Notice of Commencement Filed for the Tropical Americas Expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom

24 days ago in "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

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

Posted: Thursday May 23, 2024 2:12pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed Notice of Commencements for the Tropical Americas expansion coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The latest documents filed today are for installing trailers at the new Imagineering project compound at the back of the park and are assigned to Modular Building Systems International. 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 almost certainly the first stage of the previously announced "Blue Sky" Indiana Jones and Encanto redevelopment of DinoLand U.S.A. We expect to hear a lot more about this at the 2024 D23 Fan Event in August.

The Walt Disney Company announced last year that it is developing plans to accelerate and expand investment in its Parks, Experiences and Products segment to nearly double capital expenditures over the course of approximately 10 years to roughly $60 billion.

Disney revealed 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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Starship8247 hours ago

I don't recall seeing the river around the Encanto house in the leaked concept art so that's at least one difference from what I can tell.

Nickm202223 hours ago

I agree. I also think the model and the new concept art will differ a tad from the old blue sky one we currently have. If you look at the leaked concept art that stuff already has minor differences so I am curious to see what they change.

Rich Brownn1 day ago

WDW's had one big theme advantage over Cali - when the elevator doors open it reveals an elevator. In Cali the elevator door open to reveal .... a hallway with another set of doors ! And the thing about the 5th dimension - you're actually supposed to be on your back, traveling up to the sky (the stars). Next time look at the lamps and signage on the sides and you'll see they are sideways. I once road with an imagineer who explained this and said an effect was never added because of time and budget that would have shown the building twisting.

The Leader of the Club1 day ago

I’m thinking we’ll for sure see a model on the convention floor. Probably get attraction names, synopses, concept art, and an opening year during the panel. Maybe a confirmation of animal exhibits or Meet & Greets coming to the land. The DPB will probably reveal the closing date for Dinoland/Dinosaur.

Bocabear1 day ago

LOL we got wildly off track! So, yeah, Encanto and Indiana Jones.... I am hoping that by now they have progressed the designs from the Blue Sky phase and will be showing some stuff off at D23... Can only hope they knock it out of the park this time....

MisterPenguin1 day ago

What is it?

Ayla1 day ago

So....about Animal Kingdom...

Bocabear1 day ago

Maybe they need to update the 5th dimension room...make it look less like displauy windows and a little more immersive...that would be the only tweak I could think of... That and actually build a Tip Top Club with a seperate elevator and entrance...Themed to night time in the old Art Deco Ballroom on the top of the tower.... It would be a collosal hit with guests, and thematically blow all of the others out of the water. The same muisic as the Queue, occasional thunderstorms passing and power loss...Create a secondary events ballroom at the same time..again if done well would be another hit for corporate events and parties...

Incomudro1 day ago

That moving forward of the elevator blew my mind when I first experienced it! I got chills reading your post. Every step of that ride is amazing.

Henry Mystic1 day ago

That was my first song and I absolutely love the vibes it gives, but Everybody Wants to Rule the World while going around the moon is something else! Still definitely my #2! Edit: Just realized I triple posted my bad 😂

Henry Mystic1 day ago

I agree if the comparison is DCA’s old version and HWS, but Paris’ new updated Tower of Terror is SO good. It’s by far my favorite Tower now, but obviously the placemaking of Tot in Orlando is the most impressive.

Henry Mystic1 day ago

It’s not like Universal doesn’t have colossal budgets like that now either. People don’t realize what go into these attractions.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗971 day ago

We agree on a lot, but not on this, Prof. Apologies to the mods on how off-topic this is, but I must address this. The lateral elevator movement works better in DHS because it's a reveal. We don't know just how "uncommon" the elevator is until right before the climax of the ride. Like a good Twilight Zone episode, things gradually go off the rails (in this case, literally!). It starts out normal (aside from the seatbelts, haha), then we see some strange things at the first stop. Next stop, and empty corridor...that we start MOVING FORWARD INTO! An elevator is definitely not supposed to do that! Once you get to that starfield and the lit-up doors opening, you don't know what's ahead but you know it's terrifying and pitch dark (and humid, haha!). And you get that iconic line that was absent from DCA: "You are about to discover what lies BEYOND the fifth dimension. Beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror." At DCA, the efficiency was the driving force of the entire thing, at the expense of the storyline. For example, every time Rod Serling said "You are passengers on a most uncommon elevator..." I wanted to respond by saying, "Yeah, you think? We're going backwards!" Plus "Wave goodbye..." is such a dumb line. I could talk about this all night, ToT in DHS is the best attraction ever made, hands down. Anyway, back to Encanto and Indiana Jones...oh well, I guess there's no news.

Professortango11 day ago

It's probably an East Coast vs West Coast thing. It's still a minority opinion, but I know quite a few folks even on this site who prefer the updated version.