Credit: gardener41, FlickrToday, September 1, 2025, marks the end of an era at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. After nearly 25 years of delighting younger visitors with hands-on exploration, fossil digs, and shaded slides, The Boneyard—a staple of the DinoLand U.S.A. area—is officially closing its gates for good at 6:00 PM tonight.
The closure is part of the sweeping transformation coming to this corner of the park, as Disney begins its long-anticipated reimagining of DinoLand U.S.A. into a brand-new land: Tropical Americas, inspired by the lush, biodiverse regions of Central and South America.
The Boneyard’s final day marks a major step toward that transformation—and the slow but steady disappearance of what was once one of the most visually distinct lands in any Disney park.
The Boneyard: A Dinosaur-Themed Play Paradise
The Boneyard has long been a favorite for families with young children, offering a rare break from Animal Kingdom’s more thrilling attractions. Designed like an active paleontological dig site, it featured rope bridges, climbing nets, slides, and an expansive “dig pit” where kids could uncover buried dinosaur fossils under layers of soft gravel.
Themed with precision—right down to the faux scaffolding, excavation equipment, and layered dig site strata—The Boneyard combined playground fun with education, giving it a perfect home in DinoLand’s tribute to the scientific (and sometimes campy) world of dinosaurs.
It also served a functional role: offering parents a chance to rest while kids ran wild in a shaded, gated area—something hard to come by elsewhere in the park.
Why Is The Boneyard Closing?
The closure of The Boneyard is part of Disney’s broader plan to reimagine DinoLand U.S.A., which has been in a slow decline for several years. With the permanent closures of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, The Boneyard was one of the last remaining pieces of the original land still open to guests.
Now, it too is shutting down to make room for the Tropical Americas—a completely new 11-acre expansion designed to breathe life back into Animal Kingdom. Disney has promised a new play area will be included in the Tropical Americas when it debuts in 2027, but few details are available beyond that assurance.
In the meantime, fans of The Boneyard have one final opportunity today to swing, dig, and climb before the gates close forever at 6:00 PM.
What’s Coming to Replace It?
While specifics are still under wraps, the Tropical Americas concept was officially unveiled at Destination D23, where Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn presented concept art and initial details of what’s to come.
At the heart of the new land will be two major IPs:
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Encanto, the Oscar-winning Disney film known for its vibrant Colombian setting and rich cultural storytelling.
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Indiana Jones, the legendary adventurer whose existing Disneyland attraction uses the same ride system as Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur—leading many to speculate that a re-theme of the current attraction is all but inevitable.
Additionally, a Zootopia-themed show is coming to the Tree of Life theater, replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug. This marks a separate development in the park, but contributes to the larger effort to bring new life and energy to Animal Kingdom.
Why Now?
Animal Kingdom has long struggled to retain guests throughout the day. Once home to the innovative nighttime show Rivers of Light and the glowing wonders of Pandora – The World of Avatar, the park has seen its evening entertainment offerings wane.
With few all-ages attractions and a reputation as a “half-day park,” Animal Kingdom has lagged behind other Walt Disney World parks in terms of attendance and guest satisfaction.
Animal Kingdom needs fresh content that draws crowds and keeps them there longer—and an immersive, family-friendly land inspired by the rich biodiversity and folklore of the Tropical Americas may be the answer.
What We’re Losing—and What We Might Gain
The Boneyard may have been “just a playground,” but it represented more than that for many families. It was a space where overstimulated kids could decompress and let loose. It was a place where guests too small for thrill rides could still have a physical, imaginative experience. It was a creative environment that fit Animal Kingdom’s early mission of combining fun with exploration.
For longtime Disney fans, its closure is bittersweet. While the promise of Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions is undeniably exciting, there’s always a certain sadness when an opening-day experience is retired, especially one that provided so much hands-on fun in an increasingly screen-driven world.
What’s Still Open in DinoLand?
With The Boneyard’s closure, very little remains of DinoLand U.S.A.:
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Dinosaur – The thrilling dark ride remains open (for now), though many expect it will be re-themed in the coming years.
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Restaurantosaurus – A quick-service eatery offering classic theme park fare.
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Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites – Small food and beverage locations serving up ice cream and snacks.
But as the land transitions, these too may eventually be shuttered or reimagined to fit the theme of the Tropical Americas.
The Boneyard’s closure marks the end of a charming, if often overlooked, part of Animal Kingdom history. As Disney continues to modernize its parks and fold in popular intellectual properties, original experiences that aren’t tied to movies or merchandise are becoming increasingly rare.
Still, if done right, the Tropical Americas could be the refresh Animal Kingdom needs—and families who loved The Boneyard can look forward to a new play space with even more immersive storytelling when the area opens in 2027.
Until then, if you find yourself in Animal Kingdom today, be sure to stop by The Boneyard one last time. It may be your final chance to uncover some Disney magic beneath the gravel.