Disney’s Animal Kingdom New Land: Tropical Americas Replacing DinoLand
Significant changes are underway at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as an entire land from the park’s opening day is scheduled to close to make way for a new themed area.
The main development is the complete replacement of DinoLand U.S.A. with a land inspired by the Tropical Americas. The center of this area will be a village called Pueblo Esperanza. This is one of the park’s biggest updates since Pandora – The World of Avatar opened, and it will introduce new rides and a fresh story to the park.
This article breaks down the details of the new land, the timeline of what’s closing, the new attractions expected in 2027, and how construction is currently affecting the park.
Exploring the new Tropical Americas land
Walt Disney Imagineering is replacing the prehistoric theme of DinoLand with a new area based on the biodiverse regions of the Tropical Americas, which covers Central America and northern South America. This theme aligns with Animal Kingdom’s focus on conservation.
In the middle of this new area will be a village named Pueblo Esperanza, which translates to “Village of Hope.” Disney has stated the goal is for it to feel like a lived-in community with its own history. Guests will be able to walk through streets built around a fountain, and the main landmark will be a hacienda housing one of the largest quick-service restaurants in Walt Disney World.
This is a significant thematic change for this section of the park. While Dino-Rama had a roadside carnival feel, Pueblo Esperanza aims for a lush, story-focused, and culturally rich environment.
Blooming Adventures Beyond Animal Kingdom
While the Tropical Americas transformation brings lush excitement to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, why not add more floral fun to your trip? Dive into the vibrant displays and tasty treats at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival—a cheerful springtime celebration that’s perfect for nature lovers planning their Disney getaway!
The change represents a shift from a carnival theme toward more immersive storytelling.
An infographic comparing the old DinoLand U.S.A. with the upcoming Tropical Americas, detailing Disney’s Animal Kingdom new land changes.
DinoLand U.S.A. closure timeline
DinoLand U.S.A. is being phased out gradually, a process that began in early 2025 and will conclude in early 2026.
A timeline showing the phased closure dates for DinoLand U.S.A., part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom new land changes.
Disney is commemorating the closure of the land’s main ride, DINOSAUR. Special farewell merchandise has been released with slogans like “It’s fast! It’s a blast! It’s in the past!” to mark the ride’s history. A new on-ride PhotoPass frame featuring a Carnotaurus and quotes from Dr. Seeker was also added, allowing guests to get a final souvenir.
Here is the full schedule of the closures:
- January 13, 2025: The Dino-Rama carnival area officially closed. This included TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Fun Games, and the Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures gift shop.
- September 2, 2025: The Boneyard, a play area where children could dig for “fossils,” closed.
- February 2, 2026: This is the final closure date for all of DinoLand U.S.A. The last day for operations in the land is February 1, 2026. This last round of closures includes:
- DINOSAUR
- Restaurantosaurus
- Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites
This table outlines what is closing and when.
| Attraction / Location | Final Day of Operation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| TriceraTop Spin & Fossil Fun Games | January 12, 2025 | Permanently Closed |
| The Boneyard | September 1, 2025 | Permanently Closed |
| DINOSAUR | February 1, 2026 | Closing Soon |
| Restaurantosaurus | February 1, 2026 | Closing Soon |
| Dino-Bite Snacks & Trilo-Bites | February 1, 2026 | Closing Soon |
New attractions in the Tropical Americas
While DinoLand had two attractions (DINOSAUR and TriceraTop Spin), the new Tropical Americas land is planned to have three new rides. This will increase the number of attractions in the park, which can help distribute crowds.
A journey into the Encanto Casita
The new land’s big E-ticket attraction will be based on Disney’s movie, Encanto. The ride will take guests inside the magical Casita after Antonio, the youngest character, receives his gift to talk to animals.
The story involves joining Antonio on an adventure through his rainforest room and meeting other members of the Madrigal family. To enhance the authenticity, Disney confirmed the original cast recorded new audio for the ride.
An all-new Indiana Jones adventure
The building that currently holds DINOSAUR will be transformed into a new adventure with the character Indiana Jones. The story will involve Indy exploring a Mayan temple in the jungle, searching for a mythical creature.
The ride system for DINOSAUR is the same as the one used for the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. However, Imagineers have stated this will be a unique story and experience created for Animal Kingdom.
While concept art shows a vehicle similar to DINOSAUR’s “Time Rovers,” the ride is expected to be a motion-based attraction with a completely new theme and story.
A hand-carved animal carousel
The third new attraction is a carousel that will be built where The Boneyard was located. This attraction is designed for all ages and has a backstory: a local woodcarver created a carousel with hand-carved animal figures inspired by characters from Disney stories. It adds a classic carousel attraction to the new land.
Construction timeline and park impacts
The official opening for the Tropical Americas land is targeted for 2027.
As of early 2026, construction is visible to guests. The former Dino-Rama area is surrounded by themed construction walls, with demolition and foundation work happening behind them. Some key structures are being erected, and the steel frame for Encanto ride is visible over the walls. Cranes are active daily.
With a large area of the park closed, Disney has made adjustments to operations. Here’s what to know:
- Dining Changes: With Restaurantosaurus closing, its menu is being relocated. Harambe Market closed in October 2025 for refurbishment and is set to reopen in March 2026 with the former Restaurantosaurus menu. In the interim, Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery is temporarily serving Harambe Market’s previous menu items.
- Ride Capacity: To help with the park’s ride count during construction, the yearly winter refurbishment for Kali River Rapids was moved up. It was completed in late 2025, ensuring the water ride is open during DINOSAUR’s final months.
To see the latest progress on this massive project, you can watch construction updates directly from the park. The video below shows the current state of the Tropical Americas construction site, including demolition and the new structures taking shape. https://www.youtube.com/embed/VMw7FpBsUbk
This video shows the current state of the Tropical Americas construction site, including demolition and the new structures taking shape.
A new chapter for Animal Kingdom
DinoLand U.S.A.’s final day of operation is February 1, 2026. After that, the Tropical Americas land is scheduled to debut in 2027. The change replaces dinosaurs and carnival games with themes of magical houses and ancient temples.
The new land will bring three new attractions: an immersive ride into the world of Encanto, a unique Indiana Jones adventure, and a classic carousel for all ages.
This transformation will bring new attractions and a new theme to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This represents the next stage of development for the park.