Disney World's Permanently Closing Attraction Replaces Iconic Flight of Passage

Walt Disney World is on the brink of a major shift, and it’s happening this week.

As January 2026 winds down, the Orlando-based Walt Disney World Resort is staring down one of the most sweeping transitions in its history.

The past year alone reshaped the resort in dramatic ways, with longtime experiences like Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Muppet*Vision 3D disappearing from Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now, the focus turns squarely to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where another familiar corner is about to vanish.

At the center of this transformation is the dismantling of DinoLand U.S.A. and its replacement: the Tropical Americas-inspired Pueblo Esperanza. The new land, which will feature headline attractions tied to Encanto and Indiana Jones, is officially set to debut in 2027. Even so, Disney hasn’t been wasting time, and visible progress has already been made behind construction walls.

Over the past year, most of DinoLand U.S.A. has quietly faded away. Fan-favorite stops, such as Dino-Bites Snacks and Trilo-Bites, have closed, and The Boneyard playground has permanently shut its gates. That leaves just two survivors from the land’s original lineup: Restaurantosaurus and the iconic DINOSAUR attraction.

DinoLand U.S.A. may still be standing today, but only barely. This week marks the final chapter. Disney Experiences, the division responsible for the company’s global parks, resorts, and cruise line, is officially closing the last remaining pieces of the land, bringing an end to the version of Animal Kingdom guests have known for decades.

The final day to dine at Restaurantosaurus and board a Time Rover for one last mission on DINOSAUR is February 1, 2026. The attraction and restaurant will permanently close on February 2.

From that point forward, construction is expected to fully expand into the DINOSAUR footprint, where the existing ride system will be reimagined as a brand-new Indiana Jones attraction. Disney has already stated that this Indiana Jones experience will not mirror any other version currently operating around the world.

While anticipation is high for the arrival of new IP at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, DINOSAUR’s closure is a significant loss for the Disney theme park community. And it seems that guests are well and truly showing up for the attraction’s final days.

As seen yesterday, and reported by WDWNT, DINOSAUR took the title of longest wait time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, replacing the park’s usual top attraction, Avatar Flight of Passage in the Pandora area of the theme park.

Per the outlet, DINOSAUR had a 50-minute wait time, followed by other big draws like Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, and Expedition Everest–Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. The desire to ride DINOSAUR is only likely to increase this week as Sunday’s permanent closure nears.

It will be interesting to see how long the wait time is on February 1, on the attraction’s final day of operation. One thing is clear, though: Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park will be vastly different from next week, altering the entire experience of the resort for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, work on the Encanto attraction is already well underway. The project has gone vertical, signaling significant progress. The ride is expected to center on Antonio Madrigal’s magical bedroom. In Encanto (2021), Antonio—voiced by Ravi Cabot-Conyers—has the unique ability to communicate with animals, a storyline that aligns naturally with the conservation-focused themes of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

With DinoLand U.S.A. closing completely this week, Animal Kingdom is saying goodbye to a land that has been part of the park since opening day in April 1998. After nearly 28 years, this corner of the park is officially being retired, permanently altering the landscape of Walt Disney World.

For many longtime fans, the change marks the close of a meaningful chapter. For others, it represents a leap toward a new vision for the park’s future.

Is this transformation a necessary evolution, or does it erase too much of Animal Kingdom’s past? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.