There is a possibility that I may become a Kilimanjaro Safari driver. So I would like to know what makes a good Safari Driver? Please get detailed and specific, examples are great too!
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What makes a good Safari Driver?
- Thread starter Magic Maker
- Start date
djmatthews
Well-Known Member
OOHHHH My 1000th Post!
Speak to Irrawaddy Erik on these boards, he's one I beleive. And might I say a very friendly chap who I'm sure will be able to assist.
Speak to Irrawaddy Erik on these boards, he's one I beleive. And might I say a very friendly chap who I'm sure will be able to assist.
DisneyDellsDude
New Member
You should have a good sence of humor and know a lot about the animals.
You should mix the two. If you have too much humor, the ride will become wierd.
If you just tell facts about the animals, the ride will become too boring.
Hope this helps.
You should mix the two. If you have too much humor, the ride will become wierd.
If you just tell facts about the animals, the ride will become too boring.
Hope this helps.
Tara Mae
New Member
In my opinion:
You have to know your lines, but please, ad-lib if it fits. Just knowing your lines is not fun.
Get people to laugh, point out funny things, make jokes, but the jokes must fit the area.
Be friendly, get to know your riders...ask some names, play a game, somethign like that.
Get to know the kiddies, they love when a cast member pays attention to them.
Smile. Always smile.
Laugh, if you laugh, others will, definitely.
Point out things others wouldn't, but nothing to secrety.
That's about all I can offer you.
You have to know your lines, but please, ad-lib if it fits. Just knowing your lines is not fun.
Get people to laugh, point out funny things, make jokes, but the jokes must fit the area.
Be friendly, get to know your riders...ask some names, play a game, somethign like that.
Get to know the kiddies, they love when a cast member pays attention to them.
Smile. Always smile.
Laugh, if you laugh, others will, definitely.
Point out things others wouldn't, but nothing to secrety.
That's about all I can offer you.
DisneyDellsDude
New Member
djmatthews said:
Happy 1,000th post!! I'm almost at my 100th!:sohappy:
Cool good stuff. I have been on safari countless times, I have a pretty good sense of what I like in a safari and a safari driver, but the more input the better.
djmatthews
Well-Known Member
DisneyDellsDude said:
Considering how long I've been a member of these boards - it's taken me a fair while.... It just proves that I write quality posts, not quantity.
JeffH
Active Member
I like it when they pretend that they planned on driving one way then go another like they're making the tour up as they go, don't quite know where they're going or can't go that way because the road is closed. The driver will actually pull into the wrong road, make a negative comment, back out and resume down the (regular) road. I've seen this done more often at the road closed sign, where they then make it seem as if when they go across the old bridge, that he didn't really expect to take that route, that he doesn't normally cross that bridge.
Take your time if/when you encounter a bunch of animals. I get real mad at the driver when they race through a good encounter only to tailgate the truck in front of us and then HAVE to slow down for nothing. It's not a race, it's an animal tour...a "TWO week" animal tour!
Here's a good one (that probably won't go over well with management)...
When you encounter the poacher's camp, say "look, the poacher's camp, or maybe yet another Disney timeshare".
Take your time if/when you encounter a bunch of animals. I get real mad at the driver when they race through a good encounter only to tailgate the truck in front of us and then HAVE to slow down for nothing. It's not a race, it's an animal tour...a "TWO week" animal tour!
Here's a good one (that probably won't go over well with management)...
When you encounter the poacher's camp, say "look, the poacher's camp, or maybe yet another Disney timeshare".
Neptune
New Member
I've been on the ride numerous times. What makes them better is when they make GOOD jokes, and not un-funny ones. The good ones also gave some questions to the crowd, and were always happy to see us.
Congrats, though! I hope you have fun controlling that big truck they call a safari vehicle.
Congrats, though! I hope you have fun controlling that big truck they call a safari vehicle.
Computer Magic
Well-Known Member
Safari is one of my favorite rides. What makes the safari is the CM driving the safari. Here what a good driver means to meMagic Maker said:
- One that slows down and allows picture almost to a stop.
- A good driver doesn't rock the bus which causes blurred pictures.
- knowledable of all animals and plants.
- Talkative, funny and pleasent.
- Does more the follow the script presented to them by Disney
lawyergirl77
Active Member
Can I get an amen to this entire post??!! So very true!Computer Magic said:
I don't know whether or not he's still a Safari CM, but DH and I were fortunate enough to have Patrick (dark haired guy) as our driver last February (late in the month) and he was the best driver I had ever had!!! Super knowledgeable about the animals, really friendly and just plain cool to talk to. He answered any and all questions that were thrown at him, which was cool because it showed he wasn't afraid of deviating from the script.
But, most importantly, he didn't deliver the script like it was the billionth time that he had to say those words, even though it likely was!!!!
Try to inject some life into the script. Yes it is cheesy and trite, but saying it in a monotone or in a B.S. cheerful tone just makes it worse!
PamelaNiebergal
New Member
They also need to be able to roll with the punches - for example at times when many of the animals aren't visible. A good, upbeat safari driver should be able to distract you from any problems that are inevitable on an attraction that deals with live animals. I had one safari where we were stopped at the loading dock for several minutes before we took off, many of the animals were no shows and the sound for the last part of the ride with Big Red didn't work and yet the safari driver was able to fill us in on the story and keep the safari pretty entertaining with good humor and interesting stories.
BRER STITCH
Well-Known Member
RULE #1:
SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY, WITH EMOTION!
The ride is absolutely pointless if your Guests can't understand what is going on!
GOOD LUCK!!!
:wave:
SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY, WITH EMOTION!
The ride is absolutely pointless if your Guests can't understand what is going on!
GOOD LUCK!!!
:wave:
TheOneVader
Well-Known Member
The best drivers are the ones that don't go by the name Erik 
I'm just kidding you, Erik... Or am I? :lookaroun
I'm just kidding you, Erik... Or am I? :lookaroun
RedFoxRunner
Member
When I went in March, we had a female driver who spoke so fast & slurred her words together, it sounded so scripted. I can't explain it, but I've noticed in alot of "tour" rides, a tone of voice is used that gets annoying & sounds fake. Mid sentence goes high & the end it has no texture. Hard to explain.. but w/ our driver, it was definitly like this, not personal at all. I've noticed this tone with TGMR also.
-Bryant
-Bryant
polarboi
Member
RedFoxRunner said:
LOL... no kidding. The perfect example of this is Homestar Runner's Jungle Cruise parody, which came at the end of this cartoon. (Keep watching until you hear the "gift shop" line after the Riverquest Safariventure!)
Quick explanation for the uninitiated: Homestarrunner.com hosts web cartoons, many of which feature a character named Strong Bad who answers visitor e-mails each week. The cartoon I linked to involves Strong Bad giving his vision of a theme park. Although the cartoon seems to "end" when a printer paper falls from the sky saying "Click here to e-mail Strong Bad," keep waiting. After a few seconds, the cartoon will resume with a hilarious Jungle Cruise parody illustrating the point above. Keep waiting after the paper falls a second time for another joke or two.
I think of Strong Bad and the big rock now every time I think of WDW guide-led rides.
So Magic Maker... don't be like Strong Bad! We wouldn't laugh at this cartoon if it weren't sadly true at times!
-p.b.
Vernonpush
Well-Known Member
Enunciate! I can't stand it if I feel like I'm being given a tour by Charley Brown's teacher. Mwah wah wah, wah wah wah wah wah, wah wah wah wah. :lol:
Tom
Beta Return
polarboi said:LOL... no kidding. The perfect example of this is Homestar Runner's Jungle Cruise parody, which came at the end of this cartoon. (Keep watching until you hear the "gift shop" line after the Riverquest Safariventure!)
Quick explanation for the uninitiated: Homestarrunner.com hosts web cartoons, many of which feature a character named Strong Bad who answers visitor e-mails each week. The cartoon I linked to involves Strong Bad giving his vision of a theme park. Although the cartoon seems to "end" when a printer paper falls from the sky saying "Click here to e-mail Strong Bad," keep waiting. After a few seconds, the cartoon will resume with a hilarious Jungle Cruise parody illustrating the point above. Keep waiting after the paper falls a second time for another joke or two.
I think of Strong Bad and the big rock now every time I think of WDW guide-led rides.
So Magic Maker... don't be like Strong Bad! We wouldn't laugh at this cartoon if it weren't sadly true at times!
-p.b.
PERFECT!!!!!!!! This cartoon was meant to be a parody - but it wasn't at all! It was a documentary :lol: I have had guides on the Backlot Tour and Jungle Cruise who used this exact voice inflection in their obviously scripted dialogue. SOOOO BOOORRRIIINNGGGG.
We all know that Disney is simply playing CYA when they issue scripts and tell the CMs to follow them. They can't trust the CMs to make up their own jokes and not offend people or make comments that are 100% PC and Family-Friendly. However, if a CM is intelligent, quick on his/her feet, and knows their stuff - they can easily modify the script with some dry humor, sarcastic remarks, casual jokes - and still not offend anyone.
Cool, well thanks guys, keep 'em coming. I went to DAK today and I went on Safari four times and took notes. So I have an audition to be one of the Princesses friends (wink, wink). If I do not look the part then there is a spot waiting for me at Kilimanjaro Safari, which I should start at the end of the month.
Here are some of my notes from today:
Here are some of my notes from today:
- Remember who you feel when you get to go on this ride: the excitement, the peace, the happiness. Exude that whenever possible.
- Ask for first timers: plenty of room for jokes with them
- Game spotting guide: remark that it may be difficult to see every type of animal that is on the guide. But hey that's why it's two weeks!
- Allow a small amount of dead time, however, don't make it for too long
- Don't forget to use the words "left" and "right" when describing the animals' locations NOT "just over that hill" (*clears throat* two out of four drivers)
- Brooklyn accents do make the show difficult
- For God's sakes you are chasing pouchers, WITH GUNS (sorry only one of the Safari Guides actually conveyed that emotion)
I know it has gotta be tough to stay on top of your game after while (HA! I made a joke yay, that will work for the safari). However, I am very excited to become a full time Safari Game Driver!