Caring for Giants Review: Is Disney’s Elephant Tour Worth It?
Thinking about Disney’s Caring for Giants tour? Read my honest Caring For Giants review, what to expect, who should book it, and whether it’s worth the extra cost.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
If you had asked me before taking Disney’s Caring for Giants tour whether I thought it would be worth it, I probably would have said yes without much hesitation.
Now that I’ve actually done it?
My answer is…yes.
But with an asterisk.
I really enjoyed the tour. I’m glad I did it, and I definitely don’t regret spending the money.
At the same time, I also walked away thinking, “Well…that was pretty much exactly what Disney said it was.”
And oddly enough, I mean that as a compliment.
Disney doesn’t oversell this experience. They aren’t promising a once-in-a-lifetime animal encounter or some incredible backstage adventure. They’re basically saying, “Come spend an hour learning about our elephants.”
That’s exactly what happens.
You ride in a van for a few minutes to a private viewing area, spend about 45 minutes watching elephants while a guide tells you about them, and then you ride back.
That’s the tour.
If that sounds wonderful to you, I honestly think you’ll love it.
If you’re expecting Wild Africa Trek Lite…this isn’t that.
I’d personally give Caring for Giants about a 7 out of 10. Maybe even a 6.5 if I’m being picky. Not because there’s anything wrong with it—it just feels like a pretty specialized experience that’s going to appeal much more to elephant lovers than the average Disney guest.
If this is your first visit to Animal Kingdom, I’d prioritize experiencing the park’s best attractions before booking an Enchanting Extra. My guide to the best rides at Animal Kingdom can help you decide where to spend your time first.
What Is Caring for Giants?
Caring for Giants is one of Disney’s Enchanting Extras tours at Animal Kingdom.
The experience lasts about an hour, with most of that time spent at a private elephant viewing area that’s located just off the Kilimanjaro Safaris route.
The group sizes are small, which is nice because everyone can hear the guide and ask questions.
One thing that’s important to know before you book is that this isn’t a hands-on animal experience.
You’re not feeding elephants.
You’re not walking through their barns.
You’re not going backstage into areas guests normally never see.
Instead, you’re getting something much simpler.
You’re getting time.
Time to stand quietly and watch Disney’s elephant herd without the safari truck moving on after sixty seconds.
Honestly…that’s really the whole point of the tour.
Who Will Enjoy This Tour?
I think this is one of those Disney experiences where knowing yourself is really important.
If you absolutely love elephants, I think there’s a very good chance you’ll walk away smiling.
If you’re fascinated by animal conservation, enjoy zoos, or could happily spend an hour watching wildlife documentaries, this will probably be right up your alley too.
On the other hand…
If this is your very first Animal Kingdom day and you’re trying to squeeze everything into one visit?
I’m not sure this is where I’d spend my money.
We’ll get into that more later.
What Happens During the Tour?
You check in at the Animal Tours kiosk near the safari entrance before boarding a Disney van with the rest of your group.
The drive itself only takes maybe five or ten minutes.
Then everyone gets out, walks down a short path, and arrives at the elephant viewing area.
And…
you watch elephants.
Seriously, that’s basically the tour.
I’m not saying that sarcastically.
That’s literally what you’re paying for.
The viewing area overlooks part of the elephant habitat, and you can actually see the Kilimanjaro Safaris trucks driving by every so often. You’re definitely closer than the safari guests, but you’re still observing from a respectful distance.
Our guide spent the next forty-five minutes telling us about the individual elephants, explaining how Disney cares for them, talking about conservation efforts, and answering whatever questions people had.
It was surprisingly relaxing.
There was actually one point where everyone in our group had gotten quiet. Nobody was asking questions anymore. We were all just standing there watching the elephants interact with each other.
I remember thinking…this is kind of nice.
Sometimes Disney vacations move at such a frantic pace that spending almost an hour simply watching animals felt refreshing.
If you’re only spending one day at Animal Kingdom, don’t overlook the park’s fantastic entertainment. Between the rides, animal trails, and Animal Kingdom shows, it’s surprisingly easy to fill an entire day without adding an extra tour.
What I Really Liked
The biggest difference between Caring for Giants and Kilimanjaro Safaris is time.
That’s it.
On Kilimanjaro Safaris, you’ll probably spend a minute or two looking at the elephants before your truck keeps moving.
Here, you’re watching them for almost an hour.
That changes the experience completely.
We watched the younger elephants wander around while the adults kept a close eye on them.
We saw them slowly make their way across the habitat.
Little things started to stand out—how they interacted, where they liked to stand, which elephants stayed close together.
Those are things I’d never noticed from the safari trucks because everything happens so quickly.
I also thought our guide did a fantastic job.
You could tell he genuinely cared about these animals.
He wasn’t just reciting facts.
He knew them individually.
He’d tell stories about one elephant, point out another one’s personality, explain family relationships…it felt more like talking with someone who loved his job than listening to a scripted presentation.
Where I Think Some People Might Be Disappointed
This is the part where expectations matter.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare Caring for Giants to Wild Africa Trek…
…except everyone is going to compare it to Wild Africa Trek.
I certainly did.
Wild Africa Trek is one of my favorite Disney experiences.
So I walked into Caring for Giants expecting another “wow” moment.
That was probably my mistake.
Disney never promised that.
Wild Africa Trek feels like an adventure.
Caring for Giants feels like an educational nature program.
Those are two completely different experiences.
If you’re expecting suspension bridges, close animal encounters, or lots of behind-the-scenes access, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Because none of that happens.
You’re watching elephants.
For forty-five minutes.
Again…if that sounds amazing, you’ll probably love every minute of it.
If you’re looking for a thrill, this isn’t it.
Caring for Giants vs. Wild Africa Trek vs. Kilimanjaro Safaris
I suspect this is the comparison most people are trying to make, so here’s how I’d break it down.
| Experience | Caring for Giants | Wild Africa Trek | Kilimanjaro Safaris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$ | $$$$ | Included with admission |
| Time | About 1 hour | About 3 hours | About 20 minutes |
| Animals | Elephants only | Many African animals | Many African animals |
| Pace | Slow and relaxing | Adventure | Ride attraction |
| Behind-the-scenes | A little | A lot | None |
| Food Included | No | Yes | No |
| Best For | Elephant lovers | Anyone wanting an unforgettable splurge | Every Animal Kingdom visitor |
Here’s how I’d spend my money.
If you’ve never done Wild Africa Trek and your budget allows it…
Do Wild Africa Trek.
Not even close.
It’s one of my favorite experiences anywhere at Walt Disney World.
If this is your only Animal Kingdom day…
I’d prioritize riding Kilimanjaro Safaris—probably twice—before paying extra for Caring for Giants.
But…
If you’ve already done both of those things and you absolutely love elephants?
Then Caring for Giants suddenly becomes a really easy recommendation.
Because there simply isn’t another place in Disney World where you can spend this much uninterrupted time watching Disney’s elephant herd.
If your tour is scheduled around lunchtime, Tusker House Restaurant makes a great meal afterward since it’s only a short walk from the tour check-in area.
Or, if you’re visiting without kids—or just need a break after a busy morning—I’d honestly head over to Nomad Lounge for a drink and a few appetizers. It’s one of my favorite places to slow down at Animal Kingdom.
Is Caring for Giants Worth It?
I kept thinking about this question on the drive back.
Would I recommend it?
Yeah.
Would I do it again?
Honestly…I’m not sure.
I think that’s the biggest clue about how I felt.
I’m really glad I experienced it once.
I learned a lot.
I enjoyed the hour.
I got some great photos.
But if I had another free morning at Animal Kingdom, I’d probably spend the extra money on Wild Africa Trek instead.
That’s not really a criticism of Caring for Giants.
It’s just that Wild Africa Trek is one of the best tours Disney offers.
Comparing almost anything to it is a little unfair.
I also think Disney priced Caring for Giants appropriately.
It’s considerably less expensive than Wild Africa Trek, and after taking it, I felt like I got exactly what I paid for.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Sometimes that’s actually refreshing.
If you’re trying to fit Caring for Giants into your day, arriving for Animal Kingdom Early Entry makes it much easier to enjoy the major attractions before your scheduled tour.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I think the best way to describe Caring for Giants is this:
You’re paying for time, not access.
You’re paying for forty-five quiet minutes watching elephants instead of forty-five seconds.
For some people, that’s going to sound incredibly boring.
For others, it’s going to sound like the perfect way to spend an hour.
I fall somewhere in the middle.
I really enjoyed it.
I’m glad I did it.
I’d recommend it to anyone who loves elephants.
But if a friend asked me, “I only have the budget for one Animal Kingdom tour. Which should I choose?”
I’d still point them toward Wild Africa Trek.
Every single time.
