Morning WDW tour before a cruise?

[Lesley Wake]

I’m taking a cruise early next year and beforehand I will be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 2-nights (it’s just me doing the whole trip). I’ve been wanting to do the Sense of Africa tour, which starts at AKL at 7am, lasts 3.5 hrs, and includes breakfast plus backstage animal areas (including feeding giraffes and okapi). Do you guys think that sounds like a good idea? I figure I can leave my carryon in the hotel room until after the tour and then can just chill in the lobby until the bus picks up (oh-I’m also planning on using DCL transport). The tour is only 2 days a week so it’s either cruise embarkation day or my overall departure day.

 

[Marc D]

The logistics of it will not work. Even if everything goes on schedule and you end the tour at 10:30, you still need to make your way back to the AKL lobby after that, which will involve at least 20 minutes after you are let go from the tour, depending where it ends. Since the animals are in the back of the park, you might have to cross it entirely, adding around 15-20 minutes based on your walking speed. In the best of cases, you will be back and ready to board the bus at 10:50, but realistically no earlier than 11:15.

You’ll find out your DCL bus pickup time the evening before, and it can be anywhere between 10:30 and 1PM. There is only one departure time and they will not wait for you.

 

[Weedy]

If you use private transportation you could do it

 

[tankin]

@Lesley Wake It might work if you end up with the latest pickup time.... Are you willing and do you have the budget to take a private transfer if you can't make the DCL bus?

 

[Lesley Wake]

The logistics of it will not work. Even if everything goes on schedule and you end the tour at 10:30, you still need to make your way back to the AKL lobby after that, which will involve at least 20 minutes after you are let go from the tour, depending where it ends. Since the animals are in the back of the park, you might have to cross it entirely, adding around 15-20 minutes based on your walking speed. In the best of cases, you will be back and ready to board the bus at 10:50, but realistically no earlier than 11:15.

You’ll find out your DCL bus pickup time the evening before, and it can be anywhere between 10:30 and 1PM. There is only one departure time and they will not wait for you.

It actually ends at AKL. The backstage animal areas are the ones at the hotel, not park.

@Lesley Wake It might work if you end up with the latest pickup time.... Are you willing and do you have the budget to take a private transfer if you can't make the DCL bus?

Hmm, yeah I’ll have to consider that! Thanks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I think as long as you are willing to pay for private transportation and lose the amount you paid for the DCL transfer if your pick up time is earlier than what would work with the tour, then go for it. Or just decide in advance that you will pay for private transportation and not worry about the DCL transfer.

 

[mevelandry]

I'd pay for private transportation if I were you.

Otherwise, you might feel extremely rushed... and that's if you make it on time for the shuttle.

 

[lilsonicfan]

This tour sounds amazing!! I'd say do it, and pay for the private transportation so you aren't stressed about bus pickup time.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I wouldn't even book the DCL bus. If you don't show up for it, there's no refund, and you don't get a time until late the prior night.

Just book a private transfer for 11-11:30.