Picnic in the Park About This Page:

[Mystic]

Have a question for anyone that has been to Animal Kingdom lately. We picked up the 2010 WDW Birnbaum Guide and they list the Picnic in the Park at Animal Kindgom as a Summer-Only dining option. I was wondering if anyone who has been to AK recently noticed if they were still offering the Picnic in the Park as a dining option. We're heading to WDW in 4 weeks and we were considering doing Picnic in the Park the day we're at AK. I just want to make sure it's still available the day we go.

[Caldercup]

I have never heard anyone discuss it as a summer only offering -- I wonder if that phrasing was originally used on marketing lit during its test phase (sort of a reserve on having to continue it past the first few months.)

Eileen

[shannonwellnitz]

I was there the beginning of October and it was still being advertised. I didn't do it, but there were definitely signs around for it.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by shannonwellnitz

I was there the beginning of October and it was still being advertised. I didn't do it, but there were definitely signs around for it.

I just got a little concerned when it said in the 2010 Birnbaum book that it was a "Summer Only" dining option since we're planning to do Picnic in the Park if the weather is decent when we're there next month.

[shannonwellnitz]

Let me know how it is, it is something I have always wanted to try!

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by shannonwellnitz

Let me know how it is, it is something I have always wanted to try!

If we do it, I'll post a review. We only plan to do Picnic in the Park if the weather is decent, i.e. not too hot, not too cold (it is December after all and last December we FROZE!) and it's not raining.

[Desurae]

We did it in early October. It was very tasty. We just ordered enough for DH and I and then sat in the Restarantosaurus (sp?) and ate it while DD had pizza. This was nice since it was so hot and humid outside.

[yalibrarian]

Birnbaum is a nice basic guide, but it is published way ahead of year's end and I have often found little things that are no longer quite accurate. We buy a copy every few years as my son likes to look at the pictures (he has autism), but for accurate information, I rely on PassPorter. Updates are even available online, so in my opinion, PassPorter is the most current book for WDW. Since PassPorter now has great color pictures, we may be able to skip the Birnbaum next time.

There have been lots of reviews of the Picnic from folks who have done it recently, and we plan to try it when we are there in 26 days. Try this link for some current reviews:
AllEars.net Review Page - Picnic in the Park - Animal Kingdom - Powered by ReviewPost

[audrey77]

We did PIP last Wednesday. It's still there! Although, it didn't seem like many guests knew about it...

We ate at the covered bar/waiting area at Tusker House.

[PamelaK]

We are planning to do PIP for lunch on Thanksgiving day. (According to another website, this park will be the least busy on Thanksgiving Day.)

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by yalibrarian

Birnbaum is a nice basic guide, but it is published way ahead of year's end and I have often found little things that are no longer quite accurate. We buy a copy every few years as my son likes to look at the pictures (he has autism), but for accurate information, I rely on PassPorter. Updates are even available online, so in my opinion, PassPorter is the most current book for WDW. Since PassPorter now has great color pictures, we may be able to skip the Birnbaum next time.

There have been lots of reviews of the Picnic from folks who have done it recently, and we plan to try it when we are there in 26 days. Try this link for some current reviews:
AllEars.net Review Page - Picnic in the Park - Animal Kingdom - Powered by ReviewPost

I also buy the passporter, waiting for my 2010 book infact, but we like to have both books on hand because there are parts of the Birnbaum book that we like over the passporter. I just wanted to make sure that the Picnic in the Park was still available in the non-summer season seeing as we're due to arrive at Disney on Dec 1 and were looking to do the picnic when we hit AK. I've read all the current reviews and already know it's something that we want to do. I just wanted to know if it was something that was still being offered in the 'off' season.

Thanks to all of you who posted saying you've done the picnic recently. That's makes me feel confident that I'll be able to do the picnic when I arrive at AK in a month's time.

[WHMom]

The Touring Plans folks just did a "WDW Today" podcast about this recently (episode 637), and they made no mention of it being a seasonal offering. Disney World News From The Unofficial Guide - TouringPlans.com Blog I can't wait to try it out in December!

[yalibrarian]

Well, Mystic, we may run into each other there as you will be at WDW the same time as my family--and we plan on doing the AK Picnic.

And there's nothing wrong with Birnbaum; I think it's a nice book to give someone who has never been before or who subscribes to the KISS principle when it comes to information! Some folks just don't want to know it all. I still look at our two year old copy, but hey, I'm a librarian, so I just have to put in my two cents when it comes to book recommendations... I definitely wasn't criticizing your choice of Birnbaum as we have used and enjoyed it for years too. Plus it has coupons!

Hope you enjoy the picnic!

[disney queen]

we are hoping for nice weather the day we are planning to do the picnic. back up plan would be: 1--order it and take it back to the room; 2--go to AKL for lunch at the quick service

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by yalibrarian

Well, Mystic, we may run into each other there as you will be at WDW the same time as my family--and we plan on doing the AK Picnic.

Hope you enjoy the picnic!

I'll be the one zipping around on a scooter with her leg in a walking cast.