It’s Official: 4 MORE Closures Hit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Next Week

One of our favorite Animal Kingdom lands and its attractions are closing soon! You only have four days left to experience them before its reopening this fall.

While you’ve probably been to the Africa land in Animal Kingdom, did you know that there’s a whole secret area behind it? Monday, February 23rd will be the last day to experience Rafiki’s Planet Watch (for now).

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a mini-area of the Africa land in Animal Kingdom. You hop on the Wildlife Express Train for a peaceful seven-minute-long journey to get to the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area. You can see behind the scenes animal housing and veterinary facilities for large animals at Kilimanjaro Safaris like rhinos, elephants, and antelopes. The train will close on February 23rd and reopen sometime in the summer of 2026, so it will be closed for at least a few months!

At Rafiki’s Planet watch, there are two attractions we’re so sad to say goodbye to! The Animation Station one of our favorite attractions at Animal Kingdom. You can learn to draw Disney characters in a class taught by animators. It’s fun for the whole family, and your sketch makes for a great free souvenir! The Animation Experience will close on February 23rd and it’s unclear if Disney will bring it back yet. Maybe it’s going to Hollywood Studios in the new land all about Disney animation? We’ll have to wait and see.

The Affection Station is also closing on February 23rd. It’s a petting zoo with the cutest goats, pigs, and other small mammals that’s fun for all ages. We could spend all day there petting the baby goats! There’s also cast members around to answer any questions you might have about the animals. This also may not reopen until fall — but we’ll have to wait for an official announcement from Disney!

Affection Station

Another experience closing with the area is the Conservation Station. Here you can watch Disney Cast Members taking care of the animals that call Animal Kingdom home. There’s windows into the Veterinary Treatment Room where you can see medical procedures in action. You can also see scientists working on research projects and nutrition experts making meals for the animals.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is being reimagined into new Bluey experience set to open this summer. The Wildlife Express Train and Conservation Station will reopen when the Bluey experience debuts, but it’s unclear when the Affection Station and Animation Experience will reopen. The Bluey experience doesn’t have set dates yet, but this is part of Cool Kids’ Summer, which lasts from May 26th to September 8th, 2026.

We’re so sad to see Rafiki’s Planet Watch close for the next few months. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Animal Kingdom news!

6 Animal Kingdom Snacks We Avoid at ALL COSTS

Are you looking forward to the new Bluey experience? Comment below!