If the viewing area impedes on the regular safari then it will suck. If Its hidden from view then good .
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New "Caring for Giants" $30.00 Experience Debuts at Animal Kingdom on March 12 2017
- Thread starter djlaosc
- Start date
KevinYee
Well-Known Member
I found myself skeptical, but during a friends and family preview enjoyed it. Your new platform is behind the baobob where the elephant "bathing" pool is. We could see the trucks, so yes, they could see us.
When we went, we had a good view of about five elephants, including the most recent baby. We saw juvenile males tussling. I think what I didn't realize was how different it is from the safari truck, which is essentially in constant motion. Here, we had 20 minutes or so to just watch (and further minutes up the path where you could watch at a slightly longer distance).
The drive through backstage to Werike Road was interesting. While I've seen some of backstage DAK on the full marathon, I saw other parts of the perimeter road this way, and the parking lot where we started had some startling views of Pandora. No backstage pics were allowed.
When we went, we had a good view of about five elephants, including the most recent baby. We saw juvenile males tussling. I think what I didn't realize was how different it is from the safari truck, which is essentially in constant motion. Here, we had 20 minutes or so to just watch (and further minutes up the path where you could watch at a slightly longer distance).
The drive through backstage to Werike Road was interesting. While I've seen some of backstage DAK on the full marathon, I saw other parts of the perimeter road this way, and the parking lot where we started had some startling views of Pandora. No backstage pics were allowed.
That looks to be faily well placed tbh.I found myself skeptical, but during a friends and family preview enjoyed it. Your new platform is behind the baobob where the elephant "bathing" pool is. We could see the trucks, so yes, they could see us.
When we went, we had a good view of about five elephants, including the most recent baby. We saw juvenile males tussling. I think what I didn't realize was how different it is from the safari truck, which is essentially in constant motion. Here, we had 20 minutes or so to just watch (and further minutes up the path where you could watch at a slightly longer distance).
The drive through backstage to Werike Road was interesting. While I've seen some of backstage DAK on the full marathon, I saw other parts of the perimeter road this way, and the parking lot where we started had some startling views of Pandora. No backstage pics were allowed.
KevinYee
Well-Known Member
Forgot to add that my skepticism at first was about the distance. You're closer than that at Busch Gardens, where you also have the luxury of staying as long as you want. But the animals simply behaved differently at DAK; it was more interesting. One hesitates to anthropomorphize, but they seemed happier at DAK just because they were more active.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
Yes I've also been within 10-20 feet of elephants at Busch Gardens Tampa, included in regular admission. But part of the charm of Animal Kingdom is it never looks like a zoo, whereas Busch does.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
If I'm positive:
- This sort of experience is exactly what DAK should be all about! Animals, calm reflection, cultural representatives, a focus on a Disney as 'exquisite placemaking' rather than Disney as 'meet your favourite celeb toon character!' I would be genuinely excited about doing this tour.
- Tours are not upcharge events.
- I've always regretted that you can see many of the most charismatic animals only for twelve seconds from the discomfort of the truck. Whereas this tour allows for an up and close viewing with African elephants. Animals which, by their size and need for vast territory, are either absent from most zoos or miserably unhappy there.
If I'm negative:
- Why should it not be included in admission? If this is what DAK is all about, then why should it not be included? Lest we forget, even without any upcharge a WDW day is a fantastically expensive expenditure. Why should every experience be an extra charge?
- When the extraordinary becomes upcharged, nothing extraordinary will eventually be designed as included. One day, you will need to buy the $69.95 lightsaber to trigger any of the fun stuff at SWLand. (With an in-built chip that makes the saber valid for just 14 weeks, just like your cup)
- At the two treks there are animal experts explaining what's on view. Around DAK and World Showcase there are cultural representatives eager to share their culture with you. I learned all about Indo-European Hindi and Sanskrit right at DAK. Plus some Indian dance moves that give me immense swag on the dance floor! All of this is...normal. This is a premium and hugely expensive theme park.
- This further undermines the safari from an artistic and immersive perspective:
The Safari is one of WDW's crowning achievements. They had made their little Florida swamp look like you are riding out of the Congo forest onto the East African open plain. Yet, when you ride it now, you now have amateur Tarzans overhead on the rope bridge, there are viewing platforms everywhere, the view of the plain gives out on a platform filled with those people who look like they live in a trailer park but who fill up the luxury resorts and upcharge events.
You feel hemmed in. The illusion is shattered. It is still a good ride, but, similar to what has happened with EPCOT, Kilimanjaro risks going from a deep primal sensation to a fun theme park experience. The difference is subtle, very difficult to articulate, but somewhere along the way an elusive essence can be lost, with neither management nor most guests understanding or even being aware of what happened.
- This sort of experience is exactly what DAK should be all about! Animals, calm reflection, cultural representatives, a focus on a Disney as 'exquisite placemaking' rather than Disney as 'meet your favourite celeb toon character!' I would be genuinely excited about doing this tour.
- Tours are not upcharge events.
- I've always regretted that you can see many of the most charismatic animals only for twelve seconds from the discomfort of the truck. Whereas this tour allows for an up and close viewing with African elephants. Animals which, by their size and need for vast territory, are either absent from most zoos or miserably unhappy there.
If I'm negative:
- Why should it not be included in admission? If this is what DAK is all about, then why should it not be included? Lest we forget, even without any upcharge a WDW day is a fantastically expensive expenditure. Why should every experience be an extra charge?
- When the extraordinary becomes upcharged, nothing extraordinary will eventually be designed as included. One day, you will need to buy the $69.95 lightsaber to trigger any of the fun stuff at SWLand. (With an in-built chip that makes the saber valid for just 14 weeks, just like your cup)
- At the two treks there are animal experts explaining what's on view. Around DAK and World Showcase there are cultural representatives eager to share their culture with you. I learned all about Indo-European Hindi and Sanskrit right at DAK. Plus some Indian dance moves that give me immense swag on the dance floor! All of this is...normal. This is a premium and hugely expensive theme park.
- This further undermines the safari from an artistic and immersive perspective:
This could serve as an allegory for what happened to all of WDW: you build something exquisite, then you destroy it piece by tiny piece for a few pennies more, every quarter.
The Safari is one of WDW's crowning achievements. They had made their little Florida swamp look like you are riding out of the Congo forest onto the East African open plain. Yet, when you ride it now, you now have amateur Tarzans overhead on the rope bridge, there are viewing platforms everywhere, the view of the plain gives out on a platform filled with those people who look like they live in a trailer park but who fill up the luxury resorts and upcharge events.
You feel hemmed in. The illusion is shattered. It is still a good ride, but, similar to what has happened with EPCOT, Kilimanjaro risks going from a deep primal sensation to a fun theme park experience. The difference is subtle, very difficult to articulate, but somewhere along the way an elusive essence can be lost, with neither management nor most guests understanding or even being aware of what happened.
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JohnD
Well-Known Member
This is one I might consider and is reasonably priced.
Notes from Neverland
Well-Known Member
Since you're still pretty far from the elephants and there's no kind of real interaction, this is a missed opportunity and one I won't pay for.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
I found myself skeptical, but during a friends and family preview enjoyed it. Your new platform is behind the baobob where the elephant "bathing" pool is. We could see the trucks, so yes, they could see us.
Horrors! It's not like you're in a fictional land and seeing "backstage" ruins it for you. You're on a Savannah where seeing other trucks/jeeps isn't unusual.
raven
Well-Known Member
....or for no extra charge and included in park admission, you could go down the road a bit to Busch Gardens and see the elephants and trainers from 15 FEET AWAY as you walk from one place to the next. The trainers give talks and facts about elephants and they don't charge anything.
Pretty soon Disney will be charging for air.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Your local zoo is $25? That's crazy talk.
I'll be doing this for sure as soon as my daughter is old enough. Sounds like Behind the Seeds but with elephants.
Behind the Elephants could be a messy tour though
JohnD
Well-Known Member
Behind the Elephants could be a messy tour though
That may be why you're 80 to 100 feet away. Might minimize the smell too.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
I mean, you know Disney does that too, right? With their gorillas, Komodo dragons, lions, tapirs, fruit bats, etc. There's no way for it to work with most of the safari animals though. You either get the safari or your get walk-by viewing of the animals. You don't get both.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Bronx Zoo: Adult 13 & over $24.95
Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo: free!
Miami Zoo: Adult (13+) $21.95
I think WDW's exorbitant, even obscene, prices have skewed perspective on what a family outing costs, exactly. Surprisingly, you can take a family of four to world class museums and zoos in America for less than $100 for the entire family, entire day, including snacks.
After all, $100 after taxes and bills, that is a lot of work for that object of ridicule of modern American culture: a hard working middle class family.
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
Keys to the Kingdom is now over $100. It was just under $90 dollars with the AP discount. Marie
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
I wasn't remarking that your zoo seemed cheep, it seemed expensive. My zoo is $15 and we pay $150 for a full year of family membership, including two free guests per visit.
That's about what we pay for our nearest zoo.