“Who’s Ready for a Controversial Review?!” Fan Shares Scathing Take on a Beloved Disney World Ride

There is no such thing as a universally beloved Disney ride, it seems…

Holding an impeccable rating of 9.32 out of 10 (at the time of this writing), Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of Disney World’s most-liked attractions. The safari ride takes you on a journey across the 100-acre African savanna known as the Harambe Wildlife Reserve in a safari truck — where you encounter REAL animals such as elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, gazelles, crocodiles, and more. It’s a ride that blends theme park attraction with a wonderful zoo experience, but is it for everyone? One review suggests NOT!

A truly unique theme park experience that is different each ride, Kilimanjaro Safaris typically satisfies most Disney World guests, as demonstrated by its 99% recommendation rate on our AllEars Reviews page. HOWEVER, a review from the 1% has certainly caught our attention…

In a recent review, one user really laid into the ride with this ONE-STAR review:

“Who’s ready for a controversial review?! I live in North Carolina and you can go on Safari like this in North Carolina believe it or not except you get to pet and feed the animals and while I understand that you can’t feed them and pet them here my children were very unimpressed and so was I. We actually said that we were never coming back on this. It’s hot and miserable you’re up against strangers. Nobody talks about the fact that you are just sweating to death and if your children are on the right side, they don’t see the animals. My daughter was actually crying because I was trying to point out animals to her and she couldn’t physically see them so this whole ride is absolutely horrible. I would much rather feed and pet animals close to my house where they even have giraffes that will take carrots out of your mouth, which is so cute. Sorry but I don’t understand the hype.”

Whew, that’s a spicy take. Let’s dive in.

The review lists the animals as the only pro of the ride, and wrote, “It’s hot and the kids can’t see the animals if they’re on the wrong side of the car and you’re up against random people sweating on them it’s miserable” as the cons.

Let’s start with the weather aspect — it’s true. The wait, especially, can be miserable if the weather stinks. It could be hotter than Hades or pouring rain, and you’ll be rethinking your life choices as you wait and wait for the chance to see some animals.

There are some shaded areas in the queue, but you might not be protected the whole time.

And, yes, the seating situation could sit you next to folks who may not be practicing the best hygiene or are also suffering due to the weather.

As for the experience itself, the reviewer is right about this being much more of a viewing experience rather than one where you can get up close to the animals and feed them. You’re there to primarily observe, and if you’re used to zoo experiences where you can interact with the animals, this just ain’t it. However, with many of those kinds of experiences, there’s an extra fee charged on top of a park ticket. With this safari, admission is included with your Animal Kingdom ticket — so there’s some give and take to balance it out.

Let’s talk animals. As one positive review wrote, “I love animals, so this ride was made for me! I love how it’s different every time because you never know what the animals will be doing.”  This isn’t the Jungle Cruise, where animals will always be in a fixed position, so you can know where the best seats are. Since these are living, breathing beings, their movements aren’t always predictable.

There are opportunities to see animals from both sides of the vehicles, and there’s always a chance that one side will simply get a better view if animals are sleeping or wandering off. But that’s also what contributes to the re-rideability of this attraction. Each time can feel like a totally different experience — both good and bad.

Of course, exhibits are mapped out, and you can follow along with our ride guide to make sure you’re on the same side as your favorite animals.

Ultimately, most reviews cite how informative, immersive, unique, picturesque, and underrated Kilimanjaro Safaris is.

We tend to agree, and we’ll always defend this ride — but we can also understand how the perfect storm of misfortune — like the one the first reviewer experienced — can ruin your perception of this attraction.

How do YOU feel about Kilimanjaro Safaris? Share your review with us, and be sure to post all your latest ride reviews through the AllEars website!

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Where does Kilimanjaro Safaris rank among your favorite Animal Kingdom rides? Let us know in the comments!

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