Safari ride and AK?

[bigcrit]

How do you book for the safari ride at AK? Can you book in advance and how do you book in advance? or do you show up and wait in line? How long is the ride thru the safari?

Thanks all.................

 

[dkddis]

It is a regular ride that lasts about 10 minutes or so. It does have a fast pass. The best time to go is first thing when the park opens as that is when you have the most active and wide collection of animals.

 

[WheresGoofy]

If you get the experience of a rhino crossing the road really slow and causing a safari vehicle traffic jam...then it can easily become a 30 + minute ride. That happened to us, but it seemed that the places we were stopped at, the view wasn't that great and when the view was great, the vehicles were moving at a good pace.

 

[PandyPaws]

It's a two-week Safari, don't forget to pack everything you'll need
Actually, it's 20 minutes, unless, of course, as WheresGoofy mentioned, animals cross the road and delay our progress. Yes, we have a regular standby line as well as a Fast Pass system, all inclusive with regular park admission. There are also other types of Safaris that can be booked for an extra fee. For example; the Backstage Safari, the Sunrise Safari (available to AK Lodge concierge Guests only) and the new Wildlife Discovery Excursion (available to all Disney Resort (except AK Lodge) Concierge Guests only )

Animal viewing is unpredictable. There is no 'better' time to ride than another. As I drive this all day, every day, I've seen some pretty active and exciting things out there at all hours of the day, not just the mornings even two rounds in a row can result in completely different viewing (ie: you may see lions during one and not the next, or happen to catch plenty of Bongo antelope at the edge of the road as they cross the forest...then they may be well hidden in the underbrush next time around. Maybe no elephants this time but next round there's several along with a baby in full view at the water's edge. Some days I may not see any white rhino at all, then suddenly there they are in the late afternoon, right in the middle of the road).
Drivers discuss this at length daily. What I happened to have seen may have been missed just three or four vehicles behind me, and well as the other way around.

I can't stress this enough, if you're *only* riding in the mornings, you don't know what you're missing, as different species are active at different times of the day, and most of them are active during the rain

 

[ssdeverell]

PandyPaws, I cannot tell you how glad I was to read your post. We have made a PS for Donald's at 8:00 (the park opens at 8:00), so I had changed our safari ride until after the parade. I have been so worried that it would not be a good time, and while I know there are no guarantees, it makes me feel better to hear it from someone who works there.

Thanks,

Stephanie

 

[TammiMcMan]

It's a two-week Safari, don't forget to pack everything you'll need

LOL PandyPaws, that one got me laughing.

OP, are you asking about the regular Kilimanjaro Safari ride in AK or the special sunset/sunrise safari that the Animal Kingdom lodge offers? If it's the regular one, then it's a continuous ride during normal park operating hours. You'll get advice to be on the first ride, but I agree, the animals are active at different times during the day.

If it's the special safari, then that is a benefit to only those guests staying concierge level at the Animal Kingdom lodge. Not sure what the cost is, but it definitely has to be booked in advance. They open the booking window at 90 days.