animals real or not???

[LaurenT]

The first time I went to AK was for my honeymoon, almost 11 years ago. We were in the conservation station where animals are brought in for treatment - we were there at exactly the right time. The big animals are brought in once a year for a check up and teeth cleaning - and when we went up to the glass, right there, close enough to touch (except for the window being in the way), was the male lion!! Laying on the table having his teeth cleaned. His paw was just enormous!! What a massive, gorgeous creature! They are definitely real!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The animals, except Little Red, as stated are real. The Baobab trees are not. There is one real one outside Tusker, and a real one outside The Mara at AKL.

 

[Doc CW]

They are real. Disney would have to have made incredible strides since Lucky the Dinosaur and the Yeti to make the movement as smooth and free as they are. Besides if Disney makes real magic then why wouldnt they have real animals

 

[Robo]

The animals, except Little Red, as stated are real.

The Baobab trees are not.
There is one real one outside Tusker,
and a real one outside The Mara at AKL.

Out of Season-

In Bloom-

 

[texhanddoc]

That is classic Robo!!! Not sure how many of us out there get the "Bao" part of it. Of course, that tree can be mistaken for its close relative the "Chachibob" tree.

To the OP: Ask your husband if he thinks the safari guide is real.

 

[locolala]

We saw a rhino..err... relieve herself right next to the truck. The guide said "And that's how you know they're real!!"

 

[OB1]

Never seen the cheetahs do anything but sleep. I only hope to see them running around 1 day.

Our first ever visit to AK - the first year it opened - we were in the Pagani Forest. A hugh silver back gorilla was motionless for about 6 minutes. I thought it was an animatronic, my wife thought not. It was still for another 4-5 minutes, then finally moved away. After that, I knew everything was the real thing.

 

[korzmom]

on our last trip we saw the wildabeast getting a little ..uumm ..lets just say frisky.the cm laughed and tried pointing something out on the opposite side.

 

[Tomh]

Yup, the animals are definitely real.

 

[Crystal824]

They are very real. About 9 years ago, I was on the Safari and a giraffe stuck its head in our truck. It wasn't on our row; it was several rows up. The people sort of freaked out, but the girafee just stood there. We had to just sit there awhile until he was done because the driver obviously couldn't move the truck with the giraffe's head in the car. After that incident, I have noticed that the trucks go a little faster.

 

[Jennasis]

Out of Season-

In Bloom-

Took me a second...but then I nearly ruined my keyboard with Diet Coke!

 

[elizablake]

What do you mean the baby elephant is not real?! Why would we go through all that trouble to save a fake elephant from poachers.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Oh, he's real all right. Last time we did the safari, he was walking around roaring like crazy. Our guide was speechless for a moment and then she was so excited. It was very cool.

I would LOVE to see that! Once I was able to see the lion and lioness out together. It was so hot when we were there in early October that we barely got even a glimpse of the lion. I'm hoping for better luck in March!

 

[sters]

I was never sure if the lion was real, everytime I rode it was in the same place, but I guess it's real!!

I don't know if this is true or not, but I had heard that they rock is air conditioned to encourage the lion to sit there.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Never seen the cheetahs do anything but sleep. I only hope to see them running around 1 day.

What time of day do you go? I always ride the safari first thing and have always seen the cheetahs either standing or walking (never running, there's not really enough space right where you see them to start running flat-out).

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

Out of Season-

In Bloom-

Robo, You have entirely too much free time on your hands...

 

[pickles]

I heard that the kids in small world are real too. For some reason i cant get my children signed up to be a CM in small world

 

[acwsmom]

Don't worry, you're not the only person with a nonbeliever in your family. My BIL is convinced that they're not real either. I think he finally agreed that a few are real but is absolutely convinced the lion isn't real at all because he didn't see it move the ONE time he went on the ride. I've tried arguing with him and showing him pictures we have where the lion isn't in the same spot, but finally gave up. He really got annoying after a while.

 

[MainStMandy]

What do you mean the baby elephant is not real?! Why would we go through all that trouble to save a fake elephant from poachers.

 

[aurorae]

I was never sure if the lion was real, everytime I rode it was in the same place, but I guess it's real!!

There is a vent that blows cool air right where the lion spends most of the time. They did that to encourage the lion to stay where the guests could see him.