A small but noticeable change has arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, especially for guests who love meeting classic Disney characters.
Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy have moved to a new meet-and-greet location inside the park, giving visitors a different place to stop for photos and autographs.
While character relocations aren’t unusual at Walt Disney World, this move is happening because of a larger transformation currently underway.
Construction Is Triggering Several Changes
Animal Kingdom is preparing to introduce a new experience based on the hit children’s show Bluey. To make room for the upcoming offering, Rafiki’s Planet Watch temporarily closed along with the Wildlife Express Train that transports guests there.
Because the train is the only way to reach that part of the park, the closure effectively puts the entire area on pause.
Once that happened, Disney had to find new homes for several experiences that normally take place there.
That includes character meet-and-greets.
Where Donald, Daisy, and Goofy Are Now
The classic Disney trio can now be found near the Wildlife Express Train Station.
The station itself normally acts as a transportation hub, but with the train currently not operating, Disney has turned the area into a character greeting space. Guests can meet Donald, Daisy, and Goofy together in front of the station, making it easy to grab photos with all three characters during one stop.
Donald and Daisy continue wearing their safari-inspired outfits that match the adventurous theme of Animal Kingdom. Goofy joins them in his familiar outdoor attire that longtime fans may recognize from previous appearances in the park.
For many visitors, the location actually feels like a natural fit.
Other Characters Have Moved Too
The changes didn’t stop with Donald and Daisy.
Characters from The Lion King also relocated due to the closure of Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Timon and Rafiki are now greeting guests in The Oasis near the entrance to Animal Kingdom.
Once those characters moved there, the original space that Donald and Daisy had been using was no longer available, prompting another shift.
The result is the new meet-and-greet setup near the Wildlife Express Train.
What’s Happening to Affection Section
Another big change tied to the upcoming Bluey experience involves Affection Section.
The petting zoo has long been part of Rafiki’s Planet Watch, allowing kids to interact with animals in a relaxed environment. As the area prepares for its new theme, the animal encounters are expected to shift toward Australian species to match the setting of the show.
That update will keep the animal element alive while also connecting the experience more closely to the characters guests will meet there.
Finding the Characters During Your Visit
Guests hoping to meet Donald, Daisy, and Goofy should head toward the Wildlife Express Train Station area inside Animal Kingdom.
As with all character appearances, schedules can vary throughout the day, so checking the My Disney Experience app is still the best way to see when the characters will be available.
Even though their meeting spot has changed, the trio is still ready to greet fans and bring a little extra Disney magic to visitors exploring the park.
