AKV Sunrise and Sunset Safaris

[goldenears]

Can someone please tell me more about these? Do you have to be staying at AKV to do them?

 

[BCV23]

You have to be staying at the AKL/V to do the Sunset Safari. It's around 160/adult if you're staying concierge and $220 if you're not. It's a safari around the savannahs of AKL followed by a family style dinner at Jiko that everyone raves about. There have been some recent reports with photos here.

The Sunrise Safari is reserved for those staying club level at the AKL/Villas. It's a safari at DAK that follows the normal route of KS but much more slowly. We've done that one and it's fantastic. It ends with a buffet breakfast at Pizzafari.

You might try a search on this forum to find some of the recent reviews of the respective safaris. There were some great photos.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just adding that we did both of them in March, and loved them both! I got some spectacular photos!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do I contact AKL concierge if I want to book these when I am staying concierge level in March? ...if so, 6 months in advance?

Bobbi

 

[wildernessDad]

Do I contact AKL concierge if I want to book these when I am staying concierge level in March? ...if so, 6 months in advance?

Bobbi

I'd contact them as soon as you book your room. They can sometimes make ressies at the 190-point.

 

[goldenears]

Thanks for all the info. Not staying at AKV this time, but maybe we will try to do this on a future trip.

 

[nicolepdonnelly]

great info! I hope to do the sunrise one next June!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'd contact them as soon as you book your room. They can sometimes make ressies at the 190-point.

Well, we are 10 months away from the reservation. I have 3 nights in a Concierge level studio. I'm actually going to be at AKV in just a few weeks, so I can find out first hand just how to get in touch with them to make get the tour(s)? scheduled. We're going to be there from a Thursday night through Sunday morning. Whatever safari(s) we can do, we want todo!

Bobbi

 

[BCV23]

Bobbi, the Itinerary Planning Office should contact you although that didn't happen for either of our AKV club level stays this year. If you don't hear from them, you can always initiate contact. Email always seems the most reliable way to do so.

We've got a 3 night stay booked next March too. I couldn't believe I was that lucky!!

Has anyone been able to do the Sunday Sunrise Safari with a Sunday checkin? And does anyone remember the nights that the Sunset Safari is offered?

 

[kgc07]

What is the minimum age for children to do the sunrise? I hope to get club level reservation in May '09 (hoping it will be easier since May is not as busy) and would love to do the safari.

 

[kimberh]

The Concierge staff did not contact me, I had to contact them. I started getting worried when I did not hear from them. Started following some Threads where others had called or emailed them. Once I did, my first email was not answered, then I emailed again that this was my second email... that one was answered...all was handled from that point on. Once we arrived, they lost us in their computer system for the Sunrise Safari. We were in the room right by the food offerings, 6201. The Morning of the Safari, we did not even know what time to arrive for the meeting place. My husband went over when they opened, Concierge staff said, they had called our home to see if we had arrive to Disney ( I had checked in at the desk with them, had already done the Sunset Safari) Sure enough when we arrived home, we had a message from them. The point to all of this... stay on top of them, there are not many spaces to fill and if you really want to do it, make sure they know about you.

You can call at 190 days. We really enjoyed both, I think the Sunrise the most. We will do it again... I hope. We saw so many active animals, our guide said," he would rank ours at one of the top 5 he had ever done."

 

[BCV23]

What is the minimum age for children to do the sunrise? I hope to get club level reservation in May '09 (hoping it will be easier since May is not as busy) and would love to do the safari.

I don't know if there is a minimum for the Sunrise. The children's price is listed as 3-? so at least 3 yos apparently are allowed. But unless a child was rather mature, I think most would be bored until 5 or 6 at least.

kimberh, I agree it's important to stay on top of the reservations. I booked our Feb and May stays last summer at which point it was too early to book the Sunrise for May. But I was assured we were on the list and our reservation would be entered at the appropriate time.

When we were there in Feb, the concierge couldn't find our May reservation. I had a copy of my emails along and we did end up getting the May reservation for the Sunrise afterall. But I think I'll doublecheck this time at the 175 day or so.

 

[TDC Nala]

I also am not entirely certain about a minumum age for the sunrise safari. When I did it, I swear there were infants. But I am not certain.

The minimum age for the Sunset safari is 8.

 

[kimberh]

I don't know if there is a minimum for the Sunrise. The children's price is listed as 3-? so at least 3 yos apparently are allowed. But unless a child was rather mature, I think most would be bored until 5 or 6 at least.

kimberh, I agree it's important to stay on top of the reservations. I booked our Feb and May stays last summer at which point it was too early to book the Sunrise for May. But I was assured we were on the list and our reservation would be entered at the appropriate time.

When we were there in Feb, the concierge couldn't find our May reservation. I had a copy of my emails along and we did end up getting the May reservation for the Sunrise afterall. But I think I'll doublecheck this time at the 175 day or so.

Smart to take a copy of email. When they sent me everything back by email, Sunrise was not listed, then I immediately contacted them back, it was added back on... this had nothing to do with them losing us in the system. The concierge staff didn't know how that happened. He had us down as a noshow for the whole visit. I had a credit card on file... the works. The normal check in. We were there for 5 nights, this was on the 4th night. We had had package delivery to the room. Who knows? I was just glad that I was not bumped, I would not have been happy. It was a wonderful Safari. Other than that, we had a wonderful experience.

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm not sure of the minimum age, but we had a family with a small child (2-3 years old) on our safari and he screamed the entire time! As soon as it ended, he was fine. But for the hour we were on the safari, he wouldn't stop!

 

[VLee]

Can anyone give an email address or number to contact the AKL Concierge for this. I was thinking 180 days out to reserve. We arrive Dec 14 to 19 and I was waiting for them to contact us. I think, after reading some of these comments, I will need to contact them first perhaps.

 

[Donald is #1]

Can anyone give an email address or number to contact the AKL Concierge for this. I was thinking 180 days out to reserve. We arrive Dec 14 to 19 and I was waiting for them to contact us. I think, after reading some of these comments, I will need to contact them first perhaps.

here you go: animal.kingdom.lodge.itinerary.planning@disneyworld.com