Does it really matter what time you ride Safari?

[Surgie2]

For most animals visible, I've heard first thing in the morning...at dusk...etc. Our plan would put us with a noon FP during the first week of May to avoid too much park criss-crossing. Will this time likely diminish our chances of seeing animals?

 

[richmo]

Personally, I haven't noticed too much difference as to time of day. I've gone early and seen a lot, sometimes not much...same with later in the morning up to mid afternoon. I think you'll be fine.

 

[Magpie]

There's no really bad time to ride the Safari, you'll just see different animals. Lions are more active at dusk, but the grazers are all out in the middle of the day. I've enjoyed every ride, regardless of the time of day!

 

[stace1214]

You'll definitely see lots of animals no matter what time you go. We went in the late afternoon on our last trip and saw just as many as we see when we go first thing in the morning.

 

[Klayfish]

The only time it makes a difference it when it's actually fully dark out, because it's physically hard to see a lot. Beyond that, it makes no difference at all. It's random luck.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

A ‘bad’ safari day is better than any day IRL!

But that being said, the ‘worst’ Safari we’ve ever had was first thing in the AM (9AM opening). I think we were the first or second truck out. Just not much going on at any of the spots along the journey. The CM started making jokes about it, which lightened the mood.

 

[CAS239]

It doesn't matter. The only thing, from my experience, that I'd say is that the Lions tend to be more active in the late afternoon vs earlier in the day.

 

[Micca]

I'd avoid the night time safari. The animals may be out, but you can't see them.

 

[KenHutch]

As others have said just about anytime is good, that bein said the best pictures of the lions that I ever got was being the 1st truck on our 2012 trip.

 

[laurabelle]

During the day, in the pouring rain was awesome! In Jan. late morning I had a great ride. Stopped for giraffes running around us, then later a rhino decided to stand in front of the truck for about 10 min. The driver called in for help and before anyone could come another rhino talked the first one down and she moved off the road. I haven't, and would not ride at night.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Yes, the night time safari is awful,lol...we spent the whole time wondering if we were seeing an animal, or a rock, or a bush, etc.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, the night time safari is awful,lol...we spent the whole time wondering if we were seeing an animal, or a rock, or a bush, etc.

This is my exact thought when doing it. Night safari was a great concept but horribly implemented.
Though I have read they've done some tweaking and maybe it's a little better? It's been a while since I tried one so not sure myself. Still don't think they can improve it enough to make it actually work.

 

[CrazyHare]

We went the end of Aug. and it was hot. We saw lots of animals. But most were resting in the shade. All the water animals were in the water, so we saw their shapes under the water.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’ll take whatever comes from this comment, but DW and I did the night safari this past weekend and I found it MUCH better than my previous night safari, which was right after they started it. Maybe just revisionist history in my mind, but there seemed to be a lot more lights and it was actually a pretty good safari. The last time we tried it, there were a lot of darker parts and some awkward pauses.

The highlight this past weekend was the male lion roaring (wow!) while the females just sat there asleep. Not to be too geeky, but it was awesome.

As with any safari - day or night - YMMV.

 

[AngiTN]

I’ll take whatever comes from this comment, but DW and I did the night safari this past weekend and I found it MUCH better than my previous night safari, which was right after they started it. Maybe just revisionist history in my mind, but there seemed to be a lot more lights and it was actually a pretty good safari. The last time we tried it, there were a lot of darker parts and some awkward pauses.

The highlight this past weekend was the male lion roaring (wow!) while the females just sat there asleep. Not to be to geeky, but it was awesome.

As with any safari - day or night - YMMV.

That tracks with what I read. That they improved the lighting. Maybe I'll give it another try

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I’ll take whatever comes from this comment, but DW and I did the night safari this past weekend and I found it MUCH better than my previous night safari, which was right after they started it. Maybe just revisionist history in my mind, but there seemed to be a lot more lights and it was actually a pretty good safari. The last time we tried it, there were a lot of darker parts and some awkward pauses.

The highlight this past weekend was the male lion roaring (wow!) while the females just sat there asleep. Not to be to geeky, but it was awesome.

As with any safari - day or night - YMMV.

Glad to hear it may have improved. We went on the "sunset" safari within the first few days they started it and it was so bad! The driver kept apologizing for the lighting and the fake sunset. She sounded like she was quite embarrassed by the whole thing. I'm glad to hear they may have tweaked it a little!

OP, we've ridden it at all times of day and have never had a bad safari (except that "sunset" one). Our best one yet was this past December at 5 pm in the afternoon!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Glad to hear it may have improved. We went on the "sunset" safari within the first few days they started it and it was so bad! The driver kept apologizing for the lighting and the fake sunset. She sounded like she was quite embarrassed by the whole thing. I'm glad to hear they may have tweaked it a little!

OP, we've ridden it at all times of day and have never had a bad safari (except that "sunset" one). Our best one yet was this past December at 5 pm in the afternoon!

Admittedly, I’m taking this thread OT. I’m trying to remember...when they first starting offering the night safari.... was that back when the Jungle Book thing was going on instead of ROL? I seem to remember doing both in the same night, but that would have been awhile ago so not sure if I’m combining trips in my head.

Like I said, it has been a bit since our first night safari. Different night, different time, could have led to different results. But it did seem more well lit???

 

[SueM in MN]

My worst Safari was actually early morning. There was do much mist and fog that you couldn’t see anything.

 

[southernbelle20]

I would say the best time for Safari is when it is raining. They were all up, moving around, and even playing. It was our favorite day that trip.

 

[AngiTN]

The main reason there is no "best time" for the safari is Disney is continually baiting the animals to the various feed stations on the "ride" (for lack of better words). Plus, they also pull different animals on/off the safari at various times, now that they run longer hours. So the constant moving of the animals is why there is no best time. Disney does what they can, within reason since they are you know, natural creatures, to keep things moving all the time.