Trip Report: Caring for Giants (10/17)

If you missed the last update, you can check it out here.

Another day, another late start. Our only plan for the morning was a tour at 11 at the Animal Kingdom. We were going to meet there at 10:30.

I left for the bus stop a little after 9:30. There were several people in line and the monitor didn't even have a time for the next Animal Kingdom bus.

Dun dun dun...

Something must have been up because I was texting with my dad and he said the same thing was happening at the Contemporary.

Eventually 3 buses showed up and I just barely got on the first one. I couldn't even hold onto the bars and had to grab the straps instead. It was quite the ab and bicep workout.

But I did get to the park on time and waited for my parents by the tour check-in.

At 11 our Caring for Giants tour started. The check-in and start is near Kilimanjaro Safaris. 

We were taken backstage by Kendal. He was a nice and enthusiastic guy. Of course, we weren't allowed to take any pictures backstage.

Kendal told us about Disney's composting program since we drove behind Tusker House. Then we drove by the night barns. Apparently the elephants come in every night because they like the A/C. And they know and answer to their names. But the crocodiles never come in. And they don't answer to their names if you were wondering. 

Then, he handed us over to our animal guide, Amber. Now, we were able to start taking pictures and video.

Your basically just on the other side of the elephant enclosures that you pass on the safari. We were able to see the trucks driving by.

There are 10 elephants-7 females and 2 males/bachelors. And that includes the baby-Stella. They are a matriarchal animal and we heard some fun stories about the herd matriarch. I think they said her name was Rafiki or Fiki...something like that.

I have so many notes about the tour, this will have to continue in another update.

Up next: More elephant fun