Credit: Steven Miller, FlickrDisney Legend Joe Rohde has confirmed disappointing news for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The park is currently undergoing some major changes. Tropical Americas is under construction, replacing DinoLand U.S.A. The 11-acre site, officially named Pueblo Esperanza, will feature attractions inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones, as well as a new carousel inspired by a wide range of Disney animals.
Disney dropped several new details about the land last week at its Anaheim fan convention, D23. However, it failed to include a key detail that Rohde recently confirmed in a social media comment.
Joe Rohde Confirms Tropical Americas News
Rohde recently took to Instagram to confirm that Tropical Americas will buck Animal Kingdom tradition and feature no additional live animals, unlike DinoLand U.S.A.
In the comments of a post, Rohde said he agrees that “live animals are an important part of the park” and that Tropical Americas “would be better with live animals.” However, he stressed that the project is a remodel rather than a completely new land, meaning Disney has to work within an existing budget and prioritize its biggest business needs.
Joe Rhode basically confirmed on instagram that there will be no live animals in Tropical Americas. This is disappointing but not surprising. This is a comment on his newest post about Encanto not fitting in with DAK
Joe Rhode basically confirmed on instagram that there will be no live animals in Tropical Americas. This is disappointing but not surprising. This is a comment on his newest post about Encanto not fitting in with DAK pic.twitter.com/7xidZXSz9a
— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@CoasterK24) August 20, 2026
In this case, Rohde – who technically retired from Walt Disney Imagineering in 2021 and was later inducted as a Disney Legend – said the park “needs rides for young people,” preferably air-conditioned ones. He added that animals could still be incorporated later, saying he believes “they should be included in the future” once Disney can put together a viable business plan for the additional investment.
Rohde’s point reflects Animal Kingdom’s relatively limited ride lineup, particularly for younger guests. The park currently has just a handful of rides, while attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest have height requirements.
Disney has already made moves to strengthen Animal Kingdom’s offering for younger guests. Bluey’s Wild World opened at Conservation Station on May 26, bringing Bluey and Bingo to the park for games, dancing, and character interactions, alongside the new Jumping Junction area featuring Australian animals such as kangaroos and wallabies.
Live animals remain central to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is home to more than 250 species. Kilimanjaro Safaris alone features dozens, including giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, and zebras, while Gorilla Falls and Maharajah Jungle Trek add gorillas, tigers, Komodo dragons, birds, and other species.
While that makes the lack of new animals in Tropical Americas notable, it is not totally unprecedented. Pandora – The World of Avatar opened without live-animal exhibits, instead using fictional wildlife, bioluminescent landscapes, and environmental storytelling to support Animal Kingdom’s broader themes of nature and conservation.
Rohde knows Animal Kingdom better than most. The Disney Legend served as the park’s lead designer, overseeing its development from the early 1990s through its 1998 opening and helping shape its focus on animals, nature, and conservation. He remained closely involved with the park for decades, later leading the development of Pandora – The World of Avatar.
What Will Tropical Americas Actually Include?
The latest D23 reveals offered a closer look at how Pueblo Esperanza will take shape. Disney showed new artwork for the land’s entrance, where guests will pass beneath a large archway before reaching a fountain featuring a sculpture of an ancient animal spirit.
Disney also shared more about its Indiana Jones attraction, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. Indy will venture into a Maya temple searching for a mythical serpent, with Imagineers promising supernatural encounters and a new Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronic created specifically for the ride.
New details also emerged for Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto. The attraction takes place on Antonio’s gift day and will send guests through Casita, including rooms never seen in the movie. Disney has teased appearances from the Madrigals and Antonio’s animals, plus new Audio-Animatronics developed for the attraction.
Beyond the rides, Disney revealed more of Pueblo Esperanza’s supporting spaces. A large hacienda replacing Restaurantosaurus will house one of Walt Disney World’s biggest quick-service restaurants, while a Maya-inspired archaeological play area will let children dig for artifacts — another addition seemingly designed to broaden Animal Kingdom’s options for younger visitors.
In the same Instagram post detailing the land’s lack of animals, Rohde also revealed more details about its storyline and theming. He explained that the Encanto attraction will not simply retell the movie, but instead revisit Antonio’s gift day, using the character’s ability to communicate with animals to connect the story directly to Animal Kingdom.
Without Antonio, Rohde argued, “there’s no reason this IP should be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” describing Encanto primarily as “an interpersonal family drama.” Instead, Antonio’s gift expands the idea of family to encompass the natural world. As Rohde put it, “We are all one family. Animals included. And that is a good moral lesson for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”
Are you excited for Tropical Americas?
