Backstage Safari Tour - Anyone done this? Any reviews?

[Kris & Steve]

Has anyone taken this Backstage Safari Tour @ AK? Is it worth the $$$? This is something thing that sounds right up my alley but also kind of to good to be true? If anyone has done this & can give me a little review of it I would appreciate it! Thanks all!

 

[aubriee]

On my trip last May I did three tours (KTTK, Segway Around the World, and Backstage Safari). I loved KTTK and Segway. Backstage Safari was just OK. The other two I would repeat. I am glad I did Backstage Safari, but would not repeat it.

We met about 8:30am out in front of the Rainforest Cafe. The CM then took us backstage and we got into two vans and rode around looking at where they grow the feed for the animals and at the barns the animals come back to at night. We stopped at one of the barns and got to pet a white rhino named Harley. We then went into where they prepare the food for the animals and also saw the vet area. We took a break and then got to pet a spiny lizard. We then got on one of the trucks at Kilamanjaro Safari and was driven around the safari (minus the big Red/Little Red spiel). Again it was OK, but I much preferred the KTTK and Segway tours.

 

[wfloyd]

We did the tour about a year ago. It was the same format as aubriee's. We enjoyed it alot and would do it again if we get the opportunity.

 

[In a hurry]

We really enjoyed this tour! But we are animal freaks, by nature!

 

[honeymo78]

I've done this tour twice. The first time we stopped at the giraffe barn and chatted with one of the keepers and a giraffe then went to the rhino barn and got to pet a rhino. Also visited the vet lab and got to go "on stage" in the areas you see at Rafiki's planet watch. It also included the nutrition building, snacks, a meet and greet with a small animal then the safari. The second time was similiar except we went to the elephant barn instead of giraffe barn and I don't think we were able to see the rhinos. We're not doing it this year b/c it is basically the same each time but we might go next year (every year is just not necessary). We really enjoyed it and even moreso b/c we don't pay for it - it's included in the package we use.

 

[webmomom]

We have done this tour twice and have enjoyed it both times. We are animals freaks. Is it worth the money. Yes it is. We have not found one tour ( we have taken almost all of the tours) that is not worth the money. It really gives you a different view of the Animal Kingdom. Also the other tour at the AK WILD BY DESIGN is also very good, even though you do not go behind the scenes. ug:

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I loved this tour. As several others have said, if you are a big animal freak, then this is so worth it. You get to learn how they care for the animals, what they feed them, and all about the way Animal Kingdom is run.

If you are an animal freak, this is the tour for you. I liked learning about the breeding programs that were used and that Disney didn't just see the animals as $$ makers. It was good.

I will see if I can find the bit I wrote up about the tour when I went. It is on my home computer.

ttfn,
Tara

 

[Kris & Steve]

Thanks for your input everyone! I am a veterinary technician so I am sure I will love this tour. As soon as I read the description of it I was jumping up & down telling my husband "WE HAVE TO DO THIS!"

Thanks all!

 

[dgaston]

DH and I did this tour in April 2004. As a veteran of several tours, this one is at the bottom of my list. It wasn't terrible or anything, just that we had at least 16 people, one CM who was quiet and sometimes hard to hear. We followed the same format as Aubriee, did NOT get to pet the rhino, met Ashanti the giraffe, and our break animal was Foster, a cocketiel. I did learn a lot about the Species Survival Plan, and hurricane prep for the animals but felt wowed by my KTTK, Undiscovered Future World, and Segway tours. We have also done the Hidden Treasures of World Showcase, and the Gardens of the World Showcase tour (during F & G). I think the CM conducting the tour is a big factor in how enjoyable it is.

 

[ZoZo]

Thanks for your input everyone! I am a veterinary technician so I am sure I will love this tour. As soon as I read the description of it I was jumping up & down telling my husband "WE HAVE TO DO THIS!"

Thanks all!

I bet you'll love it. I volunteer at our local zoo in Tacoma (with an opportunity to be behind-the-scenes all the time) and was fascinated with how they do things at AK. My friend, who accompanied me, also liked the tour a lot, even though she's not quite the "animal nut" that I am. I see that you have seven cats [obviously an animal lover] as well as being a vet tech. I would definitely do it, if I were you - you won't be sorry!

 

[Johnfish]

If you like animals you will love the Backstage safari tour at animal kingdom.

we went the day before labor day.... We were the only ones on the tour (my son and myself)! Which was really cool as we had 3 guides all to our selves.

The tour started at 8:30 and we checked in at guest services. They told us where to wait for the guides. The guides then took us backstage. We got to see where they keep the elephants and the rhinos. They even got one of the rhinos to come over near where we were standing (there were bars between us) and we actually got to pet him.

Then they took us over to an aviary. They showed us lots of different birds and talked about thier conservation program. They have special breeding programs to help restore endagered species. One of the species thay are trying to save is a kingfisher from the island of Guam. These birds had been almost completely wiped out by snakes that had made it onto the island. Disney went in and rescued the few remainig birds (about 20) and started a breeding program. There are about 80 now in captivity and the number is continuing to grow. We got to see the breeding pairs and even a chick they had in a special incubator.

After the aviary we were shown where all the food for the animals was prepared. It was interesting to note that the fresh produce supplier that supplies all the Disney restaurants also supplies Animal kingdom! The animals do eat well!!

The next part of the tour took us to a conferance room. We were shown a video about how the animals are trained. After the video a keeper came in with an animal for a close up visit. Our guides seemed relieved that it wasnt a snake this time! Our animal was a 7 year old screech owl. I was amazed at how small he was (about 5 inches tall) We learned alot about what they eat and their behaviour. The keeper also told us we could make owl houses that would attract these little guys to our yard.

The last part of the tour was the Safari. We got on our own tour truck (just my son, myself and the 3 guides). We got to ride through the safari with out the little red story and the guides gave us all sorts of details about the animals and how they are transported in and out of the safari etc. They also pointed out several hidden mickeys (next time you ride check out the shape of the island the flamingos are standing on ).


I think the thing that impressed me most was the conservation efforts that Disney is constantly supporting. I had no idea how involved Disney was in these types of programs. From the bird breeding all the way up to breeding elephants and other large mammals.

The other great thing about the Back Stage Safari tour is that some of the money for the tour is contributed to the Disney Wildlife Fund that funds these program.

My son and I really enjoyed this program and recommend it highly.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.


John

 

[Simba's Mom]

Birds? I'm a birder and my ears really perked up on this. For others who've taken the tour, do you always get to see the birds and the aviary? Also, I see that on the Wild by Design tour you get a continental breakfast, but there's no mention on Backstage Safari. Do you? You should-Backstage Safari costs more! One last question for those who've done this tour-how did you get there for 8:30? Could you get a bus that early?

 

[dgaston]

We had a snack with the animal encounter, but I wouldn't call it continental breakfast. On our tour we did NOT see the aviary, but rhino barn, and giraffe barn plus food prep and vet areas prior to the KS ride.