Does MS book ANY Tours anymore?

[dianeschlicht]

I seem to remember booking tours through MS before, but when I called this morning to book a Wild Africa Trek, I had to call 407-wdw-tours instead. I HOPE that was the correct answer anyway. I actually had to call twice to get that answer. The first time I called, the person from MS gave me weird times of the day and pronounced "trek" wrong, so I wasn't entirely sure she understood what I wanted. So...I called back and got a very nice MS CM who told me they can not book the Wild Africa Trek at MS. No matter...I just called the tour number and made my reservation, but is it true...Does MS no longer book tours? Or maybe it's just the Wild Africa Trek they don't book???

Anyway....REALLY looking forward to doing this one! I'd love to hear from any of you who have done it.

 

[LisaS]

I don't know whether MS can book tours or not since I've always called the WDW-TOUR number.

We really enjoyed this tour. It was one of the most fun things we've done at WDW. You get to leave the public pathways in AK and "trek" through the forest to the edge of the hippo habitat and the crocodile habitat. You are tethered to an overhead line so you can go right to the edge and peer right down at the animals! I've never been so close to either hippos or crocodiles without a wall in between so it was a unique experience. You walk across a couple of long rope bridges to add a little excitement to your trek. (Look at the photos DVC Mike posted to see what I mean.) Again you are tethered to an overhead line so no worries about falling into the crocodile enclosure!

You also do part of the regular safari tour but in a different type of truck and they actually pull over and stop so you get a good look at the animals. You disembark at a special viewing area where you are served an unusual but very tasty light meal of either breakfast type or lunch type foods depending on the time of your tour. There are several places there where you can observe animals. There is also a restroom there, the only one you will have access to on the tour.

There is a photographer along on the tour who takes photos of everyone individually and some group shots. Everybody gets a photo CD in the mail. I was impressed with the quality of photos -- they managed to capture everyone smiling but then DH and I had big grins on our faces the entire time and it looks like everyone else did as well.

Everyone gets a locker to store all their personal items prior to leaving on the tour. You are not allowed to bring anything other than a camera and you must completely empty your pockets of everything. They need to be sure there is zero chance of you accidentally dropping anything into the animal enclosures. I had to plead with them to be allowed to carry one tissue in the sealed pocket of my cargo shorts (I had allergy-related sniffles that day).

 

[Meriweather]

i tried to book through them for one in Dec. and another in Jan and they said to call the tour number.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, I did see DVC Mike's review and listened to the podcast about it as well. I really think this is going to be as special as the all day backstage Magic tour we have taken 3 times. I kind of wanted to do the Holiday D-Lights tour, but whe I read the reviews on that one, it seemed pricey for what you got. This one just seems so unique.

 

[cvjw]

I booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour thru MS in September. The CM booked our tour, and our seats for La Nouba in the same phone call.

 

[Rest&Relax]

Was thinking of doing this tour also but heard they were raising the prices for the holidays to $250. Was it still $189 or $250 and what day are you booked for? We were looking at Mon the 12th, but if the price is up we will just wait and do it later next year. This is one tour DH & I would really enjoy.
I agree with you about the Holiday D-Lights tour, after reading the reviews am not sure it is worth doing. We considered doing it last year and decided not to after reading a few reviews.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Was thinking of doing this tour also but heard they were raising the prices for the holidays to $250. Was it still $189 or $250 and what day are you booked for? We were looking at Mon the 12th, but if the price is up we will just wait and do it later next year. This is one tour DH & I would really enjoy.
I agree with you about the Holiday D-Lights tour, after reading the reviews am not sure it is worth doing. We considered doing it last year and decided not to after reading a few reviews.

We are booked for Wednesday the 7th, and it was still $189. I'm going to guess the holiday rate of $245 wont be until after the 15th. I'd call and ask if I was you.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Is there a DVC discount / Disney Visa discount with this tour like there is for all of the other tours?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Is there a DVC discount / Disney Visa discount with this tour like there is for all of the other tours?

No. No discounts at all for the Wild Africa Trek.

 

[Rest&Relax]

We are booked for Wednesday the 7th, and it was still $189. I'm going to guess the holiday rate of $245 wont be until after the 15th. I'd call and ask if I was you.

Thanks for the info. I'll call Monday and see what they tell me. I don't mind the $189 but the $245 just for the Holidays is a bit much. Now I just hope it's warmer then last year so we can enjoy it more.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the info. I'll call Monday and see what they tell me. I don't mind the $189 but the $245 just for the Holidays is a bit much. Now I just hope it's warmer then last year so we can enjoy it more.

Yeah, I'm hoping that too. We have had cold December trips the last two years. I know this tour goes no matter what the weather, so be prepared!