Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the MagicThere’s just one month left for a classic area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Staying true to its promise to invest billions into its theme parks over the next decade, Walt Disney World Resort is in the midst of some major construction projects. At its OG park, Magic Kingdom, that includes Cars Land – which replaces the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island – and, eventually, an area inspired by Disney Villains.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Muppet*Vision 3D is long gone, and demolition is underway in the surrounding area as Disney gears up to introduce its first Monsters, Inc. theme park land. Meanwhile, Animation Courtyard is also set to be replaced by The Walt Disney Studios, inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank. That means no more Star Wars Launch Bay (yay) and the end of Disney Jr. Play and Dance! later this year.
When it comes to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we’re getting Zootopia: Better Zoogether! in the Tree of Life later this year, as well as a Tropical Americas land. The latter will replace DinoLand U.S.A., which mostly closed earlier this year but still remains partially operational, with guests able to enjoy DINOSAUR, The Boneyard, and Restaurantosaurus.
But this will all change soon as The Boneyard is permanently closing at the end of its operating day on September 1.
The play area – which is themed like an active dinosaur dig-site – has, like all of DinoLand U.S.A., been available to guests since Animal Kingdom first opened. Disney has confirmed that the new Tropical Americas area will also include a new play area, but until that time comes, kid-friendly activities are in short supply at Animal Kingdom.
For now, it’s unclear exactly when DINOSAUR will follow The Boneyard into extinction. Once The Boneyard has closed, DINOSAUR will stand as the last remaining attraction in DinoLand U.S.A. It’s expected to close sometime in 2026, but Disney has not yet announced a final date.
While DinoLand U.S.A. was undeniably dated in many ways, its closure has still been met with heavy backlash. Fans have criticized the decision to replace the land with even more IP and drift further away from Animal Kingdom’s original identity. A popular argument is that Disney could have upgraded DinoLand U.S.A. rather than ripping it out completely.
“I never wanted them to get rid of Dinoland and replace it with something else,” one fan wrote on Reddit, “I wanted them to improve it so it could align with the original vision of the park. Get rid of the kitschy carnival and turn it into a recreation of prehistoric Earth with more attractions and educational exhibits about dinosaurs.”
Another wrote, “I really wish they’d just bulldoze the carnival section and put something else in [its] place. Rejuvenate the land, and take out the one part of the land that practically no one likes. They could put in a family coaster like the Excavator that was pitched a while back.”
What Can Guests Expect From Tropical Americas?
Tropical Americas will feature multiple attractions. The first is a family-friendly Encanto ride through Antonio’s magically enhanced room. “Inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals — and his room has transformed into a rainforest,” says Disney. “It’s time to go explore alongside him, and you never know what member of the family you might bump into…”
The second attraction is a rethemed Indiana Jones adventure (replacing DINOSAUR), set in a richly detailed Maya temple. This will reportedly differ from the attraction found at Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea. Both are expected to debut in 2027.
The land draws inspiration from Central and South American cultures, blending lush tropical landscaping with vibrant architecture. Guests can expect a large storytelling fountain, detailed Spanish-style facades, and a new animal-themed carousel featuring classic Disney characters. Concept art suggests the inclusion of Nigel and Squirt from Finding Nemo, Timon & Pumbaa from The Lion King, HeiHei from Moana, and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
Are you excited for Tropical Americas?