Tusker House Restaurant is a character buffet located in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and is known for its wide variety of flavorful dishes and the opportunity to see Mickey and friends in their safari gear. Tusker House is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is considered one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
Breakfast- $35 per child and $52 per adult
Lunch and Dinner – $42 per child and $64 per adult
While there are many character dining experiences at Walt Disney World, some shine more than others. Unfortunately, character meals often trade atmosphere and food quality for the opportunity to interact with favorite Disney friends. Tusker House is a hidden gem that combines both a great meal, peaceful atmosphere, and immersive character interaction.
Both the interior and exterior of Tusker House match the theming of Harambe Village with intricate detail and an authentic feel. Tusker House truly does feel like you have stepped off safari and into a dining hall. This is also a large restaurant, often making it easier to get a dining reservation. When we visited Tusker House in the late afternoon, the restaurant was very quiet which meant less noise and more time with characters.
Characters
Speaking of characters – you’re going to meet Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck. Unique to Tusker House, the gang is outfitted in their safari best. Be sure to check out the patches on Donald’s field jacket – you’ll find patches from different areas of the park including the almost-extinct Dinoland Institute. In addition to the characters signing autographs and taking pictures, they also parade through the dining room every hour to a very cute “Jambo” song where guests are encouraged to dance and interact with the characters more.
We were at Tusker House during a slow period which meant we met all of the characters almost too many times to count. This would no doubt be a magical moment for most families. Daisy showed us all of her best poses, Goofy did the “Hot Dog” dance, and Donald even suggested signing my son’s Donald hat. While the restaurant was quieter than usual, I’m pleased to say I’ve been able to meet all the characters at least twice every time I’ve dined. Now onto the menu –
Specialty Cocktails
Breads and Dips
- Curry corn cakes, za’atar naan, honey rosemary roti, and potato masala
- Accompanied by whipped butter, apricot raisin blatjang, and coriander chutney
Salads
- Couscous salad, carrot-olive-raisin salad, lentil salad, and watermelon-feta salad
- Build your own salad with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers chickpeas, shredded carrots, red onions, feta, and croutons
- House-made ranch, peri peri vinaigrette, and coconut curry vinaigrette
- Ham, turkey, cheese cubes, and fresh cut fruit
Entrees and Sides
- Jasmin rice, doro wat chicken curry, and green curry shrimp
- Couscous, braised beef tajine, and African-stewed black eyed peas
- South African-spiced cauliflower, North African pilau, potato and pea curry, and carrot-ginger soup with cardamon granola
- Za’atar honey-roasted plantains, spicy North African meatballs, and rotisserie pork with raita
- Tandoori spit roasted chicken and chermoula salmon
- Accompanied by chimichurri and tandoori sauces
Kid’s Picks
- House-made macaroni and cheese, meatballs, and chicken strips with BBQ sauce
- Corn, steamed broccoli, and diced potatoes with ketchup
Desserts
- South African French toast pudding, hummingbird cake, guava mousse, pot de creme, spice road blondie, pumpkin cheesecake tart, pineapple cupcakes, and sugar cookies.
Thoughts on the Food
For such a diverse menu, we were surprised how much we liked everything we tried. There wasn’t any one thing that wasn’t good. Additionally, there was a great mix of adventurous foods like curry and tandoori spices with very tasty versions of classics like macaroni and cheese and rotisserie chicken. In fact we agree the macaroni and cheese is the best we’ve had at Walt Disney World. Just goes to show, you can never rule out the “kids section” of the buffet. Other must have items include the green curry shrimp, chicken curry, chermoula salmon, and South African French toast for dessert. Which brings me to another gold star for Tusker House – the desserts were all good! They may look like standard Disney buffet desserts but they all had unique ingredients and were freshly made. We especially loved the pumpkin cheesecake tart if you’re lucky enough to visit in the fall!
Overall Thoughts
Tusker House is a stand-out Disney buffet and an exceptional character meal. We literally had no complaints and so enjoyed our leisurely lunch. Tusker House is a great fit if you want to meet Mickey and friends while also having a memorable meal. Not only is the menu something unique but the experience feels thoughtful. In my opinion, Tusker House really is the best character meal at Walt Disney World and one of the best Disney buffets!
To learn more about Tusker House and hear our full review be sure to watch the Disney Dining Show–
