Animal Kingdom Tours

[MUalumni]

Looking at potentially getting tickets for the “Caring For Giants” elephant tour or “Up Close with Rhinos” tour at Animal Kingdom. Has anyone done these experiences? How did you find them?

Did look at some of the other option at AK but unfortunately our child won’t be old enough so these are our only options.

 

[3gr8boys]

Looking at potentially getting tickets for the “Caring For Giants” elephant tour or “Up Close with Rhinos” tour at Animal Kingdom. Has anyone done these experiences? How did you find them?

Did look at some of the other option at AK but unfortunately our child won’t be old enough so these are our only options.

We've done both. We did caring for giants in 2018 and up close with rhinos this past April. We really enjoyed both, but they were very different experiences.

With Caring for Giants, you head "backstage" to a shuttle bus that takes you to a viewing area. Once you get up to the viewing area, you can take pictures. The elephants may or may not be very close up as they have the freedom to move around a good sized space. We got to watch a couple of the younger elephants relatively close up- kind of felt like sitting on your front porch watching elephants across the street in your neighbors yard. Once in a while you would see the safari trucks going by on the other side of the area. The area you stand in is good sized and has some shade and benches. The guide was great - gave information and answered questions. He told us that we could listen and talk to him without looking at him and he wouldn't find it rude because, of course, we were there to watch the elephants. It was a relaxing and interesting break from the park.

With Up Close with Rhinos you also head "backstage" and take a shuttle bus, but you are never in an area where photos are allowed. You are "backstage" the whole time as opposed to being in a viewing area near the safari. You go to the barn (you stand outside on one end) where keepers offer information and answer questions. Eventually you move to an enclosure alongside the barn. IF the rhino that is there cooperates, you get to touch it through a barrier as the CM keeps it happy with treats....very cool. As with Caring for Giants, the guides provided a lot of information and answered questions. From a comfort perspective, there isn't as much shade to be had. I can't remember if there were any benches.

We were pleased with both tours. In general we thought it was cool to go backstage. They are great ways to do something special without giving up too much park time. Both experiences were interesting and the CMs we encountered were great.