So thinking we may want to do that this trip. Not going until June but was poking around on the website today to see the details. Looks like you schedule like an ADR/Droid build?! And I assume at 60+ length of stay?!
When I clicked on the latest day out, it said no times were available. Is that because this is just a super hard res to get?! Or something else funny I need to be aware of.
Then opinion: we’re traveling as two families. Each with two adults and two kids, 4 and 7. So apparently we all can do it. But is it engaging enough for two four year old boys do you think?! Or should I book this as one of those moms only special moments of the trip?
Also, @ScottFL did you say you actually get to pet the rhino???
I’ve done the tour twice and loved it. It only operates once per day at 11 or 1130 and it’s only like 16 people maximum per tour. I think it’s great and definitely engaging for most of the tour. The only part they get bored is when you line up and take turns petting the rhino. It is such a cool feeling!
After you check in they gather by the gate to backstage and talk a little safety first, then you walk backstage to a small bus you take to the rhino house. Once there they show you the barns and talk about their care and facts and whatnot. Then you go around to the back of the barns and that’s when you get to pet the rhino. At least 2 cms are with you the whole time and they answer all your questions. After everyone has pet the rhino and washed up you get back on the bus and walk back to the gate to end the tour.
We just did this!! It was THE BEST! @LTinNC82 described it perfectly. We did not happen to have any children on our tour. I think 4 might be a bit too young to really enjoy it. Also, they warn you there are no bathroom breaks during the hour. If you have pretty mature 4 year olds then I’d say go for it, otherwise it should be a mom activity. Just asked DH whether he thought 4 year olds would be engaged enough on Up close with Rhinos and he said “not a chance”. you know your kids.
Booking it works like an ADR except you pay in full ahead of time. That means you can use a leading reservation to get it if it’s really important to you.
FYI…they are not ALWAYS available at 60 days… If you can’t tell if it’s sold out or not available, put in a party of one and see if you can find any availability. That will at least inform whether It is sold out or not.
Did they have someone taking pictures? I noticed on the description that no cameras or phones were allowed so hoping they take care of photos? Thinking about this on our next trip, if my BFFs family comes. Would be 9 of us, 4 adults and 5 animal-loving kids.
Also wondering re: allergies. I saw the disclaimer about hay and dust but are people allergic to rhinos? Two of our group would have cat allergies but not sure how we would know in advance about rhino allergies
No pictures. This is backstage. The only picture we got was at the end we held up a big card that said “ I met Dugan today” or whoever you got to see.
As far as allergies go, neither of us had any issues and we both do have some environmental allergies. We are also both allergic to cats. No one said anything about being concerned about being allergic to rhinos.
Just booked that tour for our trip in June!! Our party is myself and 3 kids (2 of them are adult kids, the youngest is 14). Really looking forward to it. We booked at 60+10 out, and they automatically applied my Disney Visa discount (I don’t know how much it is, just says that it applied my Disney Visa Discount so the price was around $38.25 each).
you know your kids.
