Disney World’s Rafiki attraction adds a big draw
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is in the midst of a Rafiki revival. “The Lion King” character is back in the thick of things at the theme park now that Rafiki’s Planet Watch has reopened to the public.
The relatively remote attraction — available only via a ride on the Wilderness Express Train — had a rocky stretch last September. Walt Disney World officials confirmed that the area was destined to become off-limits to visitors, but then a few days later announced that the closure would be only temporary.
For the most part, Rafiki’s Planet Watch is the same as back in the day. You know, 2018. There are up-close and hands-on opportunities with goats, sheep and the like at Affection Station, billed as the only petting zoo at Disney World. But the biggest news may be creative activity from another theme park that has found new life.
Ready, set, draw
New to the area is the Animation Experience at Conservation Station, where visitors learn to draw popular Disney animal characters. This kind of instruction was seen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for years under the banner of the Magic of Disney Animation until it was ousted for Star Wars Launch Bay in 2015.
Disney easily found a way to tie it to “The Lion King” here. When I visited, folks were learning, stepby-step, how to draw Timon’s head. The space will hold about 150 people for the demonstration, led by an artist whose own work is shown on big screens as a visual reference.
The setting is informal and a bit more awkward than its previous incarnation at Hollywood Studios. Now Disney’s art students sketch while holding a lap desk. There’s not a lot of elbow room. But the instruction is pretty good. My peeks at finished products revealed nice attempts, even if some of them had a hint of Stitch. That’s a whole different matter, movie and species.
“Whether you love it or hate it, that still makes you an artist,” the instructor advised at the end.
There were nine sessions, lasting 25 minutes apiece, on the day I visited. This experience has FastPass+ as an option, which is a fine idea. It would smell to make the journey to Rafiki’s Planet Watch only to be shut out.
Getting our goat
Conservation Station still showcases various animals as reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians get their own windows. It’s a nice indoor reward where kids can see species without harm being caused either direction. There’s also a nutrition center plus an area to observe scientists at work.
Best of all, if you’re lucky, you can watch veterinarians and the animal-care team in action. On my latest visit, a goat was being treated for a clogged tear duct. They had the animal up on an examining table and a camera pointed toward her eyes so that we could see the procedure. An expert on the same side of the glass as the guests explained the problem and what would happen. (She also shared something about hay sometimes coming out of that region. Ouch.)
This wasn’t as dramatic as when I saw a tiger having a dental cleaning there. (That cat was sprawled out, let me tell you.) But it’s still a great educational tool and perhaps the kind of thing that gave Disney second thoughts in the first place. The company was never axing the animal-care team, just the public access to it.
Rail life
Full disclosure: In a previous Rafiki life, I disliked the ride aboard the Wilderness Express Train. Something about that sideways motion — passengers all face to the engine’s left — threw off my balance. And it felt like it took ages to get to our destination.
Maybe I’m more at ease today, but I found it pleasant now. Granted, it’s in that odd territory between the middle of nowhere and faux Disney civilization. We saw lots of greenery and nature mixed with paved roads and buildings. An ostrich ran alongside the fence. There was a large container marked MANURE ONLY.
There’s also naughtiness as we are getting that rare peek behind the scenes, one that came without a warning about taking photos.
Sure there was selfpromotion — signs for the new “Lion King”on the way out, audio regarding Disney nature films on the way back. But the end result was relaxation as we pulled back to “reality.” And I didn’t have a clogged tear duct, so it’s all good.