Tag: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Aug 25 2011

Traveling to Harambe

  • Thursday, August 25, 2011

Last week I had one of the most amazing experiences I have ever done while working here at the Walt Disney World® Resort. For those that have visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you know that there is an attraction called Kilimanjaro Safaris. This attraction takes you on a “two-week” adventure through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve where you get to see lots of animals up-close in their natural habitat from the comfort of a safari vehicle. Up until this year, that was the only way to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris. Now enter in the Wild Africa Trek.

Disney markets this unique experience as part of the Tours and Special Experiences that are offered to Guests who would like to explore more in to the parks than the usual Guest. The description for the Wild Africa Trek is:

Join the ultimate animal adventure! Journey deep into Pangani Forest on a thrilling, privately guided expedition featuring close encounters with exotic wildlife species. Get closer than you ever dreamed possible to Nile crocodiles and massive hippos. Venture on to a VIP safari across an open savanna teeming with native African creatures!

This experience truly is a VIP Safari. Our trek started us through the Pangani Forest where our amazing Guides, Andy and Devin, talked more in depth about some of the animals that are in the walking trail area of Pangani Forest. After walking through the forest, you come up on the hippo pool but this is where the experience really changes than what the average person sees. We exited from the walking trail in to the forest which is part of the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction and got to meet up with several trainers who were feeding the hippos who told us more details about them.

The next stop on the way to the savanna was a walking tour over the crocodiles on a rope bridge. Talk about a unique view and perspective! After crossing this step, it was time to board our VIP safari truck and head out to the savanna to view the animals. Along the way, we made a stop a a private outpost where food was served and yet another unique and VIP viewing experience for the animals in the savanna before returning back to the village of Harambe.

The total experience lasted just over three-hours and costs $189 on top of regular park admission. Included with the price is an exclusive Wild Africa Trek water bottle, a Disney’s PhotoPass® CD with all of the pictures your guide takes on your trip, and a light meal while out on the savanna. If you are looking for that unique experience or are looking for something new and exciting to do while at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I highly recommend this experience. Below are the rest of my pictures from the experience:

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Dec 31 2006

Auld Lang Syne

  • Sunday, December 31, 2006

As 2006 comes to an end, I thought I would shar year end update that went out in an e-mail to friends and family:

This year started off with me completing engineer training for the Walt Disney World Railroad. That’s right, for those that remember little Tommy Webster being in the trains as a child, well guess what, he now drives a real turn of the century steam powered locomotive on a “Grand Circle Tour” of the Magic Kingdom. Like people, each of our four trains on the WDW RR have their own personality and I have learned a lot about adjusting my skills to fit the train. Continuing on with work, I became an area trainer on Main Street, USA where I trained Park Greeters, Conductors and also facilitated Guest Service Training for new hires.

It was in August that I left my home for two years at the Magic Kingdom to move to a role that I had been trying so hard for over a year to get, Guest Relations. I moved to Guest Relations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where I got the chance to work with an amazing group of people and learned a lot about carrying on the traditions and quality standards set forth by our company’s namesake, Walt Disney. Guest Relations was a great opportunity for me and really gave me the tools I needed to make sure that each and every one of our guests had the most wonderful time of their lives.

Fast forward to November, I have returned back to my home on Main Street, USA now though as an Area Coordinator where I oversee the operation and cast for Turnstiles, Steam Trains, Vehicles, and Parade. On any given day, I am responsible for not only 250 Cast Members but, our many thousand guests who visit our park every day and ensuring that they have a smooth and care-free transition to our world of fantasy. This is my next big step on my path to a full-time leadership role with the Walt Disney Company.

Leaving work aside for now (I know it’s hard considering I work a lot), I did have some great travel experiences this year ranging from quick visits to Naples, FL to see family and even the surprise visit home from Grandpa Don’s Birthday. October also brought along what is beginning to look like an annual trip out the the original theme park, Disneyland and Southern California. There is something about the original that draws me back.

This holiday season will also mark my third year with the Candlelight Processional Cast Choir at Epcot. Candlelight is a tradition started at Disneyland in 1957 that tells the Christmas story with traditional scripture and song with a different celebrity narrator each night. It is truly a moving experience and if you get the chance, come and see the show.

So as we end 2006, Happy New Year and best wishes for 2007!

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Sep 30 2006

Long Time Coming

  • Saturday, September 30, 2006

I know that I have not been as diligent on my updates as I once was. I wish there was more time for me to just sit down and write again. Since I have moved from attractions to Guest Relations, I am still in the process of learning a whole new role and a new park at the same time. I have left my comfort zone of the Magic Kingdom and entered in to the entirely new world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK).

DAK is a completely new experience. The attitude is so different than MK that I don’t know where to start. Things are so much more laid back in a sense but so much more strict in another. Where the Magic Kingdom is all about the world of Fantasy, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is much more about the real world with the animals taking the leading role in our park. This is evident in several policies in place. We do not allow balloons or stickers in the park and no where can you get a drink with a lid or a straw. It’s just strange to me to not see all those lovely Mickey stickers being given out.

My training though is finally complete. Aside from the training I will be getting just by doing my new role more, I just completed my global property tour. 21 people, 1 fun bus, 3 days and 49 square miles of property to travel and see. Yes folks, we went to every hotel, every park, every restaurant, and more in three days. A lot of review for a Disney Veteran like myself but I will be the first to admit that I did learn a thing or two. Plus, I had never been to Horticulture of Holiday Services before.

Speaking of Holiday Services, this place is crazy. In this hidden warehouse, is all the Christmas decorations for the entire property include Disney Cruise Line. They spend all year just maintaining all the decorations that will begin to show up on November 1. If you ever have a chance to go on Backstage Magic or see this operation, I recommend it.

Aside from tour and work, not much else going on. Candlelight Rehearsals have started again and I am diligently going to get my 10 in before the cut off. The nice part about working DAK is that I can get out of work by 6:30pm at the latest. Nice to reconnect with that social group after almost a year with out seeing some of them. I am also in the process of finalizing my plans to head to Disneyland in a few weeks. I’ll be out there with Joe, Jeff, and Brian October 24-30. I can’t wait to go back out and am looking forward to a much needed vacation considering my last REAL vacation was the same time last year.

Well, that is the last month in a nutshell. Look for more regular updates to return soon.

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