The Animal Kingdom Safari Story - what happened?

[the_princess]

I have fond memories of little red. I believe this issue is one of those locals vs international visitors things, where I can see how it was a little corny and boring to people who visit often but for first timers and people who visit once every five years it was fun and made it a little bit more of a disney style ride

I never liked the story, I enjoy the ride so much more now that it has slowed down and you actually have time to enjoy the animals. That's coming from an international visitor

 

[ougrad86]

Still the shaky bridge. Instead of a storyline they told us things about the animals while pointing them out and whatnot, I found it much more interesting - the poaching story was getting old and the baby elephant was so obviously fake...

I'm trying to remember, I don't have my photos with me at work...I think I did see zebras, but not absolutely certain.

 

[BandontheRun]

There used to be both automatic gunfire and if I recall the tour guide had a pistol also. Do they still use the pistol on the Jungle Cruise?

 

[Bullseye]

I just always assumed they finally caught the poachers...end of story!

 

[tm613]

Do they still use the pistol on the Jungle Cruise?

No..

Also ..I was at AK three weeks ago.. I thought the bridge would shake but I didn't feel anything and no one on the bus made comment on it so I assumed they took that out

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We just got back from WDW - rode the safari many times (we love AK). About 1/2 of the times the bridge "worked" the other 1/2 it did not. There wasn't any real rhyme or reason to it.

The Addax and yellow billed storks are in the old poacher area now. The zebras (3 or 4 of them) are out in the main area with the white rhinos and bantaboks.

 

[kaylasmom07]

I didn't like the story while they had it. But when I rode it without the story it seemed like something was missing.

I am glad the fake elephant is gone though. It really stood out to me after seeing all the live animals that were around.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Personally, I think that the whole preserve/poacher/Big Red/Little Red storyline worked better when it first opened and the majority of the CMs were still from Africa. The accents and the cadence of the voices added to the experience. Once that stopped, it became much more cheesy.

 

[denneg]

We went on earlier in the week and the bridge didn't shake.

 

[Disco]

I didn't mind the poacher theme. I only go to DW every few years though so I could see how it would get old.
However, every time I went the safari ride declined by degrees. The poached elephant scene being removed was understandable, as it shocked me the first time we rode. But not because of gore but aww, Little Red's mom is dead. Still a better ride with it left in IMO. The deal breaker was the missing jeep that you chased. The last two times we went the jeep that you chased wasn't there, however the script and sound affects were. On top of that the driver pretended to chase something that wasn't there?! Given my last two trips were spread 3 years apart, it is pretty sad that Disney can't repair a broken effect in the show over such a long time (I'm lucky I've seen a working yeti).

BTW, I heard an interesting tidbit regarding the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride. The land area taken up by this single ride alone is larger than the land area of the entire Magic Kingdom Park. (Not sure if this changed now that the new Fantasy Land was opened)

Dan

It is still true as the new Fantasy Land hasn't made the MK any bigger. It was all built and fit into a ride that was closed and the shuttered Toon Town.

 

[Blurrysmom]

That's funny, we just got back Wednesday and when we were on KS I told my husband I missed the storyline. I agree with the posters though that while it was well-done at the beginning (sure it was cheesy, but hey, it's Disney), it definitely got half-baked in later years and was kind of lame. I love the wildlife and we enjoy seeing the animals in the natural environment and learning tidbits about them, but I think the storyline added a little fun excitement, especially when you had a good, enthusiastic guide who put effort into it.

 

[ExBellhop]

I'm surprised no one has brought up my favorite moments of the (really) old poacher story. There was once a CM stationed at the end of the story portion, whose only job was to stand next to the jeep with Little Red in the back and successfully deliver the line, "Little Red is OK!," much to the delight of... well, no one, really.

We still try to add that line when we ride. Sorry if we're annoying anyone when we do

I wonder how that changed the daily staffing budget of that ride as that position was eliminated from the rotation...

 

[BandontheRun]

I'm surprised no one has brought up my favorite moments of the (really) old poacher story. There was once a CM stationed at the end of the story portion, whose only job was to stand next to the jeep with Little Red in the back and successfully deliver the line, "Little Red is OK!," much to the delight of... well, no one, really. We still try to add that line when we ride. Sorry if we're annoying anyone when we do I wonder how that changed the daily staffing budget of that ride as that position was eliminated from the rotation...

Ha! I do remember that!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm surprised no one has brought up my favorite moments of the (really) old poacher story. There was once a CM stationed at the end of the story portion, whose only job was to stand next to the jeep with Little Red in the back and successfully deliver the line, "Little Red is OK!," much to the delight of... well, no one, really.

We still try to add that line when we ride. Sorry if we're annoying anyone when we do

I wonder how that changed the daily staffing budget of that ride as that position was eliminated from the rotation...

I remember that guy!!!!!!!!!!

 

[daisyduck73]

Does anyone know if they still turn on the radio to listen to music during the safari? I always loved the music!

 

[smile4279]

My kids are going to be a little sad. My boys loved the idea of tracking down poachers and seeing them caught at the end and little red ok. I personally don't really care one way or the other.

 

[ChadsGirl]

I heard that during soft openings, you actually saw a dead Big Red and it made kids cry so they changed that quick.

True. I was a CM on the opening crew of DAK at ITTBAB and we had the opportunity to ride other attractions in the park before they were even finished (even before regular CM previews). The original story was that Big Red was killed. I don't remember that they changed it due to upset children; I think I remember that the execs found it too disturbing and wanted it changed.

 

[DisDeac]

Having done the Safari numerous times since it first opened was able to watch the changing of the Little Red storyline until it recently disappeared. One moment our family still talks about is near the end of the attraction when you came upon a truck on the side of the road, the back of the truck was facing the road and Little Red was suppose to be in the truck rescued. There was a cast member in safari gear next to the truck holding a rifle and screaming out "Little Red is okay, Little Red is okay!!" and waving the rifle around. My wife and I looked at each other and she asked me if if thought the CM was okay, did he have heat stroke or something. As we disappeared around the bend could still hear him yelling "Little Red is okay" and dancing around with the rifle.

To this day one of our favorite responses to indicate something is alright is to answer with "Little Red is okay".

 

[agavegirl1]

I rode the Safari during soft opening and am really having trouble remembering the dead Big Red part. Was it there? It was in February before AK's April official opening. I certainly remember the CM with the rifle yelling. The Little Red animatronic was so cheesy looking after seeing all the real animals.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We were there in May of '98 and I actually videotaped the entire ride! I need to get that out and watch it.