Disney Shares New Details About DINOSAUR's Closing Date at Animal Kingdom

Dec 03, 2024 in "Dinosaur"

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Dinosaur overview

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Posted: Tuesday December 3, 2024 10:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In an update shared today, Disney provided new insight into the future of DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom, suggesting the ride will remain operational through 2025 before closing permanently to make way for the Tropical Americas expansion.

Dinosaur overview

The update encourages guests to experience the ride while they still can, stating:

"While you're visiting, make sure you 'go get that dino' at DINOSAUR. We've previously shared this attraction will be closing to make way for the new Tropical Americas land – 2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!"

In an infographic, Disney says "THROUGH 2025 Go get that dino ... before extinction"

This announcement marks the clearest indication yet that DINOSAUR will remain a part of Animal Kingdom's lineup throughout next year, giving fans more time to experience the thrill ride before its eventual transformation, with a closing date sometime in 2026.

Tropical Americas Concept Art

DINOSAUR has been a cornerstone of Animal Kingdom since the park's opening in 1998, immersing guests in a time-travel adventure to save an Iguanodon from extinction. As part of the broader reimagining of Dinoland U.S.A. into the Tropical Americas, the ride will eventually be replaced by a new Indiana Jones attraction, which Disney says will feature a journey through a newly discovered Maya temple.

Indiana Jones Attraction Concept Art

While demolition and construction are set to begin in parts of Dinoland U.S.A. as early as January 2025, this new update confirms that DINOSAUR will remain open for the time being, allowing fans one last opportunity to experience the prehistoric adventure.

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wdwmagic4 hours ago

Yes certainly indoors and decent capacity.

doctornick4 hours ago

But high capacity (and indoors, though that seems like a given)? That's really what DAK needs in something that can occupy a lot of guests, is low/no thrill/all ages and gets you indoors out of the heat and doesn't shut down in the rain.

doctornick4 hours ago

Even MK is actually net additions given that we are losing the Riverboat and TSI.

EagleScout6105 hours ago

Was a game or two removed already? I swear there was something behind the Dino-Rama archive before

DarkMetroid5675 hours ago

Welcome back original JII ride system

wdwmagic5 hours ago

Not exactly omnimover, but not trackless :-)

RSoxNo16 hours ago

DHS added two very high demand attractions, one was anticipated (Rise of the Resistance), the other probably wasn't (Slinky Dog Dash). The collective opinion on these forums is that all of the parks need more rides and practically speaking, only Magic Kingdom is approaching what its actual need may be (4 new additions). They announced quite a bit at D23, but a true home run would have included something like this: EP: New World Showcase pavilion, update to Imagination, update to SSE, update/replacement to Seas DHS: Monsters Rollercoaster, Monsters Dark Ride, Monsters Show, Carousel to Toy Story Land DAK: Tropical Americas, Lion King flume, 3rd attraction in Pandora

RSoxNo16 hours ago

There's a bit of attrition here too though. When Indy and Encanto open you're likely going to see an attendance increase, but the proportional demand in the park will be slanted to Tropical Americas. Something like Na'vi River Journey could conceivably see a decrease in popularity as it shifts away from being the most recent family friendly addition. Don't get me wrong, DAK needs more than Tropical Americas, but I view this evolution as a major win for the park.

RSoxNo16 hours ago

Yeah, I'm not really sure what the argument is here at this point. Primeval Whirl took way too long to replace. If anything, I agree with the sentiment that this shouldn't have been the only thing announced at D23. I think many on here (myself included) were expecting the Lion King flume in Africa in addition to the Tropical Americas announcements.

danlb_20006 hours ago

Maybe, if they took some heavy equipment to it, but it clearly looks like there are elements they want to save.

danlb_20006 hours ago

Disney probably doesn't think that capacity is a problem. It doesn't seem to be hurting attendance. People always say they should add more rides to spread out the crowds, but how does that benefit Disney?

WorldExplorer6 hours ago

Not that I'm cheering for them to go faster or anything, but didn't Joe Rohde say somewhere that C+H's half could be torn down in 24 hours?

DCBaker7 hours ago

A few photos from today: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54278125624_ed41706fd4_k.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54276997592_8a7d27d297_k.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54276997877_d4984e2703_k.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54278309430_9f951d7b08_k.jpg

Gusey8 hours ago

I still think Dinoland's update is more of a priority than a new land, especially after Primeval Whirl closed (which was partly technical reasons with hard to get pieces and partly budget cuts). And Animal Kingdom is the park the most in need of a new attraction as part of the WDW park investment cycle (currently 8 years since Pandora and it will be 10 years since that park received a new ride sine Pandora once Tropical Americas opens in 2027). I'm also of the opinion that the Lion King ride for Africa was conflated with the rumor for Lion King at DLP, and that if it did exist for AK, it was very early blue sky.