Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), FlickrGuests visiting today will experience a wholly different Animal Kingdom theme park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing one of the most dramatic transformations in its history, and at the center of that change is a brand-new Indiana Jones attraction that will take over the space once occupied by the park’s long-running DINOSAUR ride. The project marks a major shift for the park, replacing a prehistoric storyline that defined DinoLand U.S.A. for decades with a new adventure inspired by one of cinema’s most iconic explorers.
The change gained momentum earlier this year when DINOSAUR officially closed its doors after nearly three decades of operation. The attraction originally opened with Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998 and used an enhanced motion vehicle ride system that sent guests back to the late Cretaceous period to rescue an iguanodon moments before a meteor strike. But the end of the ride was not simply the closure of a single attraction. It marked the continuation of a much larger redevelopment project that would reshape the entire area of the park.
Disney has confirmed that the upcoming Indiana Jones attraction will be part of a new land called Tropical Americas, an ambitious reimagining of the former DinoLand U.S.A. space. The area will celebrate the landscapes, wildlife, and storytelling traditions of Central and South America while introducing entirely new experiences for guests. Among the highlights will be two major rides: an Indiana Jones adventure and an attraction inspired by Disney’s Encanto (2021).
The closure of DinoLand U.S.A. in early February 2026 was the first visible step in that transformation. Once the land shut down, construction crews quickly moved in, clearing familiar pathways and dismantling elements that had defined the area for years. Attractions, games, and roadside carnival theming disappeared behind construction walls as Imagineers began preparing the site for its new identity.
The Indiana Jones ride itself will reuse the DINOSAUR ride system, which was originally based on the same technology developed for Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. These enhanced motion vehicles simulate a rugged off-road expedition, allowing the ride to deliver sudden drops, jolts, and rapid movements that make guests feel as though they’re navigating dangerous terrain. That shared DNA makes the transformation from dinosaurs to archaeological adventure a logical evolution rather than a complete rebuild.
However, Disney has made it clear that this will not simply be a copy of existing Indiana Jones rides. Instead, the attraction is expected to feature an entirely new storyline, expanding the world of the famed archaeologist rather than recreating scenes from attractions in California or Tokyo. The goal is to deliver something unique for Walt Disney World guests while honoring the spirit of the Indiana Jones franchise.
Recent construction updates, courtesy of Bioreconstruct, are beginning to reveal how dramatically the former DINOSAUR building is being reimagined. The structure’s exterior, once designed to resemble the Dino Institute, is now being transformed into a temple-like façade. Early aerial images show the familiar building slowly shifting into something that looks more at home in a jungle adventure, with the entrance being reshaped to resemble an ancient ruin rather than a modern research facility.
Aerial photo of concrete forms in progress in front of the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom.
Aerial photo of concrete forms in progress in front of the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/OBr87Vhs6H
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) March 13, 2026
The transformation fits neatly into the broader storytelling of Tropical Americas. Concept models of the land reveal winding jungle pathways, dense vegetation, and a central village area known as Pueblo Esperanza. This communal plaza will act as the heart of the land, featuring architecture influenced by Latin American cultures along with dining and family attractions.
Nearby, the Encanto attraction is also rapidly moving forward. Construction has already reached major milestones, including the installation of structural steel for the building that will house the ride. Walt Disney Imagineering has begun bringing the attraction’s environments to life with scenic elements and set pieces, suggesting that the storytelling phase of the project is well underway.
Together, the Indiana Jones and Encanto attractions will anchor the new land and represent a major investment in Animal Kingdom’s future. The project is part of Disney’s broader effort to refresh and expand its theme parks, with billions being committed to new experiences across Walt Disney World in the coming years.
While construction walls and heavy machinery currently dominate the site, the scale of what’s coming is already becoming clear. The prehistoric world that once defined this corner of the Animal Kingdom has effectively gone extinct, replaced by a bold vision that blends exploration, mythology, and cultural storytelling.
For fans of Indiana Jones, the upcoming attraction promises to deliver a thrilling new expedition through ancient ruins and mysterious temples. For Animal Kingdom, it represents the next chapter in the park’s evolution, one that swaps dinosaurs for daring adventure and sets the stage for a completely new land expected to debut later this decade.
How do you feel about the current transformation happening at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Animal Kingdom theme park? Are you looking forward to the new attractions or missing the old favorites? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!