Sunset Safari

[surgefest]

Who has done this and what can you tell me about how it works. How likely is it to be able to book it without having concierge DVC. We'll just be in a regular DVC room. What is the cost?? Is it worth it??

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are staying concierge level in March and doing it then. I'm not sure of the cost, but I think he said it was going to be $160 for conceirge level. I know it is more for other guests, but not sure what that price is.

 

[Inkmahm]

$210 for other guests.

I've been on the savannas around the AKL and it is very very cool to see the lodge from that point of view. Also it is interesting to hear the keepers talk about the animals and point out the different personalities. We're doing the sunset safari in April and I already know it is worth it. I'd pay the $160 for the safair without dinner at Jiko's and dinner is included.

 

[BCV23]

One thing that prevents me from booking the Sunset Safari (besides the cost ) is that I've read that dinner is served family style. Unless there is a CM serving the meal like a butler, this is almost the same as a buffet to me. That is complete strangers holding the serving utensils before me. I imagine it is to encourage the feeling that you are in camp on a safari but still for a meal that costs that much.....

 

[kimberh]

I'll report back in May, but I am sure someone will beat me to it. I have never ate at Jiko's... I am really looking forward to this night.

 

[darby74]

We are going on Monday night on the safari of the grounds and dinner and are paying the full fare - figured we're there for a long enough time that the $50 extra was cheaper than getting a concierge room for 5 days. Anyway, from what I've read elsewhere (there's a post if you do a search for Wanyama safari that has photos), this safari is very cool. I'm looking forward to an evening with my wife, a nice dinner and a drink at the bar while our daughter's babysat by her grandmother!
My mom's already hinted that she would love this as her birthday present when we go next year so hope this is good!

 

[Inkmahm]

One thing that prevents me from booking the Sunset Safari (besides the cost ) is that I've read that dinner is served family style. Unless there is a CM serving the meal like a butler, this is almost the same as a buffet to me. That is complete strangers holding the serving utensils before me. I imagine it is to encourage the feeling that you are in camp on a safari but still for a meal that costs that much.....

Have you ever seen how chefs cook? They touch the food with their fingers, taste it, etc. And someone had to touch your knife and fork to put them on the table for you.

Not quite sure why someone touching your serving utensils at a family style meal would freak you out. It isn't any worse than touching an elevator button, a hand rail, etc. that so many people have touched before you.

 

[BCV23]

Have you ever seen how chefs cook? They touch the food with their fingers, taste it, etc. And someone had to touch your knife and fork to put them on the table for you.

Not quite sure why someone touching your serving utensils at a family style meal would freak you out. It isn't any worse than touching an elevator button, a hand rail, etc. that so many people have touched before you.

It hardly freaks me out.

But for that amount of money, I want to be served by someone with clean hands not share a serving spoon with my neighbor who may or may not have good sanitary habits.

As for elevator buttons, railings, etc.., I wash my hand before eating after touching any of those things. I'm not a germ freak and don't even use hand sanitizer. But sharing a serving utensil is just a bit much for me at $160 or 180/person. For a $25 buffet, I might take an occasional risk....very occasional.

Of course chefs touch the food...with clean hands.

YMMV and that's great. I'll enjoy reading reports on the dinner. The few I've seen on the resort board over the past few years have been unanimously positive.

 

[Simba's Mom]

One thing that prevents me from booking the Sunset Safari (besides the cost ) is that I've read that dinner is served family style. Unless there is a CM serving the meal like a butler, this is almost the same as a buffet to me. That is complete strangers holding the serving utensils before me. I imagine it is to encourage the feeling that you are in camp on a safari but still for a meal that costs that much.....

If by "family style", you mean in the company of the other families who also did the Sunset Safari, maybe you could get as lucky as the family I saw in September. On a Friday evening, they were the only family on the Sunset Safari. What an experience to have a private tour!

 

[BCV23]

If by "family style", you mean in the company of the other families who also did the Sunset Safari, maybe you could get as lucky as the family I saw in September. On a Friday evening, they were the only family on the Sunset Safari. What an experience to have a private tour!

Wow, now that would be my kind of family style. Wouldn't that be great?! Almost like the Chef's Table plus the safari.

But from what I've read, everyone sits together and the dishes are passed around the table by the diners.

However, I was thinking. Do you think hot towels might be distributed first? That might fit the theme of washing up after a long day on the Savanna and the towels could be treated with antibacterial stuff.

 

[Inkmahm]

Wow, now that would be my kind of family style. Wouldn't that be great?! Almost like the Chef's Table plus the safari.

But from what I've read, everyone sits together and the dishes are passed around the table by the diners.

However, I was thinking. Do you think hot towels might be distributed first? That might fit the theme of washing up after a long day on the Savanna and the towels could be treated with antibacterial stuff.

Jikos does the towels first for their regular guests so I assume they'd be used for the family style, too.


I'm still laughing at the idea that chef's hands are perfectly clean. I doubt they wash them after each time they stick their finger in something they are cooking, or every time they taste from a spoon in a batch of something they are making. And I doubt they wash their hands between touching various packaging that food comes in and touching the the food itself, etc. etc. etc.

 

[Inkmahm]

If by "family style", you mean in the company of the other families who also did the Sunset Safari, maybe you could get as lucky as the family I saw in September. On a Friday evening, they were the only family on the Sunset Safari. What an experience to have a private tour!

I have had a private tour of the savanas back in early 2004. It didn't include the Jiko's dinner though. The tour was wonderful. Just my DH and me with two of the animal keepers. It was arranged for me by a friend who works for Disney as an anniversary gift for my husband from me. It was messed up in the arrangements in that we were supposed to be on the sunrise safari. When the head of the animal keepers at AKL found out, he threw some pixie dust our way and got us the private tour of the AKL savanas instead. It really was Disney service at its very best, something we'll never forget.

 

[BCV23]

Jikos does the towels first for their regular guests so I assume they'd be used for the family style, too.


I'm still laughing at the idea that chef's hands are perfectly clean. I doubt they wash them after each time they stick their finger in something they are cooking, or every time they taste from a spoon in a batch of something they are making. And I doubt they wash their hands between touching various packaging that food comes in and touching the the food itself, etc. etc. etc.

Really, I'd forgotten that towels are provided at Jiko.

I'm glad I'm providing amusement for you. However, I think you're missing the point about clean hands. I'm not worried about chefs/ servers/ fellow diners washing their hands every two minutes or every two hours. Just appropriately after using the restroom. I imagine WDW is careful about that sort of thing given Norwalk virus outbreaks, etc..

As far as chefs tasting as they go, the kitchens I've been in(which is few) tasting has been done with separate utensils and then not stuck back in the pot. Where have you witnessed otherwise? Especially at WDW?

 

[keishashadow]

prudent to think they'd use "tasting spoons" in the kitchen

professional kitchens have @ least 1 certified food handler to make sure all is well; i'd think Disney is on top of it.

 

[Inkmahm]

Really, I'd forgotten that towels are provided at Jiko.

I'm glad I'm providing amusement for you. However, I think you're missing the point about clean hands. I'm not worried about chefs/ servers/ fellow diners washing their hands every two minutes or every two hours. Just appropriately after using the restroom. I imagine WDW is careful about that sort of thing given Norwalk virus outbreaks, etc..

As far as chefs tasting as they go, the kitchens I've been in(which is few) tasting has been done with separate utensils and then not stuck back in the pot. Where have you witnessed otherwise? Especially at WDW?

Maybe I've watched too many cooking shows on tv! Top Chef in particular... lots of tasting and touching going on there...

Anyway, I still say the utensils at a family style meal have no more probability of being dirty than the other things you touch in your daily life- the table top at the restaurant, the chair you sit in at that table, the menu they give you to read, etc. All will have germs, all will have been handled by SOMEone who wasn't the best at being clean after a trip to the restroom. Not sure why community serving utensils are considered any different than all the other community surfaces in your life.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Maybe I've watched too many cooking shows on tv! Top Chef in particular... lots of tasting and touching going on there...

Anyway, I still say the utensils at a family style meal have no more probability of being dirty than the other things you touch in your daily life- the table top at the restaurant, the chair you sit in at that table, the menu they give you to read, etc. All will have germs, all will have been handled by SOMEone who wasn't the best at being clean after a trip to the restroom. Not sure why community serving utensils are considered any different than all the other community surfaces in your life.

I agree. Life is too short to worry about such things. I do know that the hot towels are used at Jiko as well, and I also think the price is VERY reasonable! If you have ever dined at Jiko, you know that two people can easily spend upward of $250 for a meal and wine, and here you get the dinner PLUS a great backstage safari. WELL worth it in my view, and I haven't even done it yet. VERY much looking forward to it in March though!

 

[alldiz]

I agree. Life is too short to worry about such things. I do know that the hot towels are used at Jiko as well, and I also think the price is VERY reasonable! If you have ever dined at Jiko, you know that two people can easily spend upward of $250 for a meal and wine, and here you get the dinner PLUS a great backstage safari. WELL worth it in my view, and I haven't even done it yet. VERY much looking forward to it in March though!

Is the wine included? Is it a wine pairing?
Thanks
kerri

 

[dianeschlicht]

Is the wine included? Is it a wine pairing?
Thanks
kerri

I think I read that it was. I could be wrong though.

 

[BCV23]

I don't know. We've dined there a number of times and not paid close to $125/person.

Inkmahm, the hot towels make all the difference in the world to me. As I said, I had forgotten all about that.

But you're right about incidental touches of some things. They do clean tables at WDW or put down new cloths between diners. But nothing you can do about the menus. I don't dwell on things I have no control over. But sharing a ladle with someone with dirty hands.....no thanks. But since everyone will be neat and pretty, that's no longer a worry of mine.

Now it's just the price. It would be different for a couple but we always have a minimum of 3 and usually 5 or 6. That adds up. We could do the Chef's Table for that.

But it will be fun to live vicariously through DVC reports. They have been few and far between on the resort or restaurant boards.

Bon apetit!

But

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't know. We've dined there a number of times and not paid close to $125/person.

Inkmahm, the hot towels make all the difference in the world to me. As I said, I had forgotten all about that.

But you're right about incidental touches of some things. They do clean tables at WDW or put down new cloths between diners. But nothing you can do about the menus. I don't dwell on things I have no control over. But sharing a ladle with someone with dirty hands.....no thanks. But since everyone will be neat and pretty, that's no longer a worry of mine.

Now it's just the price. It would be different for a couple but we always have a minimum of 3 and usually 5 or 6. That adds up. We could do the Chef's Table for that.

But it will be fun to live vicariously through DVC reports. They have been few and far between on the resort or restaurant boards.

Bon apetit!

But

Remember, this is not just a dinner price....This is a backstage tour price that INCLUDES dinner. We have done many backstage tours over the years including the backstage magic one that goes all day and is several hundred dollars each. EVERY ONE of them has been well worth the price even when the did not include food.