We went this past September (09) and well we were a little disappointed in it. You are to meet at a certain location and check in (1person from your party does this) and they will hand you a sticker for each person in your group to wear (even the babies). Then they escort you to the safari ride. This was a disappointing thing for us BECAUSE you go into groups, so it was our family and another family. This family was VERY RUDE!! They spread out over 4 rows of seats, and not even all together. So our family of only 12 had to all sit seperatly....we were sooo mad, that blue shirt family was just rude the entire time!!! Thats what made it kinda crappy for us really. Oh yeah, I forgot, before you go to the actually safari ride you go in this big "safari headquarters" thats our name for it..haha And this lady will tell you everything you need to know from there!
Anyway, the good thing about the safari ride, was apparently it went a lot slower and was a lot better than doing the safari in the regular lines when the park is open! We really did enjoy the safari ride (just not the rude, loud family!) And you get to ask questions on the ride as well, which their kids just kept yelling them out one after another and our kids really didn't get a chance to ask anything, mind you...those kids would ask the same questions over and over...ugg you could tell the CM was annoyed as well! UGGG Anyway, the safari was great!!
After the safari ride you get to go into the restaurant and eat. And the buffet isn't that great, we really didn't like the food...even my hubby who eats everything, wasn't impressed! Alot of it wasn't what we were expecting either, so that may have been it! haha The kids didn't really like the food either. They have a little band in there, and it was very loud..we couldn't even hear ourselves talk! We were in the main room where they play too, so again that could have been the issue there. The had rafikki and timon (i think) in there for autographs and pics...the kids kinda liked that. And then as you leave, they have some lizard type animals you can touch. I didn't pay attention to them cause I don't like those creepy little boogers! haha My kids did love this part! And then you just walked out of the park and the busses do pick you up to take you back to your resort. There are CM's out there asking where you are staying and they get a bus to take you there! It was an ok experience, but we won't do it again. The best part was the safari ride, which you can do anytime, that's why we wouldn't do it again.
Everyone is different, so you may like it, that was just our experience. The food is all African and just not that great. Just make sure when you get on the truck for the safari ride, please keep your family together so the other family going with you can sit together!
It's just the nice polite thing to do I think. I hope you enjoy it more than we did!!
