Continuing the entertainment cuts for the start of Disney’s fiscal year, Rafiki’s Planet Watch will be going seasonal. The last day will be Sept 29th, no announcements yet as to when it’s seasons will be.
You have to assume the train will stop too, no point in running it to nowhere! And that is likely the biggest cost. It also means the meet and greet will go too, that’s Rafiki and Doc McStuffin.
Again, this was a thread on WDWMagic. Source is reliable though. And WDWMagic will have something on it’s news section as soon as they get it confirmed.
Dangit. I just got done added that back into our touring plan. I’ve added it, dripped it, added it back in because I really wanted DSS to see the vet area and goats.
I was planning on going my last day on my trip last week.
I was tired & hot, so I decided not to go, since I am planning a trip in Dec - sigh.
For me it is really just about the characters I am a big fan of them & have never seen Rafiki
My only AK day is scheduled for Sept30th, which is a Sunday. I think it’s bizarre it would finish on a Saturday, so hopefully I will get to ride it? I did not do it last time and was really hoping to try it this time.
Interesting. After 5 or 6 previous trips to WDW, my wife and I discovered this little gem on our last trip (Dec 2016). I know there is a lot of talk about how children enjoy the train ride and destination, but we senior citizens who are losing our zest for fast rides enjoy it too. Our next trip is the first week of May (2019). I will cross my fingers and leave it on my plan just in case.
The cuts are being driven by the low attendance through the summer. Plus the Fox acquisition probably isn’t helping either.
The new fiscal year starts for Disney on the 1st October, which is why all these entertainment cuts come into effect at the end of this month.
The irony is that they’re cutting the things that make Disney special. How long before we no longer have the Dapper Dans, or the trolley down Main St and the show? Or Casey’s Pianist? Or the water painting around Fantasyland?
True and true. But this has been occurring for some time now. Yet every time Disney has jacked up prices (save for the odd sluggish fiscal quarter) there has been no shortage of people willing to pay up. As long as that remains the case Disney will continue to prioritize access to the intellectual property ahead of (and instead of) the overall experience.
Agreed. It is the small magical moments that really stick with me from our Disney trip and most often those moments are created by dedicated cast members who go out of their way to make our brief interaction memorable.
I am a big fan of them & have never seen Rafiki
I love this part of AK and our family loves the goats, too. Going to miss this on our trip in November.