AKL safari questions

[fa mulan]

How many types of safari excursions are there? (I think I read about a sunrise safari, and also a kilamanjaro one?)

Can anyone staying at the resort sign up to go on them, or are they for concierge guests only? --We're staying for 4 days, but in a std. room.

How much do they cost?

Thanks!

 

[Misti]

Hi!

Kiliminjaro Safaris is the name of the actual attraction at the AK theme park. Sunrise Safari is a special tour for concierge-level guests at the AKL. Availability is limited and even being a concierge guest doesn't guarantee space.

Here is some more info that I pulled from Deb Will's site.

Sunrise Safari Breakfast Adventure is available to concierge guests only. The Adventure is available on Tuesdays and Saturdays with a limit of 28 persons. The group leaves AKL at 6:30am and you are transported to the Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safari area.

The tour, along the safari ride path, lasts about 45 minutes and includes multiple stops so that you can stand up and take many pictures. Each of the animals along the way is described in great detail, since there is plenty of time.

After the Safari, you go to Tusker House for a breakfast buffet which includes both standard American and African items. Each person also gets a FastPass to Kilimanjaro Safari to experience it "the regular way".

Transportation back to the Resort is *on your own*. The price is $49.95. (increased from the opening price of $19.95.) It can be booked up to 90 days out, by contacting AKL concierge directly (once you have your room reservation).

Hope this helps!

 

[fa mulan]

Since we won't be concierge guests (just standard), do we have any other safari options?

It looks like such a great thing to do (saw it on Travel Channel earlier tonight) - I guess one should expect to pay bigger bucks to go on one since Africa's the only other way...

 

[Ricola]

fa mulan -

You can ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris as many times as you wish by going to the Disney's Animal Kingdom park. It's the same ride you get as a "Sunrise Safari" guest, except that the Sunrise Safari happens before the park opens, and will stop for long periods of time to take photos and for the CM, who is an animal keeper rather than a driver/tour guide, to talk about them. (And Sunrise Safari includes a lavish buffet breakfast.)

I have done both, and yes, the Sunrise Safari is wonderful, but you see the same animals, albeit a little more briefly, from the same vehicles as a regular park guest.

My advice is to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris as many times as you can, during different times of the day. Some animals are more active during the morning, and others later in the day.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[fa mulan]

Thanks for the info Ricola! We'll be sure to hit that on an EE day. Regards, fa mulan.

 

[Jen117]

Are the same restrictions on the Sunrise Safari as on the regular Kilamanjaro Safari. What I mean by that is height/age restrictions. We will have a baby on our next trip and we were wondering if we will have to skip the Sunrise Safari option or just have one adult take the older child. Thanks in advance.

 

[mrsltg]

I don't think that there are any height restrictions on the safari. When we were there in Nov, there was a family in front of us with a baby who couldn't hold his own head up yet (I wouldn't recommend... the ride is very bumpy). Depending upon the age of your child (ie, a baby who is able to actually look at things), this would probably be a great ride.

Have a wonderful trip!

Erin

 

[Jen117]

Thanks, the reason I asked is because I love that ride, but we have never brought the kids along. We are next fall, and I am expecting a baby at the moment, so that would include the new baby. We are thinking strongly at going AKL concierge, so I guess I can always wait until then and ask the concierge. I would rather have us all go or non of us. I would have to have someone stay behind because the baby couldn't go (this is for the Sunrise Safari, not the actual ride).

Thanks again!