Enjoy a Delicious Meal with Character at Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Character meals are a fun way to dine when you're at the Walt Disney World Resort and one of our favorites is the Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This character meal buffet is often thought of as "off the radar" for some folks, but with its delicious food and incredible themeing, this spot rivals any of the more "popular" character meals in our book.

Fun characters and great food await you at Tusker House!

Tusker House is located in the Africa section at Disney's Animal Kingdom and it really is sort of tucked out of the way. The check-in area is located outside and there's a nice waiting area for the restaurant. You might even notice a few tables outside, but don't worry all the seating is in the air conditioned building. The tables are leftover "relics" from days past.

The themeing of Tusker House is, in a word, amazing. Guests are seated in areas that are themed as a Safari Company complete with signs for safari drivers and their assignments, tour departure signs, and more.

Amazing decor inside Tusker House

Meanwhile, the buffet area of the restaurant is designed to look like an open-air market. Take some time to look at the details of the food carts which have been fashioned from whatever random items the "villagers" could find.

A note about the buffet setup at Tusker House: While "traditional buffets" means guests stay in one spot in line and meander through filling their plates, the cast members at Tusker House will remind guests that they are free to wander to each station and you don't have to stay in one spot in line.

Speaking from experience, some guests don't hear these directions and they might be angry if you "cut" in line to get some scrambled eggs before them. It always pays to listen to the cast members and their directions.

Part of the buffet line at Tusker House

But perhaps the thing the kids (of all ages!) will appreciate more than anything at Tusker House is the appearance of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck in their safari gear. Up until this spring only breakfast and lunch were character meals at Tusker House, but now dinner is known as Donald's Safari Dinner. At dinner guests will have a chance to meet Donald and Daisy Duck.

Say 'hi' to Goofy!

At breakfast guests will find the traditional Disney breakfast foods including Mickey waffles, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, breads, and more. The African-inspired eats at breakfast include spiced corn beef hash, beef bobotie, coconut sweet potato casserole, sweet plantains, basmati rice, and more. As it is a buffet, items are subject change.

Lunch and dinner include baked salmon, spit-roasted meats (be sure you check out the "wall of flames" where they spit-roast the meats!), potatoes, rice, salads, Cape Malay curried chicken, seafood stew with tamarind barbecue sauce, fruit, breads, and more.

Cape Malay Curried Chicken at Tusker House

A kid-friendly buffet is also available at each meal for the younger members of your party (or for those grownup with less-adventurous palates).

If you have plans to visit Walt Disney World Resort during Thanksgiving this year, Tusker House is serving up a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Regardless of when you're dining, we recommend making Advance Dining Reservations for your meal at Tusker House.

Have you enjoyed a meal at Tusker House? Leave us a comment and us know what you thought about your experience.

Many thanks to the Disney Food Blog for use of their photos.