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For our first dinner at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we decided to keep things casual and headed to The Mara, the quick-service restaurant by the pool. We wanted a relaxed meal without the fuss of a reservation and something on the lighter side.

What I absolutely loved about The Mara is its incredible variety. You can choose from classic options like a peanut butter and jelly Uncrustable or chicken tenders, but there are also more adventurous choices, such as a harissa-spiced beef bowl or a tamarind barbecue pork sandwich. Normally, I wouldn’t gravitate towards the most American-sounding items on an African-inspired menu, but while I was in line to order the chermoula-spiced shrimp and oak-grilled chicken with pilau rice bowl, I couldn’t help but notice the mouthwatering picture of the barbecue pork sandwich. I must have been staring at it so intently that the friendly cast member behind the counter offered me a sample. It was so delicious that I decided to switch my order on the spot. Even the French fries were exceptional! Hubs went for the harissa-spiced beef bowl and loved every bite.

As for Boy1 and Boy2, they went for the kid-friendly peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables along with yogurt trays that featured fresh blueberries and teddy graham crackers. Each yogurt tray came with a kid’s drink, and they both chose chocolate milk. The Mara truly offers fantastic options for picky eaters, making it a perfect choice for the whole family.

We also took the opportunity to purchase the Walt Disney World Refillable Resort Mugs, which come in a variety of colors: pink, green, blue, and orange. As a Gamecock family, we simply couldn’t bring ourselves to choose orange, so we picked two blue, one green, and one pink mug. To add a personal touch, we mix-and-matched the lids so each of us had our own unique cup-and-lid combination. These mugs are priced at $21.99 each (or included with some dining plans) and are valid for refills over a 14-day period.

I understand the hesitation about spending $22 on a cup—I’ve been there myself. However, in the three days we spent at Disney Resorts, we definitely got our money’s worth. We made sure to bring our mugs whenever we were near a refilling station, such as at The Mara, and ended up refilling them about 15 times during our stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Considering a single drink would cost around $3, we’d have spent roughly $45 for all those refills, but we only paid $22 for the mugs. It was a fantastic deal!

Plus, when we visited another Disney Resort later in the week (check out my upcoming post about Chef Mickey’s), we were able to refill our mugs there as well. The mugs are not only a practical choice but also a fun Disney keepsake. If you’re a water drinker, it might not be as worthwhile, but with options like Vitamin Water, crème soda, and fruit punch available, it was a delightful addition to our trip.

Featured image courtesy of Deposit Photos artist bhofack2.