BAY LAKE, Fla. – Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom often feels different from one ride to the next, with animal sightings and moments that change each time visitors board.
One thing is for certain. Every time, the driver will do their best to make the experience as memorable as possible for every guest they encounter.
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On March 1, Walt Disney World will celebrate World Compliment Day with a spotlight on its cast members who go above and beyond to make a guest’s experience magical.
Kilimanjaro Safaris cast members are among the most-complimented cast at Walt Disney World.
“I think one of the things that makes Kilimanjaro cast members unique is that one, they’ve got an amazing story that they get to tell about the savanna, our animals, and conservation,” said Ketan Sardeshmukh, vice president of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “But they get to do it in a way that is uniquely and authentically them and their style. And it lets our guests see not only the uniqueness of the stories that we have to tell, but also the uniqueness of the cast members telling their stories.”
On average, Kilimanjaro Safaris guides spend about 20 minutes with each group and blend information with personality.
“My favorite thing about each driver is that they’re all unique, they all put their own personality into it. And I think that’s what the guests like the most, to be honest, because you can hear about animals, but you’re not going to remember it unless you hear the intonation of their voice and the way that they say things too,” said Kilimanjaro Safaris guide Angel Flores.
Since the feature launched in 2021, guests have submitted more than 3 million compliments, sharing gratitude for cast members who create unforgettable moments every day.
“Whenever I go into work, my biggest goal is to make somebody smile and just teach them something new,” said Kilimanjaro Safaris guide Charm Lerario. If I’m able to leave them with a conservation message or just a good time out there in the safari, that’s honestly my biggest goals.”
Disney leaders say the Mobile Cast Compliment feature makes it easy for guests to recognize cast members by name and hometown in the My Disney Experience app, and entries also appear on a cast member’s record card as an official acknowledgement.