Fear Of Ak Safari & Akv

[jrpopfan]

Ok, so I have this real fear of going on the Animal kingdom Safari. Everyone tells me it is safe, but reallly how close are you really to the animals and we we just joined the AKV on DVC and saw pictures how the animals are right outside your door. I know Disney would not make "unsafe" atmospheres, but animals are unpredicable and I really want to HOW CLOSE they are to me?

 

[Ktharee]

There is nothing at all to be frightened of, they are all at a safe distance. On the Safari you are constantly moving in a secure vehicle.

 

[bytheblood]

SPOILER:





The animals cannot get to you. They are at a safe distance but are also kept at bay by hidden fencing, concrete barriers, gaps in the ground, etc.

Just think, if they weren't, lion really would be king of the jungle and eat the other animals in the attraction.

 

[Donald is #1]

Let's start off with the easy one, AKV. Although you can get "close" to the animals there, you really are not that close. If you have a savanna view room, then at AKL all of the rooms are on floors 2-6 (AKV is on floors 5 & 6). At Kidani, I believe again, the lowest floor with rooms is also 2. When you are in the viewing areas, there is a fence set on boulders (or fake boulders more likely). This is what you stand next to. The animals are then back at least another 5-10 feet (if I remember correctly). They are kept back from the "people fence" by an electric fence that looks like a series of metal rods sticking out of the ground. However, in your case, I would probably avoid the sunset safari if you are concerned.

Now at AK, you are in a truck that is very high. You are probably 6-10 feet off the ground. Now the dangerous animals (lion for instance) can't come near the vehicles because there are moats, etc that you may not see that keep them separate. (You wouldn't want little Bobby to see a lion eating a giraffe would you?) Now, the gentle animals giraffees, ostrich, cattle, etc can come up to the truck. Each seat of the truck holds about 4 people. So if you are concerned, then I would sit in the middle.

 

[swandiverpatt]

The giraffes, white rhinos, ostriches, impalas, gazelles and a few others are free range, though. I know we've had to crawl at a pace behind an ostrich that wouldn't get out of the road once.

 

[jrpopfan]

I went on a safari car tour once and the ostriches almost attacked the car and hit is beak on the window like it was trying to stick its head in. Ahead in another car a zebra stuck his whole head in the window and I have never been back to a safari. So, I don't do nature. Just making sure I don't freak out and cry cause I am afraid in front of a whole truckload of people.

 

[ElizabethB]

We took the tour of AK available to Club Level guests recently. Our guide explained how each animal exhibit at AK is carefully designed for maximum safety. With the lions, for example, not only are guests protected by a huge moat, but the lions have been trained to respond to a so called "dinner bell" to go immediately to their cage, which is concealed in the small mountain where they are exhibited. They know when the bell is rung, there is food in the cage for them. The expectation, according to our guide, is that if someone stupidly leapt from the safari truck, over the moat and into the area with the lions (a feat in and of itself), zookeepers who are present but out of sight at all times would ring the bell and distract the lions and they would return to their cage immediately with the promise of a meal that would be easier to devour than a human.

She further advised us, however, that the crocodiles are an exception to this general set-up and are absolutely deadly. This is not meant to frighten anyone. The crocs are a long ways from the safari trucks and, again, the display is carefully designed for safety. She did say, however, that if a determined guest got out of the safari truck and into the crocodile pen, that is the one place in the whole park where they probably could not help the guest. The crocs are too fast and too deadly (apparently far more violent and deadly than Florida gators).

The upshot was that the park is designed for absolute maximum safety and one would have to be very determined -- and get right in a pen with (and in the face of an animal) to be injured (the crocs being something of a notable exception if the guest is really determined to commit suicide).

As for AKL -- we've stayed there. They only have gentle, friendly animals there. Even though you can see them quite well from the Savannah view rooms, they are still kept quite a ways away from room balconies and other guests areas.

So, nothing to be frighted of unless you plan on being really wild, crazy and stupid or determined to commit suicide.

 

[jrpopfan]

Now, I have seen photos on flickr the people took and there are rhinos on the road in front of them. That does not look like a safe animal. Has there ever been a recorded attack on the bus, etc?
I know I am going to sit in a middle seat, but I am still freaked out about this but my girlfriend really wants to go.

 

[annnewjerz]

Ok, so I have this real fear of going on the Animal kingdom Safari. Everyone tells me it is safe, but reallly how close are you really to the animals and we we just joined the AKV on DVC and saw pictures how the animals are right outside your door. I know Disney would not make "unsafe" atmospheres, but animals are unpredicable and I really want to HOW CLOSE they are to me?

I think you may be getting the AK tour that is offered to Concierge level guests and the Kilimanjaro Safari at AK mixed up a little? The AK tour offered to only those special guests does seem to get you more "up close and personal" to the animals. The safari ride in AK, however, doesn't really allow you to get close to any of them. I watched a special on the discovery channel about the construction of AK, it would probably put your mind at ease.

When you drive through the water with the hippos, for example, you would think they could swim right up...walk out and get you. In reality there are special underwater barriers set up that keep them from doing so. The lion looks like they will be able to walk down their hill and eat you, in reality they have fences (and mentioned before - a moat) that is hidden so you "feel" like you are on a real safari, but there is actually little to no danger at all.

You are right, Disney wouldn't risk doing anything that put guests in danger. I would say you have nothing to worry about. If that show is on YouTube or you google it to see if it will be playing, I would recommend watching it. It can really put your mind at ease. A lot of thought, time and money goes into constructing these places and that "magic" would be taken away if you saw a 20 foot electric fence surrounding the animals like you might at a regular zoo.

Go and enjoy, I sat in the middle seat, which was unfortunate for me because I would prefer to be near all the action and I can tell you I didn't feel 1 ounce of fear that something would happen the entire time.

Good luck!!!

 

[disnut8]

Also remember that your guide on the safari is highly trained in what to do in emergencies. And also remember that in about 99% of the cases of an animal "charging" is because they have been goaded into doing so. Kind of like waving a red flag in front of a bull. But the safari animals are very used to the vehicles coming through all day long. They only get close when you are in their path of walking.

For the villa, like a previous poster said, you have to make a very concentrated effort to join the animals. And there are cameras focused on the area at all times.

Animal Kingdom has been open for ten years. Have you ever heard of any animal attacks at the park? You are safe.

 

[DebbieB]

Ok, so I have this real fear of going on the Animal kingdom Safari. Everyone tells me it is safe, but reallly how close are you really to the animals and we we just joined the AKV on DVC and saw pictures how the animals are right outside your door. I know Disney would not make "unsafe" atmospheres, but animals are unpredicable and I really want to HOW CLOSE they are to me?

I think the marketing materials exaggerate how close they are at AKL/AKV, they are not right outside your door. The giraffes don't poke their heads onto your balcony.

As far as the safari, AK has been open over 10 years, have you ever heard of an animal attack on the safari?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I know this won't help much, but both the safari and AKL are awesome. I wouldn't be too worried about it. Just go and enjoy yourself!

 

[nhdisnut]

I think the marketing materials exaggerate how close they are at AKL/AKV, they are not right outside your door. The giraffes don't poke their heads onto your balcony.

In fact, the pictures they are using to promote AKV were taken in the model rooms that are actually in a building at SSR - not a giraffe within miles! The model rooms have "balconies" with very nice back-lit pictures of animals "outside" the room. The real rooms at AKV are, as others have posted, well away from the reach of any and all animals.

As far as the safari goes - very safe, lots of fun, and a remarkable achievement by Imagineering to create the illusion of an African safari. Nothing to worry about as far as safety at all.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I had this fear, too. Animals are by nature animals. Hard to control. Just because they haven't attacked yet doesn't mean they won't. And who is going to stop the lion before he eats you? Many of the famous people who go out and get close to the animals and tell us what gentle things they are end up eaten. I totally get it.

I just figure that while the guys at Disney wouldn't care much about my little life, they care a hell of a lot about their money. And there is no way they're going to let the animals start munching on the guests because it would be bad for business. So, whatever they have to do, they take care of it.

Plus, and I'm probably wrong as surely everyone will say I am, I think they drug the lions. No matter what time you go, the lions are always just sitting there. Awake, usually, just not moving much if at all. I've ridden that thing I don't even know how many times and only once did I see the male lion even stand up...and then he sat right back down.

 

[TDC Nala]

The lions don't roam around the safari. They have an enclosure, you just can't see it. And they say lions sleep about 23 hours a day.

There are no carnivores at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[PattnFmly]

Sometimes I enjoy going on the safari and just trying to find the "hidden" stopgaps to the different enclosure areas and the "hidden" food places for the animals. (I also like to peer into the dark recesses in the HM, POC etc !) I enjoy watching those shows where they tell what goes into the planning of places like the safari as much as I enjoy going on the safari itself. I don't worry about the animals attacking because I figure even more than me, the guest, Disney doesn't want their animals injured. Running into a safari vehicle would severely damage their capital! Also FWIW, in any zoo I've ever been to, the most I've seen the lions do is walk from one end of the enclosure to the other. Usually to seek a shady, breezy spot!

 

[jrpopfan]

the sad part is I am more afraid of the Ostrichs, zebras, etc... more than anything. Too many scary memories. LOL!

 

[gobofraggle]

What you have is not a fear, it's a phobia - it isn't rational. It's like fear of flying in planes when they are safer than being a pedestrian.

You are more likely to be hit by lightening (it is Florida...) than have one of the animals even look at you in a mean way.

You are far more likely to be injured falling off the toilet (a surprising number of people are seriously injured falling off toilets, apparently), so next time you use one, remind yourself that if you can do this, you can do the 'safari'.

(AK is not a safari park - it's a theme park with tame animals, designed by a litigation-conscious corporation which has to please and comfort guests from baby-size to old geezers)

 

[disnut8]

No matter what time you go, the lions are always just sitting there. Awake, usually, just not moving much if at all. I've ridden that thing I don't even know how many times and only once did I see the male lion even stand up...and then he sat right back down.

Well, in the wild, the male lions really doesn't do much. The females do the hunting and bring the male's food back. So he doesn't have to do anything but lay around the "house", wait for dinner, go to the bathroom whenever he needs to, and nap during the day. The female is the active one what with getting dinner together and raising the kids and all.

But - at Disney World, even the female lion doesn't have to do anything. She doesn't have to hunt. So, what would you do if you knew you would be fed good food at the same time every day for the rest of your life?