Boma Breakfast in the Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge — Photo by Dan Heaton

When traveling to Walt Disney World with our young kids, I usually don’t consider the more high-end restaurants. It doesn’t seem worth the effort, particularly with picky eaters. After booking the Animal Kingdom Lodge for four nights, I figured we’d just dine at The Mara and within the parks. Boma still intrigued me, however. Our departure wasn’t until noon on our final day, so that left enough time for a good meal. Sanaa opened too late, and securing a breakfast slot at Boma for around 9 a.m was easy. I booked the ADR about a month before our trip, which made me again enjoy the flexibility of a January vacation.

Boma is regarded as one of the top buffets at Walt Disney World, especially for dinner. I chose breakfast mostly due to our schedule but also because the price was reasonable. My younger daughter is under three and still free. The total price for two adults and one child fell just short of $60 before tip, which is not outlandish given all the options. The restaurant is located on the resort’s first floor just a short walk downstairs from the lobby. It’s a convenient location for guests heading to the parks and resort hoppers.

One constant throughout our stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge was great cast members, and our server at Boma was no exception. This gregarious man was charming and easy to locate without being around too often. We sat near a tall window and had a nice view of the path heading towards the pool and The Mara. Unlike Sanaa, Boma does not offer views of the savanna. Even so, it’s still an interesting location with attractive fixtures. There’s a different feeling there than at a normal theme park restaurant. The tables are close together but not too cramped.

Jungle Juice at Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge — Photo by Dan Heaton

Not Your Typical Disney Food

Boma offers a nice mix of standard breakfast fare with less common options. There were more than enough choices for us and the girls, yet it never felt overwhelming. This isn’t a Vegas-style buffet and still feels intimate within the open dining area. The quality was high even with normal dishes like eggs and bacon. Boma’s signature drink is the Jungle Juice, and it’s quite tasty…maybe too tasty. The mix of orange juice, passion fruit juice, and guava juice is sweet but not overwhelming. I also had quite a lot of the coffee, which was also a solid choice.

The highlight was easily the French toast bread pudding, good on its own but pushed to new heights by the pecan caramel sauce. I can’t imagine the sugar content in this dish, but it was definitely worth it. The other unique option that I tried was the turkey bobotie, which mixed eggs, meat, and fruit to create quite an interesting combo. If you’re looking for an African dish that isn’t commonly available, the bobotie is the way to go. It wasn’t a personal favorite and was a little on the heavy side, but I’d suggest giving it a shot. A highlight from the more typical breakfast fare was the sausage, which were miles beyond the typical hotel breakfast.

Eggs, bacon, and french toast bread pudding at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge — Photo by Erin Heaton

So Many Options

What really made Boma click was the broad selection for my daughters, who each have different preferences. Along with the Mickey waffles and various pastries, there were lots of fruits and other familiar options. Both girls had plenty to eat and really enjoyed the atmosphere. It isn’t always easy to find a cool location that checks all the boxes, so it was refreshing to have one at our resort. It was the perfect way to get started on a long day of travel back home.

I loved our experience at Boma; it was easily one of the dining highlights in our recent trip. I do recognize that the price is still high for breakfast given all the other costs at Walt Disney World. You may not be ready to shell out more than $20 per person to start the day. I should note that Boma does offer a 10% discount to Disney Visa holders, which is fairly rare. Another consideration is that a buffet may offer too much food if you’re heading for a fast-paced day at the parks. It makes little sense to visit a buffet and not eat a good amount of food.

Boma probably works best on your departure day, a day at the resort, or even a more relaxed day at the parks. It could fit well if you’re heading to the Animal Kingdom nearby and don’t mind a slower pace. For the right situation, I’d highly recommend Boma as an excellent breakfast choice for almost any type of guest. I’ll close with more photos to give you a better idea of our experience at Boma.