Credit: Inside the MagicMore and more and more.
Walt Disney World is no stranger to change, but at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests may be noticing that something feels different. While the park is often celebrated for its immersive storytelling and lush environments, several subtle–and not-so-subtle–changes are currently underway as Disney’s youngest theme park moves through a period of transformation.
From construction walls to evolving attractions, Animal Kingdom is clearly in a state of transition, and while some updates have been long expected, others are taking guests by surprise, including an unexpected refurbishment tied to one of the park’s most iconic thrill rides.
Animal Kingdom has been steadily shifting since the closure of classic attractions like Triceratop Spin and It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, with Disney slowly clearing the way for new experiences. Dinoland U.S.A., in particular, has become a focal point of observation, as the land becomes a skeleton of what it once was
The last attraction standing is DINOSAUR, which will shutter on February 1. The DinoLand erasure is part of a wider overhaul that will bring the Tropical Americas to Animal Kingdom.
Elsewhere in the park, routine maintenance projects and environmental upgrades are underway. In a surprising turn, Expedition Everest–Legend of the Forbidden Mountain has quietly entered a refurbishment period, but not in the way guests might expect. Unlike traditional ride closures that take an attraction completely offline, Everest is currently remaining open to guests, at least for the time being.
This type of “rolling refurbishment” is rare for a high-speed roller coaster, especially one as technically complex as Everest. “This morning at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we noticed scrim installed at Expedition Everest,” Kenny the Pirate explained. “Currently, the scrim is at both the loading and unloading areas of this attraction.”
Disney has not released an official end date or detailed explanation for the refurbishment. Historically, Expedition Everest has required extensive maintenance due to its massive structure and intricate ride systems; therefore, this quiet update may be part of a larger, long-term preservation effort rather than a full-scale overhaul.
Still, fans know better than to assume anything at Disney World remains unchanged forever. With Animal Kingdom evolving around it, the question remains as to whether this refurbishment is purely maintenance or the first step toward something more.
For those unfamiliar, Expedition Everest–Legend of the Forbidden Mountain opened in 2006 and quickly became one of Walt Disney World’s most ambitious attractions. Towering at nearly 200 feet tall, the artificial mountain dominates the Animal Kingdom skyline and remains one of Disney’s most impressive feats of Imagineering.
The ride places guests aboard a runaway train traveling through the Himalayan mountains, where the legend of the Yeti looms large. Combining high-speed thrills, backward motion, sudden drops, and detailed storytelling, Expedition Everest strikes a balance between traditional roller coaster excitement and Disney-style narrative immersion.
Despite long-standing discussions about the ride’s infamous Yeti animatronic–which no longer operates in its original form–Everest remains a fan-favorite and a must-do attraction for thrill-seekers visiting the park.
With Animal Kingdom continuing to evolve and Expedition Everest undergoing a quiet but notable refurbishment, now is an interesting time to visit the park. Guests can still experience one of Disney World’s best thrill rides while keeping an eye out for subtle changes that hint at the park’s future.
As always, Disney has proven that even when nothing seems to be happening, something usually is. And at Animal Kingdom, change is happening right now.
How do you feel about more scrim and construction at Walt Disney World Resort? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!