Tiffins Signature Dining in Animal Kingdom
After an exciting nighttime safari ride and disembarking from our Kilimanjaro Safari truck, I had the opportunity and pleasure to experience one of the best high-end restaurants on Walt Disney World Resort’s property, Tiffins. Located in the Discovery Island section of Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Tiffins is all about the story telling of how Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park came to life!
Tiffins is considered to be a signature restaurant at Walt Disney World; meaning it is in a higher price range and if you are on either Disney’s Plus Dining Plan or Disney’s Deluxe Dining Plan, a meal here will deduct 2 table service credits from each guest booked on the reservation. Currently, Tiffins offers lunch and dinner and it is highly recommended to make reservations to dine here. It’s no wonder why! This restaurant has amazing service and is as delicious as any 5-star restaurant found on property or in any city! Walt Disney World’s website describes Tiffins as “a culinary expedition of international cuisine” and features a “world of flavors”!
Tiffins also participates in a new Rivers of Light Dining Package; meaning you can make a lunch or dinner reservation here and upon completion of your meal, you will receive a card to access a preferred seating section at Animal Kingdom’s newest nighttime spectacular, Rivers of Light!
I was fortunate to experience this signature restaurant by an invitation along with some fellow travel
industry members. We were treated to a personalized menu that allowed us to taste and experience many of the wonderfully delicious offerings this restaurant has. Tiffins’ standard menu features exciting, exotic and flavorful options!
While we were making ur beverage and meal decisions, our 
wonderful server brought us some complimentary Pomegranate Focaccia bread with a side of pomegranate, molasses, and olive oil was brought out for us to enjoy while we contemplated what to choose! I loved how all of these flavors worked perfectly together and it was the perfect touch to prepare us for the exciting dishes to come!
Our dinner began with a beverage selection from their extensive specialty beverage menu featured in a leather bound journal. Our first course was an appetizer trio sampler featuring their Roasted Baby Beets, Lobster-Popcorn Thai Curry Soup and Black-Eyed Pea Fritters. The bites were perfectly sized enough for us to experience the flavorful combinations of ingredients that made them so appetizing and tasteful! Although they were all amazing, my personal favorite was the Black-Eyed Pea Fritter featuring Zhough (which is like a spicy herb sauce) and Peppadew (a sweet piquante pepper) Puree. Although I only had one fritter on my plate, I would have easily eaten the normal appetizer size that has 3 of these tasty fritters!
My tablemates and I all chose a different entree and that was with a specific reason! Being the Disney
food fans that we are, we wanted to sample one another’s dishes to enhance our experience of the exotic and unique options that are available! Bite after bite, we were not disappointed! I chose the Chermoula-Rubbed Chicken. 
It was an explosion of flavors that captivated me with each bite I took! It was paired impeccably with my glass of perfectly chilled Moscato that I chose at the beginning of our meal. The chicken dish had a nicely cooked couscous, dried fruits, Picholine olives, preserved lemon, and Harissa yogurt. Let me just say that I know what I will order on my next visit to Tiffins! This dish left a major impact on my taste buds and my head! 
I was able to sample a bite of Tiffins’ famous Wagyu Striploin & Braised Short Ribs and it was extremely tender and flavorful! Another tablemate chose the vegetarian option of Roasted Vegetable Curry and it was amazing as well!
When our main course was done, it was time for dessert and WOW, we were we in for a treat! Our plate featured a dessert duo from their main dessert menu. First, was a South American Chocolate Ganache; which had a caramelized banana and Cocoa Nib Tuile (a crisp caramel treat). This dessert was dark and rich! We also had a serving of Calamansi Mousse with mango lava and Swiss meringue. Think of this dessert as fresh, light and flavorful! It even had an edible flower on it! Needless to say, these desserts were some of the most delicate and delightful after dinner mentions I’ve had. No detail was forgotten…from the edible flower, to the artful drizzles and chocolate sculpted shavings!
As with all table service meals on property at Walt Disney World, if anyone in your dining party has special or restrictive dietary needs, it can be noted on your reservation and a chef will personally come to your table to discuss the needs and present their customized options for your party member.
If a full meal isn’t in your dining cards, located adjacent Tiffins is the Nomad Lounge. Here you will find an extensive beverage menu, featuring both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options and also a small bite menu. The Nomad Lounge is a great place to seek refuge from the heat, slow down, and eat & drink some options you may not find anywhere else!
When we were done with our meal, we were able to tour the restaurant and take in the sights and stories that are told all throughout. The restaurant features 3 dining rooms. The Safari Gallery, Grand Gallery, and the Trek Gallery. Our meal was in the Safari Gallery and it is all about the story of how Animal Kingdom Theme Park came to be! You will find a Baobab Tree sculpture; which is the inspiration behind Animal Kingdom’s main icon, The Tree of Life! 
There are photos, journals, drawings, sculptures and more on the walls depicting the ideas. Everywhere you look, you’ll learn something new and interesting behind the thoughts and ideas that Disney’s Imagineers had when pla
nning out the theme park! The other galleries feature wildlife sculptures, lighted sculptures, conservation information, wooden totem poles, folk art, luxurious colors and appointments, and more! On your visit, feel free to walk around to explore the different galleries and take it all in!
Our dinner ended on a special note and we were handed cards with a sketch on it from Joe Rhode, himself. My card features a Tibetan religious monument, or Chorten.
I found myself lost in thought on my ride back to my resort thinking that I had just had one of the best meals in my life and at Walt Disney World to date. I’ve eaten at many of the top restaurants on property and Tiffins absolutely blew me away. So much that I can’t wait to return and bring my family with me for them to experience the sights and tastes that await them beyond those heavy wooden doors carved with animals which invite you in as you transition from an outside world of hustle and bustle to an inside a world of exotic travels, stories and food. The dining experience here is not just about the food; it goes beyond that. It’s about the story, ambiance, beauty and appreciation of what was involved from concept to completion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme 
Park and all it represents. Tiffins may be a bit pricier than most restaurants on Walt Disney World
Resort’s property, but what you get for your money in my opinion, is well worth it. I’ve never had
such exotic flavors and dishes in such a luxurious and worldly setting. Tiffins is always mentioned to my clients when we talk about their dining plans and I get excited when they request me to make reservations for them when their dining window opens up. I just know what awaits them beyond those wooden doors, and can’t wait to hear about their dining experience when they are done! I hope my experience has encouraged you to give Tiffins a try on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation! Contact me for more information or for a free no obligation vacation quote at: adeles@101dreamvacations.com
Adele Snook is a travel professional with 101 Dream Vacations, she lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter. They enjoy their quality time and making memories at Disney along with other destinations. Contact her today to start planning your next vacation.