Disney Safari on a Budget?

[NYCDiane]

I've only recently heard of Disney Safari. A woman at my job was telling me how great it is and now I want to go!

Can anyone tell me:

How much is it for passes (if you want maybe a day pass or would you need 2 days to see everything?)

What hotels are close by?

Are there any sites where you can get airfare (from NY), hotel, park passes, etc included?

What is the most economical way to do this? We're not interested in going into Disneyworld --- just the safari.

Can anyone tell me about the park? Is it really glass and the animals come up close to you? How many animals are there? What is the park like? How much is food there? What are their hours? (we would prefer early AM or evening where it won't be crowded with little kids)

Thanks!!!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

The Safari is called Kilimanjaro Safari (if that's what she is talking about - there is also Wild Africa Trek which is a separate tour experience).
.
Kilimanjaro Safari is a ride/ attraction within the Walt Disney World Park - Disney's Animal Kingdom - so you will need a ticket. You can ride it as many times as you want to during your stay.

"Is it really glass" I don't know what that means. The safari takes you in a safari vehicle along a road/ track/ trail through various ecosystems in Africa where you see animals both close up (if they walk up to the truck or if they are hanging out by the road) and some at more of a distance (the predators and the elephants for example)

I hope that helps

 

[eeyoresmom]

Ummmm. This question is from a DIS veteran with 1,888 posts

 

[calypso726]

I've only recently heard of Disney Safari. A woman at my job was telling me how great it is and now I want to go!

Can anyone tell me:

How much is it for passes (if you want maybe a day pass or would you need 2 days to see everything?)

What hotels are close by?

Are there any sites where you can get airfare (from NY), hotel, park passes, etc included?

What is the most economical way to do this? We're not interested in going into Disneyworld --- just the safari.

Can anyone tell me about the park? Is it really glass and the animals come up close to you? How many animals are there? What is the park like? How much is food there? What are their hours? (we would prefer early AM or evening where it won't be crowded with little kids)

Thanks!!!

"Disney Safari" could describe a number of things. As a previous poster mentioned it could be Kilimanjaro Safari or the Wild Africa Trek which are both located at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Both of course require park admission to Animal Kingdom and the Wild Africa Trek Wild Africa Trek tour itself ranges from $189 - $249 depending on the season. Animal Kingdom Lodge would be the closest resort. If either of these things is what your co-worker is talking about then there is no way to do either without going to Disney World. The most economical way to do it would be a combination of travel hacking the miles needed for the airfare and some combination of Raise/Target gift card/Disney gift card churning.

It may be also possible your co-worker was talking about the Adventures by Disney 10 day group tour to South Africa which includes a 3 day safari. That vacation is in the $9,000 per person range. Accommodations would be included in that price as will most of the meals. Air fare is not and the same strategy I mentioned above would apply to make this trip more economical.

 

[Marionnette]

There is also a new tour at AKL that is due to begin this month. It's called the Senses of Africa tour and it begins with breakfast at Boma while a South African CM shares stories about their homeland. Then guests head to AK for an exclusive backstage tour of the Kilimanjaro Safari. The cost is $250 per person and groups are limited to 12 people. You do not need to be staying at AKL to do this tour.
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-africa-tour-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/

 

[NYCDiane]

Ummmm. This question is from a DIS veteran with 1,888 posts

Thanks for your helpful response

 

[NYCDiane]

To the people who provided helpful responses: Thank you!

I'm going to have to get more info from her. Isn't there a zoo of sorts where you can walk through and the animals are behind glass and they walk right up to the window?

What she was talking about was definitely not a South Africa trip... she said it was at Disney in FL.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

To the people who provided helpful responses: Thank you!

I'm going to have to get more info from her. Isn't there a zoo of sorts where you can walk through and the animals are behind glass and they walk right up to the window?

What she was talking about was definitely not a South Africa trip... she said it was at Disney in FL.

The only behind glass animals I can think of are on the 2 Trails (Pangani and Maharajah) in Animal Kingdom. The underwater Hippo is behind glass and so is one of the gorilla exhibits (Pangani) On Maharajah part of the Tiger exhibit is behind glass

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks for your helpful response

I'm sorry . I really thought your account was hacked or something. It is very unusual for someone to be a registered member for 7 years and have as many posts as you do and not have heard about Animal Kingdom previously. Disney advertising is omnipresent and this is a Disney forum so I truly thought something was amiss. You've certainly got good advice so far. You can also look at the WDW info page at the Animal Kingdom section for more info as well as Youtube videos.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yes animal kingdom is one of the main parks and has a safari ride which is wonderful and you get good views of a variety of animals from the open air ride vehicle. You would want to fast pass + this ride. There are a couple of pathways you can walk through that have areas with animals - often behind glass or other barriers. You can sometimes get up close views of them and go at your own pace. If you don't want to pay park admission the Animal Kingdom lodge also has viewing areas to see animals that roam around outside the resort.

 

[starry_solo]

I think there's a sunrise safari and breakfast too but you have to be staying concierge level at AKL / AKV to do that

 

[Disneyliscious]

The 'glass' and 'food' comments make me thing she is talking about dining at Sanaa.

 

[Nayan]

To the people who provided helpful responses: Thank you!

I'm going to have to get more info from her. Isn't there a zoo of sorts where you can walk through and the animals are behind glass and they walk right up to the window?

What she was talking about was definitely not a South Africa trip... she said it was at Disney in FL.

She was talking about Animal Kingdom. Lions, Gorillas and Hippos are behind glass, though they don't necessarily walk up to you . It's a Disney park, so no matter what time you went it would be crowded and yes you would be basically planning a trip to Disney to go there.

 

[dgthree]

There's also the Wanyama Safari and Dinner from Animal Kingdom Lodge now...

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/wanyama-resort-safari-and-dinner/