Disney World Caring for Giants Tour: Guide and Review

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom has one of the largest herds of elephants in the world for any zoo habitat. There's a unique experience that lets you peek into the world of the majestic African elephants called Caring for Giants.

This educational encounter takes place backstage at Disney's Animal Kingdom, where not only do you get to observe the elephants from a closer, yet safe, distance, but you also gain insights about their daily care and the efforts towards conservation.

Imagine standing within 80 to 100 feet from these gentle giants and learning from animal experts who share fascinating facts about elephant behavior, biology, and conservation. Caring for Giants is an intimate experience designed to deepen your understanding and appreciation for one of the most intelligent species that roam the earth. Whether you're a solo explorer or creating memories with your family, this hour-long tour adds significant value to your visit with its affordable pricing and educational content.

During your journey through the backstage areas, your guide, who is knowledgeable about these elephants, tells stories of the individual animals and explains their care routines. This could involve anything from their diet to the extensive measures taken to ensure their well-being. The tour is also a unique opportunity to ask questions and learn what it really means to care for these creatures, including the new baby elephant, Cora.

Baby elephant Cora and her mom during the Caring for Giants Tour

Overview of Caring for Giants

The Caring for Giants program is part of Walt Disney World’s Enchanting Extras Collection and offers you a 60-minute educational tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom, where you get the opportunity to observe African elephants from a distance of 80-100 feet.

Priced at about $39 per person (tax not included), it's an affordable addition to your Disney itinerary. During this experience, knowledgeable guides share fascinating details about the elephants' behavior, biology, and conservation efforts. You'll learn about the park's care techniques and possibly meet some of the animal care team who look after the herd of elephants.

We were a little surprised the price was so low in comparison to other Enchanting Extras experiences at Walt Disney World, but we quickly learned why. For roughly the first half of our experience, we did not see an elephant. There was one far away in an enclosed area, but it was barely visible. about mid-way through the experience, several elephants, including baby Cora, showed up close and made it all well worth it.

We were told the pricing is low because of the very real possibility guests don’t get to see much. The elephants can’t be fully controlled and the viewing area is fairly small compared to the area where the elephants roam.

Accessibility: Those in ECVs must leave their equipment “onstage” (meaning near the check-in at Animal Kingdom); however, accommodations can be made for guests unable to transfer from wheelchairs.

Location: the check-in point for the Caring for Giants Experience is located in the Africa Section of Animal Kingdom, to the left of Kilimanjaro Safari.

Tour Length: Approximately 1 hour.

Minimum Age: 4 years old, guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tour Group: Size may vary, Intimate group settings are provided to enhance your experience. We had 10 in our group.

Ticket: In addition to the $39 cost of the experience, a valid theme park admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom is required.

Booking Process

To secure your spot in the Caring for Giants tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom, you'll want to focus on timing and policies. Making reservations and understanding the cancellation policy are essential to ensure your experience goes smoothly.

Reservation Tips

You can book the experience starting 60 days prior to your check-in date. To book your Caring for Giants experience:

Use a free DIsney Travel Agent (like us!), Book online (here) or Call (407) 939-5277
Tours are typically available at 9 am, 10 am, 1 pm or 2 pm.

Note: If you or a member of your party have mobility requirements, contact Disney World at (407) 938-1373 for specific accommodations.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Deadline: Make sure to cancel at least 48 hours prior to your reservation to avoid any fees.
No-Show Fee: If you fail to cancel in time or do not show up for your reservation, you may incur a fee equivalent to the price of the tour.

Keep these points in mind to enjoy a hassle-free booking for your elephant education experience.

Preparing for the Tour

Before embarking on the Caring for Giants tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom, it's important to pack smartly and be aware of safety protocols to maximize your experience.

What to Bring

For the tour, you'll want to bring the following essentials:

Comfortable footwear: You'll be walking and standing, so wear shoes that can handle some light trekking.
Weather-appropriate clothing: Check the forecast and dress accordingly. Tours occur rain or shine.
Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat can help shield you from the Florida sun.
Water bottle: Stay hydrated throughout the 60-minute experience.
Camera or smartphone: Capture the memories, but remember that flash photography may not be permitted and there is no photography allowed in backstage areas. Your guide will let you know when pictures and video are permitted.
Binoculars (optional): Get a closer view of the elephants from the designated viewing area.

During the Tour

Your adventure on the Caring for Giants tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom is both educational and engaging, offering a closer look at the magnificent African elephants and the care they receive.

You'll interact with a knowledgeable guide, who'll share fascinating facts about elephant behavior, conservation efforts, and behind-the-scenes care routines. Your guide is there to answer any questions and to ensure that your experience is as informative as it is enjoyable.

The tour takes you to specially designed observation points. From these vantage points, you're able to safely observe the elephants in their habitats, all while learning about their personalities and group dynamics. Here, the elephants' impressive size and social interactions are on full display, providing an extraordinary opportunity for up-close observation.

The guides discuss the elephant’s names, behavior, family and herd dynamics, as well as their unique personalities. They also have different demonstration models, including a life-size elephant foot, real elephant hair, elephant poop and more.

When you participate in Disney World's Caring for Giants program, you're not just enjoying an educational experience – you're directly supporting conservation efforts for African elephants.

Review

We loved the Caring for Giants experience and would recommend it for families. The key factor is to keep your expectations low, understanding these are animals in a large habitat. You may experience amazing moments with the elephants, but it’s possible you will hardly see them. Even with limited viewing, the experience is worth the cost because the guides make it such an informative hour.

It takes about 15 minutes to navigate from the check-in area through backstage to a vehicle and to drive to the viewing area. You then spend about 30 minutes in the viewing area before starting to return to Animal Kingdom. Because we did not see any elephants for the first 20 minutes or so of the observation period, our guide kept us out longer once the elephants came into view.

As a result, our experience was about an hour and a half. If the experience runs long, the Cast Members will work with you to adjust any Lightning Lane or Dining Reservations you may have.