Tours and Special Events Archives

Caring for Giants Elephant Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

One of my favorite splurges at Walt Disney World is to take a behind-the- scenes tour. I absolutely love learning new facts about my favorite attractions and getting a peek at what goes into making the magic happen. Last summer I got to cross an item off my bucket list and go on the Wild Africa Trek. It was one of my all-time favorite Disney experiences (read all about it here!) and while on that tour, our guides told us about the Caring for Giants elephant tour. It sounded great, and I knew that I wanted to experience it someday. Fast forward a few months later to when I found myself planning a trip with girlfriends around a race weekend. I was pregnant and knew I wasn’t going to experience the parks the way I usually do, so I decided that a tour would be the perfect way to spend some time while they were off exploring Pandora and conquering Everest.

Living my dream on the Wild Africa Trek in 2017!

Before You Go…

The Caring for Giants tour is an hour-long opportunity to get a closer look at the African elephants, and it is very affordable (especially when compared to other tours!) – $30 per person, and annual passholders do get a discount. Tours take place nine times per day, from 9:30 am through 4:00 pm. I booked my tour just a couple of weeks prior to the trip with no issues. I’m guessing that with so many times offered throughout the day, you could possibly even register the same day. Guests must be 4 years old to participate, and those under 18 will need an adult to accompany them.

Areas of the tour are backstage, and no photos or video are allowed in these areas. This includes the walk to the vehicle that will transport you to elephant habitat, as well as the ride on the way there. The entire tour is outdoors, so you will want to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. There isn’t a lot of walking, but you will be standing up during most of the tour. Wheelchairs are permitted, but due to limited availability on the transport vehicle, this must be confirmed in advance.

Let’s See Some Elephants!

The afternoon of our tour arrived, and we headed to the check-in kiosk, which is located across from Kilimanjaro Safaris. We signed the mandatory waiver and were given name tags. The name tags are made from 85% elephant poop fibers! There is actually an entire website dedicated to paper products made from recycled waste – www.poopoopaper.com. How cool is that?!

Our tour began with us being escorted backstage through a nearby gate. I get so incredibly excited anytime I’m able to go backstage! Photos are prohibited, but I try to soak up every detail. We walked past the show building for Festival of the Lion King (on our way back, the show was in the middle of a performance and we could hear the music). We were also able to see the floating mountains of Pandora, and our guide pointed out a hidden Mickey that is only able to be seen from backstage! Total geek-out moment for me, as it was a really cool hidden Mickey!

We walked to a parking lot where there were also some safari vehicles parked, and we boarded a van that would take us further into the savanna to the elephant habitat. As we drove, our guide pointed out various animal barns and areas where they were growing trees and plants, and he told us which areas of the safari we were passing. As a big fan of Kilimanjaro Safari, it was fascinating to get this different perspective!

A few minutes later, we arrived at the elephant habitat, walked up a set of stairs, and…there they were! We were on the backside of where the safari drives by, approximately 80-100 feet away from the elephants. We were free to roam around the length of the outlook and take photos and video. Two cast members were there to speak to us. They told us some facts about the day-to-day care of the elephants, as well as some funny stories about them. I loved hearing the anecdotes, learning the elephants’ names and a little about their personalities. We were also encouraged to ask any questions that we had, and the cast members were more than happy to answer all of our questions. It was clear how much they cared for the animals and loved their jobs!

Baby Stella nurses from her mother Donna, while the matriarch of the herd, Rafiki, stands close by.

Baby Stella also enjoys scratching herself on the rocks!

Once all of our questions had been answered, the cast members introduced us to a cultural representative from Africa. She concluded the tour by talking to us about conservation efforts in Africa and about things we can do here.

At the end of her presentation, we were able to take additional photos with our parties, including some fun shots with a frame (or some well-shellacked elephant poop if that’s your thing!) before we boarded the van and headed back.

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend this tour? Absolutely! I would definitely do it again, and I think my whole family would really enjoy it. I might hesitate to take a younger child who wasn’t able to stand and quietly listen and watch. The cast members aren’t speaking to the group through headsets like on other tours – this is a more intimate small group setting. This tour is fairly short compared to others – only an hour – but it was informative and watching the elephants was absolutely delightful. This would be a great first tour if you’ve never experienced one, or if you don’t have enough time to spend several hours on a tour. I felt like I’d experienced something special, and if you’re an animal lover, I can’t recommend this one enough!

Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage – a Night of Adventure on the High Seas!

A few years ago, we took our oldest son (who is now 12), on the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage. It was an absolutely magical night. The character interactions were wonderful, the Electric Water Pageant was great, and watching Wishes from the water was perfect. It was one of those unforgettable Disney nights that we still talk about, years later.

This year, when we decided to celebrate our youngest son’s fourth birthday at Walt Disney World, we knew that this would be a perfect way to celebrate! We booked our tickets, got the birthday boy a Captain Jake costume, and we were all set to sail!

The Pre-Party

The adventure begins at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We arrived early and were checked in by Cast Members and then given a scavenger hunt to complete in the lobby of the resort while we waited for the event room to open. Once completed, our little buccaneer got to pick out a small prize. At this point, we were given our pirate bandanas and allowed to enter the party.

Check-in area – the main room was blocked off until party time!

There were lots of food and drinks to choose from – ice cream bars (Mickey’s ice cream sandwiches and popsicles – I was disappointed that there were no Mickey bars!), fruit (bananas, oranges, and apple slices), small bags of pretzels and popcorn, chips and salsa, and two kinds of cake. There were also chocolate doubloons and cotton candy, which many people were taking to snack on later. The drink selection included lemonade, punch, coffee, and tea. I wasn’t super excited about any of these options – I would’ve loved a soda!

The kids thought the cotton candy was better than treasure!

Healthier options – fruit, pretzels, and popcorn.

Captain Hook and Smee soon made their appearance! They posed for pictures with a backdrop (and there was a PhotoPass photographer), then roamed around the room, interacting with the kids. Everyone had ample opportunity to take pictures and get silly with the pirates. The first time we attended, I remember the characters playing games with the kids, but this time, they just walked around and interacted.

After about 30 minutes, the guests were rounded up and prepped for heading out to the boat. Our pirate guide, Patch, was excellent! They chose a couple of kids to carry flags and the characters led us outside. After a quick group photo with all of the kids, we arrived at our boat!

The Cruise

Each family was assigned a row on the boat. I have no idea how the assignments were made, but I would strongly suggest trying to request a seat on the left-hand side of the boat when you call to make your reservation! The view on that side was much better.

It was just approaching twilight, and it was absolutely beautiful out on the water! While we cruised toward our destination, Patch entertained us with Disney trivia, a sing-along, and lots of jokes. He made sure everyone was laughing – it was a festive party atmosphere! It was so cool to see familiar landmarks from a new perspective!

We reached our destination just a few minutes before the fireworks began. This was my first time (but certainly not my last!) seeing Happily Ever After. The music was played on the boat, and we had a spectacularly unique view!

The only negative thing I can say about the entire experience is that there were times when our view was blocked by railings on the boat. The people seated on the left hand side wouldn’t have had this issue, but we still had a really cool view! I found myself leaning up and almost sitting on my knees to get a view above the railings.

Once the show was over, we headed back to shore for one more surprise. We didn’t get to see the Electric Water Pageant this time, so I’m guessing that doesn’t always coincide with the time of the cruise. But, even better, Peter Pan was waiting for us on the dock! He led us to a spot at the end of the dock where he took time to meet everyone and take pictures. It was a great ending to a fun night!

The cost of the fireworks cruise is currently around $72 for adults and $43 for children under 10. It’s a pricey adventure, but if you’re looking for a special way to celebrate a special occasion or just add a little extra magic to your trip, I think this is a great way to do it. You get fireworks, desserts, characters, and a boat ride – this seems like a better value than just going to a dessert party. It’s an evening that can be enjoyed by the entire family, and one that I would definitely do again.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: the Final Night!

When I found out that I would be arriving in Orlando on November 1st, the last night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party , I knew I had to be there. I have been to the party before, but it had been a few years. I had originally planned to hit the party solo, but my friend Kerry ended up rearranging her schedule to join me. I’m so glad she did – we had such a great time!

Costumes are allowed (although there are some rules!), and I usually jump at the chance to wear something fun. However, since whatever I was going to wear had to be worn or carried onto my flight that morning, I kept it light and recycled my Officer Judy Hopps costume from last year’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon.

We ended up arriving right around 4:00 pm, which is when you can enter the park with your party ticket (even though the party technically doesn’t begin until 7:00). Party-goers are given special wristbands and then guided into a backstage area by cast members, where we were given our trick or treat bags, along with the first candy of the evening. There were also several photo ops along the path, before we were routed back out into the park.

Around 7:00, when the party officially began, the atmosphere of the park changed dramatically. The lighting and music changed to a festively spooky tone. Guests were also asked to show their wristbands in order to go on any attractions, and I saw several cast members explaining to day guests that it was time to leave unless they wanted to purchase a separate party ticket.

Spooky lighting (and a perfect sky to match!) at Pirates.

My friend and I had both previously been to the party, and we knew the importance of having a plan. We each had a couple of must-do’s, but we also knew that it would be impossible to do everything. Since we had both previously met the most popular characters, standing in a 2+ hour long line wasn’t on our agenda.

Party-Exclusive Snacks

One thing that was on the agenda was trying as many party-exclusive snacks as possible. My favorite of these was easily the Pumpkin Mickey Waffle at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. It came with two waffles, delicious vanilla ice cream, and a caramel drizzle. Perfect for sharing!

The next set of treats on my list were the Haunted Mansion desserts that were found in five different locations (Liberty Square Market, Aloha Isle, Storybook Treats, Galactic Goodies, and Auntie Gravity’s). The first one we tried was filled with Raspberry Compote and topped with white chocolate mousse. This was tucked inside a chocolate tart shell and had a white chocolate piece on top, with the Haunted Mansion design on it. It looked great, but unfortunately tasted a bit like cardboard. Neither of us were impressed.

We decided to give these one more shot, so we tried the chocolate peanut butter tart. Waaaaaaay better than the first one! You really can’t go wrong with peanut butter! However, we decided that we’d probably be disappointed with the other variations of this snack and agreed to abandon our mission to try them all.

Unfortunately, time passes way too quickly at these parties, and we weren’t able to try everything (although we did enjoy some delicious popcorn while waiting for the parade). The other party exclusive treats included:

-Mickey Pumpkin Cheesecake Dome

-Jack Skellington Push-pop style dessert

-Candy Corn Ice Cream (word on the street is that this is actually just vanilla soft serve)

-Worms n’ Dirt

-Vampire Mickey brownies

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

Hocus Pocus has been very popular around my house this year, so I couldn’t wait to see this show! It was funny, and I loved seeing favorite classic Disney villains incorporated into the story. The projections onto the castle were also amazing to see!

Mickey’s “Boo to You” Halloween Parade

This parade runs twice per night, and is kicked off by the Headless Horseman riding down the street! There are classic characters dressed up for Halloween, villains, pirates, and the crowd favorites – the Haunted Mansion gravediggers and ballroom dancers! All of this, along with a catchy song that will surely be stuck in your head for days, makes for the best parade at Walt Disney World! If you’ve never seen it, I strongly suggest heading to YouTube ASAP!

We watched the second parade, which meant that crowds were significantly lighter. In fact, when we walked back to Frontierland about 30 minutes prior to the start of the parade, the area was pretty much deserted. We had a great view and got several interactions with characters.

I love all of the detailed floats in this parade!

Wreck-it-Ralph is riding on my dream truck!

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks

Another party must-do is the special fireworks. The crowds were pleasantly light on the final night of the party, so we were able to get a great view front and center. This is not always the case, so if you are attending on a crowded night, you’ll want to stake out a spot early. Don’t get too close, though, or you’ll miss the awesome effects of the circumference fireworks. So cool!

Special Character Meet and Greets

One of the biggest draws of the holiday parties is the opportunity to meet rare characters, or classic characters in holiday attire. The most popular characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary are Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas and the Seven Dwarfs. Both lines can easily run 2-3 hours (or more!), so it is advised to line up for those right at 4:00 if you are interested.

Other characters at the party included: Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, the Winnie the Pooh gang, Ariel and Eric, Belle and Gaston, Lotso, Anastasia and Drizella, Cruella DeVil, Tarzan, Jane, and Terk, Moana, Captain Jack Sparrow, Aladdin and Abu, Genie and Jasmine, and Belle and Gaston.

Since we had met many of the most popular characters (thanks, runDisney!), characters weren’t high on our list of priorities. However, with about 10 minutes left in the party, we stopped for a quick photo with the Queen of Hearts with Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee.

If you intend to meet characters, I strongly suggest deciding beforehand which ones are most important. Character lines can eat up a lot of valuable party time!

Trick or Treating

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary is the one place where adults are encouraged to trick or treat! There are stations set up across the park, clearly marked with a light-up sign. Lines were short on our party night, and since it was the last night, cast members were giving out handfuls. This year, the candy was Mars brand, which meant lots of Snickers, M&Ms, Twix, and Skittles. There was also an area guests could go to get some allergy-free treats. Everyone is included at Mickey’s party!

If you plan to focus heavily on trick or treating, you may want to bring your own bag. Guests are given small bags when entering the party, but they can fill up quickly! One more tip: trick or treating lines get much shorter at the end of the night!

Rides

During the party, lines for rides are typically very short, since many guests are focusing on other special experiences. The exception to this is Haunted Mansion, since it gets some special party treatment! This is the one ride that I would consider a must-do during the party. There is fog, cast members have on additional makeup, and there is a special ghost out front, chatting (aka heckling) guests, and she is hilarious!

We had ridden earlier in the evening, but made sure we stopped by just to watch Madame Carlotta (she sometimes switches out with her sister Rinotta) interact with guests. She was great – a definite must-see!

We also managed to get a ride on 7 Dwarfs Mine Train right as the party was ending. I got to walk through the queue for the first time ever (I don’t ever ride this one without a fastpass!), and our ride was a great way to end the evening.

Party-Exclusive Magic Shots

This year there seemed to be more opportunities for special Magic Shots than ever before! We wanted to try as many as we could, and several of them turned out great! My favorites were the Headless Horseman and the Haunted Mansion lantern. There were several others that we just didn’t have time for or didn’t see.

One of the coolest things we saw while waiting in line for a picture was a beautiful bride and groom in their wedding attire. They said they’d gotten married a week earlier, but jumped at the chance to be able to take pictures in the park in the wedding dress!

Monstrous Scream-o-Ween Ball

Instead of the usual dance party back in Tomorrowland, Mike and Sully (and some of their pals) take over and party with the crowd. We made a quick stop when we saw George Sanderson dancing – who doesn’t want a picture with him?!

Final Thoughts

Maybe it was because everyone was already over Halloween, but November 1st seemed like a great night to be at the party! The crowds were light, everyone was still feeling festive, and we accomplished more than I had ever accomplished at a party before. I had such a wonderful time, and I’m already plotting to make it back for a party next year.

One other thing that I thought was really cool was that I exited the park around 12:30 am, and it was still fully decorated for Halloween. The next morning I entered around 8:00 am, and just like magic, it was Christmas! It really is amazing how things like this happen literally overnight.

If a party is in your future, just remember that there is no possible way to do EVERYTHING! Managing expectations and having a plan is going to be the key to a successful night. And once you make a plan, be willing to be somewhat flexible, as things can change depending on crowds and weather. Relax, enjoy it, and be ready for a magical, not-so-scary night!

Wild Africa Trek: Crossing One Off the Bucket List!

For the past few years, I have stared longingly at those rope bridges every time I rode Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I love Animal Kingdom, and I really love the safari (I usually ride it at least twice each time I’m in the park), and the Wild Africa Trek has been at the top of my Disney Bucket List for a couple of years now. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out that my husband had booked it for me as an early birthday gift! I was positively giddy that I was going to get to cross those bridges! I’d be up close with the animals, and I’d be eating breakfast while overlooking the Savannah. The only downside was that I’d be going alone – as much as he wanted to join me, we’d be traveling with just our youngest child, so I’d have to fly solo. But I don’t mind adventuring alone, so off I went!

I met up with the group at the gates of the park, which wasn’t open yet. A guide escorted us (through a totally empty Harambe!) back to an area beside Kilimanjaro Safaris. We were given complimentary lockers and asked to stow all of our belongings. We weren’t even allowed to wear our Magic Bands – there are very strict rules on what may be brought on the tour. Sunglasses may be worn (and a strap provided), and cameras or phones may be brought, if they’re attached to you. I purchased this strap from Amazon for my phone. However, I would definitely encourage you to just enjoy the sights and not worry too much about taking your own pictures. One of the guides was taking pictures the entire time, so every moment will be captured!

There’s nothing like strolling through an empty park!

We signed waivers, got our name tags, and (literally) weighed in. But don’t worry – no one will see your weight, even you! This is just another safety precaution. We were fitted with vests, harnesses, and ear pieces, and given a souvenir water bottle. After introductions and going over a few instructions, we began our tour!

Walking Portion: Hippos, Crocs, and Rope Bridges!

We began by walking through a portion of the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. This is not a backstage area, but the park wasn’t yet open, so we had the entire space to ourselves. Even though this was an area I’d walked through many times, it was really cool to hear new things about it, and even learn the names of some of the animals. After this, we headed backstage and through the “forest” down to an overlook by the hippos. The harnesses I mentioned earlier were used to clip us onto a bar that allowed us to safely move to the edge of the overlook.

We were met there by one of the keepers who had some snacks for the hippos. I was fascinated to learn that they are currently trying to breed these two hippos, AND they previously had a baby (who is all grown up now, and had been the hippo we saw earlier, covered in tiny fish). I loved watching the hippos eat the watermelon, and a brave duck that tried to grab some, too! Our guide did a great job of posing each person for a picture with the hippos. Being this close was AMAZING!

After walking a bit further, we came to the part I’d been waiting for: the rope bridges! We were given a quick demonstration on how we’d be secured, and then one of our guides crossed first so she could photograph the rest of us. For safety purposes, there can only be two people on the bridge at a time, and there was no rush. And let me tell you – it was worth the wait! It was absolutely exhilarating to be up there. I tried to savor every moment and take in every sight. I still get excited when I think about how it felt!

When I crossed to the second bridge, the crocodiles seemed so close! As I passed over, the ones behind me began splashing and causing quite a ruckus! The guide called to me not to be worried, that it had nothing to do with me. I assured her I wasn’t worried – this was AWESOME!

After everyone crossed, we met with one of the keepers of the crocodiles. We were again clipped on to a safety rail and allowed to get a little closer to the animals while she told us about them and answered our questions.

Riding Portion: Savannah!

After leaving the crocs, we boarded our very own safari vehicle (smaller than the ones used on Kilimanjaro Safaris, with benches on the sides instead of in the middle) to head over to the Savannah. Waiting for us on board were binoculars and cooling towels, which were much appreciated! As we drove across the Savannah, we were able to stop several times for a closer view. As we passed the elephant habitat, we noticed there were no elephants out yet, but there were keepers driving around and dropping food in various places. Our guides told us that we might get to see the elephants entering their habitat a little later!

We stopped for breakfast at a scenic overlook with an amazing view of all the animals roaming the plains. My favorite part was when the elephants made their appearance – we got to watch them parade out, and the baby (Stella) was running to keep up.

Our breakfast was presented in a camping-style tin, and included air-dried beef and prosciutto, smoked salmon roulade with dill, fig cake with Boursin cheese, Brie cheese and apricot, berry yogurt and dried cranberries, and fresh fruit marinated in mint and ginger. It was delicious! I’m not a big meat eater, but I enjoyed almost all of it, especially the fruit. There was also carafes of water and the delicious juice that is served at ‘Ohana and Tusker House. This was also the only bathroom break on the trek!

After eating, we were able to walk around and take pictures and enjoy the view. The photographers offered to take pictures of all of us, and there were also walkways behind the enclosure where we could wander by ourselves and see the animals. It was so serene and beautiful! I could’ve easily stayed there all day.

All too soon it was time to board our vehicle and continue our journey. Along the way, we got a great view of the white rhino – so cool!

The three-hour tour seemed like it flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to say “kwaherini”. As we exited the tour, we were each given a stone. We learned that a portion of the ticket price for the trek is donated to the Walt Disney Conservation Fund. They went a step further and let us choose which branch of the fund our money went to, by placing the stone in the corresponding box.

We were also given a code which allowed us to download all of the photos that the guides had taken on the tour. This is included in the price of the trek, and the photos were amazing!

Final Thoughts and Tips for Future Trekkers

If I was giddy with excitement before the tour, I was even more so afterward. It was such a wonderful experience, and one that I can’t wait to do again! The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. They made sure that everyone in the group felt included, and they clearly loved the animals. The cost of the tour is $189 – $249, depending on the time of year, and worth every penny. Annual passholders do get a discount, and there is also a summer special that offers $50 off of afternoon tours.

I would highly recommend the early morning tours (they begin at 8:00), and you’ll want to make sure you wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. I also suggest wearing comfortable pants or shorts – remember, you’ll have a harness around the tops of your legs! After talking to some experienced trekkers, I chose to wear athletic capris, which worked out great.

I am already planning to do this tour again! I’m sure every trek is different, since you can’t predict what the animals will do or where they’ll be. If you love going on Kilimanjaro Safari and want an even closer look, I can’t recommend this tour enough! It is an unforgettable Disney adventure.