What time is the last safari ride at AK?

[aokeefe]

Will be arriving this week and hope to do AK early evening to close. Was wondering if anyone knows when the last safari ride is?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Hours today show a close at 7:30pm. I would expect that'll hold for your week.

Keep in mind, a lot of the late safaris, many of the animals are way back in their spaces, waiting to go inside. They know it's almost time and start heading that direction. I'm sure others will chime in, but I haven't heard good things about the actual experience with a late safari recently.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This changes often so you will need to open the attraction the day you’re there to confirm the hours. It will be shorter than the park operating hours.

Today’s park hours, AK is open until 8:00 and the Safari runs until 7:30. I would guess next Sat will be similar since the park is also open until 8PM but, they could change.

Opening the attraction in MDE will show operating hours.

 

[monorailmom]

I would also caution you on waiting to ride the Safari until close to closing time. While it may be open, I would agree we have seen many times that the animals are either in for the night, or are about to be and have already headed towards their night lodging.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The last time we held out for a late Safari, there were so few people riding that they made us wait for enough guests to fill the vehicle before pulling out. Then we saw the backsides of almost all the animals as they knew that it was closing time and were headed to the barn.

Then the lion roared and made it all worth it.

 

[aokeefe]

Thanks everyone. We won't wait for the last one. Last time we did AK in the evening (Feb 2021 8 pm closing), Safari closed at 5:30. We hadn't realized it and missed it. Wanted to plan ahead. Thank you!

 

[jcemom]

The Safari is showing hours of 9:00 - 5:30 for our AK day in mid August, with park hours of 8:00 (7:30 early entry) - 8:00.

I keep waiting for them to extend that, but they haven't yet. It doesn't have anything to do with daylight hours, as the week before the Safari is showing 8:00 - 7:15.

 

[NavyDad]

The last time we held out for a late Safari, there were so few people riding that they made us wait for enough guests to fill the vehicle before pulling out. Then we saw the backsides of almost all the animals as they knew that it was closing time and were headed to the barn.

Then the lion roared and made it all worth it.

We have only done a couple of "night time" safaris and they were before 2020. Didn't see a lot of animals but the big male lion stood up right in front of us and unleashed a full throated roar like you see/hear in the movies. It was freaking amazing.

We have found that the best strategy if you want to see the most animals is to go first thing in the morning and then again later in the afternoon around 5. That tends to give us a good mix of animals to see.

 

[Dug720]

There should be a sign at the safari queue entrance showing the last safari time for the day.

 

[DisneyOma]

We did a late safari (about 15 minutes before its closing) and a storm was blowing in, safari was still running, and the animals were crazy! Had a giraffe pop up right behind us, CMs had to come move animals out of the road (some used food, others used shiny shield-like things) and we saw more animals then than we ever had before.

 

[Dug720]

I've done a close to closing safari before and got to see the Springbok boinging across the savannah because they'd heard their cue to return to the barn. The giraffe were unbothered and just chilling - proving what the drivers have often said...that each species has its own sound they are trained to respond to.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

So I've been looking on the Monthly Calendar for August and September, and I've noticed that when you click on AK and then click on the Safari, it shows it closing anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to 2 1/2 hours before park closing. Is this correct??? Someone on another thread informed me that it normally closes 30 minutes before park closing. I had no idea as we've always done the Safari in the morning, but this trip we had planned to do it at closing. If the calendar is right though, there's really no rhyme or reason as to when it closes.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Yes, it often closes before the rest of the park.

 

[jcemom]

Safari hours for my AK day, August 17, have been extended. They are now showing 8:00 am - 7:15 pm.

 

[boogienights]

The unpredictable closing times may have to do with animals needing scheduled care such as de-worming or savannah maintenance or cleaning. Large animals produce a significant amount of poop. If it's not removed from enclosed areas it becomes unpleasant and can spread disease.

 

[jcemom]

The unpredictable closing times may have to do with animals needing scheduled care such as de-worming or savannah maintenance or cleaning. Large animals produce a significant amount of poop. If it's not removed from enclosed areas it becomes unpleasant and can spread disease.

I'm pretty sure those things are done after hours. It appears that Disney is just being conservative when posting Safari hours now, as they do with park hours. Hours for late August have been extended to what I would have expected to see. I haven't checked September.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm pretty sure those things are done after hours. It appears that Disney is just being conservative when posting Safari hours now, as they do with park hours. Hours for late August have been extended to what I would have expected to see. I haven't checked September.

September hours have not been extended as of now. I am hoping they do get extended because as of right now it will close BEFORE we get to enter AK for the Moonlight Magic event on 9/28.