Why Animal Kingdom Has the Best Behind-the-Scenes Tours at Walt Disney World

The whole world’s a stage; well, at least Disney World is! Walt’s philosophy that started with Disneyland and that has now carried over to the rest of the parks is that guests should see as little of the down-and-dirty park operation as possible, portraying life at the parks as a play and the employees as Cast Members.

We human beings have a certain itch to discover the unknown, however, and taking a tour at one of the Disney World parks can help elevate the appreciation for the level of detail Disney puts into these experiences.

Some of the best tours can be found at the park designed with exploration in mind: the highly-detailed Animal Kingdom.

Caring For Giants

Do you love elephants? We mean really love elephants because this tour is all about the giant grey mammals with the floppy ears. On this 60-minute experience you will get a chance to talk to the animal care experts that look after the African savanna’s elephant herd and learn more about Disney’s conservation efforts.

While you won’t be able to actually walk up and touch the elephants due to probably a number of safety issues, you will be able to watch them from a distance approximately 80 to 100 feet away. This is a relatively inexpensive tour (by Disney World standards) at $30 per person (all that extra money can go to a nice Malva Cake Sundae afterward).

Savor The Savanna

You know when you get off of Kilimanjaro Safaris and you see those other open-air jeeps that seemingly don’t do anything? Well, that’s how you actually get to enjoy the Savor the Savanna tour! This takes you back out to the African savanna section of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve for a more private viewing experience.

The private viewing area not only gives you a vast look at the savanna, but also provides a little bit of refreshment and appetizers for any hunger you may have worked up. This includes some regional beer and wine choices for you adults.

The best part about this tour might be that it actually does feel private. Each tour is only limited to twelve guests, so while you are enjoying the beauty of nature you won’t have to deal with a ton of other people. You can Savor the Savanna for $169 per person.

Wild Africa Trek

If you want to get really into adventurer-mode, than the Wild Africa Trek is probably right up your alley! On this tour, you’re definitely going to get physical, physical so you’ll need to have the proper attire and maybe do some stretches beforehand.

Once you’re on your journey, it’s unlike anything else at Disney World really. How many opportunities do you get to hike through the African jungles, traverse a suspension bridge, and cliff-hang over hippos?

After your excursion, you’ll get to relax at another wildlife viewing platform where there will be some African-inspired snacks waiting for you. Where do we sign up? This is the most expensive tour, at $139-$249 per person.

What’s your favorite tour at Disney World? Let us know down in the comments below!