Credit: Michael Lehet, FlickrWalt Disney World Resort allegedly closed an attraction in the Conservation Station at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park because one computer died… Here’s what happened.
The Conservation Station is a building in the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, accessible only by the Wildlife Express Train in Africa. Since April 1998, the interactive area has featured several attractions intertwining lessons about animal care and wildlife conservation with the Disney characters that families know and love.
Redditor u/Alllllllrighty__Then recently visited the Conservation Station and shared photos of several closed doors that appeared to be a former attraction exit. Stanchions blocked some of the doors, while others were just locked with signage and interactive features covered.
Conservation Station Doors
Conservation Station Doors
byu/Alllllllrighty__Then inWaltDisneyWorld
The doors belonged to the former “Song of the Rainforest” attraction, which featured Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas (1995). Each door led to a dark booth that could seat up to six guests. Disney Park guests would enter, close the door, put on headphones, and click a button to start the “show.”
“Song of the Rainforest” played recorded nature sounds while Grandmother Willow taught guests about the power of conserving Earth’s rainforests and their impacts on the ecosystem. However, the Conservation Station attraction closed in 2018 during an extensive renovation at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
One Reddit commenter claimed that Walt Disney World Resort removed “Song of the Rainforest” not only due to its declining popularity, but because the computer it was stored on died.
“Used to be supplied with nature sounds stored on PC,” u/Mammoth_Junket321 wrote. “Said PC went down and there was no backup. Instead of recreating the tracks, the area was closed and eventually just darkened (this was prior to the animation station drawing classes).”
Some Disney Parks fans were nostalgic for the closed experience.
“That show was amazing,” u/Automatic-Maybe8207 wrote. “…You would hear sounds of the rainforest or you would hear ocean sounds such a great quiet cool spot. I’m so sad it’s gone.”
“This is where I first discovered I wasn’t handling my anxiety well,” said u/MissMelons. “I wanted to stay in there forever.”
Still, most argued that the theme park attraction had overstayed its welcome.
“It was outdated and basically not used,” u/cvaska commented. “Arguably any money was too much to spend on it.”
“I remember doing it as a teenager and thinking it was lame,” u/The_Inflicted replied.
Spot the abandoned “Song of the Rainforest” doors inside the Conservation Station in the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park!
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