Disney's Animal Kingdom Closes The Boneyard, Changes Access to DINOSAUR

Sep 02, 2025 in "Tropical Americas"

Gallery / 9 Photos
Construction Walls Up Around DinoLand Entrance and Boneyard

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Posted: Tuesday September 2, 2025 8:15am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

As of today, The Boneyard playground at Disney's Animal Kingdom is now closed - another milestone in the ongoing transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into the new Tropical Americas land.

Construction Walls Up Around DinoLand Entrance and Boneyard

The closure also includes the main entrance into DinoLand, which is now walled off for construction.

Construction Walls Up Around DinoLand Entrance and Boneyard

How to Access DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus

The revised walkway to DINOSAUR

With the central pathway blocked, guests heading to DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus will need to take a new detour:

Begin walking past the former DinoLand entrance, now fully behind construction walls.
Continue along the main pathway toward the Theater in the Wild, home to Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
Just before reaching the theater, take a right turn onto the remaining open portion of the former Dino-Rama walkway.
This route leads directly to the entrance of DINOSAUR and the surrounding dining area.

Construction Walls Up Around DinoLand Entrance and Boneyard

This temporary route will remain in place during at least the early phases of construction of Tropical Americas, which will bring a new Encanto attraction, an Indiana Jones adventure, and a new play area for kids when the land opens in 2027.

What's Still Open in the Area

While The Boneyard and much of DinoLand have closed, the following locations are still operating:

DINOSAUR (thrill ride)
Restaurantosaurus (quick-service dining)
Dino-Bite Snacks (ice cream and cookies)
Trilo-Bites (near the bridge to Discovery Island)

What's Coming to the Tropical Americas

Tropical Americas Concept Art

New Pueblo Esperanza Themed Area - Inspired by real-world South American villages, this land will feel like a place with a deep history, similar to Harambe in Africa.
Encanto Ride-Through Attraction - Guests will step inside the Madrigal family's casita and experience Antonio's magical ability to communicate with animals.
Indiana Jones Adventure - A new take on an Indy ride, where guests join Dr. Jones on a quest to uncover a mythical creature deep inside an ancient Maya temple.
Large Quick-Service Hacienda Restaurant - One of the biggest quick-service dining locations in Walt Disney World.
A Unique Carousel - A woodcarver's handcrafted carousel featuring animals from Disney stories will be a highlight for families.

Discuss on the Forums

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Mr. Sullivan24 days ago

I also don’t see Encanto fading away. It was hurt at the box office by the pandemic but it did gangbusters at home and the music in particular really, really broke out into the mainstream. For a whole generation of kids who were forced to be home all day, We Don’t Talk About Bruno and Surface Pressure are their Part of Your World and Be Our Guest.

gorillaball24 days ago

If the ride executes well, a sequel will not be needed. If the ride does not execute well, a great sequel will not make a difference. IE: And IMO, a ride’s quality has little impact from the content it’s based on. It’s all about execution.

The Mom24 days ago

Please get back on topic. Thank you.

MisterPenguin25 days ago

Disney can make an IP relevant by having it represented in the parks. And now, also, recommending the IP's movies algorithmically on D+.

The Leader of the Club25 days ago

If Disney never makes any more Encanto movies/tv shows/media, then I think it would depend on how well the Imagineers are able to convey who these characters are and what they are about. I do think that we probably will see more Encanto. Even if we don’t get a sequel, I’m sure it’ll eventually get a Kingdom Hearts world, segments in firework and stage shows, parade floats, etc.

Biff21525 days ago

I have thoughts on the current debate but I’ll refrain from getting this thread any more off topic. I actually had to scroll back up to remind myself what thread I was in! So…here we have Indy that is an absolute classic yet has steadily declined as a franchise, and then Encanto that became a surprise pandemic era hit. You’d think both should be sure things as attractions, but I do have to wonder if Encanto will still be relevant a decade or two from now. Will Disney need to throw a prequel/sequel out there, or will the attraction be enough?

Mr. Sullivan25 days ago

Yes true the brand overall did! I more meant that series of movies specifically.

UNCgolf25 days ago

Considering Alvin and the Chipmunks started in the late 50s, it kind of did have staying power!

Mr. Sullivan25 days 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 Panther25 days 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. Sullivan25 days 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. Sullivan25 days 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.

Professortango125 days 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.

Professortango125 days 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.