Disney's Animal Kingdom: Up Close with Rhinos Review
Up Close with Rhinos Review
Checking In and Starting the Tour
During our visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom, one experience stood out above all others: the Up Close with Rhinos tour. This special, 60-minute experience requires advanced reservations and offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn about and interact with these incredible animals. Here’s a full review of our unforgettable encounter with the white rhinos.
The Giants tour began when we checked in at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located near Kilimanjaro Safaris, Wild Africa Trek, and the Festival of the Lion King. (For anyone considering other animal paid experiences, the elephant tour also meets at this location.)
Right at 11 a.m., we were warmly greeted by a friendly tour guide (cast member) who introduced themselves as our guide for this adventure. Each of us received a name tag, and our small tour group began our up-close look at the Rhinos. The Up Close with Rhinos tour is one of several behind-the-scenes tours offered at Animal Kingdom.
Behind-the-Scenes Access at Animal Kingdom
The rhino tour is one of Animal Kingdom’s behind-the-scenes experiences, which means you get to see some of the park's backstage areas. Our walk to the rhino encounter took us past the back of the Lion King show building; we saw Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles in the parking lot and the fascinating on-site area where Disney grows food for all the park’s animals.
It was incredibly interesting to learn about the animal care that goes into supporting Disney’s diverse wildlife population. For example, who would have thought that all the animals’ food is grown on-site, providing the freshest and healthiest diets possible?
We learned that Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is so much more than a theme park. They are involved in food science for animals and work heavily on conservation to help endangered rhinos.
Meeting the Rhino Keepers
Upon arrival at the viewing area, we were introduced to some of the rhino keepers who specialize in these animals’ care. This part of the tour was filled with detailed insights, as the keepers shared information about the daily routines, conservation efforts, and the lives of these rhinos at Animal Kingdom and in the wild.
The cast members answered all of our questions, giving us a deeper understanding of the incredible amount of love and dedication required to care for these magnificent creatures. It was both informative and heartwarming, and we couldn’t help but feel inspired by the cast members' deep connection to the animals.
Petting Ranger the White Rhino
One of the most moving aspects of this tour is the clear bond that the rhino keepers have with the animals. Each cast member has a wealth of knowledge about endangered rhino species and willingly shared their expertise, emphasizing how passionate they are about rhino conservation.
The highlight of this special experience was, of course, the opportunity to pet a real rhino! We were introduced to Ranger, a 12-year-old northern white rhinoceros. For our group, meeting Ranger was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The rhino keeper explained that contrary to common assumptions, rhinos are trainable and genuinely enjoy being petted. Watching Ranger interact with his keepers, and seeing how responsive he was to their gentle commands, was fascinating and unforgettable.
The rhino keepers shared insights into the daily lives of these gentle giants, such as how rhinos are trained to return to the rhino barn each night. This barn serves as a safe haven during extreme weather, providing shelter during Florida’s hurricanes and other unpredictable events. The keepers emphasized that due to the rhinos’ size, they must be gently encouraged to return to the barn each evening rather than forced.
For instance, each rhino has learned to associate specific prompts (certain noises) with mealtime, which makes it easier for the keepers to guide them into the barn without stress. Additionally, the animal barns are where the rhinos and other animals receive veterinary care as needed.
Learning about this was eye-opening; it revealed the park’s commitment to the well-being of its animals and the lengths to which the Animal Kingdom team goes to ensure their health and happiness. The rhino handlers truly are animal specialists.
Petting Ranger, being so close to this majestic animal, and learning about his unique personality was the best part of this intimate experience. Ranger’s keepers spoke about him with such affection, referring to him almost like a member of the family.
This genuine care and respect were felt throughout this up-close experience and made it one of the most special Disney encounters we’ve ever had. To be able to connect with such a large and endangered animal was one our favorite things of the whole Disney trip.
Our tour concluded back at the Curiosity Animal Tours Kiosk, where we were offered a photo opportunity. However, it’s important to note that no photos are allowed during the tour itself. The 1-hour long tour is well worth the extra cost, and it’s encouraging to know that all funds go directly to the Disney Conservation Fund, which supports global conservation initiatives.
Reservations for Up Close with Rhinos open 60 days in advance, and if spots aren’t available immediately, I highly recommend using tools like MouseDining alerts, which helped us secure our reservation as well as other animal experiences like the Starlight Safari. This is a harder tour to book as it is not available several times a day. Be sure to check available times on the My Disney Experience App.
A word of advice: be prepared for the heat. The tour is entirely outdoors, and Orlando’s weather can be intense, especially in the summer months. Bring plenty of water, cooling towels, sunscreen, and other essentials to ensure a comfortable experience. The backstage area lacks shade, so staying hydrated and cool is essential.
For the Animal Lovers: A Magical Experience
For my son, a true animal lover, this experience was particularly impactful. Throughout our Disney trip, he was captivated by the many animal-related jobs that he could envision pursuing in the future. Our trip to Animal Kingdom included several enchanting animal experiences, such as the Starlight Safari and the Caring for Giants elephant tour.
Out of all the unique extras we’ve done at Disney World and Disneyland, Up Close with Rhinos remains my personal favorite. If you’re a fan of Animal Kingdom and have a special love for wildlife, I can’t recommend this rhino experience enough. It was, without a doubt, one of the best parts of our entire Disney trip.
While you do get to see the rhinos from a distance on the Safari ride, nothing compares to being so close and being able to touch an actual Rhino!
While Animal Kingdom often gets labeled as a half-day park, we didn’t even get through everything we had planned. We had two tours planned at Animal Kingdom and felt there was too much to complete in a single day. Between this tour, the safari rides, and the shows, we found there was more than enough to fill a full day—and then some!
In fact, we left feeling like we could easily spend another day just enjoying the park’s unique atmosphere and connecting with its animals. From the rides we missed to the animals we hope to see next time, there’s no doubt that Animal Kingdom has become one of our favorite Disney parks.
Check out more reviews from our Disney World Trip. To learn more about how to get to Disney World using travel reward points check out our other posts on Disney using points. Want help planning your Disney trip using points? Check out our services.
