If you’ve ever boarded the Wildlife Express Train in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, then you’ve found yourself at its destination: Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
This area of the park, which includes Conservation Station, the Affection Section petting zoo, and the Habitat Habit! trail, will close to parks guests next month, according to the Orlando Sentinel. October 20th is to be the final day of operation.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch also offers character meet and greets with Rafiki (among others) and provides a look at the animal-care team at work. The care team will continue to give care to the park’s animals.
Timon and Rafiki
And on January 18, 2019, the Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party will kick off to launch the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of The Lion King, where we know that Rafiki will join along with Timon as part of the fun. So guests can still look forward to saying “Jambo” to Rafiki in 2019.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
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We just did the Brunch with a Chef this past Sunday with Morimoto and he and his team announced that the SPACE Restaurant in Epcot will be his!! Very excited for this and can’t wait.
This is DEVASTATING!! You could always count of Rafiki’s planet watch to be less crowded, VERY kid friendly, and relaxing in the middle of AK. Are they replacing it? Remodel to gear towards Lion King? Going back April 2019
Omg I’m so sad about this!! Kids loved the petting zoo :/
We were looking forward to riding the fun train over to pet the goats. We are going to Animal Kingdom the day after the close. 🙁 big bummer. My two, six and eight year old are going to be real disappointed.
What! I’m so sad! The affection section was on my list of things to do for my next trip. Why??
This makes me so sad. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is one of my favorite things to do in Animal Kingdom. Disney seems to be slowly eliminating the opportunity to education the public about the importance of conservation. As an AZA facility, I would expect more. Hopefully, something equally informative and fun will take its place.
Courtney, hopefully we’ll hear confirmation soon if there’s a replacement coming!
I’ve emailed Disney to express my extreme disappointment, and got the usual “it’s still open” letter with not much else. My daughter got to see/hear a veterinarian at Rafiki’s Planet Watch talk about a surgery she had performed recently (she was doing a follow-up on the bird) and DD decided then and there she wanted to be an AK vet so she could work with animals AND teach the public! It’s such a shame this is going away.
This is sad news. I hope they replace it with something else. This is a cool “backstage” type area that really let kids get involved in conservation and care of the animals. I’m sure whatever it is changing to will be great!
Why. What is happening to this space or rather adventure.
Just got back from a trip there and my 6 year old was thrilled to do get the wilderness explorer’s badges offered and to look around at all the displays. The train ride is a fun little “something different”, such a shame it’s closing.
A real shame: further evidence that Disney merely wants revenue. I’ve felt that there was soul behind the quest for $$, but apparently not. This was one of the important reminders that the park was about the ANIMALS. Besides, the train ride was a great rest for old folks like us midway through the day.
I’m devastated! I was really looking forward to taking my two-year-old there! He would have LOVED the petting zoo … 🙁
Does anyone know if the train will still be operating?? TBH the train ride was my favorite part.
From what I’ve heard, this area is possibly being revamped to bring in one of Disney’s IPs. Hopefully this is the case, as what it may turn into would be pretty cool 🙂
This was always one of the more interesting and unique parts of AK — of course, if we like it, then Disney is going to shut it down and put something mundane or totally un-Disney in its place.
I’m sad. I love Rafiki Planet Watch.
I’m sad to hear this! We’ve always enjoyed Rafikis Planet Watch! It’s a great place for small kids to unwind and still have fun! We will really miss this part of AK! My boys always loved the train ride!
This breaks my heart. They will be losing such a treasure. I’m sad that it’ll be closing before my December trip to DW.
This is terrible. It was such a wonderful way to get away from the crowds and the rides for a while and enjoy time learning new things and petting the animals. My daughter thought this was the best part of AK next to the safari ride. How truly sad.
This is devastating. Very poor decision on Disney’s part….this was a special place, a place for littles and adults to learn a little something of big importance! A quiet relaxing corner in AK that meant something to a lot of park goers, heck brushing goats was something I was looking forward to on our Nov./Dec. 2018 trip. So so sad. ?
I once saw a fish getting a glass eye; it was very interesting, especially knowing the Disney team was working hard so the fish could go back into the tank in EPCOT and not be attacked by other sea creatures — was a very interesting, informative trip — Disney is leaning away from education and toward the big bucks — plain and clear
So the CEO can put up more non informative Club 33’s but gets rid of wonderful Rafiki Planet. How disappointing but Disney has been speaking out of both sides of its mouth for some time now.
I’ve never missed an opportunity to visit this section of park. It’s such a peaceful place and I loved how the experience always varied, depending on what was happening with the animals. We spent 90 minutes there last month, watching a tamarin receive her checkup, and speaking with various cast members about conservation, animal diets and habitats. My kids had a blast completing their Wilderness Explorer badges and petting the goats. I’m so deeply disappointed to see this interactive area disappear. Animal Kingdom has been my favorite park since the educational aspects of Epcot have gone the way of IP. I’m all for keeping parks up to date, but why does it always have to be at the expense of the more unique, thought provoking attractions?
I dont understand. Why are they closing such a wonderful place and without detailing what the replacement will be…I am sure it will be something off which Disney can make even more money!!!!!
Disney’ll loose a treasured attraction. Always loved the train ride and along with the educational aspect it was a great place to rest for a bit and get a break from the crowds
I was at AK today and visited Rafiki’s Planet Watch. A cast member said they will reopen in the spring. She didn’t know what they were doing but she said they would reopen and in the meantime she got six months to play with the animals. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Brooke!