Darren Wittko 2/26/22 Darren Wittko 2/26/22

A Disney World Must-Do - Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park!

Wild Africa Trek is one of the best tours available at Walt Disney World. Here are some of the highlights from my recent expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Wild Africa Trek is back at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and my son and I were among the first to head out on the trail.

This is one of the most popular guided tours offered at Walt Disney World Resort because it allows you to get up close to the animals.

Wild Africa Trek is a three hour adventure that takes you on foot and by truck through hidden trails, suspension bridges, and scenic overlooks.

You’ll also make a stop for lunch right in the middle of the savanna and enjoy breathtaking views of the animals.

We had an amazing time on this tour, it was worth every penny and although the animals were spectacular, it was our guides that really made this tour special.

They were truly excited to take us out on the savanna. It’s obvious that they really love the animals and and doing these tours.

Below you can view some of my favorite parks of Wild Africa Trek. If you have any questions about the tour, use the comments section below, I’d be happy to answer them.

If you have a reservation booked with me and would like to include Wild Africa Trek in your itinerary, please send me an email, I’ll show you some options.

After checking in at the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris, we met our guides and the other members of group. There were about 10 of us in all.

Our guides reviewed some rules and assisted with the gear we needed for our trek.

We were given safari vests, a ear piece so we could hear our guides, and a water bottle.

We were allowed to bring our phones for photos, but everything else had to be stored in lockers.

After a safety briefing, we were off right away, starting with the Gorilla Falls Expedition Trail.

There’s a secret entrance on the trail that leads you to the savanna. You would never spot it in a million years!

We soon made our way into the woods heading towards the savanna, stopping to see some of the animals from unique viewing locations.

My favorite animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are the meerkats, they are so funny - cute too! They were surprised to see us appear from a backstage area.

We were joined by some of the hippo caretakers who shared some fun facts with us. They brought some lettuce and watermelon with them so we could watch them enjoy a snack.

Hippos eat a whole watermelon with the same effort as a person eating a cookie. It’s remarkable to see.

To get up close and personal, our guides locked us in to a tether strap that allowed us to walk right the edge (without falling in).

It’s pretty cool to see part of Kilimanjaro Safaris from a different angle. This is the noisy bridge the safari vehicles go over.

Back on the trail again. As were walking, our guides are talking to us through our headphones. They definitely keep you engaged throughout the entire tour.

We arrived at this tower, the starting point of the suspension bridge. After a quick safety spiel and a check of our gear, we started to climb up.

This was, to me, the highlight of Wild Africa Trek! An “Indiana Jones” style bridge that has seen better days. Yes, it bounces and sways as you go over.

Our guides locked us in with a harness so there was no chance we could fall.

This is the first of 2 bridges. First you’ll pass over more hippos. The second bridge takes you over the crocodile habitat.

You have to be ok with heights here and you should be reasonably steady on your feet. The bridge bounces and sways as you walk across it. 2-3 people are allowed to cross at one time.

You can go at your own pace and stop as often as you like for photos.

After making it to the other side of the bridges, we had an opportunity to get up close to the crocs.

We were once again wearing a tether so we didn’t accidentally fall in and become a snack.

Continuing on the trail, this time we were headed to a special safari vehicle.

We drove onto the savanna following the same road as the regular safari, but we pulled over a lot take in the views, and the animals.

Our guides were answering our questions along the way.

We stopped for lunch in right on the savanna.

Lunch comes in metal tiffins, it’s like a compartmentalized lunch box.

Inside we found chicken curry salad, sun-dried tomato hummus and mini pita, marinated tandoori shrimp, smoked salmon roulade with dill, air-dried beef and prosciutto, and fresh fruit marinated in mint and ginger.

My son and I are not foodies, so it was a little adventurous for us. But we actually enjoyed it!

I’m told it was an authentic safari lunch.

While our guides were preparing lunch we were able to photograph the animals and take photos.

When you ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, you don’t get to spend a lot of time on the savanna, it’s more of a summary of the savanna..

But when you’re here for a while, you can really appreciate just how magnificent the animals are. I didn’t know they wander all over and that they are actually very playful.

That’s not something you can really observe while on the safari ride. The animals tend to do stand still for 5-10 minutes at a time, followed by bursts jumping around and chasing each other.

If you really want to observe their playful side, WIld Africa Trek is the best place to see that.

I was really surprised to see how many animals wander all over the savanna. Whenever I was on the ride, I just assumed the animals had their little zone and pretty much stayed in one place. Not true!

Many of them migrate by nature, so they need to be able to roam the savanna.

We has a such a great adventure on Wild Africa Trek. Everyone made it back, no one was eaten by the crocs.

This was definitely one of the best tours we’ve ever been on at Disney World.

Wild Africa Trek concludes near the Wildlife Express Train.

Our guides pointed out a hidden reference to Joe Rhode. He was the principal designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a brilliant Imagineer. Joe retired recently and was given a little credit here for his work on Animal Kingdom park.

Wild Africa Trek, Good to know:

Wild Africa Trek requires reservations.

The cost of the tour ranges from $185 - $250 per person, depending on the time and date you choose.

There are usually 2 -3 tours offered daily. To book a tour, contact your travel agent or visit the Disney World website (disneyworld.com).

Separate Valid Admission and Park Reservation for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is required.

Guests must be at least 8 years of age to attend this experience.

Due to height restrictions for specific areas during the tour, participants must meet the minimum height requirement of 48 inches (122 cm) or may not participate.

Due to weight restrictions for specific areas during the tour, participants must weigh between 45 and 300 lbs (20.14-136 kg) or may not participate.

Excursion occurs rain or shine, with the exception of severe weather or lightning.

Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a ***Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent***. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.

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Land and Sea Summer Vacay in Orlando

August deals on Royal Caribbean from Orlando (Port Canaveral, Florida) are available now

Earlier this week I shared that Disney Cruise Line is sold out for summer sailings. But it’s not too late! Go Royal Caribbean out of Port Canaveral and save big. Port Canaveral is less than an hour away from the Orlando theme parks and airport.

Tip #1 - Take Advantage of Royal Caribbean Offers in August

The cruise lines want your business. Obviously they have been hit hard by the pandemic plus they are recovering from a period of highly restrictive and confusing CDC regulations.

Perfect Day at Coco Cay - Royal Caribbean Cruise Line from Port Canaveral

The cruise lines have every reason to ensure guests are safe onboard. An outbreak on one ship, any ship, would be disastrous for the entire industry. No one wants that.

All of the major cruise lines have exceeded the CDC guidelines and have proven they can sail safely.

As the industry struggles to recover, the cruise lines are offering amazing discounts.

This is your opportunity to enjoy the family vacation of a lifetime, for less. This means you can do even more.

Take a look at these rates for August 2022 using Royal Caribbean’s latest promotion:

Port Canaveral (Orlando) - Oasis of the Seas - Royal Caribbean — Oasis of the Seas | Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean August Sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida*

August 1, 2022 - 4 night sailing from $433 per person

August 4, 2022 - 4 night sailing from $233 per person

August 5, 2022 - 3 night sailing from $318 per person

August 8, 2022 - 5 night sailing from $313 per person

August 12, 2022 - 3 night sailing from $309 per person

August 15, 2022 - 4 night sailing from $349 per person

August 19, 2022 - 3 night sailing from $309 per person

August 22, 2022 - 4 night sailing from $339 per person

August 26, 2022 - 3 night sailing from $288 per person

Yes, Get me a Royal Caribbean Quote!

Tip 2: Visit the Orlando Theme Parks

You’ll be in Orlando anyway, so why not plan a visit to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando?

I help clients everyday plan Land and Sea vacations in Orlando. A 3 or 4 night cruise on Royal Caribbean plus 3 or 4 nights at the Orlando theme parks is a great vacation.

Everyday I work with clients who trust me show them how to book a Land and Sea vacation. Put my experience to work

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line offers a family-focused vacation experience just like Disney Cruise Line. Actually, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, usually gets higher marks than Disney’s Castaway Cay Island.

Now is the best time to begin planning your summer vacation. Cruise fares will increase as the sail date gets closer. Those who book early save the most.

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*Price is per person, in USD, for cruise only on select sailings and stateroom categories, based on double-occupancy, reflects any promotional savings, and is subject to change and availability. Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional. Bookings made under the Non-Refundable Deposit Program are subject to a 100 USD cancellation or change fee per guest. Price includes non-commissionable cruise fare. Additional restrictions apply, including the terms and conditions of any promotions and pricing programs. © 2019 Royal Caribbean. Ship’s registry: Bahamas

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Disney Travel Protection

Disney Cruise Line: Disney Dream Sold Out for Summer, Fall 2022

Now is the time to book summer travel! Summer and fall Disney cruises from Port Canaveral are sold out, or out or nearly sold out. Contact me today for options.

If you have been trying to book a summer 2022 vacation you know how difficult it has been trying to find availability at popular destinations like Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.

Demand for summer travel is soaring right now, I haven’t worked with this many clients, who are actively booking vacations in my entire career.

To this point, all 3 and 4 night Disney Cruise Line sailings from Port Canaveral are now unavailable from from mid-June through December 2022.

3 and 4 night cruises from Port Canaveral on Disney Cruise Line are no longer available.

Recently Disney Cruise Line announced that the Disney Wish was going to be delayed by a few weeks.

Disney Cruise Line availability — Searches for cruises on the Disney Cruise Line website are returning no results from summer and fall 2022 on Port Canaveral sailings.

Now the Disney Wish will begin sailing out of Port Canaveral in mid-July 2022. More details will be announced on February 8, 2022.

This complicated an already busy cruise season as guests on the Disney Wish were given priority to rebook or to receive a Future Cruise Credit.

The future of the Disney Dream is also uncertain. It was scheduled to begin sailing out of the Miami area once the Disney Wish arrived.

Now is the best time to book a summer cruise in order to get the best prices. If you’re a seasoned cruiser you already know this.

Fortunately Royal Caribbean Cruise Line still has availability out of Port Canaveral, Florida. RCCL also offers family-centered cruise vacations, similar to Disney Cruise Line, often for a lot less.

While I’m sure there is a lot of disappointment around this, I’d rather that Disney get it right rather than rush it. I’m sure it will be worth the wait.

But right now is the best time to book your Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas.

My clients enjoy great deals on Royal Caribbean and a generous onboard credit - to be used to almost anything you like while on your cruise.

Royal Caribbean Quote

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Guides

Tips for Avoiding the Crowds

Renting Scooters in Orlando

Using Uber/Lyft at the Parks

Easy Guide to Disney Skyliner

Tips for Renting a Car in Orlando

How to Save Money on Flights

Guide to Free Dining Offers

Disney Visa Perks

Guide to Disney Dining Plans

Disney Travel Protection

Travel Hack: How to Get 50% off Your Deposit with Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World

Right now you can use the current deposit policy at Disney Cruise Line to your advantage when you add a Walt Disney World Land and Sea package to your cruise.

Disney Cruise Line Travel Hack - Walt Disney World Land and Sea Packages

Yes, “Disney World Land and Sea packages” are still offered but they are now called “Disney Cruise Line Add-on Packages.” I still like to say Land and Sea (I’m old school).

You can also take advantage of select cruises currently being offered at a discount. Discount promotions from Disney Cruise Line are extremely rare, so take advantage of it while you can!

In short, here’s how the deposit hack works:

Book your Disney Cruise with me by March 11, 2022, and you’ll automatically get 50% off the required deposit.
Include a Walt Disney World room and ticket package to your Disney cruise. You can visit Walt Disney World before or after your cruise, it’s your choice.
No additional deposit will be required for the Walt Disney World portion of your vacation when booked as part of your Disney cruise. You only pay the Disney Cruise Line Deposit and you’re getting 50% off!

See more about Disney Cruise Land and Sea vacations

50% Off Disney Cruise Line Deposits

Disney Cruise Line is allowing guests to book now and pay only half of the required deposit. To use this offer, you must book your cruise by March 11, 2022.

This offer is valid on select cruises sailing between June 18, 2022 and May 31, 2023, that do not require full payment at time of booking.

Remaining balance will be due at time of final payment.

walt Disney World - Land and Sea Package

Port Canaveral is about an hour away from Disney World. Disney provides coach bus transportation for a small fee.

Many clients often book a 3 or 4 night Bahamas Cruise on the Disney Dream followed by 3 or 4 nights at Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll have 2 vacations in one week.

The normal Walt Disney World package deposit is $200. But when you book as a Disney Cruise Line add-on package, no additional deposit is required.

For over 12 years I have been helping clients plan Disney World Land and Sea packages from Florida. My clients enjoy:

The best available rates offered by Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World.
A Disney cruise onboard credit to be used towards upgraded dining, alcoholic beverages, excursions, spa treatments, souvenirs and more.
Expert advice and recommendations
Excellent customer service. I’m your personal account manager from planning to payments.

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