?? about DAK Tours

[1000th happy haunt]

I'd like to book one of the DAK tours. Would you recommend Wild by Design or Backstage Safari, and why.

Both these tours get high marks on All Ears Net. We'll probably end up taking both of them eventually, but which one should we do first?

 

[JennyDrake]

I have not done Wild by Design but have done Backstage Safari.

I'm GLAD we did it, but parts were somewhat disappointing. To keep it in perspective, you should know that hubby and I raise and market organic meat for a living and we both have advanced degrees in animal related fields. We were a bit dismayed that the tour guide as well as some of the animal handlers could not answer what WE would view as basic questions. For example we asked what guage needle was used for drawing blood on the elephants. She didn't know, nor did anyone offer to ask someone and get back to us. Another example, they said they don't feed their big cats beef, we asked why, but no one knew.

It is great to see behind the scenes, but if you are seeking more indepth information, you may not find it.

 

[denecarter]

We took the Backstage Safari tour last week and really enjoyed it. To let you know our background, I'm a science teacher. DD18 is starting college studying wildlife management next month... she's raised and shown animals for FFA, taken several Ag classes, and spent a week at the Fort Worth Zoo's Career Camp last summer.

At the end, we found out that it was our guide's first tour to "lead"... there was a very experienced guide with us as well. I thought it was funny that the new guy used to do entertainment (sing/dance) at Tokyo Disneyland. But he also raises horses, so he is an animal person. The older guide used to be a high school biology teacher (think I finally found my perfect WDW job).

Someone in our group asked about needle size at some point during our tour... I don't remember if it was with the rhino handler or the vet assistant at the "animal hospital". Whichever it was, they knew the answer.

At the "kitchen", they told us why they don't use beef for the cats.

At the big storage area, ask about the box of Animal Crackers if it is still on the shelf.

We did get to go straight onto our own safari... it wasn't the normal safari with the Big Red/Little Red story and they did point out some hidden Mickeys. Later, we joked about going onto Everest, and the older guide said that was on the Wild by Design tour.

Highlights of the tour... we got to "pet" a rhino, the visit by the Spectacled Owl to our stop at the backstage classroom (doesn't usually happen), the visit to the ARC (avian research center), and talking to the vet tech about doing procedures on the variety of animals (recently ducks and an aligator).

This was the first time we've done any tours... we did, Behind the Seeds, Keys to the Kingdom, and Backstage Safari. We WILL be doing more tours in the future.

 

[ZoZo]

I really enjoyed Backstage Safari (haven't tried Wild by Design yet).

I have been a volunteer at my local zoo for seven years now, working hands-on with the animals doing "close encounters" with our visitors, so I was very interested in this tour (to see "how the other guys" do things). I thought they did a great job on this tour! It was very informative and the guide was terrific. I especially enjoyed the "close encounters" we had (pet a rhino, got very close to a giraffe and baby alligator!).

Another poster was disappointed that the guide wasn't able to answer some really specific questions, but I think that's an unrealistic expectation (things like what gauge needle they use for the elephants!). I sure wouldn't be able to answer those questions at my zoo, even though I work directly with the animals! I think most people would really enjoy this tour.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Um, I THINK I might have answered your question elsewhere since I went on Backstage Safari. PLMK if you can't find it. Our guide was great about questions. Whenever someone asked a question he couldn't answer, he got right on his walkie-talkie or cell phone to get the answer.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I did backstage safari last fall and it was awesome. It was so great that I'm taking my mother and sister on it in September. If you go and Paul (he is the old biology teacher) is one of the guides you will not be disappointed. I made sure to get in his van and he shared so much information with us about AK and the animals. It is the best tour I have taken at WDW.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

It looks like we'll do Backstage Safari.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have taken both of these, along with 8 other tours. Every one of them has been exceelent, well worth the time and money. Very enjoyable, informative. Make sure you get any applicable discounts, those help the $$.