Disney's Animal Kingdom Launches "Picnic in the Park"

[Figment!]

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has launched a new dining program called Picnic in the Park.

The following is the transcription of the brochures at the park advertising the new offering:

--------------------------------------------------

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Picnic in the Park
Turn your meal at Disney's Animal Kingdom ® Theme Park into an adventure with Picnic in the Park!
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM

Instructions

• Stop by the Picnic in the Park podium, located in front of Guest Relations at Disney's Animal Kingdom ® Theme Park to place your order, or visit the Tusker House Restaurant Podium in Africa.
• Select which tier of entrees you would like and your choice of gourmet sides and desserts.
• Each picnic comes in a reusable bag packed with plates and utensils, plus a map to help guide you to picnic spots through the Park.
• When placing your order, you'll also be able to select a pick-up time no sooner than two hours from the time the order is placed.
• You may pick up your order at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery, adjacent to the Tusker House Restaurant in Africa. Payment is due upon pick-up.
• If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, Picnic in the Park may be used as a Quick Service Meal. Requires one Adult entitlement per meal amount. For example, a Meal for Three will require three adult entitlements.

Tier 1 - Sandwiches
Select from Turkey Focaccia, Chicken Wrap, Ham Grinder, or Tuna Pita
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Meal for Three - $24.99 + tax
3 Sandwiches, 1 Large Gourmet Side, 3 Desserts or Fruit, 3 bottles of Dasani ® Water

Meal for Four - $32.99 + tax
4 Sandwiches, 2 Large Gourmet Side, 4 Desserts or Fruit, 4 bottles of Dasani ® Water

Meal for Five - $40.99 + tax
5 Sandwiches, 3 Large Gourmet Side, 5 Desserts or Fruit, 5 bottles of Dasani ® Water

Meal for Six - $48.99 + tax
6 Sandwiches, 4 Large Gourmet Side, 6 Desserts or Fruit, 6 bottles of Dasani ® Water
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Gourmet Sides (16 oz container)

• Chips
• Coleslaw
• Corn Medley
• Green Beans
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
• Orzo Pasta
• Oven-Baked Potato Wedges
• Seasonal Fruit Salad
• Tomato & Cucumber Salad

Desserts

• Apple
• Brownie
• Cookie
• Cornbread
• Crisped Rice Treat
• Orange

Tier 2 - Rotisserie Chicken or Ham
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Meal for Three - $29.99 + tax
6 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 lb of Ham, 2 Large Gourmet Side, 3 Desserts or Fruit, 3 bottles of Dasani ® Water

Meal for Four - $38.99 + tax
8 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/4 lb of Ham, 3 Large Gourmet Side, 4 Desserts or Fruit, 4 bottles of Dasani ® Water
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Meal for Five - $47.99 + tax
8 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/2 lb of Ham, 4 Large Gourmet Side, 5 Desserts or Fruit, 5 bottles of Dasani ® Water

Meal for Six - $56.99 + tax
12 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 3/4 lb of Ham, 5 Large Gourmet Side, 6 Desserts or Fruit, 6 bottles of Dasani ® Water
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Gourmet Sides (16 oz container)

• Chips
• Coleslaw
• Corn Medley
• Green Beans
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
• Orzo Pasta
• Oven-Baked Potato Wedges
• Seasonal Fruit Salad
• Tomato & Cucumber Salad

Desserts

• Apple
• Brownie
• Cookie
• Cornbread
• Crisped Rice Treat
• Orange

Menu subject to change without notice
Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
No Substitutions Allowed

Picnic Spots

Map of the Picnic Locations

Discover Island

• Near Discovery Island Trails
• Behind Pizzafari

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Camp Minnie-Mickey

• Two locations near Campfire Treats

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Africa

• Dawa Bar
• Behind Tusker House Restaurant
• Near Harambe Fruit Market
• Tamu Tamu Courtyard
• Near Bradley Falls

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Rafiki's Planet Watch

• Near Conservation Station

Asia

• Across from Flights of Wonder
• Across from Maharajah Jungle Trek
• Near Anadapur Ice Cream Truck
• Near Discovery River

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
DinoLand USA

• Across from Tricera Top Spin

[elmjimmlm]

My ? about this will be---can you not use this for a child credit? and I would also want to know if the areas for the picnic are shaded?

[brownie]

I like this idea, although I'd prefer to eat indoors in air conditioning when it's hot.

[disneyfan328]

I would also like to know how this will work. We have 2 adults and 2 kids in our party so in order to feed us all we have to use 4 adult TS credits?

[Figment!]

can you not use this for a child credit?

It does not appear so. The Pizza Packages at several resort hotels have similar redemption polices where the meal can only be redeemed using Adult Credits. This is likely due to the large price disparity between an Adult and Child plans and the resulting value disparity between Adult and Child credits.

We have 2 adults and 2 kids in our party so in order to feed us all we have to use 4 adult TS credits?

That is how the initial information reads.

One could always pay for this option out-of-pocket, if they wanted to experience this option with out redeeming the necessary amount of Adult credits.

I would also want to know if the areas for the picnic are shaded?

Dawa Bar has a covered seating area and I recall the seating area by Tamu Tamu Refreshments as being shaded during our last visit.

[disneyfan328]

You gotta love it when you call and they have no idea what you are talking about!!! Anyway I called DD and they checked with Guest Services and the CM told me that you can do a meal for two if you want, and it will take up 2 credits. I asked about kids and he said that he was told that it would be for a family of (4) 2 Adult CS credits and 2 child CS credits since there isn't really a kids menu. I don't know how much I can trust this at this point since he didn't seem to know anything about it at first, but this is what they said. It also doesn't jive with what was stated in the above posts that it is all adult CS. They just rolled this out today so maybe someone will come along that decides to purchase it and let us know for sure!

If we can use adult and child CS credits then we may do this as it sounds like it would be good. I like the option of Ham and sides vs. chicken that they have in lots of places. ok now I am hungry.

[Ian]

I like this idea, although I'd prefer to eat indoors in air conditioning when it's hot.

[BMan62]

So, this is for parties of 3 or more? I didn't see any options for parties of two.

[MickeyMousse]

I like the idea but wonder what happens when you pick up your food and have to search for a place to sit, with a table, in order to eat.

I see the list of spots.....but there's no guarantee that you'll find a seat or enough seats for your group. And who wants to cart around food all over the place?

Maybe they need to rope off sections for people who choose to "Picnic in the Park"????

[TheRustyScupper]

I would also like to know how this will work. We have 2 adults and 2 kids in our party so in order to feed us all we have to use 4 adult TS credits?

1) Absolutely.
2) After all,
. . . how do they know who is eating the food, kid or adult
. . . how do you downsize a sandwiche or a chicken

So, this is for parties of 3 or more? I didn't see any options for parties of two.

4) Two people take as many tables as three or four people
5) Plus, it is more economical to serve three or four than two.
6) Business is business.

[JPL]

Sounds like a good deal

But they left out a picnic for 2

[mrp4352]

Hmmm... I could see us ordering this about 2 hours before we leave the park for the evening and enjoying a "picnic in the hotel room"

[elmjimmlm]

Here is a thought...When we were there in Dec. and ordered from each CS restaurant, they told us that we could order anything from the menu because the credits were all the same and the kids could have whatever they wanted...This was even at places that offered a kid menu...So I just wonder if kids eat then will it just be considered a credit?

[OleDoleDoffin]

Hmmm... I could see us ordering this about 2 hours before we leave the park for the evening and enjoying a "picnic in the hotel room"

I was thinking the same thing! A picnic supper in an air conditioned hotel room could be a lovely end to a hot day.

From the way the press release is worded, both tiers can be redeemed on the Dining Plan - which could make this a very efficient option for those of us who are taking, and feeding, a small army!

[MickeyMousse]

Hmmm... I could see us ordering this about 2 hours before we leave the park for the evening and enjoying a "picnic in the hotel room"

I mentioned this new idea to DH and we thought it would be great to take back to the room with us as a nice, relaxing meal.
Can you imagine the smell on the bus???

[Zone Stop]

Picnic in the Park may be used as a Quick Service Meal. Requires one Adult entitlement per meal amount. For example, a Meal for Three will require three adult entitlements.

There shouldn't be much to worry about, as none of the Dining Plans differentiate between adult and child Quick Service meals, and there's no way they can justify using Table service coupons for this, based on the price.

[Figment!]

I do not wish to beleaguer the point any further, however; there is a differentiation in what a Child on the Disney Dining Plan and an Adult on the Disney Dining Plan can redeem a Quick Service meal for if the location has a Children's Menu.

The following is from the 2009 Disney Dining Plan official policy:

Guests ages 3-9 must order from the children's menu where available

Personal experience in the enforcement of this policy has been documented to vary, but to best adhere to the "Cheating the System" clause of the INTERCOT Terms of Service we do not discuss how policies are enforced.

As stated above, as there is no "child's menu" for this program this may fall under the printed exception.

[tys_mommy]

Picnic Spots

Discover Island

• Near Discovery Island Trails
• Behind Pizzafari

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Camp Minnie-Mickey

• Two locations near Campfire Treats

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Africa

• Dawa Bar
• Behind Tusker House Restaurant
• Near Harambe Fruit Market
• Tamu Tamu Courtyard
• Near Bradley Falls

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
Rafiki's Planet Watch

• Near Conservation Station

Asia

• Across from Flights of Wonder
• Across from Maharajah Jungle Trek
• Near Anadapur Ice Cream Truck
• Near Discovery River

Transcribed by INTERCOT.COM
DinoLand USA

• Across from Tricera Top Spin

Will these spots be reserved exclusively for the Picnic in the Park participants or can anyone visit these areas and enjoy snacks with a great atmosphere?

[pdrlkr]

Sounds interesting.

[Tigger&Stitch]

I love the idea! As soon as DH mentioned it (and this post) I immediately added the details to our planning spreadsheet for our upcoming trip.

Since none of the seating in AK is limited to particular restaurants anyway, we can always take the food to a gorgeous covered (and desolate) table area we discovered on our last trip if the heat is unbearable. Taking it back to the room is a great idea too!

For those who want to look at this (and other developments) in a negative light, well, that's your issue, I guess. Certainly don't participate in anything that you aren't interested in, but why moan about it? It's not as if WDW took away a favorite restaurant and replaced it with an unsavory option. It's just a new offering.

And if it is indeed cost cutting...again, so what? Are you are aware that the country is in a recession, and large companies have to cut costs somewhere? Esp if they hope to save jobs. In the end, you have to ask yourself if you go to the parks for the food, or for the entertainment. If you end up not really enjoying either one, maybe it's time to find a new place to vacation (unless, of course, you find a way to become the head of Disney and know of a better way to run things).