Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has quietly phased out some iconic characters from The Lion King (1994), and fans are just starting to take notice.
Without an announcement or formal sendoff, Timon and Rafiki have been pulled from the character experience schedule at Walt Disney World Resort. The duo, known for greeting guests at Conservation Station in Rafiki’s Planet Watch, was removed from the My Disney Experience app in early May, prompting speculation about their status.
This isn’t the first time Walt Disney World Resort has updated its offerings with little warning, but for many parkgoers, the disappearance of The Lion King characters felt sudden and disappointing. Reddit users have been discussing the change for days, hoping to confirm whether the beloved meet-and-greets were simply on pause or gone for good.
“Are Rafiki and Timon gone from Animal Kingdom?” one guest posted. “It looks like they stopped appearing on the app May 10th.”
“I would surmise they’re unavailable,” another user responded.
While Disney hasn’t issued an official explanation, the change appears to be part of a broader transformation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Earlier this year, the long-running attraction It’s Tough To Be a Bug! closed at the base of the Tree of Life to make room for “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”, a new 3D experience set to debut later this year. Over in DinoLand U.S.A., construction crews have cleared much of the land in preparation for the new Tropical Americas-themed area, which will feature attractions inspired by Encanto (2021) and Indiana Jones.
Even Pluto was recently moved to a different location in the park, indicating shifting priorities as Imagineers rework entertainment offerings across Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa can still be seen in the Festival of the Lion King — a high-energy Broadway-style show that runs daily in the park’s Africa section. But those hoping to meet Timon or Rafiki up close will likely leave disappointed, as the meet-and-greet experience appears to have ended quietly and without replacement.
Have you met Timon or Rafiki at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your favorite memories with Disney Dining in the comments.
