Credit: Sean X Liu, FlickrDisney’s Animal Kingdom has officially turned the page on one of its longest-running attractions, and everyone has an opinion.
As of February 1, 2026, DINOSAUR has permanently closed, marking a major milestone in the ongoing transformation of the former DinoLand U.S.A. area into the upcoming Tropical Americas land. Just days later, the construction site continues to expand, with walls, heavy machinery, and rerouted guest pathways now defining much of this section of the park. The dinosaur-themed roadside area that once stood here is steadily disappearing as work accelerates on the new Central and South America–inspired environment.
Several closures have now cleared the way for the overhaul. The Boneyard playground ended operations earlier on September 1, 2025, and with DINOSAUR now closed, no guest-facing attractions remain in the former DinoLand footprint. Disney has confirmed that the ride system from DINOSAUR will be reused as part of a future attraction rather than removed entirely.
Late last year, Disney debuted models of its upcoming land transformations. Within the Animal Kingdom portion of the display, the Tropical Americas land is shown with flowing pathways, dense greenery, and a central Pueblo Esperanza plaza anchored by a fountain. A carousel attraction is also featured, showcasing hand-carved animal figures inspired by characters from Disney films.
The model confirms the next chapter for the former DINOSAUR attraction. Its existing track and ride system will be repurposed for an Indiana Jones-themed experience–a new, non-replica attraction. Nearby, an Encanto attraction is positioned as the land’s primary draw, supported by food locations and other experiences that Disney has not yet fully detailed.
The DINOSAUR ride drew immense support on its final few days of operation, with wait times outperforming that of the usual Flight of Passage top-scorer. Then, on its final day, DINOSAUR posted a record four-hour wait time as guests queued in droves to get their last ride to the past in–even Wallace Langham, the actor behind DINOSAUR’s scientist character Dr. Grant Seeker, was present to partake in one of the final rides of the day.
While many are looking forward to a refreshed Animal Kingdom, the conversation around Disney closing nostalgic attractions and experiences (read: Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island) only grows. And Disney World’s theme park adversary has also gotten involved.
Known for its barbs against the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando weighed in on the DINOSAUR discourse, writing:
Time to ride with a dinosaur.
Time to ride with a dinosaur. 😉 pic.twitter.com/35zvoZvwSe
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) February 2, 2026
The X (formerly Twitter) post came just a day after Disney shuttered the Animal Kingdom location. Universal Orlando Resort, of course, has a number of dinosaur-themed attractions with its Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise IP. Guests visiting Universal’s Islands of Adventure can experience Jurassic Park River Adventure and Jurassic World VelociCoaster, as well as Pteranodon Flyers and the Raptor Encounter. Clearly, Universal now truly owns the dinosaur footprint in Central Florida.
Animal Kingdom Under Construction
Aerial photography has continued to provide insight into construction progress. Photos captured in October showed that vertical construction had begun on the Encanto attraction, with steel supports, concrete work, and early framework already rising. Large excavation zones are visible around the site, fueling speculation about substantial show scenes or complex ride elements. Separate images show continued groundwork at the carousel location.
Disney previously released its first official construction update for the Encanto attraction late last year, confirming that the project had gone vertical. Walt Disney Imagineering shared on social media that the first steel beams were installed, forming the initial structure of the show building that will house Animal Kingdom’s newest headlining ride.
Details about the Encanto attraction itself have also started to emerge. Filmmaker Jared Bush is working directly with Walt Disney Imagineering and is writing original dialogue for the experience. Rather than retelling the events of the film, the attraction will introduce new scenes and interactions with the Madrigal family created specifically for the park. This approach aligns with other Disney attractions that expand on their source material with original in-park storytelling.
With DINOSAUR now closed and demolition preparations underway, longtime visitors are reflecting on DinoLand U.S.A.’s intentionally quirky roadside aesthetic, which stood apart from the rest of the park for decades. At the same time, attention is firmly on what’s coming next as concept art steadily becomes steel, concrete, and themed structures.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has undergone major shifts before, most notably with the debut of Pandora–The World of Avatar, which reshaped guest expectations and helped establish the park as a full-day destination. The Tropical Americas project appears designed to continue that evolution, bringing new attractions, immersive environments, and character-driven experiences rooted in regional storytelling and nature.
As of early February, the prehistoric chapter of this area has officially ended. In its place, new adventures are steadily rising behind construction walls as Imagineers continue building the next version of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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