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

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

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 6 Photos
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

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

V_L_Raptor22 hours ago

Considering what all it had before it became a wedged-in animation classroom, I'd say the opportunity wasn't so much "missed" as it was "swept out the door."

SpectreJordan1 day ago

It's a great idea on paper but it doesn't really make for a compelling land in Disney World. It seems like they only went that route because of budget concerns, so they found a thematic way to work with those constraints. If they had more budget, I think it would've been cooler to showcase those themes through the "monster movie" version of Dinosaurs; maybe teaching guests that Dinosaurs were just animals, not the monsters they've been commercialized as.

SilentWindODoom1 day ago

Was shocked to read this and went to check the menu. They have a Kobe burger which is almost twice the price of the 1/3 lb Angus burgers in Dinoland. They do offer childrens' meals too. I wonder if childrens' meals take care of the need for simple foods. How much of the percentage of picky eaters are children and how many are grown-up children. I don't suppose there's any way to know that, though.

Andrew251 day ago

Yup, I want Indiana Jones... but I wouldn't mind a refresh of Dinosaur either. Just feels weird for DAK to lose any form Dinosaur representation. BUT, I'd imagine they will find a way to keep it within the new Tropical Americas or relocated elsewhere in the park? The pathway between Africa/Pandora (or the Dinoland bypass path) can fit a few Dinoland props. As for dining, Harambe Market already served nuggets/tenders before, so I'd imagine that will be the new "safe option" at DAK. Burgers served at Yak & Yeti quick service, so really not much else. One of the smaller kiosks can serve the hot dogs as well if they need to.

SilentWindODoom1 day ago

Wow. It looks so big for that purpose, but that kind of extra bit is what makes people love this park. I feel silly not thinking of confirming this possibility by watching a review of the restaurant to see if the area is toured. Found it in the first one. The water feature really is a beautiful little spot. Considering what I've heard with many of the kiosks being hit-or-miss, I suppose it's for the best. I mean, it's obviously great to not lose Flame Tree. I didn't know if the kiosks would have enough kitchen to do burgers and such. The table situation is obviously an issue, but at least those two you mentioned are right in front of the Flame Tree tables. Funnily enough, Smiling Crocodiles current offerings of tacos and chips and salsa would be perfect for switching to Tropical Americas. Meanwhile Eight Spoon offers things found at Flame Tree alongside a burger that can easily be retained when switching to burgers/fries/nuggets. It's actually perfect if it didn't seem that demand would likely swamp the locations. Speaking of the current Dinoland restaurants... Trilo-Bites sells churros and a tropical ice cream. Keeping those and ditching the buffalo chips that I imagine frequently get switched out for would be easy. As for the other two, the buildings are connected. Originally, I'd wondered if Dino-Bites had access to Restaurantosaurus's kitchen . Then with some added seating, it might be possible to turn it into counter-service and the other into table-service. But knowing that Smiling Crocodiles does what looks like a working Tropical Americas CS menu out of such a small footprint, it may not even be necessary to access the larger kitchens. Although, again, there's the matter of increased demand. Of course, I'd love a little more expanded offerings than these tacos, especially since Mexican/Tex-Mex fare is so well represented across the parks and Caribbean/South American deserves the representation, but I'm looking at what I could expect them to do. At least they should add arepas to the tacos considering the nearby Encanto attraction. Also, travelling through the land on Streetview to get a look at the restaurants really has reminded me how well-themed that half of Dinoland is. But I've already expressed more than enough that I'm firmly in the "Dinosaurs Belong in Animal Kingdom and They Should Just Replace Dino-Rama" camp.

ToTBellHop1 day ago

Flame Tree would not be sacrificed. The plan is to offer American food for basic people from the kiosks around the park, particularly Smiling Crocodile and Eight Spoon with some standing tables plopped down. Those locations would also utilize Flame Tree’s seating. Otherwise, do it up fancy like we do at Epcot festivals and dine on a trash can. The park already bleeds guests and they know that will worsen when Dinoland closes.

Bocabear1 day ago

They are the covered dining spaces for Flame Tree...since Flame Tree offers no seating. So they built a series of covered patios for dining on a few pathways...It makes for a nice setting.

SilentWindODoom2 days ago

The biggest challenge to the ballroom in my opinion, the thing creating the atmosphere it has, is the noise of hundreds of people. The problem is that the room itself in the restaurant and in the film is all hard materials. There's nothing to muffle the echo off the walls and that many people creates a cacophony. Perhaps if a ride were to be added with the load in the ballroom and a reduced number of tables for dining (we always dream of more Blue Bayou-type relationships), the space could be utilized with less noise and we could enjoy still having both. It's important to have a basic American restaurant in each park. With the loss of a USA land, the only reasonable location would be Discovery Island. Of the existing restaurants, it makes the most sense to add these options to Flametree. Of barbecue and pizza/pasta, the latter is the one with the widest appeal to the finicky children of the nation. Of course, it would be a shame to see, but it just seems to make the most sense. Would they be able to sell both out of Flametree without sacrificing too much of their current offerings. It's been ten years since I visited AK, but it was good the last time I ate there. Speaking of my gap in visiting, looking at that area of the island, what is this whole complex off the beaten path? I remember eating at a spot out in back of Flametree, but this looks like a large amount of space and buildings.

Pi on my Cake2 days ago

I don't have any insider info here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Pizzafari shift to be the generic food location. It's a central spot, already has a large dining room. If my understanding is correct, the broilers they use for the pizzas are the same used for the burgers. Add some fryers for fries/chicken tenders, maybe extend a dining room out to hold more people, and boom. "New" quick service for generic American food. Pizza, burgers, chicken.

WeNamedTheDogIndiana2 days ago

Is there a chance Restaurantosaurus could be converted to a TS? It seems roomy enough room the exterior, but I don't recall ever going there to confirm from inside.

UNCgolf2 days ago

Space 220 does at least have the lounge with a la carte options.

UNCgolf2 days ago

That's why they did it at the California Grill (people getting an early reservation, splitting a couple of apps, then staying there for hours to watch the fireworks), but there are other ways to fix that problem without going all out anti-consumer prix fixe. I think they just saw an opportunity to increase profits.