Safari Waitlists

[Steve's Wife]

We really fell asleep at the wheel this time around. We're currently waitlisted for the sunrise safari on July 3rd (our anniversary!). There are 6 people ahead of us. Has anyone had any luck with the safari waitlists?

Lori

 

[Inkmahm]

I didn't even know they had waitlists for the safari. I'd ask concierge about how likely it would be that you could get on the safari, they probably know best.

 

[Plutofan]

I am not sure how many are allowed but our group of 11 are already doing it on July 3.

 

[Steve's Wife]

Surely some of them would prefer to sleep in. . .

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

We are now waitlisted for the Sun Aug 10th Sunrise Safari. One good thing is we are at the top of the waitlist. We are a party of four.

I knew I should have sent my IPO form in sooner!!!

Please send Pixie Dust that we clear the Safari waitlist!

 

[LisaS]

It would be helpful to know how far in advance you tried to book your safari. That might give us some idea just how quickly these safaris sell out. Thanks!

 

[podsnel]

Here's some for you all, hope it comes through! I would also like to know when you tried to book or booked-
Lots of luck to you!!

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Sunrise Safari Waitlist Update:

We cleared the waitlist for the Aug 10th Sunrise Safari!! WooHoo!!

But not because someone cancelled! IPO informed me that they have added seats to the trucks and can now take 60 people (was 55) on the Sunrise Safari. She said they have been moving people off the waitlist all week.

For those who were wondering: We made the AKL CL room ressie at the end of April. I talked with IPO very early May and was told at that time the 8/10 Sunrise Safari was about half full. I sent in my IPO info form 6/13 and recieved a reply the next day that the 8/10 Safari was full, but that we were at the top of the waitlist. I thought it was weird that the 8/10 Safari was all booked up especially since you could still book an 8/9 AKL CL room at an AP rate!!!

I am just so very glad we got on the Safari because that was sort of the whole point of booking the AKL Club Level room for 2 nights (Fri & Sat) between our BCV & AKV nights.

 

[DVC Mary]

What's an IPO form? There were no forms a few years ago. I think b/c of AKL being DVC now, the popularity is really growing.

How far out can you book these? How do you book these?

Have a great time!

We did it a few years ago & now every time we go on the regular safari, my kids say "remember when we....."

It was a blast, the CMs were so knowledgeable. They actually stop the safari for you to take pictures.

The breakfast at Tusker House was wonderful too.

I hope to take my Mom on this if I can ever get her back to WDW and be lucky enough to get into AKL. BWV is our primary.

She made her 1st trip at for her 80th b-day this year. I'm hoping her health will hold out & we can do another one, but stay at AKL. We spoiled her at GF w/ a surprise upgrade to Concierge. I hope to do the same at AKL if we're lucky.

 

[DebbieB]

My friends & I did it on June 29. It was great, lasted about an hour! The breakfast is now at Pizzafari, it was wonderful!

 

[LisaS]

How far out can you book these? How do you book these?

You can book it 180 days in advance. Actually, you can contact the IPO (IPO == Itinerary Planning Office, the people who book tours and ADRs for people who have booked a Concierge room) prior to that time to get your name on the list and they will sign you up when the booking window opens. I did contact them again inside of 180 days to verify that they did sign us up for the tour.

We were disappointed in the breakfast. We're vegetarians and the breakfast is designed for meat lovers: large platters of bacon, ham and two kinds of sausage, meat-based omelettes and just in case that wasn't enough they put meat in the fruit bowl too! There wasn't much we could eat besides fried potatoes and pastries, though I did spoon some fruit out from the middle of the bowl (the meat was around the edge). Fortunately someone in Concierge had called ahead and told them about us so they did produce a huge meat-free baked omelette for us to share. It was dry and bland but I give them credit for trying.