Kilimanjaro Safaris... am I hallucinating??

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

For some reason, I seem to remember in 2003 doing the ride and it went over a bridge as it was turning to the right and the bridge got shaky, very shaky and the jeep started to tilt back and forth and you were above crocodiles.

Am I hallucinating? My husband doesnt remember as clearly but when we did it in Feb he said he thought there was more action and a "Scary part" before.

I swear I can recall this in my head and visualize where we were. The jeep was turning to the right, there was brush on the left side and then opening up into a flat savannah and there were crocs down on either side of the jeep below you. I seem to remember the jeep getting "Stuck" or something and they made a big deal about the bridge giving way and the jeep rocked??

Although I was pregnant at the time, which for some reason makes my brain stop functioning properly... so I could totally be losing it and making things up in my head.

 

[Mommytobree]

I remember that too! I even mentioned to dh in June that the must have done away with that part-I cleary remebered it b/c it FREAKED me out!!

 

[nothnbutherainsir]

They still do it! I was there last September and I remember it quite well because I nearly dropped my camera!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I remember that too! I even mentioned to dh in June that the must have done away with that part-I cleary remebered it b/c it FREAKED me out!!

aww man, if they are gonna 'dumb down' the ride then do away with the whole script and let us just see the animals. I hate it when they mess with a good thing.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Yes, this is part of the ride. The driver says something about having to go over a bridge and to cross your fingers that you make it. About half way over it, the car stops and the bridge starts to rock. Then they hurry across the bridge. Most drivers say-Ok, who didn't cross their fingers.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

The bridge still shakes. But like any mechanical device, it's prone to malfunction occasionally.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Yes, this is part of the ride. The driver says something about having to go over a bridge and to cross your fingers that you make it. About half way over it, the car stops and the bridge starts to rock. Then they hurry across the bridge. Most drivers say-Ok, who didn't cross their fingers.

I remember the shaking from our Feb trip, yes... but nothing like it was when we went before. I distinctly remember and can picture it on my head the jeep rocking back and firth, not the slight shaking of the bridge. This was more intense. And I dont remember seeing alligators this trip either???

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

I remember that too! I even mentioned to dh in June that the must have done away with that part-I cleary remebered it b/c it FREAKED me out!!

Now am I right that it wasnt the same thing as the bridge shaking and then the speeding off the bridge? I remember like holding onto the side of the truck thinking we were for sure going to be sueing Disney for loss of limb once we hit the alligator pit. I remember being scared. This trip none of my kids even flinched at the bridge shaking. I kept waiting for it to come and thought, wait, that couldnt have been it???

 

[Debbie-TN]

The bridge does shake a lot, but sometimes it doesn't work correctly and the driver just goes over it without saying anything. It always seems worse the first time you ride it. After that, you expect it and it's fun to watch other first-timers. Actually, the last time we were there I had noticed that the Crocodiles were not any more. I wondered what happened to them.

 

[bradk]

the crocs are earlier in the attraction.

i rode it 3x in early July and the bridge seemed to function well each time, although I do have memories of it not working so well in the recent past too.

 

[f15robyn]

the crocs are earlier in the attraction.

i rode it 3x in early July and the bridge seemed to function well each time, although I do have memories of it not working so well in the recent past too.

Are there times of the year that they don't run this part of the experience? My husband and I went to AK for the first time in Jan 2008 and then again in Jan 2009. A good friend had told us about this. But we didn't experience it. And we rode the safari several times each year (sometimes more than once in a day on other days during the same trip).

Just wondering if it's kind of like the annual refurbs they do on some rides.

 

[mlittig]

Dear LoveMy3Monkeys, you are not hallucinating as the shaky bridge was there last August when my daughter and I did the safari twice on different days But we were just there the end of June with my other daughter and we purposely did not tell her about the bridge because we wanted to see her reaction But the two times we did the safari, the bridge did nothing and neither driver mentioned anything about it We were really disappointed

 

[enchantingodin]

Ok guys you need to realize something - this is a filler. Meaning if the truck in front of your truck is lagging behind or you've gone to fast through a section it is there to help the driver "waste" time. Alternatively if you've lingered say by the giraffes too long because there was one right next to the truck, then they need to 'make up' time and they'll skip it. It depends completely on timing.

The entire ride is a big huge balancing act for the CMs. I mean think about it - they have to know a LOT about the animals on the ride to be able to answer questions and talk about them pretty much constantly. Stay 'in character' while you're on your '2 week' safari. Keep track of all the other trucks and their spacings. AND drive. That's a ton going on.

I would say in the 20+ times I've gone on KS only about 1/4 to 1/3 of the time did I get a shaky bridge. And I could be totally crazy but I think the CM might have control over how long it shakes too, because some of them have seemed longer than others.

 

[Christine]

There are two bridges.

The first bridge goes over the crocs and doesn't do anything. The second bridge shakes and the left side of the bridge starts to "fall." The driver asks everyone in the truck to lean to the right and then you drive off.

It did this two days ago but was missing on my Easter 2007 trip.

 

[lovndisney]

We were there 2 weeks ago today as a matter of fact. The bridge definitely still does the shaking and rocking and they speed up and comment that they hope the next tour is just as lucky. I am not sure that it was over the alligator's though. It may have been right past that point. I don't always have a clear memory, but I know that it happened. My kids got scared.

 

[psac]

This year in Apr 2009 the driver said something like "SOMETIMES we have problems with this bridge" (no shaking), and then was like "looks like not today!" This was after we got stuck with a rhino/hippo (forget which) walking by our truck for 10 mins. So like someone above says, it depends on your timing.

 

[MKandy]

Ok guys you need to realize something - this is a filler. Meaning if the truck in front of your truck is lagging behind or you've gone to fast through a section it is there to help the driver "waste" time. Alternatively if you've lingered say by the giraffes too long because there was one right next to the truck, then they need to 'make up' time and they'll skip it. It depends completely on timing.

The entire ride is a big huge balancing act for the CMs. I mean think about it - they have to know a LOT about the animals on the ride to be able to answer questions and talk about them pretty much constantly. Stay 'in character' while you're on your '2 week' safari. Keep track of all the other trucks and their spacings. AND drive. That's a ton going on.

I would say in the 20+ times I've gone on KS only about 1/4 to 1/3 of the time did I get a shaky bridge. And I could be totally crazy but I think the CM might have control over how long it shakes too, because some of them have seemed longer than others.

This is not entirely true. While the drivers do have to watch out for their spacing and keep a certain time frame, the bridge is NOT used as a "filler." The bridge can not be turned on or off for each truck. The bridge will only be on if it is operating properly. Also during extremely busy seasons (Spring break, Christmas, and some summer days) the bridge will be off simply to allow more guests on the attraction. In the recent months the bridge has been having more problems than before so it has been off more often. However, things seem to be getting better. Trust me, the Safari drivers love the bridge and want it on all the time!

Also the CMs can not control the amount of time that the bridge tilts. It is a consistent amount and the drivers simply drive over it. Also, the trucks never stop on the bridge either. The driver goes slow, but never comes to a full stop.

Also, I'd like to clarify that the bridge in question is NOT over crocadiles. There is a bridge over the area where crocadiles are, but it does not "tilt" or "shake."

Have a magical day.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

This past June our bridge did tip, shake. But I can't remember specifically where it was. The crocodiles were also MIA ....someone asked the driver where they were and she said they had to move them because of a problem with the weather?...not sure what kind of weather troubles the Crocs ..but they would be returning.

 

[Bound For Glory]

What about the poachers?

The way I remember the ride in 2000 our driver actually pulled out a gun and took some shots at the poachers. That does seem a little un-Disney-like. The OP mentioned maybe not recalling correctly because she was pregnant. My wife was pregnant for this trip, can I claim memory issues?

On 7/17 our mere presence seemed to cause the poachers to flee and then we saw the "baby elephant" safely in the back of a truck.

Did there used to be a shootout with the poachers?

 

[MKandy]

What about the poachers?

The way I remember the ride in 2000 our driver actually pulled out a gun and took some shots at the poachers. That does seem a little un-Disney-like. The OP mentioned maybe not recalling correctly because she was pregnant. My wife was pregnant for this trip, can I claim memory issues?

On 7/17 our mere presence seemed to cause the poachers to flee and then we saw the "baby elephant" safely in the back of a truck.

Did there used to be a shootout with the poachers?

Unfortunately, Safari drivers never pulled out a gun and shot at the poachers. There are, however, gun shot sounds that happen during the poacher scene. This might be what your thinking of.