Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), FlickrWalt Disney World Resort has quietly backtracked on its planned opening timeframe of Tropical Americas over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.The project will transform the former DinoLand U.S.A. into Pueblo Esperanza, a new 11-acre land. Its headline attractions are Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, a family ride through the Casita featured in Encanto (2021), and Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, an original adventure rooted in Maya mythology.
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Pueblo Esperanza will also feature El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a carousel with 22 hand-carved Disney and Pixar creatures, alongside a Maya-inspired play area and one of Walt Disney World’s largest quick-service restaurants. Imagineers have researched locations across Central and South America to shape the land – although Walt Disney Imagineering veteran Joe Rohde has confirmed that it won’t contain any live animals.
While Disney’s original plan was to open the land in 2027, it seems like this is no longer the case.
Disney Backtracks Over 2027 Opening Date
Disney has updated its official Coming to the Parks page to remove the 2027 opening timeframe for Tropical Americas.
While this date still features on Disney Parks Blog, the Disney World website was updated at some point today to be more vague about when guests can experience the land for themselves.
The page previously said: “Tropical Americas: Pueblo Esperanza — Get ready to journey to an 11-acre, immersive land in 2027. This Village of Hope will feature an exciting Encanto attraction, an action-packed Indiana Jones attraction, a woodcarver-themed carousel and more.”
It now reads: “Tropical Americas — Prepare for your journey to an 11-acre land. This village of hope will feature new attractions like the joyful Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto and action-packed Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent—plus a handcrafted El Carrusel de los Animalitos featuring wooden animal figures inspired by Disney and Pixar films.”
Notably, Disney also didn’t mention 2027 when discussing the project at D23 in August.
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What’s Happening to Tropical Americas?
The good news is that the project is still very much in motion.
Construction has moved quickly as of late, with aerial photos from early September showing the huge show building for Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto largely enclosed, while steel framing for the Casita facade has risen alongside it. The structure now includes its recognizable central tower and multiple levels.
Aerial photo of the show building for Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto. pic.twitter.com/xa2TTGCyta
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 5, 2026
Work is also advancing across Pueblo Esperanza itself. El Carrusel de los Animalitos now has most of its roof covered, while crews have started building the central plaza fountain. The former Restaurantosaurus site is simultaneously undergoing major structural work ahead of its transformation into the land’s sprawling hacienda restaurant.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is becoming increasingly recognizable, too. In September, crews installed large sections of the Maya temple facade over the former DINOSAUR attraction. The red and blue decorative pieces were reportedly fabricated and painted backstage by Imagineering before being lifted into position.
Aerial photo of temple construction at Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
The colorful sections were sculpted and painted over several months at the Imagineering offices in backstage Animal Kingdom. Crane recently placed these sections above rockwork forms. pic.twitter.com/oo8UMOJh1G— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 4, 2026
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Even the land’s entrances are moving beyond basic steelwork. The main archway near Discovery Island has started receiving exterior sheathing, while themed rockwork, new rooflines, and the artificial mountain range designed to disguise the Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto show building are taking shape throughout the construction site.
While there’s plenty at Disney World to keep guests occupied during Tropical Americas’ construction, the issue is that very few of these options are found at Animal Kingdom – particularly for younger guests. Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest both have 44-inch height requirements, while Kali River Rapids requires guests to be at least 38 inches tall.
That leaves Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris as the park’s major rides without a height requirement. With TriceraTop Spin and DINOSAUR now gone, Animal Kingdom has lost two more attractions that previously helped spread crowds and, in the former’s case, gave small children another ride they could experience.
When Will Tropical Americas Open?
One possibility is that Tropical Americas has slipped into 2028 territory.
Another possibility is a phased opening. Disney is already taking that approach with Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios, where it confirmed that parts of the land will open in 2027 while construction continues on the door coaster. Pueblo Esperanza could theoretically follow suit, opening its completed areas before every attraction is ready.
That could potentially see the carousel, restaurant, or other sections welcome guests first, with one of the two major rides following later.
It’s currently unclear when exactly Disney plans to open some of its other WIP expansions, including its new Cars area, AKA Piston Peak National Park, and Disney Villains Land at Magic Kingdom.
When do you think Disney will open Tropical Americas?
