Tusker House at A.K. Rehab and Character Meal Update

Here%26#39;s an updated report about the new Tusker House character meal and the conversion of the restaurant at Animal Kingdom.

';Tusker House, at Animal Kingdom is being converted to a buffet service restaurant to open in early November. It will offer a Character Breakfast called Donald%26#39;s Safari Breakfast and will offer non-character buffets for lunch and dinner. It will be open from 8am - 10:30am for Breakfast and 11:30 until park closing for lunch and dinner. Both indoor and outdoor seating will be available.

To make the necessary renovations, Tusker house will be closed from August 20 until November 17th. During this time, the Safari Celebration Dinner Grand Gathering will be unavailable. The last Safari Grand Gathering will be on August 19th. It will return on November 25th.

Donald%26#39;s Breakfastosaurus character breakfast will end after November 5th. Restaurantosaurus wil continue to be open as a quick service restaurant from 10:30am until park closing.

Reservations will not be needed for the outdoor seating since that area will not be part of the Character Breakfast.

Once Tusker House reopens, the Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery will remain open but only from the outdoor window.

At this time the characters at the new breakfast will be Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy (of course that is always subject to change and daily availablity of the stars).';

Tusker House at A.K. Rehab and Character Meal Update

Thanks Kat so glad Breakfastosaurus is being replaced, hopefully it%26#39;ll be a better character meal. Thanks for the update!

Tusker House at A.K. Rehab and Character Meal Update

Thanks for the info kat. Glad the Kusafiri Coffee Shop will stay open, I always grab a cup of coffee ( some of the best on Disney Property ) and an apple turnover or muffin ( Yummy ) before getting on line for the Safari Ride. I would not like to break tradition. We might be going back in Dec. Do you think they will start taking Reservations 180 days ahead of time even tho they won%26#39;t open until just before we would be going? Was wodering about that for the new Restaurant in Italy @ EPCOT also.

Partypa,

Concerning the 180 reses. on the Tusker House, I%26#39;d say give them a call at the 180 day point and see. That%26#39;s directly before Thankgiving (when they open back up), so it may be quite popular in the beginning.

As far as the Italian restaurant at Epcot, here%26#39;s the info the ';allears'; site has on it:

';Patina Restaurant Group Assumes Italy Pavilion Restaurant

Several weeks ago, it was announced that L%26#39;Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante in the Italy pavilion in Epcot%26#39;s World Showcase would be closing August 31, 2007. The Patina Restaurant Group has been named as the operating participant for the restaurant beginning September 1. The Patina Group was one of the original operating participants at the Disneyland Resort%26#39;s Downtown Disney district.

';We are proud of our long-term relationship with the Walt Disney Comapny and are gratified to see it grow, '; said Nick Valenti, president and CEO, Patina Restaurant Group. ';Disney is a name synonymous with quality and creativity -- two characteristics that we strive to emulate,'; added Joachim Splichal, chef and founder of the Patina Group. ';We look forward to developing a truly outstanding restaurant for the visitors to Epcot.';

';The World Showcase at Epcot was designed to continually evolve and offer new guest experiences that showcase cultures, traditions and immersive entertainment,'; said Maribeth Bisienere, vice president, Alliance Development and Operating Participants, Walt Disney World Resort. ';With the Patina Restaurants Group coming on board, our guests will have the best of both worlds -- gourmet cuisine and first-class services. We%26#39;re very excited to have an industry leader like the Patina Restaurant Group operating the Italy pavilion restaurant.';

The Patina Restaurant Group is the nation%26#39;s leading multi-concept operation in the premium segments of the restaurant and food service industry. In New York City its portfolio includes the world-famous Ice Rink and The Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center; the Brasserie; and the Grand Tier at the Metropolitan Opera House. On the West Coast, the portfolio includes the renowned Patina Restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall; Nick and Stef%26#39;s Steakhouse; Catal and three other restaurants in the Anaheim Disneyland Resorts Downtown Disney District; Leatherby%26#39;s Cafe Rouge at the Orange County Performing Arts Center; Julia%26#39;s Kitchen at COPIA in Napa; Pinot Brasserie in Las Vegas; and catering and food service in museums and cultural centers throughout Southern California.';

Thanks again kat. We have always like Alfredo di Roma but look forward to any New Restaurant at Disney. One of our favorite things to do is EAT our way around ';The World'; so something new and different makes it even more special and going during the Free Dinning is an added bonus. I still have to make 1 more reservation for Sept. I might try for Italy.

When are you going in September?

I%26#39;ll be a P.O.R. with free dining from 9/18 to 9/23.

Going 15th - 21st, staying at AKL. Was a toss up between AKL and POR. Stayed at POR last week Sept til 4th of Oct. and loved it. Taking my Great Niece for her First Disney Trip and she Loves Animals so thought AKL would be a Great experience for her.

Here%26#39;s our schedule for our time at WDW:

Tuesday---arrive at P.O.R., check in, head to Downtown Disney that night.

Wednesday--Animal Kingdom for morning to early afternoon, then park hopping over to MGM for evening and Fantasmic. Dinner at Sci-Fi Cafe

Thursday--Magic Kingdom (Morning EMH) all day; dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Friday--Islands of Adventure/Universal Studios; dinner at the Polynesian Luau at Disney

Saturday--Epcot full day with dinner at LeCellier

Sunday--(snif, snif) head home after a much too short stay.

Sorry Kat, didn%26#39;t see this til just now.

Our plan so far is as follows

Sat. just abit of DTD for dinner

Sun. MK, lunch at Crystal Palace

Mon. MGM, dinner at Mama Melrose

Tues. EPCOT, princess breakfast at Akershus

Wed. AK, dinner Boma @ AKL

Thurs. MK, late breakfast, zip over to Contempory Chef Mickey%26#39;s

This trip will be all about our little princess having the time of her life. She just turned 5 and loves all things Disney, hence the two days for MK. No time for waterparks this trip but we do intend to spend alot of time at the AKL Pool and Hot Tub. I have to start each day with a little Hot Tub or I can%26#39;t get thru all those miles of walking !