Animal kingdom special experiences

[margot31]

While I understand COVID shutting much of the add ons to the parks I was wondering what experiences people have been on (before covid) that was really neat at animal kingdom. We won't be returning back to Disney for at least another 2 years due to my husbands job. I hope by than many of the items that have been closed down will be open and running like normal.

My daughter loves animals and we thought what a fun way to return back to the mouse would be a special adventure. What did you like. By the time we travel she will be at least 6.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

While I understand COVID shutting much of the add ons to the parks I was wondering what experiences people have been on (before covid) that was really neat at animal kingdom. We won't be returning back to Disney for at least another 2 years due to my husbands job. I hope by than many of the items that have been closed down will be open and running like normal.

My daughter loves animals and we thought what a fun way to return back to the mouse would be a special adventure. What did you like. By the time we travel she will be at least 6.

That a great age for Disney...
I'm really looking forward to what they do with the primeval whirl space... Dinoland usa needs some help.

 

[maryj11]

My favorite adventure there was Wild Africa Trek, but you have to be 8 years old. The Kilimanjaro Safari is really fun and both the trails with gorillas and tigers.
They have a couple extra paid adventures where you meet the elephants and rhinos. You only have to be 4 years old for those.

 

[Cheburashka]

While I understand COVID shutting much of the add ons to the parks I was wondering what experiences people have been on (before covid) that was really neat at animal kingdom. We won't be returning back to Disney for at least another 2 years due to my husbands job. I hope by than many of the items that have been closed down will be open and running like normal.

My daughter loves animals and we thought what a fun way to return back to the mouse would be a special adventure. What did you like. By the time we travel she will be at least 6.

We did Wild Africa Trek several years ago and it was awesome. Highly recommend it, although I notice that this description does say it's only for guests 8 years & up.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-africa-trek-midday/

 

[margot31]

My favorite adventure there was Wild Africa Trek, but you have to be 8 years old. The Kilimanjaro Safari is really fun and both the trails with gorillas and tigers.
They have a couple extra paid adventures where you meet the elephants and rhinos. You only 4 years old for those.

She had a great time last time we were on the safari ride...but we also got to see a giraffe very close to our vehicle that she was yelling at me to get a picture.

 

[maryj11]

We did Wild Africa Trek several years ago and it was awesome. Highly recommend it, although I notice that this description does say it's only for guests 8 years & up.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-africa-trek-midday/

Her daughter will only be 6 and children need to be 8. I agree it was one of the best things we did at Disney.

 

[RanDIZ]

I think one of the best shows at AK and maybe even all of WDW that was pre covid was Festival of the Lion King. I hope it’s back this year.

 

[margot31]

I think one of the best shows at AK and maybe even all of WDW that was pre covid was Festival of the Lion King. I hope it’s back this year.

My husband and I love that show that we try to do it every time we have gone.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Agreed that the Wild Africa Trek is amazing. Once eligible, definitely something to check out.

I also loved the Caring For Giants elephant experience tour. It's just an hour, lower cost (~$30) but very interesting. You don't get close to the elephants but can observe them from a private overlook. You have a guide and also a cultural representative (or at least you did in the "before times"). It was really fascinating to hear from the cultural representative to whom it was totally normal to see an elephant near his home. Also really liked that this was only 60 minutes and still allowed us time to explore the park.

Believe there is a similar rhino tour - one hour and lower cost - but haven't tried that one.

It's been many years and not sure they still offer it but also did a behind the scenes tour of AK where we got to see the rhinos in their backstage housing, visited the facility where they make all the meals for the animals, saw the veterinary facilities and did our own savanna tour where we could pull off the path, stop the truck and discuss. If still offered it was well worth it but it was a longer tour - maybe 6 hours and might too much for younger guests.

 

[RanDIZ]

My husband and I love that show that we try to do it every time we have gone.

Yes it’s a must see every time. We just got back from an early Dec trip and honestly we had one of the best vacations ever. The only real bummer was not being able to see Lion King.

 

[GrandMum]

Agreed that the Wild Africa Trek is amazing. Once eligible, definitely something to check out.

I also loved the Caring For Giants elephant experience tour. It's just an hour, lower cost (~$30) but very interesting. You don't get close to the elephants but can observe them from a private overlook. You have a guide and also a cultural representative (or at least you did in the "before times"). It was really fascinating to hear from the cultural representative to whom it was totally normal to see an elephant near his home. Also really liked that this was only 60 minutes and still allowed us time to explore the park.

Believe there is a similar rhino tour - one hour and lower cost - but haven't tried that one.

It's been many years and not sure they still offer it but also did a behind the scenes tour of AK where we got to see the rhinos in their backstage housing, visited the facility where they make all the meals for the animals, saw the veterinary facilities and did our own savanna tour where we could pull off the path, stop the truck and discuss. If still offered it was well worth it but it was a longer tour - maybe 6 hours and might too much for younger guests.

I think that was the Backstage Safari which is no longer done. I did that and really enjoyed it. Two years ago I did the Savor the Savannah tour. They took a small group back to the Boma area. The truck that took us was smaller and would go off the path. We got to talk to one of the Giraffe keepers and many of them came right up to see what she was doing. We had a light meal at the Boma with beer and wine. My group stayed there much longer since a storm came up. We left there at dusk and got to see the lions roaming around and actually roar! This was another favorite.