Well, friends, the time has finally come.
We knew it was only a matter of time, and unfortunately, it was much sooner than we anticipated. And, while it does mean we’ll get to usher in a brand new land with new rides, restaurants, and more, we’re still not ready to say goodbye to DinoLand, U.S.A.
Allllllll the way back at last year’s D23 event, we learned that Disney was considering a Tropical Americas theme, potentially bringing in concepts from Encanto and Indiana Jones, which was later confirmed at an Imagineering event. And, now we know when that transformation will begin.
Construction will begin THIS FALLÂ on an 11-acre section of Animal Kingdom to transform DinoLand, U.S.A. The construction will come in phases, so don’t worry — you’ll still get a chance to ride DINOSAUR one more time before its closure!
The new Tropical Americas land is set to open in 2027. Disney also revealed during the showcase that this land will feature a fictional village called Pueblo Esperanza.
Just like other sections of the park (Harambe Village in Africa and Anandapur in Asia), this area is supposed to feel “lived in.”
The new land will feature two signature attractions, including a NEWÂ Indiana Jones-inspired ride replacing DINOSAUR. It will feature a brand-new storyline (different from the one at Disneyland Park) and will take visitors inside a Mayan temple.
Indy is ready to explore the temple after hearing rumors about a mythical creature living deep within it, so he’s asking YOU to come along for the adventure.
Also, a new Encanto-themed ride-through attraction is coming soon! The ride will take you inside the Casita, where you’ll encounter characters from the film. How exciting!
Finally, the land will also feature an animal-themed carousel for the whole family featuring some of Disney’s most well-loved animal characters.
We can’t wait to learn more about the additions coming to Animal Kingdom! Stay tuned to AllEars for all the news.
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What do you think of this news? Tell us in the comments.
So after considering replacing DinoLand with a land based on Zootopia, a still-popular award-winning movie literally all about a world full of animal people with a whole series of shorts on Disney+ and a freshly unveiled sequel… Disney threw that aside and went “Nah, let’s go with a mashup of Indiana Jones and Encanto, that meshes perfectly and has TONS to do with animals and nature!”
Genius.
I love the idea of a whole new exciting land as I was never a fan of Dinoland anyway. What I don’t like about all of the expansions is that they seem to take away any themed play areas without replacing them. It seems to me that they should include at least one in every park for the youngest of their fans.
But, they also mentioned a carousel in this land full of beloved characters to ride. Wouldn’t that make 3 attractions? I was confused by their math. Thoughts?