Out of Walt Disney World’s 4 theme parks, Animal Kingdom is the one the place it makes essentially the most sense to eat breakfast. DAK routinely opens at 8 a.m. with Early Entry at 7:30 a.m., which implies arriving throughout the six o’clock hour if you wish to rope drop Pandora and be the primary to journey Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.
There have been mornings I’ve left my resort room at round 5:50 a.m. on Animal Kingdom days, which is absurdly early and means I’m, at greatest, grabbing a cup of espresso and protein bar on the best way out the door. There have additionally been mornings after I’m no less than a half-dozen points of interest deep into my DAK plan of assault by the point 9 a.m. rolls round–and “executed” with all the tough ones.
Suffice to say, once you’re on hour 4 of being awake by that time and feeling a way of accomplishment with a profitable rope drop run, it’s time to modify gears and gas up. And all of that’s exactly why Animal Kingdom is the perfect park for breakfast at Walt Disney World. I’ve had some very satisfying morning meals right here over time, together with ones that in all probability weren’t that nice–I used to be only a bizarre combination of drained, hungry, and exhilarated from knocking out so many rides.
Till lately, my “favourite” breakfasts at Animal Kingdom have included the next:
- Kusafiri Bakery – Breakfast Totchos, Colossal Cinnamon Roll & In a single day Oats
- Tamu Tamu Refreshments – Colossal Cinnamon Roll
- Pongu Pongu – Pongu Lumpia
That’s it. Apart from these, Tusker Home is the apparent prime choice for breakfast, nevertheless it’s now $49 per grownup and I used to be underwhelmed when it was solely $21 (that was solely a few decade in the past–not historic historical past!). I’d a lot reasonably do lunch or dinner there for a extra formidable unfold and higher bang for buck.
There are additionally breakfast sandwiches at just a few of the short service spots, however I’ve typically have hit and miss success with them–too many situations of stale biscuits or rubbery bagels, and subpar high quality toppings. I’m additionally averse to hitting Starbucks very first thing, as the road is interminably lengthy.
Apart from the breakfast totchos at Kusafiri–which has been the perfect location for no less than 5 years and has cycled out some nice short-term dishes, too–there actually isn’t a lot in the best way of savory dishes which can be reliably good. I’ve had much more terrible ones than superior ones, and that’s even when grading on a curve after I’m actually drained and hungry.
However, Animal Kingdom’s pastry recreation is robust, and there are extra good-to-great choices on that entrance than what I’ve listed. However I can’t survive on a Pistachio Honey Croissant or Guava and Cream Cheese Danish.
Fortunately, there’s a unbelievable “new” choice for counter service breakfast at Animal Kingdom…
Walt Disney World has lastly restored the breakfast menu at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora – World of Avatar. That is already the #1 counter service restaurant in Animal Kingdom (sorry, Flame Tree BBQ, however you misplaced me with the cost-cutting measures and smaller parts), and that unsurprisingly stays true for breakfast.
Breakfast at Satu’li Canteen was really discontinued just a few quick months after Pandora debuted. The meal service launched with Avatar land in Could 2017, and was passed by the beginning of the 2017 low season. Its heyday was a summer season when Animal Kingdom had very aggressive hours, and was making an attempt–and succeeding–at getting visitors to remain after darkish. It might’ve returned throughout the holidays as soon as demand returned, however that didn’t occur.
Quick-forward to January 2025, and breakfast at Satu’li Canteen is at the moment provided every day from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. We’ve but to see a 9 a.m. opening date for the reason that meal service returned, so it’s unknown whether or not breakfast is simply provided for an hour on these days, or the top time would get pushed again for an additional 30-60 minutes.
My breakfast at Animal Kingdom got here on the finish of Early Entry and cord drop testing.
On a standard day in DAK, I might attempt to knock out each single journey in the complete park as a part of a rope drop run. That’s really pretty straightforward to do, with the proper plan specified by Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Entry Trip Technique. There’s a cause DAK is the park the place I do the least Early Entry and cord drop testing: it’s the best. (Nicely, that and never eager to rise up so early.)
Nevertheless, I additionally don’t thoughts logging 30,000 steps in a day. Now that I’ve a toddler, I’m lastly having the “epiphany” that perhaps not everyone seems to be keen or in a position to zig-zag all throughout the park and ‘shut these rings’ by 10 a.m. Who knew?!
My purpose for this morning was to see how a lot I might do in Pandora – World of Avatar earlier than the crowds constructed.
To not spoil a future photograph report, nevertheless it was a combined bag, with two rides on Avatar Flight of Passage however just one on Na’vi River Journey. I in all probability might’ve pushed it and executed a second boat journey, however I didn’t wish to get caught within the wave of crowds and find yourself ready ~45 minutes or extra.
So after bouncing over to Kilimanjaro Safaris and doing that with a minimal wait, I headed again to Pandora for breakfast at Satu’li Canteen. In the event you actually wish to decrease backtracking, you in all probability might do Kilimanjaro Safaris after a fast breakfast and nonetheless be simply effective on most mornings. However I didn’t check that–I headed over to the opposite aspect of the park, which was additionally nonetheless simply effective.
For my breakfast at Satu’li Canteen, I began with the Gradual-roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash served with Chorizo Sausage and Charred Onion Sauce for $13.29.
That is unbelievable. The chorizo sausage has a little bit of a char to it, and a crispy exterior that provides technique to a tasty sausage with a slight bit of warmth. Not sufficient that it ought to scare you away–simply the correct amount for taste.
My solely grievance concerning the chorizo is that there wasn’t extra of it. That’s going to be a recurring theme with this dish.
Beneath the sausage is an honest slathering of charred onion sauce–which is quite a bit like chimichurri–that works properly with every part. It’s particularly good for rounding out the flavour of the potato hash and stopping it from being too dry. However that’s good even by itself. I do want there have been extra of the sauce, although.
Then there’s the slow-roasted pork shoulder, which is nearly arduous to see in my photographs. This additionally tasted nice, and when paired with the potatoes and sauce, each chew was flavorful and scrumptious. There simply wasn’t almost sufficient of it.
Ultimately, my largest grievance about this dish is the portion sizes. It left me wanting extra, and questioning whether or not I might’ve been higher served by ordering one in all my two favourite lunch bowls, that are a few greenback dearer however (final I had them) fairly a bit bigger.
Truthfully, I want this had been priced at $14.99 and about 20% bigger. That is proper up there as one in all my favourite entrees in Animal Kingdom, and I’d fortunately order it for lunch or dinner–there’s nothing about it that screams “breakfast” to me, particularly since I’m ordering that very same potato hash base with all the bowls I get at Satu’li Canteen.
Subsequent up, the Cinnamon French Toast served with Blueberry Cream Cheese, Ardour Fruit Anglaise, and Sausage for $12.99.
This isn’t simply simple sugar-rush french toast. The bread is thick and has some heft to it, making what looks as if a reasonably small portion pack a strong punch. It tastes contemporary, with the cinnamon coming by and dealing properly with the powdered sugar. The inside has simply the correct amount of doughiness. In any other case, the french toast itself is generally what you see is what you get.
What actually elevates this dish is the Blueberry Cream Cheese and Ardour Fruit Anglaise. There’s greater than sufficient of each, and these take well-executed however pretty commonplace french toast to the subsequent stage. The fruity flavors are pronounced and, no less than for me, made this dish an all-star.
Additionally they made this a really heavy, very candy, and really overwhelming dish.
After ending the breakfast bowl with no drawback, I checked out this french toast and figured I’d nonetheless be hungry after consuming it. That was very mistaken. I did eat all of it, however the second piece of french toast was my knockout punch. It’s a very good factor I’d be spending the remainder of the day zig-zagging round Walt Disney World’s largest park!
My sturdy recommendation right here could be to both order this french toast “for the desk” and have it serve 2-3 adults, or order from the children’ menu. That model of this dish is strictly the identical by way of high quality and preparation, however with a single piece of french toast versus two. You additionally get a drink and it prices $5 much less. That is so clearly the answer that I actually want I might’ve executed it. The drink alone may be value choosing this (even occasions two) versus getting the conventional french toast to share.
Talking of drinks, Satu’li Canteen is without doubt one of the uncommon eating places with a self-service beverage station.
This additionally makes it an distinctive choice for breakfast–or actually any meal–should you’re in want of caffeination or hydration (or each!) and don’t wish to accept a single cup.
For that reason alone, we frequently discover ourselves eating at Satu’li Canteen. Even when it’s only for water–this beats having to repeatedly go to the counter for small cups, and even refilling our personal bottles.
Lastly, the opposite two objects I didn’t get to are the Frittata & Beef with Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata with Wooden-fired Beef tossed in Chimichurri for $14.29, and the Tropical Pandoran Forest Fruits served with Recent Yogurt, Muesli, and Honey for $11.99. The primary of those appears to be like good from what I noticed on close by tables, and I debated ready to evaluation breakfast at Satu’li Canteen till making an attempt that.
Then I advised myself that if I simply publish the evaluation now, I can’t fear about it and proceed ordering the Gradual-roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash and kid-sized Cinnamon French Toast going ahead. I’m not big on frittata within the first place, so I can not think about that surpassing the breakfast bowl for me. As you’ll be able to see, the latter method received out.
At a complete price of ~$20, that shall be a really dear breakfast by counter service requirements. But it surely’s glorious, and once you’ve been up since 5:30 or 6 a.m., a breakfast at 10 a.m. is absolutely extra like an early lunch. (On this specific day, I didn’t eat once more till like 3 or 4 p.m.)
In the end, breakfast at Satu’li Canteen is superb and earns a simple suggestion from me. Each of the dishes I ordered had been scrumptious and top quality–precisely what you’d count on from Satu’li Canteen.
Which is exactly the “drawback.” Satu’li Canteen is absolutely good all day lengthy, so do you have to do breakfast right here, or save the abdomen area for lunch or dinner? I’m inclined to suppose there’s an method that might permit you to breakfast right here in addition to lunch and dinner elsewhere–maybe some mixture of Nomad Lounge, Tiffins, Flame Tree BBQ, and/or Yak & Yeti. Maybe what actually wants area testing at Animal Kingdom is a meals itinerary!
Both manner, it’s a very good drawback to have. And it’s actually arduous to complain about Animal Kingdom getting higher at breakfast, which was beforehand the weakest meal (by far) at this otherwise-excellent meals park.
We’d even be remiss if we didn’t give Walt Disney World kudos for bringing again this fan-favorite breakfast at Satu’li Canteen. It is a minor factor–nobody is reserving a visit upon listening to information a few counter service breakfast being again–however the minor issues matter! Sitting there, completely stuffed on the finish of my breakfast feast in a peaceable seating space after knocking out Early Entry in Pandora was a satisfying–and memorable–expertise.
It’s these kinds of quiet moments and minor issues which have an outsized influence on the visitor expertise. It is a drum we’ve been banging on repeatedly–that it’s the lacking “massive little issues” that make a BIG distinction at Walt Disney World. We’ve been stressing for the final couple of years that Walt Disney World must relearn how a lot consideration to element and plussing the visitor expertise like this issues. Foolish because it sounds, it’s what makes individuals followers within the first place, and retains us coming again. And we’ll completely be returning for extra breakfasts at Satu’li Canteen!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited to strive any of those dishes once more–or for the primary time? Have you ever dined at Satu’li Canteen lately? Which dishes do you want or dislike throughout breakfast, lunch or dinner? Would you select to do breakfast or lunch/dinner right here? Do you agree that Satu’li Canteen has claimed the throne because the #1 counter service restaurant in Animal Kingdom? Assume that Animal Kingdom “quietly” has the most effective restaurant scenes at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
