No More Elephant Chasing on Safaris?

[ChiefFlyingEagle1996]

So my family and I went to AK today and we rode the safaris and we saw more animals than usual, but we felt that something was missing... And then we realized that there was no chatter on the radio telling us about the poachers... We did not have to chase down poachers and save the elephant... Does anyone know if is temporary or when it happened or anything about this, the only reason I'm asking is because a few family members somewhat enjoyed it. However, I believe what used to be the area they said they were using as an area to introduce new animals to the trucks and spectators. So it's very possible that this is the reason that they did not have tw poachers and such. Anywho just thought thy I would see if anyone knew and could enlighten me
Thanks in advance!
:mickey::mickey:

[ChiefFlyingEagle1996]

By the way I am so sorry about my spelling and grammatical errors. I'm cringing as I'm rereading haha again sorry.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

We don't seem to be saving Little Red anymore. Personally, I miss that!

[Terra]

The last couple of times I've been there in the last couple of months, I haven't heard it either :/ My boys loved that part.

[Strmchsr]

It's been several months since they did away with the poacher storyline. It won't be coming back. The area where "Little Red" used to be is being transformed into a new area for zebras.

[MickeysBestPal]

By the way I am so sorry about my spelling and grammatical errors. I'm cringing as I'm rereading haha again sorry.

You can edit your posts and/or rewrite them after you post them.
Just click the "Edit" button in the lower right of the message screen.

Little Red (inside his rescue truck) now resides, still happily swinging his little trunk,
in a Cast Member only area backstage at DAK.

[Strmchsr]

You can edit your posts and/or rewrite them after you post them.
Just click the "Edit" button in the lower right of the message screen.

Just a note - that edit button only appears for the first 30 min after you post.

[Melanie]

It's been over a year, if I recall correctly. I thought I recently read the zebra area isn't working out as planned either, but can't remember the specifics.

[MickeysBestPal]

It's been over a year, if I recall correctly. I thought I recently read the zebra area isn't working out as planned either, but can't remember the specifics.

Yup.

Zebra (in the wild or in captivity) tend to FIGHT each other,
and sometimes to the "ultimate end."

That was happening at Safari.
Scary stuff, kids!

[WDWdriver]

Yup.

Zebra (in the wild or in captivity) tend to FIGHT each other,
and sometimes to the "ultimate end."



Yep. Lots of kicking and biting going on. They are not very nice to each other or to other animal species.

[Lindsey]

This attraction was awesome when it first opened. Then after a few years Disney started to slowly remove show features, (the first one I remember them removing was the cast member holding a gun towards a poacher in a jeep), and now they have completely removed the Big Read/Little Red poacher story. :( I don't go on this attraction anymore, it just makes me sad. Instead I do the animal trails, and I stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge to see animals.

[big blue and hairy]

Yep. Lots of kicking and biting going on. They are not very nice to each other or to other animal species. Sounds like the lines for buses a park close....;)

:sulley:

[big blue and hairy]

I actually don't miss the Little red story line. I ilke seeing the animals and can go over and over, but after over and over, the poacher story gets old....not that the fact that poaching is horrible and needs to be stopped, just the little Red stuff.

:sulley:

[ChiefFlyingEagle1996]

I'm sure eventually miss it, but this time it was kinda cool to just go with the flow of the safari we even got to see some animals that are new to animal kingdom (I can't remember what they said that they were)

[MickeysBestPal]

I'm sure eventually miss it, but this time it was kinda cool to just go with the flow of the safari


we even got to see some animals that are new to animal kingdom


(I can't remember what they said that they were)

"Newbies."

[jefmblrd]

I was fortunate enough to have been at Disney the year AK opened, and had the opportunity to go into the park a couple of days before it officially opened to the public. It cost an extra $18 for each of us, but it was worth it for the sneak peak.

I distinctly remember them playing up the Safari story line and the drama of the radio announcements to the truck from the ranger in the plane as we raced to save Big and Little Red from the poachers. Right down to the CM with the gun giving the thumbs up that the poachers had in fact been apprehended.

Then as the years went on the storyline became less and less central to the experience and now seems to be gone altogether, and I'm sorry for that since I really enjoyed the theatrical aspect of the experience.

I still enjoy the ride but not as much as before.

[#1donaldfan]

I still love the ride and the animals. I don't miss Red much really, I thought the Zebra's were a great addition, too bad they're not working out !! :mickey:

[Stu29573]

Im not a fan of the "no story line" safari. Many years ago we had a place called Lion Country Safari here where you could drive through animals in your car. After a while it got pretty dull. Without a story, it seems like you are just doing that. Personally, I think they took the show elements out because they refused to maintain them, and then claimed it was because people wanted it that way...

[DizneyRox]

Im not a fan of the "no story line" safari. Many years ago we had a place called Lion Country Safari here where you could drive through animals in your car. After a while it got pretty dull. Without a story, it seems like you are just doing that. Personally, I think they took the show elements out because they refused to maintain them, and then claimed it was because people wanted it that way...
I tend to agree... The shooting jeep that raced by the side of the ride vehicle worked great for a year or two, then it was hit or miss, you heard gun shots in the bushes, and then nothing.

It's odd that the zebras at AKL don't seem to fight each other but those at AK do? I know they were moved off the safari main savanas, I remember seeing them way off in the distance across the ody of water on the far left of the bridge that used to shake when you went over it (I assume they haven't fixed that either, right?).

Sad how much stuff is broken and isn't even bothered to be repaired... So much bad show at WDW it's amazing...

[MickeysBestPal]

It's odd that the zebras at AKL don't seem to fight each other but those at AK do?

Different union.
Different rules.


;)

[Melanie]

Different union.
Different rules.


;)

:funny:

[EJS-Houston]

Different union.
Different rules.


;)


Hilarious! Well said. Makes me think of the old Warner Bros. cartoon with the coyote and the sheep dog that would punch in at the clock in the morning, spend the day practically killing each other, then the whistle would blow and they'd punch out, wish each other a good evening and head home.

[K8screen]

A bit off topic, but when we were there last summer a CM rode in our truck, ticking off all the animals that we saw. She told us about the scrapping of the Little Red storyline, explained about the zebra area, and said they were counting the animal sightings to improve the animal encounter aspect of the ride. She was very informative.

[ThanxForNoticin]

I know they were moved off the safari main savanas, I remember seeing them way off in the distance across the ody of water on the far left of the bridge that used to shake when you went over it (I assume they haven't fixed that either, right?).


I know that bridge worked perfectly when we were there about 3 months ago. It seems like sometimes they include it as part of the storyline, and sometimes they don't.

[DizneyRox]

I know that bridge worked perfectly when we were there about 3 months ago. It seems like sometimes they include it as part of the storyline, and sometimes they don't.
Wow, can't remember the last time I had it work, probably like 2007 or so. Haven't been in a number of years. Maybe the script has changed, the lead up was always the same, but depending on if it worked or not, they changed it up after the bridge (CMs know based on the light clue on the bridge before they even get over).

RIP Wilson

[Stu29573]

The bridge didnt work the last four times we were there...

[EeyoresBestFriend]

We take the safari to see the animals - so the Little Red wasn't essential to our enjoyment.

But the CM drivers are. We have had some exceptional ones who explain about the animals and provide insight on the species and their habits. Other drivers leave you distinctly with the feeling that they are late for their coffee break (You know; flying through the Safari faster than light speed - no interaction at all).

Still one of our must sees . . .

[Melanie]

But the CM drivers are. We have had some exceptional ones who explain about the animals and provide insight on the species and their habits. Other drivers leave you distinctly with the feeling that they are late for their coffee break (You know; flying through the Safari faster than light speed - no interaction at all).

Absolutely true. Much like Jungle Cruise, the driver can make or break the experience.

[bruin1344]

Im gonna miss "Simba One come in Simba One!" This was one of those minor quirky Disney things that I enjoy and miss when it's gone.

[Zawadi]

Im gonna miss "Simba One come in Simba One!" This was one of those minor quirky Disney things that I enjoy and miss when it's gone.

We miss the line:

"Nobody calls them Thompson's Gazelles! They're tommies. TOMMIES!!"

[ChiefFlyingEagle1996]

I tend to agree... The shooting jeep that raced by the side of the ride vehicle worked great for a year or two, then it was hit or miss, you heard gun shots in the bushes, and then nothing.

It's odd that the zebras at AKL don't seem to fight each other but those at AK do? I know they were moved off the safari main savanas, I remember seeing them way off in the distance across the ody of water on the far left of the bridge that used to shake when you went over it (I assume they haven't fixed that either, right?).

Sad how much stuff is broken and isn't even bothered to be repaired... So much bad show at WDW it's amazing...

For the first time in 4-5 years the bridge was actually working! It scared my brother so bad because he had not encountered ever working, he thought we were really going to die haha

[Goofster]

The bridge was working for us back on our trip in March in this year. It scared my young son as he thought the bridge was going to collapse. I had to reassure him it was part of the experience.

As for Little Red, I too don't miss it only because I saw the decline in that story from 1998 to the present. Each time we went through something would be missing to the point where it seemed like an afterthought to me, so when it was gone, I didn't miss it (I miss the original version, not the shell of it at the end).

[TikiLounger]

The bridge is working, again? Awesome! My kids used to get so excited with anticipation when we got close. They've been so disappointed in recent years (and they're not really "kids", anymore).

The original story line of this attraction was so fun. It was one of our favorites.

[jans2kids]

Just rode the Safari last Friday. The bridge was not working either time we rode it. Also in regards to the Zebra area, we did see 3 Zebras out running around. They have put up canvas covering around where you would see the cheetahs and the lions so you can see very little of either area. When we asked what it was for , they said it was marking the zebra area to get them used to where they are allowed to go.

[ransam]

I knew the story was gone, but as we rode it last Feb. i couldn't help but think of how much my son would have l iked that part.
I also really dont' remember seeing any zebra's. I was looking out for them too.

[WDWCrazyKaren]

Our family was one that didn't care for the Little Red story. We really just wanted to see the animals. I also think it had a lot to do with your safari guide. If they didn't get into the part, and merely read their lines, it made the whole thing even worse.

[texas211]

Sounds like the lines for buses a park close....;)

:sulley:

Or the gate area before the ropes drop.

[Goes4FastPass]

I am so very glad to lose the Little Red story line. There'a a place for plastic elephants. It's called the Jungle Cruise at MK.

[sneezyone]

honestly, I do not miss the gunfire. It always made me nervous. I guess I'm jumpy that way. I always hated that part. I really don't see fun in gunfire, it's not my style.

I love the safari, my favorite ride ever.

[comicguy]

I have to admit I liked the "little Red" story the first couple of times I rode it, then it kinds lost me and seemed to waste valuable time we could be seeing more animals. When I ride it now, I am perfectly content not having that story. I do love being immersed in WDW's stories for rides but this one just did not do it for me. Give me the animals!!

[LVT]

I have seen the Zebras at AKL annoying other animals. We saw this during our May stay.

[JerseyDad]

.....when we were at WDW last August (2012) ...the whole elephant poachers storyline had been removed. Now ....as 'corny' as it might have been ...particularly when you've done the safari a million-billion times ...I kinda' missed it (a little).

....at the end of the ride ...when asked, a CM had told me that the "story" was changed just a month or two prior to that in prep for the zebra thing.

....I hate change.

[Middle of the Map]

I actually don't miss the Little red story line. I ilke seeing the animals and can go over and over, but after over and over, the poacher story gets old....not that the fact that poaching is horrible and needs to be stopped, just the little Red stuff.

:sulley:

Have to agree. I think the guide can make or break the experience. We had one young man who delivered his own special dialogue about the animals in a very witty manner. He had the whole truckload of visitors in stitches. I wish I had gotten his full name, but he's probably gone on to a successful stand-up career somewhere.