Summary
- Dinoland USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is being transformed into a new “Tropical Americas-themed” land featuring attractions inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones.
- The new 11-acre land will feature an immersive Encanto attraction, while the Indiana Jones ride will replace DINOSAUR.
- The new attractions and land are set to debut in 2027.
Big changes are underway at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as Dinoland USA, a fan-favorite area of the Walt Disney World park since its opening in April 1998, is making way for an exciting new “Tropical Americas-themed” land. The transformation, announced last August, will feature immersive Disney attractions inspired by Encanto and the Indiana Jones franchise.
The upcoming 11-acre land, which was announced along with many other changes coming to Disney World, will bring the magic of the Tropical Americas to life with two major attractions. The Encanto attraction will take guests “beyond” the beloved story of the film, starting with Antonio’s birthday when he receives the gift of speaking to animals. This immersive experience will continue the narrative in a unique way, promising to offer fans of all ages an enchanting adventure. Meanwhile, the Indiana Jones attraction will repurpose the existing DINOSAUR ride, which will remain operational through 2025. Using the same ride system and track layout as Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, this new attraction will introduce a brand-new storyline featuring the iconic archaeologist, bringing more thrilling escapades to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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The closure of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama section of Dinoland USA on January 13 marked the beginning of the transformation. According to photos obtained by WDWNT, construction walls and portable planters now surround the area, while themed signs and billboards that once adorned Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures gift shop have been removed. The shop, originally part of a whimsical backstory about a couple capitalizing on fossil discoveries in Diggs County, has permanently closed along with the rest of Dino-Rama. Demolition efforts have moved swiftly, with green construction walls replacing rolling planters around iconic elements like the “Cementosaurus.” In the meantime, guests can enjoy daily performances by the Ecorhythmics band in the area.
DinoLand U.S.A. Closes to Make Room for New Encanto Land at Disney World
The upcoming Walt Disney World land will introduce a new fictional town, Pueblo Esperanza, which will bring vibrant culture and cuisine to the park. Highlights include a hacienda-style restaurant, replacing Restaurantosaurus (which remains open for now), and a carousel ride featuring carved animals inspired by Disney characters like Kevin from Up. These additions aim to create a lively and immersive environment for park visitors.
The new attractions and land are set to debut in 2027, with the closure of the fan-favorite Disney World ride, DINOSAUR, expected to occur sometime in 2025. As Disney continues to reimagine and expand its parks, fans can look forward to an exciting new chapter at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, blending the rich narratives of Encanto and Indiana Jones with the beauty and culture of the Tropical Americas.
In addition to the new Encanto land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can look forward to a new villain-themed show set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025. The all-new live production, Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After, will bring some of Disney’s most iconic villains to life on Sunset Boulevard, including Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians, Captain Hook from Peter Pan, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.