Kilimanjaro Safaris... am I hallucinating??

[bradk]

guns are on-again off-again on the jungle cruise. i believe they're currently in use, but not pointed at the hippos.

and the crocs are there, again, just in a totally different area, long before the bridge in question.

 

[GadgetRick]

Bridge is still there (as of April anyway) and still shakes. What I miss is what they took away a couple of years ago--the guy who used to stand beside the truck with the baby elephant who waves you through.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

The OP mentioned maybe not recalling correctly because she was pregnant. My wife was pregnant for this trip, can I claim memory issues?

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

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.

I am 200% sure that our driver had a gun in 2003. My husband says he's sure there was a gun involved also in Feb of this year. I didn't pay much attention to the driver this time though, because I was a paranoid mess looking for the crocodiles who were sure to eat my children alive.

Also, is it me or is the "poachers" thing toned down alot? I remember really feeling "into" it, and now it just sounds like a lame voice-over???

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

last Aug we had the last seat in the vehicle-- as we were crossing when the guide said to cross your fingers-- dd5 double crossed fingers on each hand I have a pic of it --- soo cute. It must of worked bc we made it safely across the bridge.

 

[maskw03]

Every time we have rode it the bride has shaken and there have been alligators at the bottom. There was only one time it didn't rock back and forth like crazy and I don't know why. But last time we rode it in June of this year the bridge did rock back and forth, but no alligators. The CM said they must of been taken back for a check up. Truly if you look at them closely the never seem to change positions. Dh and I aren't sure they are all real

 

[Otter49]

This thread is really a pretty funny lesson in how we can all "mis-remember" things.

As pointed out, the bridge over the Nile crocodiles is much earlier in the ride than the shaky one. And no, there are no alligators on KS.

For the poster who thought you crossed the bridge after being held up by a hippo or rhino - you would have been possibly delayed by a white rhino about five minutes after you crossed the bridge, but not before. It wouldn't have been a hippo because they're much to dangerous to be allowed near the truck path.

And unless it was very very early in the park's existence, drivers have never interacted with the poachers with a gun. There was a time when a CM stood near the baby elephant with a rifle, which then became a radio. Eventually the CM disappeared altogether and left it to "Wilson", who disappeared last year as well.

 

[enchantingodin]

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.

I think you were taking my post a little too literally. And somehow (based on your tone) got offended.

TO ME unless the ride is the same for everyone than the elements that length or shorten that ride are and should be considered "filler". And as you said yourself during busier times of the year it's not used. So in order to move more guests through they take out the filler element of the ride.

I was only speculating on the CMs control of the bridge shacking length. Because honestly some times have felt longer than others but as I said - I might just be nutzo. But even still as you yourself pointed out the CM does have control over how fast they go over the shaking bridge. So wouldn't that lead to the length of perceived tilting?

I've also had CMs rush over the bridge on more than one occasion - so again - based on what you're saying AND I'm saying maybe they had been lagging behind and needed to catch up so they didn't "do" the shaking by rushing over it altogether. Or in other words saved time by not using the filler element of the ride.

I'm not a CM, and I'm only currently still in touch with one of my CM friends (although she works in hotel management) from when I went to college in Orlando. So I can't really KNOW all the things they do. But I can observe what I've seen, smelt and felt on the over 100 times I've been to the parks. That's all I was trying to do here.

Have a great day!

 

[MKandy]

I am 200% sure that our driver had a gun in 2003. My husband says he's sure there was a gun involved also in Feb of this year. I didn't pay much attention to the driver this time though, because I was a paranoid mess looking for the crocodiles who were sure to eat my children alive.

Also, is it me or is the "poachers" thing toned down alot? I remember really feeling "into" it, and now it just sounds like a lame voice-over???

I promise you that the drivers never had a gun. The jungle cruise skippers use a gun on occassion, but never Safari drivers. There was, back in 1998-1999 CMs that would stand at the scene where you see the baby elephant and they would sometimes have a fake gun, but never shot it at the poachers. I promise.

Also, the script did change slightly over the past couple of years. I agree that there is less stress put on the poachers than before. However, most guests/drivers still really get into it. It's great!

Have a magical day.

 

[MKandy]

I think you were taking my post a little too literally. And somehow (based on your tone) got offended.

TO ME unless the ride is the same for everyone than the elements that length or shorten that ride are and should be considered "filler". And as you said yourself during busier times of the year it's not used. So in order to move more guests through they take out the filler element of the ride.

I was only speculating on the CMs control of the bridge shacking length. Because honestly some times have felt longer than others but as I said - I might just be nutzo. But even still as you yourself pointed out the CM does have control over how fast they go over the shaking bridge. So wouldn't that lead to the length of perceived tilting?

I've also had CMs rush over the bridge on more than one occasion - so again - based on what you're saying AND I'm saying maybe they had been lagging behind and needed to catch up so they didn't "do" the shaking by rushing over it altogether. Or in other words saved time by not using the filler element of the ride.

I'm not a CM, and I'm only currently still in touch with one of my CM friends (although she works in hotel management) from when I went to college in Orlando. So I can't really KNOW all the things they do. But I can observe what I've seen, smelt and felt on the over 100 times I've been to the parks. That's all I was trying to do here.

Have a great day!

Oh, I'm sorry that I came accross as "offended." I promise that I'm not. I was merely trying to clear things up and help everyone understand.

You are correct that some drivers "rush" over the bridge, only, of course, when it is turned off. However, drivers are supposed to maintain certain speed limits in different areas of the reserve. I don't want to give away too much here, but I will say that they shouldn't be going as fast as they can accross any bridge.

Hope I've cleared the air a bit.

Have a magical day.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

I promise you that the drivers never had a gun. The jungle cruise skippers use a gun on occassion, but never Safari drivers. There was, back in 1998-1999 CMs that would stand at the scene where you see the baby elephant and they would sometimes have a fake gun, but never shot it at the poachers. I promise.

Also, the script did change slightly over the past couple of years. I agree that there is less stress put on the poachers than before. However, most guests/drivers still really get into it. It's great!

Have a magical day.

Well, I promise you that the first ride we took the guy didn't have a gun and the second one we took the chick had a gun! (not getting smart, being serious...) I am 100% sure... no doubt about it. And hey, I'm sure you haven't met every single CM, maybe she was havin a bad day and she was packin heat?? Maybe it wasn't an "approved" part of the ride, if you know what I'm sayin??

 

[Debbie-TN]

Here's a picture from when they used to have the CM's capturing the poachers. You do hear gunfire in the ride, but our driver has ever had a gun when we have been on it. Maybe it was something they tried a few times, and decided to stop it because it scared the riders.