Hi Janice, welcome to planDisney!
Enchanting Extras Collection experiences are some of my favorite ways to "plus" an already magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation. They also make excellent gifts. My best birthday present ever was the gift of Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour. One of my dreams is to become a Cast Member and I love any experience that give me a behind-the-scenes look at Disney magic.
Can you keep a secret? One of the gifts my kids will open on Christmas morning is the gift of the Up Close with Rhinos tour for our January visit to Walt Disney World Resort. A bit of backstory. I tried booking
Up Close with Rhinos for my family's spring break trip in April. Reservations for certain Enchanting Extras Collection experience, including Up Close with Rhinos and
Caring for Giants, open online at midnight 60 days in advance. Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel can book for their entire length of stay (up to 10 days) 60 days before check in. Even with the Disney Resort hotel advantage, I was unable to secure reservations for Up Close with Rhinos. This popular tour only happens once each day and passionate Guests with longer Disney Resort hotel stays than me took up all of the available spots for my desired date. I was able to book Caring for Giants, which happens multiple times each day, but I ended up canceling this tour closer to our vacation dates.
All this to say, Janice, that Up Close with Rhinos and Caring for Giants are happening during your January visit. The "no available times" messaging you're seeing means that all slots are currently full. Availability changes in real time as Guests reimagine their park days, so I encourage you to keep checking.
I can guarantee magical animal encounters at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on
Kilimanjaro Safaris. For a hands-on animal experience, take the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch and visit
Affection Section, the only petting zoo at Walt Disney World Resort. While you're there, stop by
Conservation Station to learn about Disney's veterinary care practices.
I hope this information helps you maximize the magic at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Janice. Please return to planDisney with any other trip-planning questions.
Choose magic,
Jennifer