Question Regarding Wilderness Explorers

[CarlyMur09]

Hi, all!

My family's heading down to Disney in April (20-30) with 8-day base tickets, and we have a loose schedule planed out that we may follow. We're a family of all adults (Parents are 49/48, and kids are 27F/25F/25F (twins turning 26 on the 29th!)

So far it's 22-Epcot, 23-MK, 24 AK (AM EMH), 25-HS (AM EMH), 26- AK, 27-HS, 28-Epcot, and 29-MK

So as you can see, we're planning on being at Animal Kingdom on a day with morning EMH. We want to start doing Wilderness Explorers on Monday, and see how much we can get done by Wednesday, but we weren't sure about something. AK is supposed to be open from 9-7, with EMH from 8-9. Does Wilderness explorers open at 9 with the entire park, or will it be open when we head into the park?

Also, how deaf-friendly is wilderness explorers? Both my brother and I are deaf, and my brother also has Downs Syndrome, so his fine motor skills aren't the best. Will we be able to do most of what wilderness explorers offers?

TIA!

 

[HopperFan]

I think you will be fine. We are all adults, had a blast, and felt the times we interacted with the "scout leaders" they were great. They seem very excited about their job and the learning process. Get everyone their own books so each have one to read.

You will get a book so you will have each badge explained in writing and what you need to do so you can pick and choose. My DS has Down Syndrome and he had fun collecting the badges. Fine motor isn't really needed much. I will assume you read lips or one of your family members can interpret if the badge involves heavy interacting with the guide.

Look at a few reviews and it will give a wider understanding of the activities and have you more prepared. HAVE FUN!

https://www.travelingmom.com/top-de...erness-explorer-disney-worlds-animal-kingdom/

http://www.mommymusings.com/wilderness-explorers-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

http://raisingwhasians.com/2015/04/wilderness-explorers-guide-at-disney-animal-kingdom.html


Side note: While my DS does minimal sign language (did more when younger but new school did not do in his class so he lost much) we still attended the interpreted NEMO and Festival of the Lion King Show, and sat in their section. WOW, he focused so well on them and the show and I loved it. Made the shows really special. I know it's a limited schedule but worth checking if they are there on your days.

 

[CarlyMur09]

I think you will be fine. We are all adults, had a blast, and felt the times we interacted with the "scout leaders" they were great. They seem very excited about their job and the learning process. Get everyone their own books so each have one to read.

You will get a book so you will have each badge explained in writing and what you need to do so you can pick and choose. My DS has Down Syndrome and he had fun collecting the badges. Fine motor isn't really needed much. I will assume you read lips or one of your family members can interpret if the badge involves heavy interacting with the guide.

Look at a few reviews and it will give a wider understanding of the activities and have you more prepared. HAVE FUN!

https://www.travelingmom.com/top-de...erness-explorer-disney-worlds-animal-kingdom/

http://www.mommymusings.com/wilderness-explorers-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

http://raisingwhasians.com/2015/04/wilderness-explorers-guide-at-disney-animal-kingdom.html


Side note: While my DS does minimal sign language (did more when younger but new school did not do in his class so he lost much) we still attended the interpreted NEMO and Festival of the Lion King Show, and sat in their section. WOW, he focused so well on them and the show and I loved it. Made the shows really special. I know it's a limited schedule but worth checking if they are there on your days.

Thanks, HopperFan. I think we'll definitely have fun doing this. Do you know if we can start as early as EMH, or do we have to wait till the park opens to everyone that day?

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks, HopperFan. I think we'll definitely have fun doing this. Do you know if we can start as early as EMH, or do we have to wait till the park opens to everyone that day?

I do not know that for sure but I just looked at the 14th.
Normal Hours 9-7:30.
EMH 8-9.
Wilderness Explorers is showing 10-5.

Probably depends on season too because in winter the animal trails close much earlier because it gets dark early.

 

[WithASmile&ASong]

I don't have a direct answer to your question. But I will speculate. I'm pretty sure the main Wilderness Explorers station (where you sign in and do the pledge and where you bring the completed books) will not be open for EMH. However Discover Island trails and Gorilla Falls Trails are open for EMH. It may be that the interpretive cast members there will have the books for you to start working on. We got books (and badges) from a guide at Gorilla Falls Trails before the listed 10 am start time of Wilderness Explorers. So it may be that the attractions that are open for EMH will have the cast members that can do badges for those areas.
My advice is to hit the Discovery Trails find a CM and ask. There is a badge to "work on" for the Safari and to collect after the Safari so I would try to get the book before that.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Bumping this up to see if anyone has had a recent experience. I have the same question regarding the availability of the WE books before the WE station opens (on EMH days). Would hate to have to backtrack to the front of the park plus miss having the book with us while we do the Safari and Gorilla Falls Trail.

 

[stenmarks]

Here's a blog with pictures of the handbook: https://schmirfle.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-wilderness-explorers-handbook.html

You could always print these out if the explorer stand is not yet open. Then once you get your book you can transfer the answers.

 

[AngiTN]

Worth noting, there are new books now as there are WE stations in Pandora (3)
So everyone needs new books now.
They are not open for EMH, or were not 2 weeks ago.
We got our book at the station in Pandora once it opened.
The only thing you miss by getting your book at a station instead of the check in point on the bridge is they didn't do the cute swearing in ceremony. If this is something you haven't done before, back track and do it there.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Thanks for the update, so we will likely be able to get it in Africa or Discovery Island if we run across a WE CM on our way to Safari? As far as the swearing in ceremony we could hit it on the way out or on the next day, we are doing Pandora on AK day two.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks for the update, so we will likely be able to get it in Africa or Discovery Island if we run across a WE CM on our way to Safari? As far as the swearing in ceremony we could hit it on the way out or on the next day, we are doing Pandora on AK day two.

Yes, all the WE stands have the books (or should unless they have ran out for some reason) so you can always pick one up wherever you see one and start there

 

[stenmarks]

Worth noting, there are new books now as there are WE stations in Pandora (3)
So everyone needs new books now.
They are not open for EMH, or were not 2 weeks ago.
We got our book at the station in Pandora once it opened.
The only thing you miss by getting your book at a station instead of the check in point on the bridge is they didn't do the cute swearing in ceremony. If this is something you haven't done before, back track and do it there.

Good info, thanks for sharing! DD finished her book on our last trip so we knew we would need a new one, but I didn't think about Pandora being added.