Credit: Sean X Liu, FlickrFormer Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde revealed that Tiffins Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has contained a reference to the upcoming Tropical Americas land for nearly 10 years. This hidden detail is on a carved wooden map created in 2015, a year before the restaurant opened and eight years before Tropical Americas was announced as a replacement for DinoLand U.S.A. The map, crafted by Balinese artisans, shows locations visited by imaginary Disney scientists, including a Maya temple that resembles one from the new Indiana Jones attraction set to open in 2027.
Rohde noted that such permanent artwork requires a vision for the future, indicating the reference was intentional. He has been advocating for Tropical Americas for 15 years, which means the map’s inclusion was deliberate. His recent trip included a video highlighting the map, showcasing how difficult it would be to update carved wood after installation. This makes the Tiffins map one of the longest-running Easter eggs in Disney Parks history, unnoticed by guests for nearly a decade.
The Tropical Americas Timeline
Tropical Americas was officially announced as the replacement for DinoLand U.S.A. in 2024, with construction beginning shortly after as Disney started phasing out the dinosaur-themed section that had been part of Animal Kingdom since the park opened in 1998. The Boneyard playground wrapped up operations on September 1, 2025, ending a long chapter for younger visitors who had climbed through the fossil dig site for decades. DINOSAUR, the area’s signature dark ride, operated until February 1, 2026, before closing permanently to allow the existing ride system to be repurposed for an Indiana Jones-themed attraction set within a Maya temple.
The new land is scheduled to open in 2027 and will transport guests into lush rainforests and exciting stories of the Tropical Americas through multiple attractions, dining locations, and immersive environments inspired by Central and South American settings. Walt Disney Imagineering recently revealed a large-scale model inside the Walt Disney Presents gallery showing the land’s layout with curved walking paths, thick vegetation, and a central Pueblo Esperanza plaza anchored by a fountain. The model also previews a carousel featuring hand-carved figures based on animals from Disney films.
The Two Major Disney Attractions
The Indiana Jones attraction will use the existing DINOSAUR ride track and system. It will turn the dinosaur adventure into an archaeological journey through Maya temple ruins. The Maya temple shown in concept art and models for Tropical Americas resembles the temple on the Tiffins map from 2015. This suggests that Rohde’s team had specific architectural ideas in mind when planning the area, even before it got official approval. It is unclear if Rohde’s original 15-year plan for Tropical Americas included an Indiana Jones ride. However, the Tiffins map shows his team was at least researching Maya architecture during the planning process.
The Encanto attraction will be the main new ride in Animal Kingdom. It will feature new story content created specifically for the park, instead of just retelling the movie’s plot. Filmmaker Jared Bush is working with Imagineering to write original dialogue for the attraction. This will include new moments and interactions with the Madrigal family that extend beyond the film. This approach is similar to how other Disney attractions have developed new story content.
Recent construction updates indicate that the Encanto attraction has begun vertical construction, with the first steel beams for the main show building. Aerial photos taken in October show that vertical construction is underway, with visible steel supports, concrete work, and early framework. Large excavation areas are also visible, leading to guesses about complex ride elements or large finale scenes.
Construction Progress
Guests at Animal Kingdom can see significant changes as construction walls and heavy equipment dominate the former DinoLand U.S.A. area. Aerial videos reveal the transformation as prehistoric theming is replaced by new structures for Tropical Americas attractions. Following the success of Pandora: The World of Avatar, Tropical Americas aims to enhance the park’s appeal with new rides and experiences focused on nature and storytelling, reinforcing Animal Kingdom’s themes of conservation and connection to the natural world.
The Tiffins Connection at Disney
Tiffins Restaurant opened in 2016 as a signature dining location celebrating the art, culture, and travels that inspired Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The restaurant’s name refers to the containers used to carry meals during travels, and the theming throughout incorporates artwork, artifacts, and design elements representing various regions where Imagineers conducted research for Animal Kingdom projects.
The carved wooden map featuring the Maya temple exists as part of that broader theming, representing travels by imaginary animal sciences people on behalf of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. By including a Maya temple in the Tropical Americas region back in 2015, Rohde’s team planted a reference to future expansion plans that would not come to fruition for over a decade, demonstrating the long timelines involved in Disney theme park development where ideas can percolate for 15 years before receiving approval and another several years before opening to guests.
Why This Matters
The Tiffins map revelation highlights how Disney Imagineers work on multiple timelines, planting references to future projects long before they are officially approved. Rohde’s remark about “betting on some futures” reflects the calculated risks Imagineers take, including elements they hope will gain relevance over time.
His 15-year advocacy for Tropical Americas demonstrates the persistence required for theme park expansions, as not all ideas are built or approved quickly. The map signifies Rohde’s confidence that Tropical Americas would eventually come to fruition, providing hidden references since 2016 that guests have only recently begun to understand.
Looking Ahead to 2027 at Disney
As construction on Tropical Americas moves toward its 2027 opening, the Tiffins map becomes increasingly significant as an early hint of the Indiana Jones attraction replacing DinoLand U.S.A. Guests can now see the carved Maya temple as a link to this evolution in Animal Kingdom’s theming, which wasn’t clear when the map was installed nearly a decade ago.
This revelation prompts curiosity about other hidden references throughout Disney parks, suggesting that Imagineers may plan expansions long before guests notice. Every detail could hint at future projects, making Disney parks a treasure hunt for those who pay attention to the intricacies that Imagineers consider over decades.