Festival of the Lion King Tier 1 Misc Infos & Tips

[cwis]

Not sure this has been posted before on a single thread: we've just returned from the FOTLK Tier 1 dining package, here are some infos & tips that might be useful if you plan to attend this event.

• Our dining reservation was around 1pm. We checked in at that time and then our server gave us the passes to the show & safari. Maybe if your ADR is late in the evening, you have to check in at the restaurant earlier to get your passes.
• Once you have your passes, you can go at any time to the FastPass entrance to the Kilimanjaro Safaris and enjoy the ride. This is the regular ride, but we found it was a wonderful perk to be able to ride the show without even having to make a FastPass reservation. This probably isn't well known, since we were the only guests in tier 1 that rode the safaris today.
• On your pass is written the time of the show you are expected to attend. Follow the Exit signs, there will be a desk right in front of the line where you can check in to the show. You are expected to show up at least 15 minutes before start of show (they make sure the front seats are not being assigned, if you turn up showing late, maybe they assign other guests to those seats).
• No drinks are allowed within the FOTLK stage. Snacks/popcorns should be okay.
• Once the show is done, you are supposed to stay seated. A cast member will find you and escort you outside, then you will make your way to the Safaris with the rest of the Tier 1 guests. A restroom stop is included while on the way, and the cast member will guide you through Harembe and introduce you with some of the background of the land.
• You will load the Safaris using the unload area. Only Tier 1 guests are allowed in your vehicle, which makes plenty of room for everyone (we were a dozen, and each vehicle has a capacity of 40). You will learn some of the background of the attraction and various “tricks” used by the imagineers.
• Once the tour is done, you are free to go. Your host is not allowed to receive tips.
• One last thing: in the restaurant, our server has given us misleading (or outdated?) information, about the time we needed to go to the show (he said until show time, might be too late), the fact that he thought we would enjoy a separate area before the safari with drinks and snacks (sadly none of this), that he thought we could go to the VIP tour at any time of the day and suggesting we keep a one-hour buffer (partly true, because you can enjoy the regular ride at any time of the day).

 

[MarkinNM]

NICE!!!

We are doing this next Monday, but I am a bit confused, how did you find out about being able to ride the KS at any time and to use the FP+ line? The CM for the ride did not question at all?

 

[Figment Mom]

I did the Tier 1 package in July and didn't know anything about doing the regular safari earlier in the day as part of the package.

 

[cwis]

We are doing this next Monday, but I am a bit confused, how did you find out about being able to ride the KS at any time and to use the FP+ line? The CM for the ride did not question at all?

We actually ended up going to the ride for the VIP tour, as our server mistakenly told us we could go there at any time.

At the attraction, the greeter of the standby line was utterly confused but smiled and said “I'm not really sure what we can do for you but this is your lucky day and as we say it here Hakuna Matata”.

A few seconds later he told us we could go to the FP entrance. There, they immediately noticed our Tier 1 necklace passes and waved us in. No need to touch our magic bands or anything, we almost felt like VIPs.

 

[Searc]

We actually ended up going to the ride for the VIP tour, as our server mistakenly told us we could go there at any time.

At the attraction, the greeter of the standby line was utterly confused but smiled and said “I'm not really sure what we can do for you but this is your lucky day and as we say it here Hakuna Matata”.

A few seconds later he told us we could go to the FP entrance. There, they immediately noticed our Tier 1 necklace passes and waved us in. No need to touch our magic bands or anything, we almost felt like VIPs.

Sounds like you got lucky, not SOP.

 

[cwis]

Sounds like you got lucky, not SOP.

I'm 99% this is indeed a perk of the Tier 1 dining package (maybe a new one).

Further along the line, we've asked other cast members where to go for the tier 1 tour as we still believed we where coming for this, and they actually explained that we will be escorted after the show for what they called the “VIP tour”, and, in the meantime, we could also chose to “ride the ride normally” by following the FP line.

This makes a lot of sense as the “VIP tour” isn't tailored for first timers. You have to be told the baobab tree only has leaves a few days a year first.

If by any chance someone reading this is going to participate in this event, please let us know if this worked for you as well!

 

[cwis]

Hi @MarkinNM, just wanted to follow-up on this! have you been on the FOTLK event? were you able to use the FastPass line for the Safaris?

I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

 

[SamFaniam]

There, they immediately noticed our Tier 1 necklace passes and waved us in.

We did the package the first week of August, and did not receive any sort of a necklace. We were given a card at lunchtime that had the show information on it. That card was taken by the cast member when we checked in for the show. No mention was made that we could go on KS at any time, but that is a nice perk. I wonder if the necklace passes are new.

 

[AngiTN]

I've done the Tier 1 package 4, 5 times. Recently as 2 months ago.
There has never been a regular ride on the Safari included, only the one following the show.
OP, I'm 99.99% you got pixie dusted. There's not been a policy change.
While would never hurt for someone to go and ask, do not be surprised if you are told no.

The misinformation given to you by the CM is unacceptable. This event has been going on plenty long enough. They (the Tiffins servers) should all know, even a new one, how the package works.

 

[AngiTN]

We did the package the first week of August, and did not receive any sort of a necklace. We were given a card at lunchtime that had the show information on it. That card was taken by the cast member when we checked in for the show. No mention was made that we could go on KS at any time, but that is a nice perk. I wonder if the necklace passes are new.

Necklace is not new. They've given them to us every time
They were supposed to take them back up after the safari but mostly forgot. I bet they ran out for a bit

 

[cwis]

OP, I'm 99.99% you got pixie dusted. There's not been a policy change.
While would never hurt for someone to go and ask, do not be surprised if you are told no.

Of course, cast members are trained to make things magical, not to share operational procedures with guests. I could be mistaken, but would be very surprised. Several cast members (I remember at least 4), at different position in the line, held the same story.

If anyone is attending this event, I would be very curious to have their feedback!

 

[pooh2001]

How do you book Tiffins Tier one ?

 

[MemphisVanessa]

How do you book Tiffins Tier one ?

Here is the link to the reservation & info page for Tier 1.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...iffins-festival-of-the-lion-king-show-tier-1/

 

[djpooh74]

Hi! How much is the cost of this dining package? I didn't see the info unless I put in my CC info. Thanks.

 

[MemphisVanessa]

Hi! How much is the cost of this dining package? I didn't see the info unless I put in my CC info. Thanks.

The last time I looked it was $99 for adults and $49 for kids up to nine years old.

 

[Nanceliz319]

Thank you for the info!! I'm going to look into this for our next trip

 

[MarkinNM]

Hi @MarkinNM, just wanted to follow-up on this! have you been on the FOTLK event? were you able to use the FastPass line for the Safaris?

I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

We did the FOTLK last Wed and we did not try that as to be honest I forgot about it......BUT I can say the SB line was never higher then 15 mins during the time we were there......

and yes we LOVED this event and would do it again!