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Credit: Inside the MagicWalt Disney World Resort has revealed a shocking new update for DinoLand U.S.A.
After years of rumors that said it would be replaced by everything from a Zootopia (2016) land to a Moana (2016) land, this summer saw confirmation that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is officially saying farewell to DinoLand U.S.A. to make way for a Tropical Americas land.
Big Changes in DinoLand U.S.A.
Debuting with the rest of the park in 1998, DinoLand U.S.A. is the most overtly kids-focused area of Animal Kingdom. The land is designed to look like a roadside dinosaur attraction, filled with fun and quirky elements inspired by paleontology and prehistoric creatures.
Attractions like TriceraTop Spin and the Boneyard offer interactive experiences for younger guests, while the colorful, kitschy decor provides a lighthearted take on the theme. While Dino-Rama—the carnival center of the land—has looked pretty bare since Disney axed Primeval Whirl in 2020 and demolished it a year later, it also contains roadside games (which cost extra on top of park admission).
Beyond Dino-Rama, the land’s biggest (and most popular) attraction is DINOSAUR. Based on the animation of the same name, this immersive dark ride sees guests embark upon a prehistoric tour aboard a Time Rover to save a dinosaur (an iguanodon, to be exact) from extinction.
Update on DINOSAUR Closure
Sadly, with the announcement that Disney is axing DinoLand U.S.A. for its Tropical Americas land came the news that DINOSAUR is closing. In its place, the park will debut a new Indiana Jones attraction. This will see Indy exploring an ancient Mayan temple where he’s heard legends of a mythical creature.
Construction on Tropical Americas was previously said to begin in late 2024, but this no longer seems to be the case. The South Florida Water Management District recently requested additional information from Disney before issuing permits, which may have potentially pushed back construction dates.
Disney has since revealed that DinoLand U.S.A. will start closing in phases, with the first phase kicking off on January 12, 2025, with the closure of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
While it was assumed that DINOSAUR would suffer the same fate in 2025, Disney has just confirmed that the ride will remain open throughout the year.
While you’re visiting, make sure you “go get that dino” at DINOSAUR. We’ve previously shared this attraction will be closing to make way for the new Tropical Americas land – 2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!
(Now begins our mission to convince Disney to extend that closure date to “never.”)
What To Expect From Tropical Americas
Beyond an Indiana Jones ride – which will reportedly differ from the version found at Disneyland Resort, despite the near-identical tracks – Tropical Americas will also feature a new attraction inspired by Encanto (2021). According to Disney, this ride will follow Antonio Madrigal inside the Casita after receiving his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals.
The completed Tropical Americas land will debut in 2027. In the meantime, Animal Kingdom will also debut a new 4D production at the Tree of Life Theater. “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” will replace the endlessly terrifying (and admittedly quite outdated) “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” in the winter of 2025. This comes just in time for the release of Zootopia 2 in November 2025.
How do you feel about the closure of DinoLand U.S.A.?