Kilimanjaro Safaris Elephant Bypass

[DisneyFanatic12]

Today the safari path was altered to go straight to the flamingo pool from the grassland, bypassing the (previously) hydraulic bridge. Is this normal for this time of year, possibly coinciding with their mating season?

Below is (very roughly) the path our safari vehicle took to bypass the area.

 

[JoeCamel]

Today the safari path was altered to go straight to the flamingo pool from the grassland, bypassing the (previously) hydraulic bridge. Is this normal for this time of year, possibly coinciding with their mating season?

Below is (very roughly) the path our safari vehicle took to bypass the area.

View attachment 761654

Maybe the bridge was out? It's always been shaky........

 

[Andrew25]

They've been doing this for a while now. Past few months I haven't gone down that route.

 

[twilight mitsuk]

bridge issues?

 

[mikey531]

We went the full route first week of December

 

[nickys]

Maybe the poachers were at large?

 

[Touchdown]

We went the full route first week of December

Me too the second week. The bypass is the old night route.

 

[freediverdude]

Simba 1! Come in Simba 1!

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Yes i’ve done this before a few years ago but it’s rare

 

[sonoma15]

Were you riding close to closing time? They've only gone down this path when I've rode close to when they are about to close for the day.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I really think the Safari could use something to improve it. It's a solid ride, but something is missing.

 

[freediverdude]

I really think the Safari could use something to improve it. It's a solid ride, but something is missing.

Well it used to have a story that went with it, and the bridge that almost fails, and an ending, which made it more of a thrilling ride. Now it's just a safari ride. An impressive one, but just a safari ride. I think maybe they should go back to that old playbook and come up with a new story for the ride. And who knows, maybe get the bridge working again.

 

[cjkeating]

Today the safari path was altered to go straight to the flamingo pool from the grassland, bypassing the (previously) hydraulic bridge. Is this normal for this time of year, possibly coinciding with their mating season?

Below is (very roughly) the path our safari vehicle took to bypass the area.

View attachment 761654

Can't remember exactly why I took this route once but I think it was when we were delayed for ages and I assume they cut the corner to try and minimise delays due to a lack of trucks at load.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Well it used to have a story that went with it, and the bridge that almost fails, and an ending, which made it more of a thrilling ride. Now it's just a safari ride. An impressive one, but just a safari ride. I think maybe they should go back to that old playbook and come up with a new story for the ride. And who knows, maybe get the bridge working again.

Yeah, I personally enjoyed the original. I feel like now it’s pretty generic. The poaching storyline gave it more a sense of a themed adventure.

 

[doctornick]

Well it used to have a story that went with it, and the bridge that almost fails, and an ending, which made it more of a thrilling ride. Now it's just a safari ride. An impressive one, but just a safari ride. I think maybe they should go back to that old playbook and come up with a new story for the ride. And who knows, maybe get the bridge working again.

Yes, I preferred the poaching storyline and the shaky bridge. I still certainly enjoy the ride now and feel the safari/animals is the best part anyway but the additional elements “plussed” the ride without taking anything away.

While I don’t necessarily think they should bring back the old storyline, I’d prefer having something like that be present in the ride.

I wonder how guest satisfaction scores compared for the different versions of the ride.

 

[UNCgolf]

I really liked the story and wasn't happy that they removed it... but it turns out that it's a better ride without it.

The animals are the star, as they should be. In retrospect, the story actually detracted from the ride. The point is really to experience the animals and the story overpowered that in places. It turned the animals into background set dressing.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I really liked the story and wasn't happy that they removed it... but it turns out that it's a better ride without it.

The animals are the star, as they should be. In retrospect, the story actually detracted from the ride. The point is really to experience the animals and the story overpowered that in places. It turned the animals into background set dressing.

The obvious solution would be to tie-in with the Nat Geo branding and rework the attraction around that with story integration and effects only serving to enhance. The focus would be entirely on the animals. Perhaps we run into a film crew while on the expedition? And they provide further commentary and insight about the animals. I like the idea of there being some story. New and returned effects would be a bonus.

 

[DisneyFanatic12]

Were you riding close to closing time? They've only gone down this path when I've rode close to when they are about to close for the day.

That might have been it… We rode about 90 mins prior to closing.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The full story with a really good guide that was in full character was amazing. Real life jungle cruise kinda vibe.

Now it’s an experience that feels way too close to a zoo. Still enjoyable of course, but doesn’t feel “Disney.”

Of course the bridge, poachers jeep, water and mist effects, gunshots, etc. slowly stopped over the years.

 

[UNCgolf]

The full story with a really good guide that was in full character was amazing. Real life jungle cruise kinda vibe.

Now it’s an experience that feels way too close to a zoo. Still enjoyable of course, but doesn’t feel “Disney.”

Of course the bridge, poachers jeep, water and mist effects, gunshots, etc. slowly stopped over the years.

That was the whole problem with it, though.

It treated the animals like they were set dressing on a Disney attraction, which was a huge mistake. The lives animals themselves are more interesting than anything Disney was going to be able to do, so all of that just distracted from the true purpose.

All of those elements would be better in a separate dark ride -- and again, this is something I didn't realize until I rode the attraction after the story was removed. The story stuff was fun on its own, but it just wasn't comparable to actually getting to focus entirely on the animals.