AKL Wanyama (sunset) Safari w/Wheelchair?

[KAT4DISNEY]

Has anyone done this? I was told they have one spot on the vehicles that they can accomodate a manual wheelchair. I finally saw some pictures of the vehicle and it mentioned about standing up to see the animals so I was wondering how exactly this worked?

 

[dclfun]

Are you wondering about bringing a manual w/c and then standing up or about using a manual w/c? I know Andrew who posts here has done that safari but I also know he uses a power w/c. I'm not sure about the vehicle- are people allowed to stand up or must everyone remain seated? Are you worried about not being able to see?---Kathy

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm mostly wondering about the ability to see from the vehicle. My sister uses a power wheelchair and I was told she would have to use a manual on the vehicle. But I'm wondering about the view b/c the pictures I saw of the vehicles indicated you had to stand for the best view. It may be that those were some older/different vehicles than they use now but I wanted to make certain that it wasn't going to be a disappointing experience.

 

[dclfun]

I would call and ask about viewing and if her view would be obstructed. I wish Andrew would see this thread and reply- he's done this excursion with a w/c- I know he said he enjoyed it but I can't remember the particulars. Perhaps searching for posts by Andrew Bichard might pull up his past trip report.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wow - what an excellent memory - I found a post about it by Andrew from August 2005! However - the only thing I found was him asking almost the same thing that I am! The search didn't find anything where he reported back after the trip.

I'll have to try and quiz concierge more about this and see if I can get some better information. Thanks for the help!

 

[dclfun]

Andrew did report back that he was able to do the Wanyama safari/dinner package and enjoyed it- I know he posted about it here- wish you could find it! Hopefully your questions will be answered as I have gotten conflicting information from concierge.---Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

Read about Andrew's safari experiences here.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I wish Andrew would see this thread and reply

I have only today spotted this thread.

Yes, I did this tour in 2005, but in a van with a tail lift.

I was told that Disney had an accessible open top truck on order and that the van that I was riding was to be phased out. My own experience of this tour is probably no longer relavent.

I was told that the plan was to load everyone, including the wheelchair user onto the truck, ride through the savannahs and end up with hors-d'oevres on the truck before going back to the lodge for dinner.

Because the ride vehicle will be different now you will need to make your own enquiries. I am sure they will be able to accomodate you. The only problem I can forsee is that they will have to tie you down, so you might have difficulty looking all around.

The following year, I did the special concierge only tour one afternoon at Animal Kingdom Park. Of the three special tours (I have also done the Wayami tour ) I rate this afternoon tour the best (just) of the three. We went out in onto the savannah in a closed van/small bus with a wheelchair lift. Whenever we stopped, everyone else was abe to move around the van to get the best photographs, but I was tied down. The keepers with us however, took some excellent photos for me using my camera.

In passing, I should add that one of the keepers in the van said that she was in charge of the rhinos. I told her I had seen a TV documentary on British television earlier that year about a rhino from 'an animal park in Florida' being released back into the wild. She burst into tears!!!

Andrew

 

[kathyfranklin]

Has anyone done this? I was told they have one spot on the vehicles that they can accomodate a manual wheelchair. I finally saw some pictures of the vehicle and it mentioned about standing up to see the animals so I was wondering how exactly this worked?

We did the WDE this Thursday with my dd who was in a wheelchair because she fractured her ankle. The bus we were in is limited to 14 people. They did have a lift and a place for a chair to go, whcih was very roomy. My dd could transfer, which is what she did. She (obviously) did not get up and move around when the bus was moving, but she did use her crutches to move to the spot where a wheelchair would have been - that was a roomy spot that a few of the people on the bus moved to in order to get the best view and take pics. So, I think it is a good spot.

They do encourage people to get up and walk around. Our other children did not get up and move around - they saw just fine from their seats. Of the 12 people on our bus, I'd say that 5 moved around. The bus had windows, (i.e. not open or open topped) so if the top of the bottom window was at your sister's eye level, that might make it tough to see unobstructed, if she cannot transfer to a regular seat. If she can transfer, I would think they could lift her up in the chair to the bus, and then transfer if she could. (We carried our dd on & off)

IMO, the tour is very expensive....and lasts 50 minutes (only)......we all really enjoyed it - but I wouldn't do it unless I was confident that we'd all fully enjoy it. And you aren't guaranteed to see all the animals. We did not get to see the lions, cheetahs, or rhinos. We understood that, and although we would have prefered to have seen them, we were very happy with the tour. The tour is about much more than seeing the animals - they explain a lot about how AK is set up, and the care of the animals. I did read that the regular attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris, has one bus configured for wheelchairs - and no extra charge, of course. So that is an option to consider.

HTH

 

[Andrew Bichard]

We did the WDE this Thursday

I think that Kathyfranklin is describing the tour at Animal Kingdom Park, not the Wanyama (sunset) Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge. (there are no lions or cheetahs at the Lodge).

Andrew

 

[mechurchlady]

I remember the AK safari as being a regular vehicle with one space up front for a wheelchair so the vehicle does not jive with AK safari and she probably just thought there would be big cats or the cats are new.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Kathyfranklin stated WDE. I think she was talking about this:

Wildlife Discovery Excursion: An animal expert is your guide for a safari ride onto the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. You'll visit special observation and photo ops exclusive to this tour. This can be booked 90 days in advance and must be booked through the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Itinerary Planning Office at 407-938-4755​

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember the AK safari as being a regular vehicle with one space up front for a wheelchair so the vehicle does not jive with AK safari and she probably just thought there would be big cats or the cats are new.

You are correct that the regular AK safari vehicle is different than the description given by Kathyfranklin.
I don't have a picture of the regular safari vehicle downloaded, but it is very similar (except for theming) to this one for the Studio Backstage Tour.

Wheelchairs are loaded from a permanent concrete and metal ramp. There is space for one wheelchair per tram.

Kathyfranklin stated WDE. I think she was talking about this:

Wildlife Discovery Excursion: An animal expert is your guide for a safari ride onto the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. You'll visit special observation and photo ops exclusive to this tour. This can be booked 90 days in advance and must be booked through the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Itinerary Planning Office at 407-938-4755​

I think that is what she is describing.
Chances are the vehicle is very similar for all the special safaris since the description that Kathyfranklin gave matches what I have heard about other special safari vehicles.

 

[kathyfranklin]

I think that Kathyfranklin is describing the tour at Animal Kingdom Park, not the Wanyama (sunset) Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge. (there are no lions or cheetahs at the Lodge).

Andrew

Lol....yes I was referring to the WDE, Wildlife Discovery Excursion. It is done at AK, not AKL. Sorry for the confusion.

I am laughing because when we were staying there (AKL) our children were asking if there were any lions at the resort......

To the OP. I was describing the bus/van used for WDE, the safari at AK done twice daily. (Not the attraction Kilimanjaro Safari) You can book the WDE if you are staying at any club level (not just AKL) The safari you asked about, the sunset safari, can only be booked by club level guests at AKL. So, you can ask IPO about the specific van for that safari. I am sure they will be very helpful.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks to the Kathy's, Andrew and everyone else for the input. It sounds like they've improved on the accessibility of the vehicles since they started. I'll check again with Concierge and see if I can get a definite on what the vehicle is like for the Sunset safari. From other trip reports on the safari's it doesn't sound like any of them use the same vehicles. My sister did think she'd probably be able to transfer (with assistance) but if it's going to require much standing or walking around then it might not be the best experience. And I'd hate for her to be straining to see up over a window for the whole tour - especially for the cost. More decisons to make I guess!