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Credit: Michael Lehet, FlickrEarlier this year, at D23 Expo 2024, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro said, “Imagineers dream, create, design, and build these stories into real places.” The executive went on to confirm that all the projects mentioned at the event were in “active development.”
This has been a growing concern for Disney park enthusiasts, as the House of Mouse often shares only early concepts or the first kernels of an idea before taking a completely different direction–that is clearly not the case anymore.
After confirming that the DinoLand U.S.A. to Tropical Americas transformation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was to feature the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises, a new permit confirms what the demolition of the location will look like.
In 2022, Josh D’Amaro, along with fellow Disney executives Jennifer Lee and Chris Beatty, shared a blue-sky idea for Animal Kingdom: the worlds of the Zootopia and Moana franchises were being considered as the next additions to the Walt Disney World Resort theme park.
Flash forward to Destination D23 in late 2023, and Disney pivoted to replacing DinoLand with the Tropical Americas. At the time, the Mouse House was only “considering” utilizing the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises, but in 2024, both were confirmed, as was its official title: the Pueblo Esperanza.
The beloved DINOSAUR attraction will be getting a new Indiana Jones retheme, while the area will be home to Disney Experiences’ first-ever Encanto attraction in the form of the Casita Madrigal from the Walt Disney Studios Animation smash-hit movie.
To make way for the–as Disney puts it, “two signature attractions”–and the Pueblo Esperanza as a whole, the resort will close multiple experiences in early 2025. TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will permanently close on January 13. No word yet on how long the likes of DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus will remain open for Disney World guests.
“Just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history—plus, there’s a large hacienda that will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort,” writes Disney Parks Blog. “The space will be lush and sprawling, featuring a large fountain in the center where the villagers like to gather and tell stories.”
It’s clear that it’s not just the bigger Encanto and Indiana Jones rides that will be drawing guests to this new Pueblo Esperanza area as Disney World, either.
“Additionally, a woodcarver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories. It’s a new take on a classic attraction that young families are going to love,” the company added.
Of course, to make way for all these new experiences, Disney must begin to clear the current DinoLand U.S.A., and a new demolition permit outlines just what the project will look like moving forward.
“The permit’s site demolition plan reveals the first areas set for removal, focusing on Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, including its carnival-style Fossil Fun Games, the TriceraTop Spin ride, and the Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures gift shop,” WDWMagic reports on the South Florida Water Management permit.
“The permit also addresses environmental impacts and measures to protect surrounding areas during the project, which aligns with Disney’s commitment to maintaining Animal Kingdom’s focus on conservation,” the outlet added.
Following the D23 Expo, Disney teased what is to come with its two key attractions for the area. The Indiana Jones-themed ride “will be different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world,” while the Encanto experience will allow guests to ride through Antonio Madrigal’s rainforest bedroom after he receives his animal-talking abilities.
As previously confirmed by Disney, the Tropical Americas expansion at Walt Disney World Resort will be ready to welcome guests in 2027.
This is not the only major overhaul happening at the Walt Disney World Resort. As EPCOT’s World Celebration development settles, Disney is turning its attention to Magic Kingdom Park’s Frontierland, where the world of the Cars franchise will be implemented in the near future. Joining the automobiles in Frontierland will be the Disney Villains.
Related: Is Magic Kingdom Ending Frontierland? The Latest on Disney’s “Wild West” Land
As well as the DinoLand and Frontierland developments, the Mouse House will also bring the characters of the Monsters, Inc. movies to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first-ever Monsters, Inc.-themed roller coaster at any Disney theme park.
As Josh D’Amaro said at this year’s INBOUND festival, not everything Disney does is always well-received, but the company always has the next generation of Disney park fans in mind–will these major resort-wide Disney World changes stand the test of time?
How do you feel about Walt Disney World Resort being changed forever? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!