Anyone done the AK backstage tour??

[jennib5426]

I was reading about the AK backstage tour where you get to see where they keep the animals backstage, the Vet center and stuff like that.
Can someone give me more info on this tour?
Is it fun, do you see lots of animals, how long is it?

 

[nativetxn]

I can't answer your question so I'm going to bump this back to page one for you.

Katholyn

 

[BlindTyldak]

I'd be interested as well . . . I've worked at a couple of zoos and am trying to decide if this would really be something interesting for someone who is very familiar with zoo animal care already or is it SO geared toward the public who is not familiar with zoo workings that myself and my family would probably feel like we learn more on animal panet?

 

[wasabi girl]

I went on the Backstage Safari Tour in December. It is a great tour. It started about 8:30 AM and ended around noon-ish. We saw alot of backstage areas, animal barns, vet area...we didn't get to go in the elephant barn as one of the elephants was due to deliver anytime...we got to touch a rhino...had a snack and a little presentation by one of the staff about his area of expertise (tarantulas...) and a private riding of the kilmanjaro safari ride without the usual spiel going on...instead we talked about the animals. DD 17, and I had a great time on this tour.

 

[mickeys friend]

My daughter and myself took this tour 2 days before hurricane Jeanne hit.We loved it.I would love to do it again and I know she would also.We saw where they kept the animals and the vet hospital and where they prepaired their food,etc.It was full of info and we got to pet a rino.Everyone we met was very nice and always asked everyone if they had any questions,etc.We took a small break and had some drinks and snacks while they showed us a small owl and told us all about them.We rode in vans and took the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride and learned several things about the animals we saw and even some things that Disney did to make things appear like they were real.They also went slower and again asked us if we had any questions.They even turned off the radio recorded version of the story about little red,so we could hear our guide.Sorry,so long,but there was so much more these things and it was well worth it for us.

 

[kimkarli]

How much is the tour?

 

[Claudia1]

Yes, and we loved it!

BlindTyldak, they geared the info to the group and I would assume that you could share your background with them and they would meet your expectations.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I took the Backstage Safari Tour last fall and it is the best tours I have done to date at WDW. It is $65. There are discounts if you are a DVC member, AP holder, Disney Visa, or CM (make sure to ask when you book the tour (407-WDW-TOUR)).

We broke off into two groups backstage and used some vans to move around backstage in. If Paul is one of your tourguides I highly suggest getting in his van as he was an amazing tourguide. I believe he is a retired school teacher in MI if my memory serves me right and he explained things so well and had so much to share with us.

We got to see a lot of neat backstage stuff: Elephant Barn, White Rhino Barn (we did get to pet one as well), vet office, area where the food is prepped, the aviary, we had a break in there too to watch a film and we got to meet an owl. Also it was awesome to ride the KJS afterwards with Paul taking the microphone and telling us all of the tricks and hidden things in the safari.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We've taken Backstage Safari twice now--well worth it. In our little animal presentations we got a snake and a Possum. Also saw surgery being performed on an antelope in the Vet center. The backstage animal people are very nice and very happy to answer questions about their "charges".

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We took the tour a couple of years ago and had a blast on it. We saw where they keep the rhinos and elephants as well as a quarantine area. They explained what all they did with the animals at night. We saw the food prep area and the vet area. Then we did a safari ride without the usual narration, the guide just filled in different parts with more facts and trivia. We would definately go on it again.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Like others before me, I also did the tour-in November. Going in the building where they prepare all the different foods for the animals was especially interesting. I loved the whole tour. I'd really like to do the other one, "Wild by Design", too.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We will be doing this tour for the first time in October. I'm glad to see the positive reviews.