Animal Kingdom’s Wildlife Express Train (A Resorts Gal Guide)

When it comes to train rides, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has an almost hidden gem, the Wildlife Express Train. This charming train transports guests to and from Rafiki’s Planet Watch, a separate land at the back of the park beyond Africa.

At the time of this update, the Wildlife Express Train operates daily between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Those hours fluctuate throughout the year, depending on the season. You can check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit. A sign will be posted near the train’s entrance that lists the last departure for the day.

Wildlife Express Train at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Below are a few quick details about the Wildlife Express Train.

Wildlife Express TrainDisney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Location:
Harambe and Rafiki’s Planet Watch

Height Requirement:
None

Ride Type:
Slow-Moving Train

Seats Per Vehicle:
Two Rows of Benches per Car

Rider Switch:
None

Early Theme Park Entry:		No

Extended Evening Hours: 		No

Lightning Lane:
No

Good For:
Anyone

Stroller Parking:
Most strollers need to be left in the stroller parking area at Harambe Station.

Must-Do List:
Low Priority

Perfect For:
All Ages
Disney Says:
Travel aboard a rustic, slow-moving train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch to observe the backstage operations of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and learn about animal conservation.

Accessibility: A separate wheelchair access vehicle is available where guests can remain in wheelchairs or ECVS. Handheld captioning and assistive listening are available at this attraction.

Stroller parking near the entrance of Rafiki's Planet Watch
Stroller Parking
a sign with a description of the ride, children supervision notice, and wheelchair access
Wheelchair Access is available for the Wildlife Express Train.
a sign near the entrance that shows the last time the Wildlife Express train departs
Signage near the attraction indicates the last time the train departs.

The Wildlife Express Train’s History

Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s railway is part of the fictional Eastern Star Railway from Lusaka to Nairobi and Kisangani. In reality, the steam locomotives were built in 1997 by Severn Lamb of Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom. The Wildlife Express Train was an opening-day attraction for the park.

the Harambe Station stop for the Wildlife Express Train at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Harambe Station

Riding the Train

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a separate park area that offers a few hands-on experiences and activities during the day. The entrance to the train station sits toward the back of the park between Harambe Market and Kilimanjaro Safaris. A sign overhead reads, “Railway Transportation to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Open Your Eyes to the World Around You.”

a sign that indicates the entrance to the Wildlife Express Train and Rafiki's Planet Watch

Animal Kingdom’s Wildlife Express train runs approximately every 10 minutes. The train station is under a large covered pavilion.

A covered waiting area at the Harambe Train Station
themed area inside the Wildlife Express Train station
If it’s not busy while you wait, you might check out some of the theming around the Harambe Railway station.

When the train arrives, returning guests disembark. Then you’ll be allowed to board.

The top of the Wildlife Express Train has lots of luggage strapped to it and it reads Eastern Star Railway.

The full journey is 1.2 miles long and takes approximately 7 minutes.

a view from the train looking back to the station

For those only wanting to take a train ride, you’ll stay on at Conservation Station. After the train reloads, you’ll continue the round-trip ride back to Harambe.

the Wildlife Express Train pulls into the station

One of the perks of taking the Wildlife Express Train is seeing some of the backstage areas and animal housing. Like most behind-the-scenes glimpses of Disney, the view won’t be as pretty as what you see in public areas. But it’s always interesting to see how things work on the other side. You’ll pass where the White Rhinos and African Elephants are housed. These are the same elephants you might see on Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Caring for Giants tour.

the White Rhino building and Tembo House at Disney's Animal Kingdom as seen from the Wildlife Express Train

Toward the back of this photo is the Cheetah building. Like the cheetahs on the safari, their building is difficult to see.

a glimpse at where the cheetahs are houses at Disney's Animal Kingdom as seen from the Wildlife Express Train

We almost always see a few ostriches running the fence line.

an ostrich in a backstage area as seen from the Wildlife Express Train

Before you reach the destination, you’ll pass by a few of Disney’s latest advertisements. On my last visit, they were promoting a National Geographic television series.

a view of the train ride on the way back from Conservation Station to Harambe

Once you reach Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you can walk down to Conservation Station. We have separate reviews that cover the educational activities and attractions in this area:

That Animation class alone is worth the visit.

the Conservation Area entrance to Rafiki's Planet Watch

While the walkway from the train station to Conservation Station is not long, it is longer than you might expect. If it were to start raining, you could get soaked. We always try to keep a lightweight rain jacket, umbrella, and disposable poncho in our backpacks. Rain is common at Disney World during the summer months, especially during the afternoons. We’ve experienced many rain showers during our visits to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Pay attention to the closing announcements if you’re in the last group of guests at Conservation Station toward the end of the day. They will wait until everyone has boarded the train to leave the station. You probably do not want to be that last family who strolls up while everyone is already sitting on the train waiting for it to leave. If you are in that last group, remember to be patient. The train will not depart until everyone has boarded.

A sign that says Harambe Wildlife Express to Conservation Station: A backstage journey through Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The Resorts Gal Spin on the Wildlife Express

We’re giving the Wildlife Express Train the green light! It’s an attraction you can experience anytime with little to no wait!

Resorts Gal Traffic Signals

Green Light

We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.

Red Light

We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.

Overall, the Wildlife Express Train is a fun experience, especially if you need a break. However, we prefer to tour the area instead of just looping the railway. Either way, I hope you’ll enjoy the train ride. For more laid-back attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might enjoy the following:

For those planning a stay at the Walt Disney World Resort, you might enjoy browsing our Disney World Hotel Reviews. Some of the options near Disney’s Animal Kingdom include:

For more on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might also like:

Or refer back to our Disney World Parks Planning Guide.

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