TheMouseForLess Resort Reviews

TheMouseForLess members review Walt Disney World resorts.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Safari Reviews

SUNRISE SAFARI Review

Submitted By: Racquel (2004)

Open only to concierge guests at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, this was my original reason for booking a brief stay there. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, guests meet about 6:45 a.m. and are bussed to the Animal Kingdom park an hour or so before it opens to the public. After a backstage driving tour of many of the buildings used to house the park animals, everyone boards the Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles and proceeds along the normal attraction route, but at a much slower pace. Stops are made each time animals are encountered, giving everyone plenty of time to take pictures and ask questions. As it is early in the morning, there are many, many animals up and about. I don't think we missed seeing a single species of animal currently housed at the park. The guides are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and make it a very enjoyable experience. After the safari, all retire to the Tusker house where a large buffet breakfast is waiting. This was probably the most elaborate breakfast buffet I've encountered - so many choices, so little room left! I especially enjoyed chatting with our guide, Greg, during breakfast. He is the perfect combination of both animal person and people person, and is delighted to have found a job which allows him to work with the animals but also interact with the guests. He was one of several people working at AKL and AK who mentioned that many of those working with animals prefer to have as little contact as possible with other people; they pretty much just like animals. I don't know about the rest of you, but I certainly have days when I feel the same way!