Safari at Animal Kingdom

[Princess Ploppy]

Just wondered if anyone had ever seen the lion on the safari at AK doing anything other than sleeping??

I have done the safaris countless times now and he is always sleeping and it occured to me on the most recent trip that it always is in the same place - I even came home and compared photos and yes definitely in exactly the same place!!

So my suspicion is that the lions are fake!! Anyone have any evidence to suggest otherwise??

[flossycandy]

We didn't see the lion, just a lioness that was sitting on top of a rock and yes, she was asleep!

[foxylady]

On our last trip we definitely saw it move.

I'll see if I can find the photo to prove it!!!!

Know what you mean though ;)

[carnivalgirl]

Pretty sure they were moving when we went. Depends how hot it is. We went in Jan and they're always more active in the cooler months.

[Princess Ploppy]

Please find the photo because I would love to be proved that it is real!! But they also seem to be living in a really tiny area of land plus if they were real then they could easily jump off their rock to the zebras that are always hanging around on the other side of the road!!

[carnivalgirl]

Maybe they're motorised!!!!!!!! Will pay very close attention when we go next time

[islabonita]

We have been countless times and all different times of the day. They same early morn or early evening are the best? We have yet to see anything that has impressed me. I enjoy the animals at Busch Gardens so much better. JMHO

[fantasmic]

its always sleeping when ive been on the ride! only ever get to see his head! x

[Lesley_Perschky]

Is that the one that is always asleep in the jeep?

[Princess Ploppy]

No they are on a small ridge type thing and the lion is always sleeping at the front by a big tree and the lioness is always behind him by 2 rocks

[TH1]

I remember reading that the lion is real but he is "encouraged" to sit where he does by Disney putting Air Conditioning on the rock

[Princess Ploppy]

I'm not convinced that an animal like a lion would stay in the same point just because of a bit of air conditioning!!

[becky2203]

We've seen the lion walking around, sleeping and not on the rock on various different trips. There are very cleverly concealed big ditches and electric fences in between the majority of enclosures which help to make it look like the lion could just jump in with the zebras if it wanted! Am pretty certain it's not fake ;)

[paw]

Saw him last week walking around.

[Vabeth]

We've also seen him walking around! :wave:

[Baggie Bird]

All the times we have been they have both been asleep :confused2

My mom swears that they are both stuffed :omg: :)

Our friend, who used to work at AK, told us that they are real but that the keepers do use certain tricks to keep the animals where they can be seen etc.

[Princess Ploppy]

We've seen the lion walking around, sleeping and not on the rock on various different trips. There are very cleverly concealed big ditches and electric fences in between the majority of enclosures which help to make it look like the lion could just jump in with the zebras if it wanted! Am pretty certain it's not fake ;)

I know there are ditches and fences etc but next time you are on if you look the areas are so close that the ditch doesn't make any difference and the area that the lions are in is really small.

[NicolaFred]

yep, that rock is air conditioned, thats why you will always see it there, best to go either first thing or last thing on the safari as the animals will be cooler and walk about more.

[pinkypominnie]

I have seen the Lion move on a couple of occasions - its defiitely not fake! Lol! Disney do use clever tricks like the air conditioned rock to keep it up there so he is in sight and am pretty sure the lions are secure - would be pretty bad publicity if they jumped out and ate the tourists!! Lol! :D

[carnivalgirl]

well yes, would put a few people off I guess!! hee hee

[fluffybunny_15]

we saw the lioness walking when we were there in april....u should have heard me screech i was so excited...my mom and i are debating as to whether the trees are real or not...surely if they were they'd have to have been growning there for years

[MelanieDavies]

Ive also read that they put air conditioning on teh lion to make him sleep in one place. Apparantly you can see his fur moving woth the breeze even tho there isnt a breeze!

[Pixie-Dust]

I'll check it out next week.

~*~pixie-dust~*~

[thinktink]

i can absolutely assure you that every animal on the safari is real apart from little red, the baby elephant! the animals sleep a lot during the day and are in enclosed spaces although it does appear that they can roam free. also, food is often placed into crevices in rocks to hide it from the guests. another reason the lions like the rock is because they absorb the heat and the lions like to lie on them when they are warm

tinks x x

[disneycarla]

I have seen the male lion stand up and yawn and then lay down again last time we went :wavey:

[Disney Posse]

He is a sleepy old thing isn't he, but he is male and apparently they sleep a hell of a lot during the day in the wild anyway. Earliest you can do the Safari in the morning is best - we have seen him have a lovely stretch - then sit down again!!!:wavey: But he certqinly is alive and does move - very slowly!!:wavey:

[fintywalker]

we always go first thing but unfortunately have never seen him move

[shoppingdaydeb]

Is that the one that is always asleep in the jeep?

i think the one in the jeep is at busch gardens:pgig:

[Kerri]

Will be my first time at AK, can't wait to check out the lazy lion and his air conditioned rock!!:grin:

[Princess Ploppy]

He is a sleepy old thing isn't he, but he is male and apparently they sleep a hell of a lot during the day in the wild anyway. Earliest you can do the Safari in the morning is best - we have seen him have a lovely stretch - then sit down again!!!:wavey: But he certqinly is alive and does move - very slowly!!:wavey:

I have been on real safaris in Tanzania and actully all the lions I saw were much more active than this one!! Although I was very priviledged to witness a "honeymooning" lion with his lady friend so of course he was very active!!! ;)

[pinkypominnie]

Even in the wild lions sleep up to 20 hours a day - you have been very lucky to see such activity :) Lions in captivity sleep EVEN more..

I have been on real safaris in Tanzania and actully all the lions I saw were much more active than this one!! Although I was very priviledged to witness a "honeymooning" lion with his lady friend so of course he was very active!!! ;)