Sunrise Safari

[Princess49]

I was watching the travel channel & I saw a show about great hotels & the AKL was there. I believe they had something about a Sunrise safari, where you go on a safari in the early morning & then come back to the hotel & have breakfast at the hotel. If anyone has any details I would appriciate it- even the prices, friends of our are going there on their honeymoon & we were wondering if we could purchase it in advance for them. Thanks so much!

 

[samlab25]

the sunrise safari is a concierge perk. if they are staying at akl con then you can call them to inquire ay akl. it was so amazing. thry would love it.

 

[Samsma]

Hi! I was just trying to sign up for this - I believe the price is $50 per person over 10, and $25 per person 9 & under. It only happens on Tues. and Sat. and you have to stay conceirge the night before at AKL. It is supposed to be awesome, you might look for my thread a few days ago "Is Sunrise Safari worth the $" I'll thttp://disboards.com/showthread.php?


s=&threadid=351783&highlight=Sunrise+Safariry to find the link for you! They talked me into it!

 

[Samsma]

Okay it didn't work so well! Just do a search for Sunrise Safari.

 

[hightown]

Does anyone know if AKL will allow non-concierge guest to sign up on space available basis? Seems like there would be times when it's not maxed out. But maybe I'm wrong.

Anyone know?

Thanks, Sharon

 

[lizzie64]

Originally posted by hightown
Does anyone know if AKL will allow non-concierge guest to sign up on space available basis? Seems like there would be times when it's not maxed out. But maybe I'm wrong.

Anyone know?

Thanks, Sharon

Sorry, but no it is exclusively a concierge related tour. And actually, they are usually booked solid.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by hightown
Does anyone know if AKL will allow non-concierge guest to sign up on space available basis? Seems like there would be times when it's not maxed out. But maybe I'm wrong.

Anyone know?

Thanks, Sharon

The answer is sorry no, they won't.

Anne

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there....

This is a really popular event and they won't even let concierge guests from other resorts go on it!

>>^..^<<

 

[giatocj]

My bf and I just took my grandson on this last week when we were there...I'm not sure about non-concierge guests because you meet in the Kiliminjaro Club on the 6th floor, which can only be accessed by Concierge guests. It wouldn't hurt, though, to give the hotel a call to see what they say.

It was a wonderful experience and my grandson, who is 3, totally enjoyed it.

Donna C.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Here is my page on the SUNRISE SAFARI. It's a great experience, worth every penny! The breakfast buffet is the best I've ever been to at WDW.

 

[Rneighh]

We went on it in Feb. at a VERY slow time and it was booked. It is wonderful and can't wait to go again on our next trip.

Renee

 

[lizzie64]

Originally posted by giatocj
My bf and I just took my grandson on this last week when we were there...I'm not sure about non-concierge guests because you meet in the Kiliminjaro Club on the 6th floor, which can only be accessed by Concierge guests. It wouldn't hurt, though, to give the hotel a call to see what they say.

It was a wonderful experience and my grandson, who is 3, totally enjoyed it.

Donna C.

Wonderful news about your grandson. I'm glad he enjoyed it.

You don't read many positive posts about children and the sunrise safari. Most are about children's behavior. Not many posts about how much the children enjoyed it.

My DS 4 and DS2 will be going with us in May. They are so excited about the animals especially the giraffes. They are their favorite animal.

 

[giatocj]

I know what you mean...I think Christian (my grandson) was the youngest on the safari and quite better behaved than some of the older ones (which is saying A LOT about a 3 year old...LOL). I'm wondering if more appeal for the younger kids and maybe a bit boring for the older ones...Christian had his Mickey Binoculars and had a BALL looking for the animals...and we found a couple of Hidden Mickey's, too (with the help of the driver!!!).

Have a great safari...we're already planning for NEXT March to go back.

Donna C.

 

[ducklite]

I've taken the Sunrise Safari twice. The first time was all but ruined by two stupid families who brought along their out of control toddlers who wouldn't sit down, screamed through the entire thing, hit people with flailing limbs, it was just horrid. I was thinking the crocs were looking like they might enjoy a tasty three year old when we stopped on the bridge.

Last month we tried it again. There was one toddler. His mother had the forethought to feed him before we left, and he was well behaved, although towards the end he was getting antsy--had it lasted another ten minutes he would have been disruptive.

It depends on your kids. My experience having gone twice now is that even well behaved kids get bored with it before it's over.

It's a LOT of money to spend to have the experience ruined by poorly behaved BRATS and their idiot parents that don't understand that their "angels" aren't.

I'm not saying all kids are like that, but I am saying that parents need to take a careful look at the program before booking. If your kids can't sit still and be quiet for an hour, this is NOT an appropriate excursion for them. If they are the kind of kids that can be easily distracted with a snack or quiet plaything, then they should be fine.

Part of the problem is that once the trip starts, there's no place to go to take the kid away from everyone if they have a meltdown. Personally I think that they should offer early morning care at Simba's Clubhouse for the parents of kids who shouldn't be taken on this trip. It would give parents a choice.

Anyone with kids that does decide to go shuld feed the kids first (you don't eat breakfast until almost 10:00, and a hungry kid is NOT a happy kid), take a snack and drink, and something quiet that will keep them entertained. I also would like to suggest sitting in the back of the Safari car so that if your child does get antsy, it will be as undisruptive as possible. (That's where the people were on the last SS I took, and it made a huge difference when the child started to get antsy--unlike the first time when the kids were in the middle and drowned out the voice of the guide, plus were very distracting with their standing and flailing.)

Anne

 

[giatocj]

You make very, very valid points!!! We thought long and hard before actually signing Christian up to go...3 year olds are 3 year olds...and even though he's my only grandchild, I do understand that he's not always well behaved...he certainly has many moments where he can only be called a brat...we just happened to have a day where he was totally wonderful...which isn't to say if we take him on the safari again next year he'll behave as well as he did this time. With little ones, it's always going to be a gamble.

And you are definitely right...FEED THEM!!! The breakfast at Tuskers afterwards is just wonderful, but it's a long time for a little one to wait to eat. And those little $ 5 binoculars kept him so entertained...

Another suggestion is a potty stop before leaving the hotel. Christian is just now getting the hang of telling us when he has to go...not one accident the whole time we were at Disney...and the ride is long and there is NO WHERE to let a little one out to go potty.

These are all the things that parents need to remember if they do take their kids. Everyone is paying a lot of money and they deserve an enjoyable time...and it's not fair to the kids, either. I don't think they really LIKE to be miserable...

Donna C.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by giatocj
and the ride is long and there is NO WHERE to let a little one out to go potty.

Donna C.

Well... there are those crocs to worry about

>>^..^<<

 

[lizzie64]

ANother great tip -

I always carry around those mini boxes of cereal for just that purpose. If they get hungry or want to snack, I just take out a box. But definitely feed them before you go on and a potty break is always a must.

Cass - too funny. If the boys need a potty break we can always play - hit the croc. LOL ( Oh and I was just kidding, don't want to get flamed for that.)

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi all...


Just an additional tip to Lizzie's cereal boxes... Concierge is just "starting" to set up breakfast by the time the sunrise safari guests are leaving...

I recall having a nice cup of coffee before setting out but there was really no food out yet, cereals.. pastries...etc...

I imagine the concierge staff would get you some cereal if you asked for it.. but don't expect it to be out that early. Just remember to grab one or two in the days preceeding the safari if you think you might need one.

>>^..^<<

 

[Samsma]

We are checking out the day of our Safari (if we get in). What time could we expect to be on the road? I wasn't really counting on not even eating until 10:00 - then taking the bus back to AKL - then checking out. I figured leave at 6:30 start at 6:45 end at 7:45 eat and be back at the lodge around 9:00. Am I unrealistic? Maybe the sun rises later at WDW than what I call sunrise!

 

[lizzie64]

-Samsma,

This is taken directly from the itinerary concierge sent me. Maybe this will help alittle. I think the park opens at 9am when we go so it will be the later times for us.

Hope this helps


The safari starts at 6:30am if the park opens at 8am & it starts at 7:30am if the park opens at 9am. You would meet in the concierge lounge at 6:15am or 7:15am, depending on park hours & will check-in at the concierge desk. An animal programs cast member will be meeting our guests in the concierge lounge to give a run down of the morning's activities. You will then take a private bus, which will go through some of the backstage areas at Disney's Animal Kingdom. You will then walk over to the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction and board the first jeep onto the savanna. You will be able to ask the animal programs cast member questions and there will be frequent stops for you to take pictures. The safari will last from 45 minutes to 1 hour long.