I was reading this great rundown of the Yak & Yeti restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, when I was reminded of something I discovered quite by accident during my last meal there a few weeks ago.

First of all, the theming in this place is amazing. From DisneyShawn:

“The proprietor of this establishment, a local man called Arjun, had been a successful merchant, but fallen on hard times. In an effort to turn things around, he converted his home into a hotel and restaurant, finding fortune once again.”

Like everything else around Walt Disney World – and the Animal Kingdom theme park in particular – there’s a story. And the Yak & Yeti puts you neck-deep into it’s mythology.

Again, see DisneyShawn’s blog:

“The original stone house dates to June 1924, during British Colonial rule of the region. Over the years, though, Arjun has expanded his facilities with eclectic additions from various periods.”

My friend Walt and I were having a late lunch at the Yak & Yeti just before Christmas. I was looking all around at the incredibly immersive surroundings, finishing up my seared ahi tuna, extra spicy bloody mary and crisp honey chicken with jasmine rice, when I looked out our second floor window at the crowds below.

Cast members were roping off the main thoroughfare in preparation for the afternoon parade (normally Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, but we got the holiday version.) Even I knew that this was going to be an awesome spot to catch what was coming over the bridge in the next few minutes.

And it was.

A view from the second floor of the Yak & Yeti.

I continued to sip upon my drink (which was packed with chili sauce – triumphant in its ability to set my palate ablaze. But that’s a post for another day.) as the parade crested the bridge and moved just outside the window past us. It was one of those moments where I would not have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.

The only down side? You can’t hear the music. For some, this might be a deal-breaker. But for me, being able to watch the parade, completely relaxed in a chair with literally no one around, was worth the trade-off.

It was also kind of funny to be above the taller floats and see some of the magic being made. I don’t want to ruin the illusion for anyone, but I will say it was not a magic-killer at all.

So, the point of all this? If you can get an ADR for about 20 minutes before the afternoon parade and grab yourself a second-floor table facing the street, you’re going to get an amazing view.

Kicking back and enjoying the parade from above.