Up Close with Rhinos Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
If your family loves animals, the Up Close with Rhinos tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is such a unique experience to consider. This guided backstage tour gives guests the chance to learn more about white rhinos, hear directly from the animal care team, and enjoy a much closer look at these incredible animals than you’ll ever get on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
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It’s a 60-minute backstage experience where guests meet the rhinos in a special viewing area while learning about their behavior, biology, and conservation challenges. Here’s what you need to know before booking Up Close with Rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
** Do note that we were not allowed to take any photos or videos DURING the tour! All rhino photos are from the Kilimanjaro Safaris experience, where you see the animals during the safari ride.
What Is Up Close with Rhinos?
Up Close with Rhinos is a backstage animal tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that gives guests a closer look at the park’s white rhinos. The experience lasts about 60 minutes and includes time with the rhinos’ keepers, who share information about the animals’ habits, care, and the conservation challenges rhinos face in the wild.
Guests are taken backstage for this encounter, which is part of what makes it feel so special.
This is not a ride, and it is not something you’ll stumble into while exploring the park. It is a separately booked tour that takes place in a special viewing area behind the scenes. This was one of those unique experiences my family loves because it helps them learn even more about the animals featured on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
One of the things that makes this tour especially appealing is that it feels much more personal than simply spotting the rhinos from a safari vehicle. Our guide was an Animal Kingdom animal caregiver named Brice, who introduced us to Harris the rhino, a lovable rhino who clearly enjoyed the extra attention from his keepers.
How Much Does Up Close with Rhinos Cost?
Up Close with Rhinos is currently $49 per person, plus tax. Valid theme park admission is required and is not included in the tour price. And discounts are available for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and DVC Members.
For a Disney tour, this is actually a pretty approachable price point! Especially compared to some of the more expensive Enchanting Extras around Walt Disney World. If your family enjoys animal experiences and wants something more memorable than a standard attraction, this can be a very reasonable splurge.
It is also worth noting that this tour only has one time slot per day. That limited availability is a big part of why this can be a hard reservation to get. I tried for nearly two years to get the spot that I grabbed! I recommend using a reservation finder service like MouseDining if you are unable to grab it on your initial booking day.
Also the same rules apply as trying to book hard find reservations like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. When you have a longer duration trip, you have an advantage because the booking times open up for Disney Resort guests at 60 days, plus length of stay! (Up to 10 days.) So if you have a long 9-10 day trip planned, you’ll get first pick at these hard to book reservations!
What Happens During the Up Close with Rhinos Tour?
The tour is a 60-minute guided adventure where the rhinos’ keepers take guests backstage. There you’ll get to meet the animals in a special viewing area. During the experience, guests learn more about white rhinos. The rhinos living at Animal Kingdom and their behavior, as well some of the challenges threatening rhino populations in the wild.
Found in photo: Moana Dress / Sneakers
This tour was especially memorable because it was not just informational! It also felt very interactive. We learned that rhinos really appreciate interaction with their caregivers and form their own familial structures.
Our group even got to give Harris the rhino a pet during the tour while an animal caregiver offered him snacks. It was neat to see him perk up his ears and respond to what his keepers were saying!
Important Things to Know Before You Book
There are several rules and logistics guests should know before reserving this tour.
Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate,. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult. The tour is outdoors, and Disney strongly recommends wearing comfortable closed-toe shoes. No cameras, video equipment, or cell phones may be used during the tour, since the experience takes place backstage.
You should check in at least 15 minutes early at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk. Which is located across from the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris.
The tour runs rain or shine, except in cases of severe weather or lightning. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy.
Is Up Close with Rhinos Worth It?
For the right family, I absolutely think Up Close with Rhinos can be worth it. I absolutely adored the tour and this is one that I will attempt to repeat with my kids along!
If your kids love animals, if your family already enjoys Kilimanjaro Safaris, or if you are looking for something extra special at Animal Kingdom that goes beyond the standard attractions, this is the kind of experience that can become a real highlight of your trip. It is educational, memorable, and different from almost anything else you can do in the park. The experience is a rare backstage encounter with the park’s white rhinos, which really is what sets it apart.
It is also one of those tours that feels especially meaningful because of the conservation angle. You are not just looking at the rhinos, you are hearing about the species from the people who work with them and help care for them. Your tour price also completely gets donated to the Disney Conservation Fund.
That said, this may not be the best fit for every trip. Because it is separately ticketed, requires advance planning, and takes time out of your park day. That means these tours make the most sense for guests who genuinely enjoy animal experiences. And likely have been to the theme park before, a number of times.
If your family is more focused on rides or prefers a faster-paced park day, this may be something you skip. But if you have an animal-loving family? This is an amazing experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
What Did We Think of Up Close with Rhinos?
This is exactly the kind of hidden gem that makes Disney’s Animal Kingdom so special.
Up Close With Rhinos is a fantastic tour for families! Getting to meet a rhino up close, hear directly from an animal caregiver, and even pet Harris during the experience is the kind of thing that will stand out long after the trip is over.
Found in photo: Moana Dress / Bag / Sneakers
For families who already love spotting the animals on the safari ride, doing this tour would give you a much deeper appreciation for the rhinos! And you’ll learn more about Animal Kingdom animal care team as a whole.
This is one of those experiences that feels especially worthwhile for repeat Disney visitors, animal lovers, and families who want to add something unique to their Animal Kingdom day.
Check out these other articles to help you plan your day at Animal Kingdom:
Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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