Why Every Hardcore Disney Fan Will Be in Disney World on February 1st

I’ve been going to Disney World for 25 years now, and I’ve never known it without DinoLand USA. But in 2026, we’re going to have to accept a HUGE change as it permanently closes.

From the good old days of getting whiplash on Primeval Whirl to scaring people on Dinosaur when bringing them to the parks for the first time, these will soon all be distant memories. That’s how I know that Animal Kingdom is going to be PACKED on February 1st — all of the hardcore fans will want to say farewell!

DinoLand USA opened with the park on April 22nd, 1998, and it is a tribute to dinosaurs — real and imagined. The story is that DinoLand started as a small highway town where an amateur fossil-hunter discovered dinosaur bones. That fossil-hunter collected money to buy the site and built The Dino Institute, and two locals named Chester and Hester turned their gas station into a souvenir shop. Seriously, the creativity that went into this land is unmatched!

In the past few years, we’ve been slowly learning more about the land replacing DinoLand (more on that later), but now it’s getting REAL. In January 2025, TriceraTop Spin and Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures closed for good. Then, in September 2025, The Boneyard play area shut down. Just a little bit later in October, Trilo-Bites and Dino-Bite Snacks permanently closed (don’t worry, you can still get the iconic Buffalo Chicken Chips at Eight Spoon Cafe!).

Although half of the land is already closed, DinoLand still remains — that is, until February 2nd, 2026.

If you want to give DinoLand one last goodbye, be sure to visit by February 1st! If the closure of Muppet Vision 3D is any indication, it will be an emotional time with Cast Members and guests, and you might even see something special for the final day.

So if Disney is going to demolish a nostalgic land, the replacement must be amazing, right? Luckily, it sounds like it will be. Pueblo Esperanza is set to open sometime in 2027, and will feature an Encanto-themed attraction…

…an Indiana Jones ride (no, it will NOT be the same exact ride as Disneyland)…

…and even a carousel “created by a woodcarver.”

We’ve been watching construction in the park, and that’s only going to grow in February. It will be interesting to see the new land come to life before our eyes!

There is no exact opening timeline just yet, besides a year — 2027 — and that is subject to change based on how construction goes. We can’t help but be excited about this new land, but that doesn’t mean I’m not devastated by the loss of DinoLand. For many, including myself, some of the best memories we have at Disney World take place in this land.

For example, I won my first carnival game at Fossil Fun Games (it was the water gun one!) and felt like the most accomplished kid on the planet when they handed me that plush. Now I need to know — what is your favorite DinoLand memory? Be sure to drop it in the comments.

We’re covering all of the news at Disney World, so stay tuned to AllEars for more updates. Not ready to let go just yet? Go back in time and watch our full tour of DinoLand below.