Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
enough for an uncrowded, leisurely tour of the trail and a quick snack before you go
on safari.
RAFIKI'S PLANET WATCH
THIS AREA ISN'T REALLY
a “land” and not really an attraction either. Our best guess is
that Disney uses the name as an umbrella for Conservation Station, the petting zoo,
and the environmental exhibits accessible from Harambe via the Wildlife Express
Train. Presumably, Disney hopes that invoking Rafiki (a beloved character from
The
Lion King)
will stimulate guests to make the effort to check out things in this far-flung
outpost of the park. As for your kids seeing Rafiki, don't bet on it. The closest like-
ness we've seen here is a two-dimensional wooden cutout.
Conservation Station and Affection Section
What it is
Behind-the-scenes walk-through educational exhibit and petting zoo.
Scope
and scale
Minor attraction.
Fright potential
Not frightening in any respect.
Bottleneck
rating
6.
When to go
Anytime.
Special comment
Opens 30 minutes after rest of park.
Authors' rating
.
This is the Animal Kingdom's veterinary and conservation headquarters. Guests can
meet wildlife experts, observe some of the ongoing projects, and learn about the op-
erations of the park. A rehabilitation area for injured animals, a nursery for recently
born (or hatched) critters, and a petting zoo are included.
What you see will largely depend on what's going on when you arrive. Some
readers think there isn't enough happening to warrant waiting in line twice (coming
and going) for the train, but others have had better luck, as a university biologist from
Springfield, Missouri, attests:
If you get to Conservation Station between 10 a.m. and noon, you can see the
vet techs actually doing some routine procedures as they maintain the health
of the animals. Our aspiring 7-year-old vet LOVED visiting with the techni-
cian. She spent 20 minutes asking her all kinds of questions
.
