RAFIKI’S PLANET WATCH AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

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There’s more to see than can ever be seen at Walt Disney World – like Rafiki’s Planet Watch – but we can help you try with our Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Disney Holiday

Dedicated to helping everyone understand the Circle of Life in the Lion King, Rafiki also has the responsibility of educating people on conservational matters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We spent a few hours at his Planet Watch one afternoon, learning about all of the love Disney has for the planet, and learning how we could be a part of it. It was incredible to visit and experience so much in one afternoon – and although it’s been refurbished now, we’re taking a trip down memory lane – and we’ll update this page when we’ve visited this year.

RAFIKI’S PLANET WATCH

REFURBISHMENTS

A lot has happened since we visited, so we’ll update this once we’re back.

WHERE IS RAFIKI’S PLANET WATCH?

We took a trip on the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It takes just under ten minutes from stepping onto the train to stepping off it, and it was a peaceful, restful trip which our feet appreciated. When we disembarked at the end, we headed to visit Grandmother Willow.

GRANDMOTHER WILLOW

We’re going to miss Grandmother Willow’s tours as we know they aren’t there any longer! This part of the Planet Watch featured small rainforest booths which you could sit in and take a journey with Grandmother Willow as she told you all about the Song of the Rainforest. I wanted to stay and listen for so much longer but the boys were desperate to visit the Affection Section.

CONSERVATION STATION

We loved the Conservation Station – but then we knew when we visited that it was all about just that – and not some bells and whistles show. We got to see how Disney takes care of its animals behind the scenes, learn all about various species we don’t have at home and speak to some really knowledgeable people about the work they do. It was incredible, restful and we came away feeling really good about what Disney does.

AFFECTION SECTION

Part of the conservation station was the affection section. There was some serious hands on cuteness going on there too – and for good reason. Cute animals hook children in – and children are the ones who need to fall in love with them, because we all protect what we love – and we need more love on this planet.

I thought at one point I might need to set up camp as the boys wandered around for about ten minutes in awe first, seeing all of these little animals just wandering freely. Then they discovered big bristly brushes and found out that they were allowed to groom them and they were in heaven.

This affection section was the part [apart from meeting Rafiki] that the boys loved the most. I was pregnant with Hero at the time – remember I found out the morning I was getting on the plane to Florida? – and so I had to be cautious being around the livestock, but they LOVED it so much. Little goats, pigs – they were in their element with the big brushes and docile animals who laid around in the shade and sunshine, enjoying the attention and affection they got from so many little people.

We’re looking forward to seeing what Disney’s Animal Kingdom is like now with the new refurbishments in this area!