Wildlife Express Train, Heritage railroad at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida, United States
Description
The Wildlife Express Train is a narrow-gauge railroad that carries passengers between the Africa section and Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The short journey covers roughly two kilometers of track between these two areas.
History
The train opened with Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998 and was designed by an Imagineer to replicate locomotives from 19th century Africa. The original intent was to connect different areas of the park using the same kind of railroads that once crossed the continent.
Culture
The name comes from an old African railway linking distant cities, and the design evokes those colonial-era trains. You see decorations and signs referencing places like Lusaka and Nairobi throughout your ride.
Practical
Each complete round trip takes about 12 minutes, and the train can move thousands of passengers throughout the day. The train runs regularly throughout operating hours, so wait times vary depending on the time of day you visit.
Did you know?
During the ride you can see backstage areas where animals receive care and are housed in specialized facilities. These glimpses show the daily work happening behind the scenes at the park.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Florida).
Disney's Hollywood Studios
3.2 km
Disney's Animal Kingdom
218 m
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
3 km
Pandora
480 m
Avatar Flight of Passage
489 m
Expedition Everest
496 m
The Great Movie Ride
3 km
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
3 km
Disney's Blizzard Beach
1.8 km
Dinosaur
570 m
Tree of Life
206 m
Slinky Dog Dash
3 km
Na'vi River Journey
485 m
Kilimanjaro Safaris
274 m
It's Tough to Be a Bug!
212 m
Primeval Whirl
496 m
The Sorcerer's Hat
3 km
Kali River Rapids
295 m
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure
3.1 km
Maharajah Jungle Trek
179 m
Walt Disney Presents
2.9 km
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
119 m
TriceraTop Spin
464 mDiscovery River Boats
351 m
DinoLand U.S.A.
503 m
Island H2O Live!
2.2 km
The Oasis Exhibits
408 m
Earffel Tower
2.8 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes