Big Red and Little Red

[MouseWorshipin]

I wish to God they'd get rid of that dumb story. Didn't like it the first time, and hate it now.

My son asked what poachers were, and I said that was a name that some people use for the men that hunt elephant. I added that I think they hunt them for their tusks, which are, I think, ivory.

"Like, the soap?" he asked.

"No, like the white pieces in our chess set," I had to explain. (Before you animal rights folk go flaming me, it was my grandparents' set and throwing it out won't bring back to life the poor elephant that had to die so that we could play chess.)

 

[TnTsParty]

In Dec our Safari driver was very boring but the one we had on Friday was great. His name was Kris with a K. He didn't actually get too much into the storyline (which was fine for me and my DH because we have been on it multiple times and I can practically do the safari story (which I was doing in Dec since the driver was less than enthusiasic) But Kris with a K told us ALOT about the animals and gave us time to get some great shots. I made sure to tell him he was a good driver.

 

[DisneyGerry]

I heard that before AK opened there was an animatronic of a dying/dead Big Red on the safari. But it was upsetting for the real elephants to see it and Michael Eisner thought it would be to scary for kids so they removed it.

When bf and I go on the safari we always joke "man...Disney has a really bad poaching problem!!"

I thought it was Big Read lying down? I wondered what they did with it?

 

[Jobie]

I wish to God they'd get rid of that dumb story. Didn't like it the first time, and hate it now.

My son asked what poachers were, and I said that was a name that some people use for the men that hunt elephant. I added that I think they hunt them for their tusks, which are, I think, ivory.

"Like, the soap?" he asked.

"No, like the white pieces in our chess set," I had to explain. (Before you animal rights folk go flaming me, it was my grandparents' set and throwing it out won't bring back to life the poor elephant that had to die so that we could play chess.)

LOL, this is one of the funniest things i have read today. Thank you! By th way, you ever wonder how much that set is worth? Probaly a lot!

 

[dwaters]

My wife thinks the poaching storyline is corny and I'm starting to agree.

It's just so fake, even for a fake safari. Guests know it's fake, the driver knows it's fake, and knows that we know it's fake.
Maybe they should have us see the poachers like the gangsters in the Great Movie Ride. My six year old son was into it, so maybe it's a kid thing.

People ride it for the animals, not to be educated about poaching.
I've yet to hear someone exiting Kali River Rapids proclaiming, "Wow, that fire scene taught me sooo much about the plight of the modern rainforest and our responsibility to the earth! Oh, the drop and getting soaked were sorta OK"
(I don't want to sound too cynical. I want to believe the magic, just give me more to work with)

cute moment--
Safari driver: Does anyone have any questions for me?
Boy in the back: Do you like cheese pizza?

 

[bicker]

I think most first-time guests don't mind the poaching sequence at all, and for many of them, it is the main point of going on the attraction. It placates people who have no intention of being on a safari ride, and provides their family members, who do, a way to convince the whole family to go on the attraction together.

It's only repeat riders that don't care for that part of the ride passionately, and the passion isn't really very high: It's more of a midling indifference.