Rafiki's Planet Watch is sort of an anomaly at Disney's Animal Kingdom, mostly because of it's out-of-the-way location. It's only accessible by train, the Wildlife Express, from a platform in the Africa section of the park, to the right of the entrance to the Kilimanjaro Safari. The best part of the whole Rafiki Planet Watch experience I think, is actually the train ride itself. You face to the side, rather than forward or backward, so everyone has a fine view of the scenery. I enjoy trains anyway, but this ride does offer some cool glimpses behind the scenes at the Kilimanjaro Safari, as you snake your way through the back of the enclosures, and past the animal night buildings. You may even espy a few animals chilling in their respective paddocks.
It's certainly more educational in nature, (everyone's favorite!), without much draw for thrill-seekers, or even animal lovers, really. There aren't many 'attractions,' so to speak, or captivating animal exhibits, either. Upon pulling into the Conservation Station, you will immediately notice the large, colorful animal murals that dominate the landscape. The murals continue on to the interior of the main building, almost to a dizzying degree, but there are a few cute photo-ops with the large cut-out animals that pepper the room. It is rather science-center-esque, with various little exhibits or interactive screens teaching different things on conservation and wildlife care. Occasionally they do have a short talk about a certain animal, which they bring out for a more intimate look. There are several viewing windows where you can look in on different veterinary work or animal research. Though every time I've ever been through the exhibit, there's never really much going on in there. They try to bill it like you can see vet procedures being performed or what-not, but it's rarely the case. They do have a few reptiles tanks with the occasional turtle, but that's kind of the extent of it. It's mostly just an air-conditioned place for adults to wander while their kids runs around.
Just about the only neat feature is a small petting zoo, called the 'Affection Section, that may appeal to little ones. There is a cordoned off barnyard of sorts, with some free-roaming goats, sheep, chubby pigs, and a couple donkeys, that guests can pet, feed and brush.
There is certainly room for improvement at the remote Rafiki's Planet Watch, but if you're just looking for a welcome seat in the shade with the cool breeze generated by the train chugging through the foliage and backstage areas, Rafiki's Planet Watch is worth a trip.
After your leisurely train ride back to Harambe, and a short stroll, the land of Asia is the next section of park you'll come upon. It is markedly different in architecture and aesthetic from the land of Africa, so you really do feel liked you've walked to a completely separate continent. The mood is altogether distinct, yet equally as beautiful. Where Africa is a bustling, equatorial marketplace full of sun-washed shops, Asia has a smokier, shadier; more arcane feel to it. (Which really adds to the Yeti's mystique.) Cooler colors abound, along with several ruins and remnants of an ancient and storied culture. Mythical dragons adorn buildings, signs and even the World's most awesome bench.
After taking in the initial romantic essence of Asia, there are several main draws to be experienced. Flights of Wonder is the first to be encountered on the path from Africa to Asia. It is an animal show featuring various exotic birds both on stage and flying overhead. Macaws, African Grey Parrots, and Hornbilled Hawks are in full display in the peregrine ampitheatre. Shows play throughout the day at various times, which will be posted in the Daily Times Guide for the park.
The next big ticket attraction is Kali River Rapids, which was the anchor ride in the Asia section of the park, until Expedition Everest came along. It remains a very popular ride, with long wait times in the standby line, especially on hot days, so Fastpass is recommended. You may want to ride multiple times though, as it is really fun, and you will get pretty soaked, so you may wind up in the standby line anyway. You are seated in ten-person rafts, that look like large floating tubs, that are sent careening down a serious of rapids and though several waterfalls. I am a self-proclaimed ride-weenie; I seriously hate roller coasters, but this ride has just the right amount of excitement, without any big drops or dizzying moments.
The theme, or story behind the ride, which isn't immediately apparent, is a look at the devastation caused by deforestation and illegal logging. The ride starts out as a tranquil float down a lush river, but soon turns chaotic as the rapids and waterfalls become more intense, and a fire hotly burns, as you rocket past forests being poached, leaving the inhabitants of said forest without home. A view of a stark landscape then makes its way back to the tropical jungle as conservation efforts commence. Though Dumbo is my favorite ride, for nostalgic reasons, I think Kali River Rapids is a close second because it has just the right level of adventure for my tastes.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek is so beautifully themed and detailed, but I think it can sometimes be overlooked as is it nestled among two big-ticket attractions. It's a mixture of tropical pathways, crumbling ruins, bright prayer flags flapping overhead, and wild animals that seem to have taken over the once-inhabited land. There are gibbons, giant fruit backs, water buffalo, tigers, and even komodo dragons to discover. It's a relaxing and idyllic meander through expertly-themed habitats.
The biggest, and most popular attraction in Asia, and arguably, all of Animal Kingdom Park, is Expedition Everest: Legend of Forbidden Mountain; a highly themed roller coaster adventure in search of the mythical Yeti that is said to lurk about the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. As guests snake their way through base-camp, at the foot of the mountain, they are immersed in detail and story throughout the queue. Gear and supplies fill the Royal Anandapur Tea Company's abandoned offices, while Tibetan temple sculpture hint at the fabled keeper of the mountain.
As I mentioned, I'm pretty wimpy when it comes to roller coasters, so I don't really ride them, and would be a pretty lousy judge, even if I did. The story-line, queue, and details injected into the attraction are what I enjoy, like the dork that I am. The roller coaster ride itself is quite thrilling and wildly popular with typical tourists and roller coaster aficionados, alike. But there are parts that could scare sensitive folks and kids, as it is dark and full of surprises, along with the drops, twists and turns. This is a hot attraction, so Fastpass would be your best bet. I am including a link to a ride-through clip from YouTube, if you would like to know what you are in for when riding for the first time, (or if you just like experiencing the ride again). The clip contains many spoilers, which I purposefully left out of my review, so if you would prefer the surprise, just skip the link.
Expedition Everest Ride-Through
The long-awaited Rivers of Light Nighttime Spectacular is hopefully nearing an opening date. There is a new seating area for the show near Expedition Everest. The show was supposed to open in April, but it was pushed back to some indeterminate time. Opening Memorial Day weekend will be a sort of Rivers of Light-Lite, featuring characters from the live-action remake of The Jungle Book being projected on a water wall. Progress is coming along on the actual show in the meantime, so I included some construction updates and artist renderings from around the web, for reference.
The last land to discover in Disney's Animal Kingdom is prehistorically first; it's DinoLand U.S.A.
I didn't quite understand DinoLand when I first experienced it. It seems out-of-place and sort of cheap-looking compared to the other areas of the park. But after reading up on the backstory a few years later, I totally changed my tune. It's kind of an Imagineer's ode to the kitschy Americana of Route 66's roadside attractions. Once I read that, it just all clicked. The tacky over-sized dinos and flashy midway games buzzing obnoxiously all became suddenly delightful when viewed through the lense of kitsch and an all-but-forgotten American travel history.
And it makes sense why they chose to go that route, as Universal has the lock on the Jurassic Park franchise, and it's subsequent Discovery Center, which I think the Dino Institute would seem to broach if it wasn't surrounded by Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama.
The premise for the land is that Chester and Hester are enterprising locals that cooked up a crafty scheme in the form of a dino-themed carnival to capitalize on the notoriety that Dino Institute has brought to the area, thanks to some notable fossil finds.
DinoLand U.S.A. is anchored by the Dinosaur attraction, where you are hurtled back through time in search of an iguanodon, but you also meet some vicious beasts along the way. Even with my ride-weenie-ness, I thought this ride was really fun. It's action-packed, and there are a couple jerky movements and startling surprises, but there aren't any drops or spins, if you're sensitive to that kind of thing.
In the Dino-Rama section of DinoLand, are not only the midway games, but also a dizzying roller coaster called the Primeval Whirl, and a hub-and-spoke ride akin to Dumbo, called Triceratop Spin. There is also a fun play area for the little ones, called the Boneyard where they can run around, climb and even dig for fossils. There is a quick-service restaurant, aptly called Restaurantosaurus and a few other food booths, like the cleverly-named Trilo-Bites.
I've come to love DinoLand U.S.A., just as I love all of the different lands and exhibits at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Every Disney World fan has their favorite park, but Animal Kingdom happens to be mine. From its immersive animal exhibits, authentic architecture, imaginative theming, or exciting thrill rides; Disney's Animal Kingdom is a wild time, featuring animals both real and vividly imagined.
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