Sense of Africa reviews?

[bobbiwoz]

I'm giving this some thought. DH wants to do the Trek, I'm hoping a girlfriend would be interested in this, so I can do both!

 

[tsme]

Is this tour only for guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort?

 

[RobinEJ]

Awesome review. I'm going on a solo trip in September and staying at AKL... now I'm seriously considering this! I love (!!!!) giraffes and I would love the chance to get up close to them!

Another really cool part of the giraffe encounter was that you learned about the giraffes that live at the lodge, the family, their grandma, the baby that hangs with her momma at Arusha Rock. I LOVE that stuff. Also the cast members made it special for me to see how much they care. The giraffe trainer had tears in her eyes and she said it makes her so happy to see how guests react when entering the barn. It was a special day!

 

[RobinEJ]

Is this tour only for guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort?

Nope it's for anyone, but they did say that it has been very popular and books fast!

 

[jsrj21]

I don't think you'll regret it!! I'm going back in August as well, to AKL no the tour. I booked a bounce back offer and can't wait to return!

Be there in August too!!!!!!!

 

[tsme]

Nope it's for anyone, but they did say that it has been very popular and books fast!

Thanks

 

[schoen]

I love this review, and it seems like a wonderful tour, but I am still having a hard time reconciling value. It's more expensive than Backstage Magic, which is eight hours long, takes you into the utilidors, provides lunch at whispering canyon cafe, and moves you throuought property on a motor coach stocked with drinks. It's also more expensive than Wild Africa Trek. Hmmmm. I still just don't know about this one... I really want to do it, but I do question the value of it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I love this review, and it seems like a wonderful tour, but I am still having a hard time reconciling value. It's more expensive than Backstage Magic, which is eight hours long, takes you into the utilidors, provides lunch at whispering canyon cafe, and moves you throuought property on a motor coach stocked with drinks. It's also more expensive than Wild Africa Trek. Hmmmm. I still just don't know about this one... I really want to do it, but I do question the value of it.

I think that these are all so subjective... all depends on how much each person values the particular experience. I personally don't want to give up a whole day for a tour, so I am far less likely to do that tour than this one. Also, on many of these you have to be over 16yrs. For this one it's over 10yrs, which makes it something I'd be able to do with my DD10 and DS11.

 

[cottontail]

Hi Is there alot of walking involved, I need a hip replacement but can walk a small amount.

 

[RobinEJ]

Hi Is there alot of walking involved, I need a hip replacement but can walk a small amount.

Very limited walking, you are mostly driving sound in the truck

 

[bobbiwoz]

Years ago, our Wayanama Safari truck broke down and we were taken to the barns you describe. It was at a time when they were trying to change the destructive rooting behavior of the red river hogs. We just stayed at AKV and saw the RRHs on the savannah and it made me smile to see them out and about.

I've eaten at Sanaa with an animal specialist 3 times and I have another meal with one in September. I've talked my sister into taking this tour if I decide to go. The price is making me hesitate, if only I had enough points on my Disney CC!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I decided to book this for me and my DSis as her birthday present! We'll do it in September while staying at Jambo, so no need to get to the resort by 7, we'll be there!

 

[DG25]

I will try to find this site in a few weeks to say how a kid does on the tour. We picked it because she can't do trek because she is only 10, we are doing it a few days before her 11th bday. She since she was only a baby has wanted to be a vet, that's all she talks about for 9 years how she is going to grow up and be a vet. So I thought I need to let her experience something like this for her bday. Plus I'm still not sure if they will let a blind person do trek, and I'm not sure blind I want to be in a harness above crocodiles and alligators. As someone said, it is all in your perspectives as for price. Is it worth $500 for a blind person and a child, I'll let you know, but I think to give her the best day of her live will be worth it.

As a side note, Disney goes above and beyond. I have a guide dog, when I booked I asked what I can do with my dog because she can't go, I don't want her to, and they don't want her to. The tour is so early the kennel is not open and is hard for a blind person to get to. After several back and forth conversations, Disney is allow me to leave the dog in the room and the manager will check on her. We are staying AKL witch makes it better. I thought this was above and beyond what they needed to do, but it was really the only option so I am happy they will allow it. Oh, I should say we are in DVC, that may make a slight difference.

 

[Ralphmiller007]

I just booked this tour for my husband and I in May. Does anyone know if you can get things off the buffet for breakfast, as well as the "exclusive" dishes? I'm not a very adventurous eater when it comes to breakfast food, but I do love Boma's bread pudding and praline sauce Also, has anyone done this tour recently? I loved the extensive review noted above, and was just wondering if anything had changed over the course of the last few months. How many people are typically on the tour? I like to know details, and the CM I booked with (while sweet) didn't seem super familiar with the layout. Thanks so much everyone!

 

[lynn_s]

You do get the full buffet breakfast as well as the "special offerings". We loved the tour!

 

[Astryd]

I just booked this tour for my husband and I in May. Does anyone know if you can get things off the buffet for breakfast, as well as the "exclusive" dishes? I'm not a very adventurous eater when it comes to breakfast food, but I do love Boma's bread pudding and praline sauce Also, has anyone done this tour recently? I loved the extensive review noted above, and was just wondering if anything had changed over the course of the last few months. How many people are typically on the tour? I like to know details, and the CM I booked with (while sweet) didn't seem super familiar with the layout. Thanks so much everyone!

I did this tour the end of November, the max number of people for the tour is 12. The above review is accurate, but when we did the tour we also feed the ostriches right after seeing the giraffes. The pictures were included with the price of the tour when I went and while we were out on the Savannah, we could take our own pictures.

For breakfast you can eat off the buffet, but the food they had made up special for us was wonderful, and not all that "adventurous." You might want to give it a try and then hit up the buffet, that is what everyone at our table did.

I loved this tour, it was amazing being so close to the animals. And it was so much fun seeing all the families on their balconies at the Lodge in the morning, all the kids were waving to us.

We also did the Wild Africa Trek later in the week, and while it was great, I enjoyed the Sense of Africa tour more. Both tours we had amazing guides and were so different from each other. I do think that the CM taking pictures for the Sense of Africa tour did a better job then the on the Wild Africa Trek and my pictures for the Sense of Africa tour showed up with the Memory Maker/Photopass pictures, I didn't have to go to a separate website to get them like I did for the Wild Africa Trek.

 

[Ralphmiller007]

Thank you lynn_s and Astryd for the updates! Animal Kingdom Lodge is what turned Disney around for my husband (who wasn't a Disney fan prior to our stays there.) I figured with his love of animals this would be the perfect tour. I thought about the Wild Africa Trek, but he has anxiety with things like heights (we figured that out after he stepped out of the California Grill elevator), and I didn't think the bridge part would go well! I'm so excited about the giraffes, and the ostrich addition sounds great. Thank you for the info!

 

[LaurenT]

Omg - I think I'm going to do this! I'm obsessing over the thought of petting an okapi!
Going solo in May, staying at Jambo - I'll try to find another solo to tour with so the families won't feel awkward - but if I can't, they'll just have to deal!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Omg - I think I'm going to do this! I'm obsessing over the thought of petting an okapi!
Going solo in May, staying at Jambo - I'll try to find another solo to tour with so the families won't feel awkward - but if I can't, they'll just have to deal!

I don't think it would be awkward at all! Guides do a really great job, and the photos they take are all individual anyway, except for a group pic with everyone on the tour at the end.

We loved it!

 

[Astryd]

Omg - I think I'm going to do this! I'm obsessing over the thought of petting an okapi!
Going solo in May, staying at Jambo - I'll try to find another solo to tour with so the families won't feel awkward - but if I can't, they'll just have to deal!

There were 2 solo people when I went, it was fine. My DH was sick this morning so stayed back in the room while I went, and there was another woman who was there also. I highly recommend doing this, it was amazing. Wish I could do it again these next rips coming up, but with F&W events just couldnt fit it in.