Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza Will Replace DinoLand at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Aug 11, 2024 in "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

Gallery / 3 Photos
Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza Concept Art

Posted: Sunday August 11, 2024 12:36am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Replacing DinoLand, Disney has announced that work on the new Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza 11-acre section of the park will begin later this year at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Entry into Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza

Disney says that just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history — plus there's a large hacienda which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort.

Bruce Vaughn Announcing Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom,

The space will be lush and sprawling, featuring a large fountain in the center where the villagers like to gather and tell stories. Additionally, a woodcarver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories.

Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza carousel

Pueblo Esperanza will include two attractions: the new Indiana Jones makeover of Dinosaur and the all-new trackless Encanto ride.

Indiana Jones Adventure Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom: New Details Unveiled

Indiana Jones Attraction Concept Art

Disney Announces New Encanto-Themed Ride for Animal Kingdom

Encanto-themed ride concept art

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Mr. Sullivan5 minutes ago

It’s easy to forget now since it had basically no staying power but there for a second Alvin and the Chipmunks was a hot brand. I’m not overly shocked the sequel to a film that did well performed better than an original. This was also before WDAS was out of the doghouse box office wise. Most audiences viewed it as an old studio with nothing new up it’s sleeve that had been surpassed by DreamWorks and Pixar. They were coming off a run of poorly received films that either flopped or did just okay. The odds were not in PatF’s favor basically no matter when that year it came out.

Brer Panther20 minutes ago

There was also that Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel released around the same time. How THAT did better than The Princess and the Frog, I have no idea. They should've released The Princess and the Frog in November instead.

Mr. Sullivan37 minutes ago

You three are applying knowledge that we have today of Avatar to a decision made without that knowledge. Disney, and everyone else, did not have that knowledge in 2009. Avatar being such a runaway train of success was a genuine shock, not a foregone conclusion. There was no reason for Disney to think that it posed any risk to PatF. James Cameron hadn’t released a movie in over a decade and all the pre-release conversation was about how expensive and difficult production was which did note bode well. It makes total sense that they thought this was gonna be a case of good old fashioned counter programing which usually does work. They had no clue, nor did anyone else, that they’d be trying to counter program the biggest film of all time. By the time it became clear what a phenomenon it was, it would have been impossible to move PatF.

Mr. Sullivan41 minutes ago

In their defense, I don’t think anybody was expecting Avatar to do what it did until it was actually happening. The run up to Avatar was very similar to the run up to Titanic: “James Cameron spent a lot of money on a film that won’t make it back.” Absolutely no one was prepared for the blue alien movie to become the highest grossing film of all time.

Professortango11 hour ago

Oh, I don't doubt that. Like I said, I know that people do love these movies. I just don't know anyone personally who does. I have friends who like many of the of the other "dumb blockbuster" franchises like Fast and the Furious, Star Wars, Jurassic Park/World, Mission Impossible, etc. But the only Avatar fans I've seen are on the internet or queuing up for the next screening.

Professortango11 hour ago

As a fellow box officer lover, we also need to factor in that Avatar was showing on a TON of premium screens and formats, constituting higher ticket prices. That's obviously not the only reason it did well. It was a film that appealed to the Star Wars generation, but without the weight of fans having their own ideas of what the franchise should be. It was a big beautiful-looking movie that didn't require much thinking and many of a certain type of fan went to see it multiple times at higher ticket prices. Cameron essentially created a film franchise that is scripted and succeeds similarly as theme park attraction. Thin plot and characters, easy to understand heavy-handed themes, visual spectacle with new technology, and a premium ticket price. And just like theme parks, people used it as an easy escapist novelty, but without the hassle of actually visiting a theme park.

DocAlan021 hour ago

For the record...not that you know me...but I love the Avatar movies. Especially the first one. I also love PatF.

neo9999552 hours ago

Agreed, counter programming is a tried and tested approach to movie releases (Barbenheimer being one of the best and most well known examples). It released the week before Avatar and as Bocabear said, it was still a Fox film at that time. It's easy to look back at how big the movie and franchise has become, but even with James Cameron, it wasn't a sure thing before it came out. It's impossible to predict an original movie being that successful. So few movies are ever THAT successful. Lastly, just cause I love box office and the movies, Avatar's grosses were extremely steady and strong, but it never had Marvel opening weekend numbers. Meaning there was plenty of room for other films to do well (especially over the holidays). PATF opened relatively small and it held fine - it didn't have a massive hit from Avatar opening. It just never took off.

Bocabear2 hours ago

but honestly, PATF and AVATAR have wildly different audiences... It's not like the general public would only agree to go to one Disney film in a year...UP also came out that year... (at the time Disney did not own Avatar) Sp Disney did not put PATF up against Avatar.... and again, completely different audiences....

Professortango15 hours ago

Because Disney, and the world, underestimated how many adults would be enchanted by a slightly better Phantom Menace. Avatar was insanely popular, but I can't say that it was very good. I'm still amazed at how popular it was and still is as nobody I know enjoys the films. I saw it once in theatres vs seeing PatF twice. PatF also had some controversy leading up to it with the problematic race elements, such as Tiana's original name and job, the "Voodoo" element, and whitewashing of history a la SotS. As well as a weak 2nd act and a 3rd act which doesn't save it. But that first act of the film is fantastic. It is also a time where Randy Newman was the butt of many jokes mocking his song-writing, so the music (one of the stronger elements of the film) were scrutinized and mocked moreso than the films which came out 10 years prior.

Disstevefan17 hours ago

Facts of life: Death, taxes, stupidity ;).....Oh and WDW price increases on everything ;)

HMF7 hours ago

Like many of the problems happening all over the world right now.

Brer Panther7 hours ago

Stupidity. That's how.

HMF7 hours ago

In most companies that big that is quite often the case which is why I wish significant downsizing should be in order whether by Disney's own initiative or by stronger anti-trust laws. The latter is more likely, sadly