New permit suggests major expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a go

Mar 18, 2024 in "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

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

Posted: Monday March 18, 2024 6:15pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering suggests that the previously announced "Blue Sky" Indiana Jones and Encanto expansion project at Disney's Animal Kingdom is now green-lit and ready to begin.

Disney's Animal Kingdom WDI Trailer Compound Permit

The permit outlines plans to install a Walt Disney Imagineering project trailer compound behind Kali River Rapids and a parking lot for more than 300 vehicles. The area has a backstage roadway and walkway leading to DinoLand U.S.A. These types of facilities are common for large construction projects that we have seen in the past, including the Fantasyland redevelopment at Magic Kingdom and Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom WDI Trailer Compound Permit

While the permit does not detail any specifics on what project the trailers are for, this is likely the first stage of beginning the previously announced "Blue Sky" Indiana Jones and Encanto redevelopment of DinoLand U.S.A.

Disney has two big dates in the coming months that could be used to announce the Animal Kingdom expansion: the Annual Shareholders meeting on April 3 and the 2024 D23 Fan Event in August.

Disney announced in September 2023 that new experiences inspired by "Encanto" – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones were 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.

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."

In addition to Encanto and Indiana Jones, Disney has also previously confirmed that a new show based on "Zootopia" is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Zootopia show concept art

The current concept for the new "Zootopia" experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters.

Disney says that Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept, and more details will be coming in the future.

The new show will replace "It's Tough to Be a Bug," although no closures dates have yet been announced.

'It's Tough to be a Bug' theater

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cjkeating16 days ago

Scrap metal prices were high during COVID and Disney was short on cash. I actually rode the same ride at a park in Kentucky last week... And as someone else said the ride manufacturer is still in business, they are still advertising the same model on their website.

Bocabear18 days ago

Having ridden both, I would say the Shanghai ride is drastically different...in tone, experience, storytelling style... They feel like different animals... There is no happy drinking song, there is no town being overrun by antiques-selling pirates... They are different animals... and they could play like a part one and a part two as the Shanghai version lightly references the original, but then goes someplace else....

doctornick18 days ago

Sure, they are both boat rides, but that's largely where the similarities stop. I don't think they are particular comparable experiences even though they are based on the same IP. Shrunken Treasure is more movement/thrilling due to the nature of the ride tech and is largely screened based compared to the much more traditional slow moving AA/physical set based POTC. I would agree that they should have different names, but I don't see a problem with both experiences being at the same resort especially at different parks. Though I would remove the Captain Jack elements at MK in order to further differentiate the rides.

Purduevian18 days ago

I might be forgetting something... IP Magic Kingdom EPCOT DHS AK Toy Story Buzz lightyear Toystory land Little Mermaid Undersea adventure Live action M&G, Voyage opening soon Frozen Stage Show appearance FEA and M&G For the first time in forever BATB Miniland with Enchanted tales Singalong Live onstage Moana Rumored Boat ride Journey of water M&G Indy Stunt Show Rumored attraction Encanto M&G Stage show Rumored attraction Coco Rumored attraction Exhibit Rumored attraction Aladdin Magic Carpets/M&G M&G of Jasmine (is this still going?) Snow White 7D M&G Alice Mad Tea M&G Pooh Many Adventures M&G Nemo Nemo and Friends Stage show Star Wars Not different parks, but launch bay, ST, and SWGE all exist as separate areas

James Alucobond18 days ago

The issue would be that they're two similar boat-based ride experiences. Yes, one would use substantially newer technology, but other instances of same-IP-in-same-resort are generally more distinct, like with the Moana water walkthrough and the rumored Moana flume, or the IJ stunt show and the IJ rover, or the Frozen sing-along and Frozen Ever After.

CAlexander18 days ago

I mean, one is character focused, and one is the entire movie focused. As Gusey mentioned, it's confusing if they're both called Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm not really sure it makes much sense to have 2 pirate themed areas at 2 different parks in the same resort - I don't think there's much demand for that

doctornick18 days ago

Then just call the DHS ride "Jack Sparrow and the Battle for the Sunken Treasure"

Gusey18 days ago

Probably that they're both called Pirates of the Caribbean. Even when they had the Pirates exhibit at Hollywood Studios, it was called The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow They can clone the technology, but they don't need to clone every international attraction for WDW

Sneakman18 days ago

Im not against that, I think the average guest might not. Heck, I’d like that, but I don’t think theyd do that wit them wanting to reboot the series.

doctornick18 days ago

What is confusing? One is classic POTC not related to the movies (if they remove Jack elements as suggested). The other is based directly on the movies and is a different experience. I have long supported this very idea and think it would be great. The two rides are quite distinct and would compliment each other as different experiences and would be fine in the same resort.