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Credit: DisneyDisney World’s massive transformation project moves forward.
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Change is a guaranteed thing at the Walt Disney World Resort, with big projects, expansions, and overhauls on the horizon. Not only will places like Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland be getting some upgrades, but so will Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The retheming of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is perhaps the most interesting project of the bunch. Big changes are set to sweep over the prehistoric-themed area very soon. Half of the land closed permanently earlier this year, allowing crews to begin demolition.
The rest of DinoLand, including DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus, will close in 2026. A new tropical Americas land will take DinoLand’s place. Ahead of these closures, Disney has filed three new construction permits, which reveal a little more insight into the project.
Walt Disney Imagineering filed the permits today, June 24, 2025, each of which is categorized under “General Construction and Area Improvement.” The new permits have a standard 12-month expiration date.
Two of the permits focus on areas that were previously part of Animal Kingdom’s backstage. These areas will be used to expand DinoLand’s footprint, allowing Tropical Americas to take up more space.
The remaining permit involves the former site of Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, a merchandise and souvenir shop which closed in January.
Disney World plans on opening its new Tropical Americas land sometime in 2027.
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Disney’s intent to overhaul DinoLand U.S.A. was first revealed back during the company’s D23 event in 2022. Among other theme park announcements, Disney teased that it was looking at ways to reshape and reform DinoLand at Animal Kingdom.
Originally, Disney had tapped Zootopia and Moana to be the core brands featured in this new land. However, over the next two years, these plans changed. Disney revealed in 2024 that Encanto and Indiana Jones would instead be the franchises featured in this new land, now referred to as “Tropical Americas.”
Disney stated that this new land will be inspired by South America and feature a completely new design language and aesthetic.
Tropical Americas will be an 11-acre area that will house two new main attractions. One of the attractions will take over the spot of DINOSAUR, using the ride’s bones to build a new adventure inspired by Indiana Jones.
The other new attraction will be based on Encanto and will be built roughly in the area where Primeval Whirl used to be.
Are you excited about this new land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom?