Disney Teases 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences for Animal Kingdom's big refresh

Sep 09, 2023 in "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

Gallery / 6 Photos
Tropical Americas Encanto land concept art at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Posted: Saturday September 9, 2023 10:37am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

New experiences inspired by "Encanto" – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

New experiences inspired by “Encanto” and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The new land themed to the tropical Americas would replace the entire Dino-Land U.S.A. area, with Indiana Jones replacing the existing Dinosaur ride, and Encanto replacing Dino-Rama. This latest concept also suggests that Disney has abandoned the plans for Moana and Zootopia in this area of the park.

Dinosaur is replaced in this concept art with Indiana Jones

Dino-Rama is replaced with Encanto

Imagineering Boss Bruce Vaughn said, "Imagine a land filled with authentic experiences from this part of the world. With all of the placemaking and storytelling you'd expect. Look, it's a beautiful region to explore and has been the inspiration for so many magical stories over the years. We're looking forward to bringing all of that to life"

Tropical Americas Encanto land concept art at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Vaughn contninued, "Imagineering has been talking about stories from this part of the world; Encanto with Indiana Jones just rose to the top. They give us so much to play with. We have a long way to go now and a lot more to discover. But our team here in Florida is all over it."

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Gremlin Gus7 hours ago

I know this has been seen before on Bioresconstruct, but it looks like there's progress being done to remove the trees behind the former Primeval Whirl ride for the Encanto show building.

ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ9 hours ago

Best we can do is rock back and forth. But we can add a strobe!

Bleed0range9 hours ago

That would be cool. Like the body slithering in and out of an opening in the wall and then you turn the corner and it strikes at you. Later you see it try to eat you as you dive down instead of the boulder scene. Or maybe the boulder scene happens and lands on top of it!

Disgruntled Walt10 hours ago

I’d like multiple versions of the serpent animatronic, chasing you all around the temple, like the carnotaurus did.

DisneyHead12313 hours ago

I think something like a serpent - especially a mythical one - would be a great use of animatronic technology because of all the funky ways they move about. I think the thing that's tricky about that advanced technology with human characters is that you can look around the park and see fifty billion other human beings nearby, who are not imitating humans but are in fact the real live thing. I think it's harder to build in a "wow" factor with a human animatronics for that reason. But a winged mythological creature that could sidewind, swoop, coil, slither, undulate, etc. - they could do a lot with that.

DisneyHead12313 hours ago

I haven't been on the Tiana ride but one of the common complaints seems to be that they took a ride full of animatronics and replaced it with a few sparse animatronics. What I was saying is that Indiana Jones would actually be a good spot for just a few well placed, elaborate animatronics. Because of the setting - an ancient temple in the middle of the jungle - there's not an expectation that you'll see tons of characters or scenes full of animatronics.

Gusey15 hours ago

I'm thinking it will close a year after Dino Rama closed, as that's when the crowds die down a little, enough to remove park capacity (and Zootopia will be open by then to help with that capacity removal)

TheMaxRebo17 hours ago

Definitely will be snakes and also a lot of hints leaning towards the Mayan winged serpent god which could make for a cool animatronic As to your date - my guess is it will be open for your trip but close very shortly after - like the following week. I think they keep it open through the end of holiday season and marathon weekend and then close shortly after

Moth1 day ago

Cool animatronics? Wonder what that could be.... 🐍 🪽 Anyway, over and under that Dinosaur is open for a January 4th to 9th window??? Planning a vacation with three other friends and we need to say goodbye to our beloved Dinosaur before we go crazy at EU.

Disstevefan11 day ago

I hope it’s not elaborate animatronics like we got with Tiana. We all know how that went.

radiorae1 day ago

For sure! I’m honestly more interested in what they can do outside of traditional animatronics— practical effects, moving sets, lighting, projection mapping, and the like. I’m not up to date on the most cutting edge ride technology, but with the Dinosaur building being a nearly blank canvas inside, it would be cool if they took the opportunity to do something different. A good Indy animatronic, no matter how well done, will not be enough to carry this ride.

DisneyHead1231 day ago

From Joe Rohde's Instagram. Thought it was interesting because he said this wasn't something he'd typically seek out, so maybe there's some AK specific reason for touring this particular canyon? Or maybe I'm over-reading the tea leaves! Did something today that I would not normally seek, out, but was great. We went on a tourboat trip up the Grijalva River in Sumidero canyon. A very very deep limestone canyon full of interesting formations. A certain kind of formation looks like a series of limestone umbrellas formed by seasonal waterfalls slowly depositing limestone in splash shapes for millennia. Caves with shrines to the Virgin of Guadeloupe. Cliffs with stalactites. Huge crocodiles with GOT dragon-like scutes. Jillions of birds. I'd come back in November when it's green and full of waterfalls! Like two Nepali Coastlines facing each other.

DisneyHead1231 day ago

I think something like Indiana Jones would be the perfect setting for a few elaborate animatronics. It’s not a book report type ride or one centered on scenes full of people like Pirates. A super realistic snake, moving statue, Indy escaping, etc. could be perfect there.