So, if you’ve been following along recently, you know that LOTS of changes are in store for Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Among them, Starbucks is due to open in mid-June, and the new Harambe Market will bring us FOUR new walkup food windows (along with merchandise shops) when it opens in late May. Add to that there are still rumors floating around about the possible addition of a Table Service restaurant to be located in part of what is currently Pizzafari… well, suffice it to say, the dining options at Animal Kingdom are certainly expanding!

With so many new food stops in the works, it’s bound to affect some of the established eateries around the park. In fact, we’ve already begun to see hints of change starting at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

You see, it’s located in the village of Harambe in Animal Kingdom’s Africa, so it’s just across the way from where the Market will be.

Since the Harambe Market will have a whole slew of new entrees to choose from, the menu at Tamu Tamu just switched over to focus entirely on desserts and drinks as opposed to its previous entrees like curry dishes and the Pulled Beef Sandwich.

Lucky me, I had a group of friends visiting Animal Kingdom who offered to try them ALL!

Or perhaps I should say, “Lucky THEM,” because altogether there are FIVE desserts on the menu!

While the Pineapple Whip Soft-serve (with Dark or Coconut Rum) has been available since last May, the Chocolate Waffle with Espresso Mousse, Double Chocolate-Chip Ice Cream Sandwich, Mickey Ice Cream Chocolate Cookie Sundae, and Chocolate-covered Espresso Beans are all BRAND NEW to Tamu Tamu!

Let’s take them one by one, starting with the Chocolate Waffle topped with an Espresso Mousse.

The group reported that the waffle was

nice and cripsy, and the espresso flavor in the mousse was really nice, but also subtle — more like a coffee ice cream taste, and therefore still an approachable dessert even for someone who isn’t big into coffee. One taste-tester mentioned, “Nutella would have sealed the deal to take it from a good snack to a must-get.” (I knew I liked her.)

While group consensus was an overall thumbs up on the taste, everyone agreed the portion could have been bigger for the $5.39 price tag (you can see how it’s really just one quarter of a round Belgian waffle).

Next up? The Double Chocolate-Chip Ice Cream Sandwich! You know how I feel about Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches, so I was definitely pleased to hear that this one landed the award for overall group favorite.

The cookie was said to be delicious with ample chocolate chips (if I may quote, “This cookie is legit” 🙂 ), even though it was harder than expected due to being served cold. But, hey, anything to help the ice cream keep its form on a hot Animal Kingdom day! Or at least try…

Considering those factors, it’s a definite fork and knife operation, but well worth it!

The Mickey Ice Cream Chocolate Cookie Sundae is… well, the picture really says it all.

It’s basically a scoop of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles, so there’s nothing too special here. Still, finicky kiddos may be pleased with the chocolate cookie ears (reported to be hard/crunchy) for the added cute factor.

Opinions were mixed on the pre-packaged Chocolate-covered Espresso Beans.

For those who haven’t tried some version of this treat at your local coffee shop, these are noted for their very strong coffee flavor (you’re biting directly into an espresso coffee bean surrounded by dark chocolate, just as the name implies 😉 ).

A little too much coffee for the non-coffee drinker, according to one of my buddies. However, another noted them as being a good “upper” for a hot day at Disney! At the same time, though, it was reported that the version you can purchase at Starbucks is much better, so you may want to save your bucks here for the ‘Bucks.

Before we check out the final dessert, my friends also tried one beverage that you won’t see on the main menu: the African Coffee.

You’ll often see it mentioned on a little tabletop sign propped in front of the registers, letting you know that it’s $8.00. Essentially coffee with Amarula topped with whipped cream, it’s a “pretty tasty” way to get a little more kick with your caffeine fix!

So, how about a good ol’ Pineapple Soft-serve (Dole) Whip to finish? And why not with a shot of Coconut Rum while we’re at it?

Though it’s pretty much your standard Dole Whip (nothin’ wrong with that!), we learned last spring at the Flower and Garden Festival’s Pineapple Promenade that the combo of Pineapple Soft-serve and coconut rum just works. My friends informed me, though, that the one served up at Epcot during the Festival is stronger. Good to know!!

Something else my friends reminded me about… remember that if you have any questions regarding ingredients or allergy concerns, you can always speak with Cast Members working at the location. They may be able to produce one of these handy binders showcasing nutritional information, ingredients, etc.

You can see below the images of all of the ingredients — very helpful.

And with that we wrap up our first of what’s bound to be many visits to Animal Kingdom in the coming months! MANY thanks to @danielwanderman, anony-mouse, @disdug, @jellicle0, and @shalongiven for taking one for the team ;), and helping us out!

What do you think of the desserts-only menu at Tamu Tamu? Please let us know with a comment!