AKL sunset safari-what days?

[Buttercup]

Hello,
I've read about the Sunset Safari's available to AKL concierge guests, but I can't find what days they are available. I'm assuming not all days since the Sunrise Safari is only Tues and Sat. Anyone know?

Thanks,
Buttercup

 

[BambiTamby]

Mon, Wed, and Fridays are the days for the Wanyama Safari.
it is $150 pp and you must be over 16, unless you book the whole van.....we did that this last time.
Also, you must be a concierge AKL guest to book.

Here's a link to my Webshots....AKL CL and Wanyama pics.

It is a wonderful and exclusive experience!
Not to be missed!

Have fun!

 

[chamonix]

So, how many people is the "whole van"? That would work out well for us, I think,and then dd 7 and her older preteen friends/cousins could still go. Am I correct in assuming that the Wanyama Safari is the same as the Sunset Safari? Do they both take place on the AKL savannas, not in the park as the Sunrise safari?
OMG, your pictures are incredible!
I have to know about that dessert event for Spectro at MK! How did I miss that? Do you have a link to a thread about it?
If you are not too shy, could you PM me an approximate cost for that? I would love to do it! Was it arranged through Private Dining? Bambi, you rock. I love seeing the things that others do at the WDW to get all these great ideas to keep making our trips so special! Dh always wonders "how I know about these things" lol.

 

[Buttercup]

BambiTamby,
thank you so much. It looks wonderful. Your pics are great. We have to decide if we want to do this or the Sunrise safari. Tough decision. We may have to do both!

Please do tell more about the Wishes dessert party.

Buttercup

 

[Minybear]

BambiTamby

Can you please or anyone else go into detail about the Wanyama Safari. I have been away from the Dis for a while so looks like I have missed this. We have just booked AKL for our Dec trip and we are considering upgrading to concierge to get the safari's. We are DVC members so this may be our last time at AKL due to this is a cash resv. Need all the info that you or anyone else can provide.

Thanks.
Minybear

PS BamiTamby those photos were great. Wish we were there nowafter seeing those photos.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I'm not Bambi, who is always a wealth of info, but I can tell you about the Wanyama Safari, aka the Sunset Safari. DD22 and I did it in March and it is the best thing we have ever done at WDW. Well, maybe except buying DVC which made it possible!

As Bambi said it is for ages 16 and up, unless you book the whole van. The van holds 8 guests. There are 2 CMs, a driver and a tour guide. Our driver was Mike and our guide was Karen. She has worked at AK since they opened and then moved to AKL while it was being built and prepared to open. Did you know they started on the savannahs 2 years before the resort opened? The outside of the resort was build first so that the noise of all the constuction inside would not scare the animals. Those are the kind of details you find out on the tour.

You meet your group in front of the hotel at 4:30. (I suppose this would be different other times of the year). You hop in the van and off you go to tour the savannahs at the resort. We had 4 in our safari.. a very nice couple from NY and DD and I. The top to the van rises up so you can stand up and take pictures or videos. They stop as long as you want so you can get lots of great shots. Your guide tells you all about each type of animal, their diet, habits, etc. The giraffes are so great! I never imagined I would be so close to such beautiful animals. The van goes right beside were food had been put out for them. Karen told us each ones name and funny stories about them. You go past the barns, holding pens, and you learn about the workings of a resort with wild animals and taking care of them. The tour last around an hour. At the end, you stop for snacks and juice. The giraffes come hang their heads over the fence and watch. Mary, this crazy ostrich, who had been following the van, was jumping up and down by the gate flapping her wings!

After your snacks, which is a traditional way end a safari, you head back to the front of the hotel and you are escorted to Jiko. The chef comes out and talks to you about allergies, that kind of thing. Then here come the food! First you get bread, crackers and hummas. Next are 4 appitizers. The chef comes out with each course and explains the dishes and answers any questions. The wine steward serves several differant wines with each course. (They did ask to see DD22's ID). Then the 4 entrees.. on my gosh! .. so much food. But it wasn't over yet.. 4 desserts! I don't know if there were 4 of each because there were four in our safari or not. The food is served family style and we just passed the dishes around. Each item was already cut into 4 sevings so it made the sharing very easy. I was a bit unsure about eating with people I didn't know, but it was no problem at all. There was so much to talk about.. the safari, WDW. We were soon old friends!

I really believe it was worth $150 a person. The dinner alone is worth a great deal. $10 of the cost is a donation to Disney's Wildlife fund.

Anymore questions, just ask!

 

[stinkerbelle]

our pictures aren't as great as Bambi's...but we did this in january and had a BLAST!

http://users.adelphia.net/~jareddewey/sunsetsafari.html

we're going on this again with DH's family in December...I can't wait!

 

[Minybear]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to call Disney today and upgrade our room to concierge and later on book both safaries. I am so excited. I cannot wait until December when our trip comes.

By the way when can we book the safaries? We have done AKL concierge prior and I know we have to get a hold of the concierge people at AKL to book. When can we call? Like 3 mths prior??

stinkerbelle your photos were also great. After seeing all these and BambiTamby photos I wish we there there NOW.

Ha here I am going on an Alaska cruise in less then 4 weeks and look at me more excited about going to AKL. I should be excited about seeing whales, sea lions, ect.

Minybear

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Minybear
By the way when can we book the safaries? We have done AKL concierge prior and I know we have to get a hold of the concierge people at AKL to book. When can we call? Like 3 mths prior??

I would book ASAP.

We're going in December and have both the sunrise and sunset safaris booked already...since June I want to say.

 

[Minybear]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
I would book ASAP.

YIKKKKKS. After I get to work I am getting on the phone to Disney. YIKKKKKKKS.

Thanks.
Minybear

 

[Minybear]

Ok emailed DU and called DVC so we could do 2 nights on DVC points and 2 nights cash. I even emailed AKL conceirge with our requests to book both safaries. Wish us luck. I hope we get both of them. Will let you know. Yahoo.

Minybear

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Minybear ~

Good luck! You will have a super time!

 

[Minybear]

Just spoke to Don/AKL concierge. We are all set. Right now we are on a list for the dates we have requested for the Sunset and Sunrise safarie. Cannot offically book them until 90 days out. Oh well at least we are on the list..

Now to get DU to book the other 2 nights cash at AKL concierge. That still hasn't happened , but I am expecting it (I am hoping) to happen today or tomorrow.