visit to Orlando for work, I was determined to eat only on Disney property for my second visit as well. After having the best meal at the California Grill last time, I knew I had wanted to take X and our friend there to try their amazing menu. I also knew that I wanted to finish all the restaurants at the Animal Kingdom Lodge by dining at Sanaa. With so many resorts and themed restaurants to choose from, it was super hard to narrow down one more restaurant for my last available meal.

In addition to a revisit to the Contemporary Resort, I got to visit Kidani Village, the DVC side of Animal Kingdom Lodge, as well as the Yacht Club Resort. So technically two new resorts this time!

Ale & Compass
Located in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Ale & Compass features New England comfort food and classic seafood dishes in a coastal-inspired restaurant. The restaurant has a modern, coastal design with dark wood accents, brass fixtures, and a calm nautical vibe. If you arrive at the Yacht Club Resort early, I highly recommend going out to the deck for a walk. They have a cute lighthouse as well as great views across the lake to the Boardwalk. I was also told by my waiter that you can catch the 9PM Magic Kingdom fireworks on the deck.

I highly, highly recommend ordering the Parker House Rolls as your appetizer. The rolls are super fluffy and the spreads are fantastic. The bacon jam was sweet and salty, and was a close contender for top spread, which belonged to the pub cheese. The Wedge Salad is also very good with the garlic-peppercorn cream sauce. Their signature dish, the New England Seafood Pot Pie, is warm, comforting, and filled with delicious seafood.

Sanaa
Sanaa, located inside Kidani Village, the DVC side of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort, offers traditional African dishes with Indian flavors. “Sanaa” means “work of art” in Swahili, which is reflected in the decor both inside and outside the restaurant.

On the same level as the restaurant is a really cool trail that leads to an animal-viewing deck. Since we had an early reservation, we were able to see quite a few animals, including giraffes, gazelle, wildebeest, and zebras.

For our appetizer, of course we had to order their signature dish, the Indian-Style Bread Service with five breads and nine accompaniments. The five breads include Traditional Naan, Garlic-Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kulcha, and Paneer Paratha. The nine accompaniments feature Cucumber Raita, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Mango Chutney, Tomato-Date Jam, Tamarind Chutney, Coriander Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Red Chile Sambal, and Spicy Jalapeño-Lime Pickle. This was such a hearty and fun appetizer. I really enjoyed just mixing and matching all the different “breads” and “sauces’. My favorites included the mango chutney, the tomato-date jam, and the picked garlic. The “spicy” sauces actually had a bit of a kick! X’s main, the Mbavu ya Chuma was cooked to perfection and had an excellent sweet potato and coconut puree. I also highly recommend the African Mai Tai, which features STARR African Rum and is a great spin on the traditional Mai Tai.

California Grill
Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, California Grill features fresh, seasonal ingredients by way of a 3-course tasting menu. You get your choice of an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert for $89 per person.

California Grill offers guests spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom, especially during Happily Ever After, the nightly fireworks display.. If you’re dining before the fireworks, you can always come back to watch the fireworks on their outdoor deck area. We arrived around 8:45PM and waited just a few short minutes for an elevator up. We had such a spectacular view of the fireworks – I argue that it’s even better than being at Magic Kingdom!

To start, of course I had to get the Surf & Turf Roll. This is one of my favorite dishes here. Since I had the pork tenderloin last time, I decided to choose the Oak-Grilled Filet of Beef this time as my entree. Paired with a roasted garlic potato puree and charred broccolini, it was an excellent choice. This time, they had a completely different dessert menu so I was quite pleased. I opted for the Caramel Cappuccino Cake, which came in the cutest coffee bean shape. The espresso cake was moist and just the right amount of sweet.