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Demolition Intensifies at Animal Kingdom: New Structures Now Visible as 2027 Opening Looms

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Posted on by Sarah Larson Leave a comment
Aerial view of concept art for Disney World's Tropical Americas land in Animal Kingdom

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in years. Across the resort, longtime attractions are disappearing, entire lands are being reshaped, and construction walls have become part of the daily experience for park visitors. From Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland overhaul to major additions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney is clearly investing heavily in the future of the resort.

Now, another major project is taking a huge step forward.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has quietly become one of the most active construction zones on property, and new aerial images are giving fans a much clearer picture of what’s happening behind the walls. For months, guests could only see bits and pieces of work taking place in the former DinoLand U.S.A. area. But now, several major structures are becoming visible as Disney pushes toward the land’s expected 2027 debut.

And based on the latest progress, Tropical Americas is starting to feel very real.

The entrance to Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park. Disney World attraction evacuation.
Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), Flickr

DinoLand U.S.A. Has Disappeared

For longtime Animal Kingdom fans, the demolition of DinoLand U.S.A. still feels strange. The land had been part of the park since opening day in 1998 and had a very different identity from the rest of Disney World. Between the roadside carnival atmosphere and the massive DINOSAUR attraction, the area always stood out.

But Disney officially closed DinoLand U.S.A. to begin work on Tropical Americas, the new land that will bring both Encanto and Indiana Jones into Animal Kingdom.

Since then, demolition has moved quickly.

Large portions of the old land have already vanished, and overhead imagery now shows even more progress. One of the most noticeable remaining structures is Restaurantosaurus. While much of the surrounding area has already been cleared, parts of the restaurant building still stand as crews continue tearing apart the old land section by section.

The entire area looks dramatically different compared to just a few months ago. Open spaces that once held pathways and themed structures now resemble a massive construction site filled with dirt, machinery, and exposed foundations.

Indiana Jones Construction Is Becoming Visible

One of the biggest new developments involves the future Indiana Jones attraction.

Disney previously confirmed that the new experience would replace DINOSAUR while using the same ride system and general layout. However, the company also made it clear that this would not be a mere copy-and-paste of the Disneyland attraction. Instead, Disney stated that the Animal Kingdom version would feature an entirely new story created specifically for the park.

According to Disney, guests will follow Indiana Jones into a newly discovered Maya temple deep inside the rainforest.

Now, overhead construction images are beginning to reveal the first major structural elements for that storyline.

Steelwork for the attraction is now visible, and fans can spot the framework rising from the construction site into the Maya temple area. While Disney has not released every detail yet, the visible steel frame gives a much better idea of the attraction’s scale and how dramatically the area is changing.

The former DINOSAUR section already looked different after Disney began removing old signage and thematic elements, but the appearance of new steel structures makes the transition feel much more permanent.

Encanto’s Presence Is Growing Fast

While Indiana Jones may be getting plenty of attention, the other half of Tropical Americas is also taking shape quickly.

Disney previously announced that Encanto would become a major centerpiece of the new land, bringing guests into the world of the Madrigal family. The attraction is expected to feature Antonio’s rainforest-themed room from the film, allowing guests to explore an environment filled with animals and magical effects.

Now, visible construction is beginning to emerge for that section as well.

Overhead images show concrete walls rising for the future Casita structure, with work clearly progressing on what will eventually become La Casa Madrigal. Even in its early stages, the structure’s footprint is becoming much easier to identify from above.

Disney fans have been especially eager to see how the company handles Encanto inside Animal Kingdom because the movie’s themes fit naturally with the park’s atmosphere. The lush environment and South American setting make the franchise feel far more integrated into the park than some previous additions elsewhere across Walt Disney World.

More Tropical Americas Details Are Already Emerging

Beyond the two headlining attractions, Disney has already promised several additional experiences throughout Tropical Americas.

The new land is expected to include a carousel, interactive play areas, themed dining, and shopping areas, designed to make the space feel fully immersive rather than simply a pathway between attractions.

Interestingly, guests can already spot the framework for the future carousel area in recent overhead images. While it is still very early in the process, the visible structure gives another indication of how quickly Disney is moving through construction phases now.

Dining and shopping will also play a major role in establishing the atmosphere of Tropical Americas. While Disney has not released all the restaurant details yet, the company previously suggested the land would celebrate the region’s cultures and environments through architecture, music, and food.

2027 Suddenly Feels Much Closer

Disney has consistently targeted 2027 for the opening of Tropical Americas, and for a long time, that date felt far away.

Now, though, the latest construction updates make the timeline feel far more believable.

Demolition continues to accelerate across the former DinoLand U.S.A. footprint, steel structures are rising for Indiana Jones, concrete walls are appearing for Casita, and several secondary elements are already becoming visible in overhead images.

There is still a tremendous amount of work left before guests walk through the completed land for the first time. But compared to where the project stood earlier this year, Tropical Americas finally looks like more than concept art.

It looks like a real expansion rapidly taking shape inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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