Rafiki's Planet Watch

[DisneyJunkie]

Is it just me, or is the best aspect of this attraction just the train ride to/from the main building? There are a few interesting things inside, but it's not exactly the kind of place you want to spend too much time in. I think it could use some work to make it more interesting and more of a draw for people.

 

[belledream]

I completely agree. The train ride is relaxing yet exciting as you get to get a sort of 'behind the scenes' glance at where the animals really live. And there's something about the narrator's soothing voice and the sound of the train and the steam that just makes me happy. Inside the Conservation Station, there's a few exhibits worth glancing at, but nothing special. I do enjoy Sounds of the Rainforest though! The petting zoo I enjoyed more when I was a kid and I get why it's there, as you go to Animal Kingdom and expect to be able to pet some animals. Tiger petting, maybe not such a good idea.

 

[DisneyJunkie]

I completely agree. The train ride is relaxing yet exciting as you get to get a sort of 'behind the scenes' glance at where the animals really live. And there's something about the narrator's soothing voice and the sound of the train and the steam that just makes me happy. Inside the Conservation Station, there's a few exhibits worth glancing at, but nothing special. I do enjoy Sounds of the Rainforest though! The petting zoo I enjoyed more when I was a kid and I get why it's there, as you go to Animal Kingdom and expect to be able to pet some animals. Tiger petting, maybe not such a good idea.

Sometimes it's just worth riding and staying on the train to complete the circuit......as a means to kill a little time.

 

[belledream]

Sometimes it's just worth riding and staying on the train to complete the circuit......as a means to kill a little time.

Agree, and think we may actually do this on our upcoming trip. Last year, we spent 2 days at AK and hadn't been to the Conservation Station in a while, so we took our grand ol' time. This year, only 1 day and I don't plan to spend too much time there but I do want to ride the train!

 

[DisneyJunkie]

Agree, and think we may actually do this on our upcoming trip. Last year, we spent 2 days at AK and hadn't been to the Conservation Station in a while, so we took our grand ol' time. This year, only 1 day and I don't plan to spend too much time there but I do want to ride the train!

I think I find it reminiscent of one of my other favorite rides, WDW Railroad at MK.

 

[belledream]

I think I find it reminiscent of one of my other favorite rides, WDW Railroad at MK.

Lol, you read my mind. After posting this, I thought to myself, I may have a slight obsession with train rides.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I love the train ride but I wish Disney would insert more things to view along the track. Theres a lot of places through the ride that could be themed up for guests to discover and photograph. And there should be more at the building to draw us in. WE used to go because we could find Jiminy Cricket when he made his appearances there once upon a time.

 

[wdwmagic]

I think it all depends on what you want. If you have small children in the group, they will love the character meet and greets with Chip, Dale and Rafiki. Then there is the petting zoo outside.

Back inside the animal talks are interesting - kids love to touch the snake etc. And if there is something going on in the vet section, that is always worth a look.

Like everything, it is not for everyone, but it has its place.

 

[Scooter]

I think they should have put the Rainforest Cafe in this area. That way it would be a great train ride and dining destination and you could walk around looking at things with one of those vibrating buzzer things that lets you know when your table is ready.

 

[Boardwalker]

I think it all depends on what you want. If you have small children in the group, they will love the character meet and greets with Chip, Dale and Rafiki. Then there is the petting zoo outside.

Back inside the animal talks are interesting - kids love to touch the snake etc. And if there is something going on in the vet section, that is always worth a look.

Like everything, it is not for everyone, but it has its place.

Is it just me or do Chip n Dale, and Pluto have like 10 character meet spots each? They are everywhere.

 

[WondersOfLife]

It's really a place for 10 year olds and under.. Other than that, yea it's all pretty pointless.

But considering 10 year olds and younger are pretty common in Disney World, I guess it's not really a bad thing. It's like having the Disney Junior show at HS.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I love the train ride but I wish Disney would insert more things to view along the track. Theres a lot of places through the ride that could be themed up for guests to discover and photograph. And there should be more at the building to draw us in. WE used to go because we could find Jiminy Cricket when he made his appearances there once upon a time.

Totally agree. So often your looking at bushes, they could put some birds or something in some of these spots. The DL train spoiled me. It had a lot more to look at than this or MKs and it would not cost much to add some scenes to both. In Disneyland the train ends going through a basic but fun prehistoric scene!

 

[Incomudro]

It is a bit anticlimactic.
One does expect there to be "more."
Still, my son likes it and has requested we go to Rafiki's the last two seasons we've visited WDW.

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

When my DH & I went we saw them performing a surgery on a large turtle through the glass... it was pretty neat! Also it was fun to get a photo with Rafiki!

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

Oh man, I completely disagree! I didn't even know this part of the park existed, and when we got over there and I learned that I could play with a pig - I was pretty stoked. (Important to know that I've had a lifelong dream of owning a pet pig. THEY'RE SMART, OKAY?!)

And then we saw a surgery on a crane's throat and it was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed being there, and I thought it was so awesome to learn about the conservatory aspect of AK outside of the safari.

 

[Nick Wilde]

The first room when you get inside has about 200 hidden mickeys. They are literally all over the place there. You could spend about 45 minutes trying to find them all.

 

[acishere]

The vet station I thought was well worth the trip. We could have spent an hour just watching them work on the crane they were operating on at the time.

 

[MinnieM123]

I really like this area of AK. The train ride is fun, too.

But my main reason for going there is the Conservation Station. Although the experience will vary, depending upon what animals the vets are working with on any given day, I was mesmerized watching the vets and technicians (there must have been 10 people in the operating room) working on a 300-pound, female, Bengal tiger. (Apparently, she had been in a scuffle with another one of the tigers and injured her ear.) She was sedated and laying on the gurney. I've never been so close to a tiger before (separated by the large viewing glass) and I was in awe. The Conservation Station was definitely the highlight of my visit to AK that day!

 

[Bairstow]

Keep an eye out for armadillos on the lawns in front of some of the service buildings. They sometimes come out to forage.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Yeah the place is kind of a snooze fest! I have always felt it may have been a better fit somewhere on Discovery Island or Camp Minnie Mickey when it was a land, allowing the train to be used as transportation between Africa and Asia.