It’s been fairly quiet in Disney’s Animal Kingdom as of late… but all that’s about to change! Disney has provided a few glimpses of what will be the new Harambe Market, opening in late May!
Harmabe Market © Disney
Disney shares that the story behind the Market revolves around it serving as a center of commerce and place of welcome for visitors from all around the world who come to the village in order to explore the animals of Africa on the reserve.
Harambe Marketplace © Disney
While the marketplace will also feature merchandise spots, food will be the focus, featuring four walk-up windows serving African-inspired street food, with seating for over 200 guests. The idea is to wander and find what catches your fancy, though you may find it hard to decide…
© Disney
Kitamu Grill will be serving up Skewered Chicken as as well as a Kabob Flatbread Sandwich.
Kitamu Grill © Disney
Kabob Flatbread Sandwich © Disney
Skewered Chicken © Disney
Famous Sausages will feature sausage Corn Dogs, with the unique distinction of
being dipped in a curry-infused corn batter.
Famous Sausages © Disney
Corn Dogs at Famous Sausages © Disney
Chef Mwanga’s will be home to the Spice-rubbed Karubi Rib, served with a green papaya-carrot slaw.
Chef Mwanga’s © Disney
Disney Chef Lenny DeGeorge shares that “the karubi rib is our version of the giant turkey legs served in the Disney theme parks.”
Spice-rubbed Karubi Ribs © Disney
Wanjohi Refreshments will serve plenty of cold beverages including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. In addition to the Safari Amber Lager, six South African wines will be served by the glass, among other libations. The Starr of Harambe frozen cocktail will feature Starr African Rum blended with mango puree.
With so many new food additions on the way, there could be changes among the offerings at other Animal Kingdom eateries; indeed, one has already taken place. Tamu Tamu Refreshments — also located in the Village of Harambe — previously featured a rotating menu of curry dishes and items like the popular Pulled Beef Sandwich. However, the menu has just changed to focus entirely on desserts including a Chocolate Waffle with Espresso Mousse, Chocolate-covered Espresso Beans, a Mickey Ice Cream Chocolate Cookie Sundae, and a Double Chocolate-Chip Ice Cream Sandwich. Oh, and Pineapple soft-serve (with and without rum), is still up for grabs there, too!
I don’t know about you, but I’m loving what I’m seeing so far! While many changes to Animal Kingdom have been a long time coming — including the upcoming Starbucks and evening spectaculars in addition to the Market — it seems to me that it will all be well worth the wait.
Which of Animal Kingdom’s expansions are you most looking forward to? Please let us know with a comment!
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Curry Corn Dog! Sounds good!
This is wonderful! I love reading about all of the expansions going on at WDW, especially if they involve food. I think it would be cool if there were a VERY LARGE indoor marketplace with walk-up windows serving street food and stands selling “local” wares with a perpetual night time feeling (Ã la Mexico pavilion, but more space to walk around and live music and street performers). Just food for thought. Hopefully they’ll have some nice lighting at night in the Harambe Marketplace. Maybe some twinkling lights in the trees and some lights draped over the walking/eating areas.
Keep up the great work dfb. I lived in Florida more than 30 years and was a WDW passholder for several. Now I live in Europe, but I still read dfb almost daily to be ready whenever I visit Florida family and friends. But living in Europe lets me go to Disneyland Paris (twice already) and on the Disney cruises (2nd one this summer) over here!
As long as I can still have my Bloody Marys from Dawa Bar I am a happy camper.
Was hoping they would be serving more exotic game from Africa rather than just new prepartions or chicken or beef. Dishes like wildebeest, antelope, warthog, etc. would be more interesting and authentic to African cuisine.
I’m hoping late May means I might catch some of this in soft open before May 22.
As long as they avoid using the term “African bushmeat” in their exotic foods…:p
I like the looks of the Kabob Flatbread Sandwich; I’d cerainly give that a try. Then I’d finish with a cupcake dessert at the bakery (probably an elephant cupcake)!
I’m so excited for this! Animal Kingdom desperately needs this sort of thing.
I’m hoping for a few good vegetarian options. I feel pretty limited at Animal Kingdom… especially since I can’t have too much dairy either so that eliminates pizza.
I never knew you could eat in here. I thought the village was just part of the theme. I will definately be trying the sausages on our next trip!
I continue to love the trend of more sophisticated specialty counter service options at WDW. I tell my friends now that if they go to a Disney park and eat nothing but chicken nuggets and hot dogs there whole trip they did Disney wrong!!!
I’m with Mindy; where are the vegetarian dishes? I live in an area with many Africans from a variety of countries, with an African market a mile away from me, and I know they have some savory vegetable stews and the like that would be nice to find there. We have avoided Flametree Barbecue for years because there is nothing there for me to eat besides fruit salad (how hard would it be to offer grilled veggie skewers and rice?).
Keith, on the assumption you are at least partly serious, I don’t think you will be seeing that type of exotic meat at a walk-up counter in Animal Kingdom. First off, some of them are not available commercially in this country, and secondly, they are expensive when they are. Further, the Africans I know like chicken and fish for main dishes as well as goat, beef and pork (in non-Muslim areas), so those are just as valid offerings, especially for a walk-up market stall. My husband would definitely be up for trying the more exotic selections though if some were offered. He’s already a fan of venison and wild boar. 🙂
If the area music is on par with the great details and colors, I’ll be more than happy enough to soak up some ambiance here. 🙂
Now to figure out how to keep from melting on those 90 degree summer days…
Any ideas on when official prices will be available and if any options will count as CS credits or Snack credits on the Disney Dining plan?
Ostrich is a good “compromise ” on exotic game meat. It can be raised domestically on farms. (Not sure if there are any suppliers near Disney.) Great tasting (less game-y than many other exotic choices) and still authentic. Would be a wonderful addition to an Animal Kingdom menu– could be done as burgers as well.