Credit: Forsaken Fotos, FlickrOn May 12, Walt Disney World Resort got closer to opening a Bluey experience at the former site of Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The latest development is visible in the Africa section of the fourth Central Florida Disney park, at the site of the Wildlife Express Train Station, which previously transported guests to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Goodbye, Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Conservation Station opened alongside Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in April 1998 and was renamed Rafiki’s Planet Watch in 2000. Rather confusingly, Walt Disney World Resort kept the Conservation Station name on the indoor building at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which houses the animal veterinary center, the former “Pocahontas and her Forest Friends” attraction, various Disney character meet-and-greets, and, eventually, Animation Academy classes.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch, including the Conservation Station building and the Affection Section petting zoo, closed temporarily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park on February 23, 2026. Due to the closure, the Wildlife Express train service is temporarily paused, and Disney is using the empty station in Africa for meet-and-greets with Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy.
Bluey and Bingo Are Headed to Florida
The former Rafiki’s Planet Watch will reopen once again as Conservation Station on May 26 as part of Cool KIDS’ Summer at Walt Disney World Resort. It will include Bluey’s Wild World, an indoor attraction featuring an interactive experience with Bluey and Bingo from the children’s show. Guests can take pictures with the characters, dance, and play games from the show, including “Butterfly Keepy Uppy.”
The former Affection Section petting zoo will reopen in a new form, featuring Australian animals.
Latest Update at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
On Tuesday, BlogMickey reported that Walt Disney World Resort had removed the Rafiki statue and other details from the sign at the entrance to the Wildlife Express Train Station in Africa.
While the structure has been covered with a white tarp for a while, Rafiki, a cutout of the Earth, and other elements once protruded enough to make outlines in the fabric. Now, they’re gone.
Wildlife Express train service will return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park when Conservation Station (including Bluey’s Wild World and Affection Section) reopens on May 26, 2026.
Did you have a chance to visit Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park before it permanently closed? Share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!
