Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite places to take a break and enjoy some slower-paced interaction with animals and other activities. Here are a few of my favorite things about Rafiki’s Planet Watch and why you should visit too.
Wildlife Express Train
If you love trains and miss riding the Walt Disney World Railroad at the Magic Kingdom, you can still get your train fix at Animal Kingdom. The Wildlife Express Train leaves from Harambe and takes you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It’s a stunning train and has some interesting details that are worth a look. On this journey, you’ll get to take a look at some behind the scenes spaces at Animal Kingdom. This includes seeing some of the holding spaces for animals like rhinos. I find this train ride to be quite relaxing. It gives me a moment to sit for several minutes and enjoy a different perspective of the park.
Habitat Habitat!
As you make your way from the train station to the Conservation Station, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the wildlife that might be in your backyard. Cast members are found throughout the trail educating guests and some may have an animal companion with them. This is also the spot where Wilderness Explorers can earn some more badges.
Affection Section
The Affection Section is a petting zoo that allows guests to get up close to pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys, and cows. It’s a great activity to do with little ones, but even I still enjoy interacting with the animals. I find it therapeutic to slow down and take the time to watch and pet the animals.
Conservation Station
At the Conservation Station, you’ll get to learn about various habitats and get a behind the scene look at the veterinarian treatment rooms. This is a great place to stop if you want to add some educational activities to your day at Animal Kingdom. It’s also the place where you can learn to draw an animal.
Animation Experience
The Animation Experience is a fairly new addition to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It’s located in the center of the Conservation Station. Here, you’ll be able to learn how to draw an animal character from a Disney animated film. We learned how to draw Scar when we attended the workshop. It’s meant to be for beginners and I’m about as beginner as they come. I was able to follow for the most part but had some problems once I got to the finer details. It was still fun and could still tell who I drew. This entire experience lasts about half an hour and gives you a chance to sit in a nice cool place on hotter days.
