Disney’s Animal Kingdom has closed its original Rafiki’s Planet Watch attraction, which will reopen this summer under the new name Conservation Station with a Bluey theme. The change retires the nearly 30-year-old name while introducing interactive experiences featuring the Australian animated series. The refurbishment includes Australian animals and omits a prior animation program.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which opened on April 22, 1998, as a celebration of nature and conservation, is undergoing significant transformations. One key change involves Rafiki’s Planet Watch, an opening-day experience that provided guests with behind-the-scenes access to the park’s veterinary and conservation efforts. This attraction closed on February 23, 2026, for refurbishment, with the closure announced without public notice of its permanent rebranding.
Upon reopening in Summer 2026, the entire destination—previously accessible only via the Wildlife Express Train from Harambe Station—will be known as Conservation Station. The name Rafiki’s Planet Watch is being retired, though the core indoor facility has long shared that name. The updates are driven by the addition of a new interactive experience called Bluey and Bingo, inspired by the Australian animated series. Families will engage in games and encounters with animals native to Australia, the home of Bluey’s Heeler family.
The Affection Section, a beloved petting zoo, will remain but feature refreshed Australian animal species to align with the theme. However, The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, where guests learned to draw Disney characters, will not return in its current form. Instead, a new animation experience is scheduled to open this summer inside The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
During the refurbishment, the Wildlife Express Train is temporarily closed, making the back section of the park inaccessible. For visitors to Animal Kingdom in spring or early summer 2026, this means missing the educational, slower-paced attraction that appealed to families. The Bluey additions are expected to increase its popularity among young families upon reopening.
