Kilimanjaro Safari, is it worth it?

[Delirium]

So, if you're booking October FastPasses now, that means Dinosaur is closed. Other than the safari, let's see what else you can FP at AK.

• Everest (the obvious choice)
• Kali River (Now, THIS is a disappointing ride, and do you want to stay wet for 3-4 hours)
• Lion King (great show, but FP typically not needed)
• Nemo (good show, but FP not needed)
• Jungle Book / Rivers of Light
• It's Tough to Be a Bug (I have bugs in my back yard)
• Primevil Whirl (Without Dinosaur, becomes the 3rd option at AK to FP)

So, YES! You should FP it, and go in with an open mind.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

This is one of my fav attractions. You get a different experience each time. I never compare experiences they are all unique but I love this one. In the rain, at night, morning I have experienced something new. Even different guests bring a different dynamic. As a wheelchair user it is fabulous to experience something even close to a safari and remain in your wheelchair!

My wife is able bodied and loves it too.

 

[asdfghjkl13]

Do it. Try it at night, we went on at around 9:30pm and it was my favorite ride on the Safaris I've ever been on. Saw/heard lions walking around, cuddling, roaring, and still saw a giraffe, elephants, rhinos, hippos, crocs, and antelope.

 

[tlmadden73]

The safari is THE attraction at AK. With so few attractions, I can't imagine going to AK and not doing this attraction.

Will it be as exciting as real Safari? heck no, but it is more exciting than seeing animals at a normal zoo.

 

[nkereina]

IMO, everything at WDW is worth a try at least once - the rides, resorts, restaurants, everything! Part of the fun is discovering new things. You don't know until you try it for yourself!

 

[mort1331]

So I was just booking my fastpasses for my trip to Disney World in October and I'm kind of stuck on if I should bother with Kilimanjaro Safari. I've actually been on safari in Africa before and I'm a bit worried it will just be a kind of watered down version of that.

I was wondering if anyone has been there and can kind of tell me what it's about and if it's worth it?


Thanks!

Absolutely do it.!!!

I enjoy it, but I don't have a real African safari to compare it to. If you have more pressing things to do while at the Animal Kingdom, you could skip it.

Do not skip it.

If you've been on safari in Africa, I'm going to say no, it's not worth it! We just did a boat tour in Palo Verde Costa Rica and the Kilimanjaro Safari even paled in comparison to that. IMHO, once you've had an authentic experience like that, the Disney version will truly pale in comparison. If you feel like riding in a truck and seeing some animals for 20 minutes, yeah, sure, go for it. As PP said, if you have other attractions you would rather experience, yes, I would skip it.

Disney has done a great job in recreating the feel!

I'll be the odd man out. I don't find the safari particularly impressive. We have two amazing zoos by my house, so I feel like the safari is basically taking the tram tour through those if that makes sense.

Most zoos do not have animals crossing in front of you and stopping your vehicle.

We also have had the amazing experience of going on a real African safari, 17 days in Kenya and Tanzania. And I can honestly tell you, the one in AK is very authentic! Remember how in Africa, each time you went out, it was a completely different experience? (until we got to the Serengeti, and after 4 days, it started to repeat itself)..well, this safari is similar. You just never know what you'll see. My family loves it! Even after 17 years of going to Disney. Absolutely give it a try. Oh, it is definitely not like the Jungle cruise, and is very much like Tarangire Park in Tanzania? different around every corner.

I too have been to Tanzania and had a 2 week safari. I am so impressed with what Disney has done with this attraction. Yes some of the animals cant get out but that is a good thing. But there are a lot of free roaming animals that can cross in front of you, stop in front of the vehicle or park themselves right beside the road. It is different everytime. This is why we go sometimes multiple times we are there.
I am so looking forward to night safaris when we are there in September.
I cant recommend enough to at least try this out, remember what it was like on your safari and be pleased that you do not have to drive an hour or 2 to see so many animals.

 

[AngiTN]

I too have been to Tanzania and had a 2 week safari. I am so impressed with what Disney has done with this attraction. Yes some of the animals cant get out but that is a good thing. But there are a lot of free roaming animals that can cross in front of you, stop in front of the vehicle or park themselves right beside the road. It is different everytime. This is why we go sometimes multiple times we are there.
I am so looking forward to night safaris when we are there in September.
I cant recommend enough to at least try this out, remember what it was like on your safari and be pleased that you do not have to drive an hour or 2 to see so many animals.

I'm curious about what you think once you've done one. I was too. In reality it was awful. I had high hopes for the lighting they'd put in but it was just awful. At dusk the simulated sunset is ok but in the dark it is horrible. Garish and overly bright. They need to diffuse it for darkness. The area with the moonlight is nice enough but it's got too many shadows. You can't see much.
The rest of the areas are too dark to make out anything. So even the animals that are active at night aren't visible because it's too dark to see them.

That said, we have had great safari's in the dusk window. That's when it excels. The night ones, not at all.

 

[Sagginit]

Eh its debatable. I go on it as it is one of the few rides in AK. The line can be annoying as its hot and boring as someone said. You can sometimes get a great view of animals, other times not so much. WDW is as my husband calls it "artificial happiness". Its like Vegas, an escape from the real world and lots of perfect tiny versions of the world. If you expect it to be like the real world it won't live up to your standards. That being said if you have the time to kill, why not? You get to ride for a while and see some animals as well as nicely manicured landscapes that houses them.

 

[mort1331]

I'm curious about what you think once you've done one. I was too. In reality it was awful. I had high hopes for the lighting they'd put in but it was just awful. At dusk the simulated sunset is ok but in the dark it is horrible. Garish and overly bright. They need to diffuse it for darkness. The area with the moonlight is nice enough but it's got too many shadows. You can't see much.
The rest of the areas are too dark to make out anything. So even the animals that are active at night aren't visible because it's too dark to see them.

That said, we have had great safari's in the dusk window. That's when it excels. The night ones, not at all.

I will report back late Sept when we are back.