Pictures from the Wild Africa Trek in Disney's Animal Kingdom

[yoyoflamingo]

The new backstage Animal Kingdom Experience opens this weekend. Orlando Attractions has some early shots. Gotta admit, it looks pretty cool!

Wild Africa Trek - Orlando Attractions Magazine - Photo Gallery of Theme Parks and Attractions

[KingEric]

hmmm i might have to go

[Rex Dopey24]

nice pics thanks.

[RandySavage]

Thanks for the pics link.

I find Wild Animal Trek to be a pretty dismaying money grab (in a similar vein as the Bay Lake Tower, i.e., nice for those on it/staying there, screws everybody else), diminishing the Kilimanjaro Safaris (DAK's flagship attraction) experience and the suspension of disbelief that you are traversing the wilds of Africa.

Yes, there are observation platforms on real African game reserves. Yes, there are camera-toting tourists and trucks transecting Serengeti National Park. But real African reserves also have tens of thousands of acres of primal landscape so that the above-mentioned human intrusions don't overwhelm. Kili only has 100 or so acres to do the same. The safari should attempt to replicate as primal an African landscape as possible (and did so very successfully in its early years). Having WDW visitors standing on viewing platforms or walking up to the edge of the hippo pool - as well as the new roads and additional trucks that facilitate these experiences - in what is ostensibly the "deep reserve" significantly damages the illusion of wildness in the attraction.

The best experience while on safari (real or in DAK) is the feeling that you have left behind most traces of civilization and have entered the realm of wild, large animals living on their own terms as they did before the encroachment of humanity. A major issue in Africa today (as human population increases and with it livestock-rearing) is that even the very large reserves like Kruger & Serengeti are becoming islands of animal-dominated wilderness in greater sea of human-used lands. In these popular African reserves, there are often traffic jams of safari vehicles, comfort stations/viewing platforms dotting the landscape, wild animals becoming accustomed to tourists, populations being controlled by wardens and Masai tibesmen posing for photos. So, sadly, the real thing - "wild" African game reserves - are actually becoming closer to of kind of very large theme-park or zoo as time and progress marches on.

So my point is: true wildness is precious. Wilderness devoid of roads, comfort stations, viewing platforms and camera-toting tourists. Of course Kilimanjaro is anything but wild, but the beauty of it WAS its ability to create that illusion of wildness. By adding viewing platforms, rope bridges, and more WAT trucks in full view of the guests on Kili - despite authentic theming and their existence in Africa - it is a conscious & subconscious signal that you are in an area set aside for human recreation & sightseeing (a theme park), less of a really dangerous, wild, special place.

While we're on the subject of bad moves at DAK, I also deplore the introduction of the ankole cattle to the savanna (as seen in those pics). It is a domesticated animal and just as the spread of beef cattle represented the end of the wild American prairie (with its wolves, brown bears and millions of bison), the Ankole is a harbinger of the end of wild Africa (as livestock & herders encroach on places like the Serengeti Park). Of course the irony of this sails over the heads of 99.9% of WDW visitors who say, "look at the big horns!"

In my opinion, these additions have poisoned the Kili experience - consciously or subconsciously - for guests, and they will be less compelled to return to the attraction and the park (long-term monetary damage, Disney). I certainly am less compelled to return.

[RandySavage]

Wild African Hippo River with Trekkers in background... how does the driver reconcile this for the guests on the truck, except by doing a sales pitch for the WAT. Damn shame.

[yoyoflamingo]

I agree RandySavage. While I say it looks fun to be on, I also think on the other hand seeing the towers and bridges and whatnot, with or without tour goers on it, detracts from the overall safari experience. Can't deny that in any way...

[Baloo]

they should make everyone where special camaflouge gear to blend into the area better. looks fun but i agree with the above.

i also hope those pick-ups are not there destroying the scenery for guest. thats just bad

[Bryce05]

Urgh. Always one step forwards, ten steps back with this company lately.

The WDC does not need the relatively miniscule income this will provide, but yet they sacrifice the integrity of DAK's flagship attraction for it...

[isny]

Urgh. Always one step forwards, ten steps back with this company lately.

The WDC does not need the relatively miniscule income this will provide, but yet they sacrifice the integrity of DAK's flagship attraction for it...

This.

I don't think this experience will be around for long, so I'm going to make sure I experience it while it lasts. (And then take the Safari and see what sort of impact that has with other tours running)

One thing to mention as well, on the AK website, it shows photos of people in business suits watching the animals on the page for this tour. I'd think that wouldn't be the sort of attention they would want to be bringing in with this experience.

[joanna71985]

The tour looks interesting. I think I'm going to give it a try