What words come to mind when you first think of Disney's Animal Kingdom? What feelings hit you as you approach this beautiful park from the dry parking lot? As a huge fan of Imagineering and Disney theme park design, its design is stunning. As a them park guest, as I walk to the entrance, there's this sense of relaxation and adventure at the same time. Quite the accomplishment, I'd say. That's only the beginning.
The unique mix of high octane thrill rides in beautifully calm and peaceful environments give the fourth Disney park in Florida its unique feel. Shops are now filled with plush and merchandise available in other parks, but there are still plenty of unique items in theme to each land. (Watch for an upcoming series of articles on the creation and evolution of this incredible park. The stories behind it and the concept art are really worth your time.)
Unexpectedly, from Day One, the quality and variety of food options here is only rivaled by those high end places found in Disney Springs. (Used to be that EPCOT Center's World Showcase held that distinction years ago, but there's been a notable downgrade in dining while the festival food booths risen to prominence.) That said, of all the places in Animal Kingdom with great food, Nomad Lounge is the best of them all, unless the ultra fine (and very expensive) dining of Tiffins is more your style.
But Nomad Lounge may not be for everyone.
Look at the menu outside in front to make sure this is your style.
Check out the Society of Explorers and Adventurers reference.
The current star attraction of Disney's Animal Kingdom is Flight of Passage in The World of Avatar / Pandora themed land. If your follow the very early morning crowds to get there, you'll walk right by the Nomad Lounge, so pay attention. You'll need to be intentional to return here and not forget it in the midst of some great attractions that are waiting for you: Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest will soon be joined in the forthcoming Tropical Americas land with an Encanto dark ride and a new version of the Indiana Jones Adventure.
An almost hidden view of this adult hideaway.
First come, first served walk up style seating is not my favorite, but I had a hunch this place would be worth waiting for. It took about 40 minutes to get seated, so we patiently waited nearly and enjoyed the surroundings and grabbed some photographs of what is quickly becoming my favorite Disney park in Florida.
The drinks or the appetizers- which ones are better?
Definitely the Bangkok Chicken Wings!
Sequestering inside out of the sometimes harsh Florida sun may be a treat for many people, but I cannot resist the allure of a patio. I was not disappointed! In some ways, it reminded me of favorite places in Hawaii. Not a bad comparison at all. There were no island breezes however. It was a quite hot afternoon, and the covering was a welcome one. The waterside seating was extremely comfortable, and the vibe felt a million miles away from Walt Disney World as well as the real world. Just perfect!
Leaving us just the right amount of time to settle in and look around, our server returned to take our drink order.
Lamu Libation (left and front) and Tempting Tigress (right and rear).
The adult drinks of choice varied in flavors and success, but they did not vary in price. Each one was enough guarantee that we had one drink each. As expected, there was a rum based drink (my choice), one with vodka, one with gin (normally my choice), and another with tequila. Concurrent with the rest of our trip, we all took turns trying each other's choices.
My wife chose the Lamu Libation, African Rum, Cruzan Banana Rum, and Guava Purée with Orange, Lime, and Pineapple Juices topped with more rum. My son's choice was obvious as he likes something much stronger and far less sweet: The Tempting Tigress- Bourbon, Allspice Dram Liqueur, Tamarind, and Lime Juice.
This is a drinks and small plates establishment. Most all of the adult beverages were priced as if they were meals! It's a trend I still can't get used to, so plan on spending in the neighborhood of $40 per person plus tax and tip for one small plate and one alcoholic drink.
The Night Monkey- dark rum, guava puree,
coffee simple syrup, lime juice and a touch of cilantro.
Time to place an order for something to nibble on. We certainly were not rushed to do so, but I always like having something in my system when I have a drink. It's pretty rare actually that I do drink, maybe one drink every 6 to 8 weeks when we're meeting friends, and that's about it at best. I will admit, it's different on vacation, though. I still will only have one drink an evening. Your mileage may vary.
What a difference traveling without small children!
An entirely more relaxed experience.
Featuring true to life flavors of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the menu was surprising in its variety and depth. But it was definitely not an extensive menu. Nor were the portions meal sized even if they cost the same as a full meal.
The Grilled Chicken Satay skewers were very good, but they paled in comparison to the incredible Bangkok Chicken Wings. I could eat these all day long! Crunchy, sweet, and even a bit tart, these were addictive. I'd say these are every bit as good as the ribs at Morimoto Asia or the very tasty ones at the now demolished Luau Cove. (Both recipes here.) In fact, they may be the best thing I ate on the trip whether we were at Disney or at Universal Orlando.
The Cuban Frida Sliders hit the spot, but I'd rank them below the Chicken Satay skewers, holding steady at last place of our three small plates. The meat was very good, and the Yuka fries did have a nice and very different flavor than the expected regular or sweet potatoes.
I should mention that the bread service was a solid choice. So were the vanilla dessert churros we finished with, which also came with a small container of melted chocolate. The starters and ending were secondary to the main small plates both in size and flavor. Anywhere else, these would both be considered excellent, so that is saying quite a bit.
This is a very strange thing to admit: an unexpected highlight was my restroom stop. Why? Diners have to pass through Tiffins to get there. This gave me a chance to peek into each of the dining rooms, even if it was rather quickly.
This room is truly beautiful!
There was barely anyone in this very expensive establishment, so the wait staff was fine to let me wander a bit. Some rooms were more elaborate than others, but each was special in their own way. Filled with Imagineering art and exotic artifacts, it was quite elegant and certainly a new high bar in Disney dining. And yes, even the bathrooms were beautiful.
Nomad Lounge is a unique entry in Walt Disney World dining and holds an interesting place in the choices, but is it a Dine or Ditch?
It's a very "Dine" if you're willing to spend a good amount of your hard earned cash for what amounts to a lengthy pit stop versus a full meal. If you hate theme parks or desire a break in touring and running from attraction to attractions this is the place for you. I'd also say this is a go if you like the idea of Tiffins but don't want to pay the over the top prices.
It's a definite "Ditch" this option if you have young children in your party. They will not appreciate the exotic flavors found here. Nor does the menu cater to the littlest park visitors. It's also a "Ditch" if you're wanting a hearty meal to sustain you. You will not find it here on Nomad Lounge's very limited menu.
Want more Dine or Ditch?
Check out these other reviews:
Mythos at Islands of Adventure
(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)
