Anyone else have an awful experience on the Wildlife Excursion?

[irishtigger]

Let me start off by saying I took this tour in December and it was great, however, I took it again last week 5/12 with my mom and it was just TERRIBLE. For starters, the tour guide didn’t seem like she was into giving the tour that day. If another gentleman on the tour didn't ask questions, we would have never known what animal we were looking at and just driven right past it. She barely spoke. She was too busy talking the driver about stuff NOT related to the tour. On the tour in December, they handed out specimens for everyone to look at, about 6 in all, this time only 2. Now I am all for donating to Disney's conservation fund but we did pay $50 for a tour and got nothing more than if we took the regular safari ride. It was a real shame because my mom was really looking forward to it and it was a real let down. Maybe it depends on the tour guide but I will not take it again to find out. Plus this was supposed to be a climate controlled vehicle and it was NOT and it was very hot and horribly uncomfortable! The other issue was the kids on the tour. I really feel there should be an age limit of at least 10, if not 12, for this tour. We had children on the tour and they didn't want to be there and they made that known to all of us. My suggestion: Don’t pay for the tour, donate the $50 directly to Disney’s Conservation Fund and take the regular safari ride instead.

 

[java]

Thank you for posting this- I was tempted to book it but really couldn't justify the cost. You are making me feel like I made the right choice.

 

[irishtigger]

I mean it was great in December I have no idea what happened from then to now but it was horrible. I was so hot that day and they didnt even have the air on and it was supposed to be climate controlled. Sweating to death is not what I call climate controlled. I will NEVER do it again. I am so mad about the whole thing it really ruffles my feathers!

 

[snapppyd]

I mean it was great in December I have no idea what happened from then to now but it was horrible. I was so hot that day and they didnt even have the air on and it was supposed to be climate controlled. Sweating to death is not what I call climate controlled. I will NEVER do it again. I am so mad about the whole thing it really ruffles my feathers!

Have you considered complaining to Disney. I have found that they usually will try to make amends if you are that unhappy. Might not hurt to inform them.

 

[irishtigger]

I think that is a great idea and I am going to that. Thank you

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Is this the excursion that is only available to club level guests? If so, as soon as I returned to my room I would have been at the club level concierge desk and something would have been done to correct the problem. Maybe they could have given you the chance to do the excursion on another day it was offered.

I am a firm believer in saying something to Disney as soon as it occurs while you are there, or at the least before checking out. We were there last week as well, and I had to say something to the CM at the front desk who was supposed to be helping but was making it worse, the manager came and fixed it immediately.

 

[Aristocath]

Is this the excursion that is only available to club level guests? If so, as soon as I returned to my room I would have been at the club level concierge desk and something would have been done to correct the problem. Maybe they could have given you the chance to do the excursion on another day it was offered.

I am a firm believer in saying something to Disney as soon as it occurs while you are there, or at the least before checking out. We were there last week as well, and I had to say something to the CM at the front desk who was supposed to be helping but was making it worse, the manager came and fixed it immediately.

This.

 

[irishtigger]

Aristocath - yes it was and I did. They offered to give our money back but I didn't want my money back becuase I wanted it to be donated. I gave me a number to call and as soon as I have time from catching up from being away I am going to call. I just felt Disney should be aware at how awful it was. The screaming kids were the least of the issue but annoying I can assure you. From now on I will be cutting a check to the fund rather than forcing myself to sweat to death on the "climate controlled bus". I just want other people to be aware of how really bad it was. I feel bad for the people who take the tour and expect to learn something cause all I learned was how awful the tour can really be.

 

[BrcsDisneyPrncs]

We had a completely different experience just the next day (We went May 13th at 10 AM). My husband and I were the only two on the truck - everyone else had signed up for the afternoon. The A/C was blasting, our tour guide (i think his name was Mike!?!?) was an elephant trainer and was engaging, walked back and forth pointing things out and answering our questions. Pointing each animal out not only by species but by their actual names (Donna is the pregnant elephant, due any minute!) He also had a whole bag of antlers, tusks, eggs, bones etc that he brought out to show us. Our driver was great kept pulling to the side, and even brought us around the elephants twice because we didn't get to see the youngest elephant the first time around.

So please please please, if this is something you enjoyed once don't write it off completely - and anyone who hasn't tried it don't write it off. It really does make a difference having a good guide and driver. Also, they say you see more animals in the morning excursion due to temperatures.

Also - our driver was so great he had us meet him at 2:30 after his afternoon tour with 2 other couples to do "lian liasons" where we went behind the scenes and got to see the holding and veterinary cages, the two lions who weren't on the savannah that day, meet and chat with the lion trainer, and got free keychains - it was really great!

So sorry you had a crummy guide