8 Things You’ll Love About Tusker House Restaurant At Walt Disney World

Disney does dining with excellence. But they also want your vacation eating experiences to accessible and magical. The Tusker House in Animal Kingdom does all of these things. Here are 8 things you’ll love about Tusker House:

8. Authentic Food

The food in this restaurant is out of this world. If nothing else, it’s definitely out of this continent. The majority of the food at the Tusker House is authentic African cuisine. Curry, and hummus, and spiced meats, and enough food to keep you full for a week – this buffet has it all. And yes, you read that right, it’s a buffet. Which means you can keep trying these new foods as much as you want! They also have some American food for the less adventurous.

7. Character Dining

Who doesn’t love a good character meal every once and a while? Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy (and sometimes, but not often, Minnie will join the gang!) come around the dining rooms to meet every guest at the Tusker House throughout your meal. But they’re ready for adventure! All of the characters are dressed in their safari outfits and, frankly, are as cute as can be.

6. The Theming

My favorite thing about the Tusker House is its theming. The entire building is made to look like an outpost of sorts for a safari/travel company deep in the heart of Africa. The buffet area’s ceiling is coated in brightly colored tapestry-looking flags that hang slightly above a faux balcony. It’s gorgeous. Tusker House technically has four dining rooms, and each of them are themed a little differently, which only adds to the dimension of this restaurant.

5. Atmosphere

To go along with the theming is the atmosphere of Tusker House. Thanks to the brilliant work put into the immaculate theming, you totally buy the atmosphere of it. There isn’t an inch of the restaurant that looks fake. So when you step into it, it feels like you’re stepping into the story. It totally feels like you’re about to go on safari too, and just need a little snack beforehand.

4. Layout

The layout of Tusker House is unique to buffet restaurants and I really love it. The buffet table in the restaurant has its own room, separate from the seating. For the seating, there are four separate dining rooms. This layout makes the place feel spacious and you’re never right on top of people. It also makes it easier for the characters to make their way about.

3. Location

Tusker House is hidden away in a corner of Harambe Village. Even though it’s not the most obvious of restaurants, it’s right in the middle of the Africa part of the country, which means it’s easy to get to and from in your busy day. As opposed to, say, Rainforest Café, Tusker House is easily accessible for everyone.

2. The Patio

Tusker House has another really nice feature for those who don’t want the full buffet/character. Outside of the restaurant, by the waiting area, there is a lovely little patio that matches the theming of inside. There’s a bar right by it called the Dawa Bar stocked with South African wines and African beer, like the Tusker Lager. There, you can relax and order some of these delicious drinks before going on an actual safari – or you can just order the Lost on Safari cocktail!

1. The Wait

I know, I know, when would you ever love a wait? Well, if it’s Disney, you’re going to have to wait. So you might as well have a comfortable experience. The Tusker House does reservations so there actually is hardly much of a wait at all. But the waiting area is completely covered and spread out with benches and tables in the Harambe Village area. So it’s beautiful, comfortable, and not long. This seems like a win to me.