Question about the changes to the Kilimanjaro Safari

[JennaDeeDooDah]

As we have all most certainly heard by now, the whole poacher scene with Little Red is now gone from Kilimanjaro Safari to make way for more zebras. What I have read means that the ride will no longer speed up, but maintain the constant speed that it starts out at. Knowing this, what is your take on taking my 80 year old grandparents on the ride? A little back history:

My grandmother has always loved zebras and giraffes. Because of this, I thought that I would take her on the safari, but was reminded of how rough it is. She is in her 4th year of remission from bone cancer. For her age, she has very strong, solid bones with no real issues (no osteoporosis or arthritis). She is, however, in her 80s. My grandfather, on the other hand, is a disabled vet. He has a bad back from his time as a pilot in the air force and takes Oxycontin daily to manage his back pain. He also has to sometimes get shots for the pain. He will be getting a shot right before our trip.

Knowing this, do you think that the ride will be soft enough now for them, or should we just forego the entire thing? Another important thing to know is that neither will go on it without the other.

 

[kaligal]

I don't know that the ride will maintain a constant, slow speed.

I think your grandfather will be very uncomfortable.

I'd be scared to death to take an 80yo to the parks, but if that is what they head their heart set on, I'd help them do whatever they wanted.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I got that it would maintain a slow speed from allears:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2012/05/changes_on_kilimanjaro_safaris_1.html

I just don't know how smooth or bumpy it will be. I think that they are going to have a great time. They can ride most of the rides at MK (obviously none of the mountains, though). When they lived in California in the 60s, they loved going to Disneyland and doing Carousel of Progress and America the Beautiful, so COP and Soarin' are on our list of things to do. I know that they will love Epcot. My grandmother wants me to take her to DHS and show her all around where I worked and tell her my stories. I think it will be a good time.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

When are you going? Although they have made changes to the initial part of the last section, as of a week ago the geysers and Little Red were still there. It seems like they are doing the work piece by piece so that it affects guests as little as possible.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

When are you going? Although they have made changes to the initial part of the last section, as of a week ago the geysers and Little Red were still there. It seems like they are doing the work piece by piece so that it affects guests as little as possible.

Not until December.

 

[DLB]

I will be there in Sept and happy to report back to you as I plan on riding it several times!!!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I will be there in Sept and happy to report back to you as I plan on riding it several times!!!

I would really appreciate that!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It's still going to be pretty bumpy.

I would not take them on Safari especially your Grandfather with his bad back.

 

[minnie mum]

Will they be using ECVs or wheelchairs? Or one of both? I'm assuming some combination, since just walking around in the parks would probably be enough to do them in. Usually those in wheelchairs and EVCs are seated in the section immediately behind the driver (in a regular seat if they can transfer or in the wheelchair if they can't). I've found the ride to be not quite so rough there (compared to the very back). So perhaps they would be fine if they rode there.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

keep in mind if you decide to take them (you may already know this) the back of the truck is "bumpier" than the front - so you'd get a smoother ride if you are right behind the driver (view is better from the back IMO).

You can request a specific row number (I know the back row is #9 so front row is probably #1) - from the CM assigning rows - you may need to wait for the next truck but we always think that's worthwhile to get the row we want.

 

[Raenstoirm]

As we have all most certainly heard by now, the whole poacher scene with Little Red is now gone from Kilimanjaro Safari to make way for more zebras.

As of last week, it was still the same as always (well since they got rid of dead momma a few years back). It is still bouncy and jouncy. I dont think there is a set deadline for the zebra change over at this point.

 

[disnut8]

Will they be using ECVs or wheelchairs? Or one of both? I'm assuming some combination, since just walking around in the parks would probably be enough to do them in. Usually those in wheelchairs and EVCs are seated in the section immediately behind the driver (in a regular seat if they can transfer or in the wheelchair if they can't). I've found the ride to be not quite so rough there (compared to the very back). So perhaps they would be fine if they rode there.

Actually, there's a jeep just for the wheelchair guests. I rode in it with my 82 year old dad with Parkinsonism. It takes a bit longer to get situated but it's very well handled. Still goes over the same ground though so it's not smoother. Cool thing was we got to go backstage a bit to get back to where we left the wheelchair.

And to the poster who said not to take an 80 year old to the parks? Why not? I plan to be touring around when I'm 80 and my mother-in-law is more active than I am (she's 76, I'm 50). Age means nothing except a number. My doctor tells me I can easily live another 35 years and I realized that's my daughter-in-law's age so I have another lifetime to live.

 

[NonScents]

As we have all most certainly heard by now, the whole poacher scene with Little Red is now gone from Kilimanjaro Safari to make way for more zebras. What I have read means that the ride will no longer speed up, but maintain the constant speed that it starts out at. Knowing this, what is your take on taking my 80 year old grandparents on the ride? A little back history:

My grandmother has always loved zebras and giraffes. Because of this, I thought that I would take her on the safari, but was reminded of how rough it is. She is in her 4th year of remission from bone cancer. For her age, she has very strong, solid bones with no real issues (no osteoporosis or arthritis). She is, however, in her 80s. My grandfather, on the other hand, is a disabled vet. He has a bad back from his time as a pilot in the air force and takes Oxycontin daily to manage his back pain. He also has to sometimes get shots for the pain. He will be getting a shot right before our trip.

Knowing this, do you think that the ride will be soft enough now for them, or should we just forego the entire thing? Another important thing to know is that neither will go on it without the other.

Have you considered taking your grandparents to lunch at Sanaa at AKL/Kidani? You will have a view of the savannah with giraffe, zebra, and other animals. It will also be in a comfortable air conditioned restaurant and they can enjoy a great meal.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We rode last Tuesday with a toddler and little red was gone and the entire ride was much slower and smoother. In past rides I've had to hold my son tight, but this time I did not need to have the death grip on him.

 

[disney1990]

Actually, there's a jeep just for the wheelchair guests. I rode in it with my 82 year old dad with Parkinsonism. It takes a bit longer to get situated but it's very well handled. Still goes over the same ground though so it's not smoother. Cool thing was we got to go backstage a bit to get back to where we left the wheelchair.

And to the poster who said not to take an 80 year old to the parks? Why not? I plan to be touring around when I'm 80 and my mother-in-law is more active than I am (she's 76, I'm 50). Age means nothing except a number. My doctor tells me I can easily live another 35 years and I realized that's my daughter-in-law's age so I have another lifetime to live.

My feelings exactly. My father-in-law goes with us to Disney World and rides "everything" - he is 90 years old. He refuses to let his age stop him from doing the things he wants to do.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I am wondering if they will remove the expectant mother warning. If they don't speed up over the rocky terrain, I'm thinking it would be fine to ride pregnant.

 

[appleorchard]

I rode it a few weeks ago with a torn tendon in my foot and wearing a boot and I was still sorry I rode--it was VERY bouncy. Maybe the CMs were really revving it to make up for having to slow down in the near future lol. It was the bumpiest ride I've EVER had on the safari!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Thank you for all of the responses.

Sleeping Beauty Fan - Thanks for the response. I want them to experience all that they can (and wish to), but I certainly don't want anyone to be in pain for the rest of the trip.

Minnie mum - My grandparents are going to rent EVCs (I wish that they would just get plain old wheelchairs but they don't want to inconvenience anyone by make us push them).

Dewdrop - Thanks for the tip about where to sit.

Non scents - that is a really great idea. Thanks!

Princess at heart - thanks for telling me about your experience. I was wondering about my toddler and how much I would have to hold on to her, as well.

 

[shyjade]

When are you going? Although they have made changes to the initial part of the last section, as of a week ago the geysers and Little Red were still there. It seems like they are doing the work piece by piece so that it affects guests as little as possible.

Last week Tuesday we rode it twice and little Red was gone, but the geysers were still there. The tour guides explained that zebras would be coming to the area in the future.

The jeeps are very bumpy IMO and still speed up/slow down as needed. My mom suffers from back problems and I thought of her when we were riding because it was so bumpy, and I thought how it would've likely thrown her back out if she'd been along. The ride is amazing but I'm not sure it's worth your grandmother getting hurt.

A few years ago my mom threw her back out on TT and she was miserable the rest of the trip. It wasn't worth her riding it.

 

[North of Mouse]

We were there 4/17 - 4/27 and we didn't see any changes. Yes, they made it too rough, but that likely "cannot" be changed because the road was intentionally rutted that way with cement to try to make it more like what you would find in the wild. Everything was basically the same. I really don't care for it, but my dh likes it. I enjoy going to AKL in the evening, and we see a lot of animals up close that way.