Disney Imagineering Files Notice of Commencement for Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom

Dec 13, 2024 in "Tropical Americas"

Gallery / 1 Photo
Tropical Americas Concept Art

Posted: Friday December 13, 2024 1:20pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has taken another step toward the transformation of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today, WDI filed a Notice of Commencement for the site previously occupied by Primeval Whirl, signaling progress in the park's highly anticipated Tropical Americas expansion.

Tropical Americas Concept Art

Key Details from the Filing

Location: Former Primeval Whirl site
Contractor: Whiting-Turner, a firm known for managing large-scale construction projects for Disney
Expiration Date: December 30, 2025
Description: "Area Development"

The filing suggests work will soon begin on preparing the area for redevelopment, aligning with Disney's plans to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. into a land inspired by Central and South American cultures and ecosystems.

The former Primeval Whirl area in DinoLand U.S.A.

What Does "Area Development" Mean?

While Disney has not provided specifics about this filing, "Area Development" typically encompasses site preparation, infrastructure work, and landscaping to support future attractions. This could include clearing land, installing utilities, and creating the thematic groundwork for the new land's immersive experiences.

The former Primeval Whirl site has remained inactive since the ride's permanent closure in 2020. The Tropical Americas expansion will feature attractions themed to Disney's Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises.

Tropical Americas Concept Model

Timeline for the Expansion

The expiration date of December 30, 2025, provides a clear timeframe for this phase of the project, though construction on individual attractions and experiences is likely to extend beyond that. The Tropical Americas land is expected to open in phases, with a full debut anticipated around 2027.

Find out more about the Tropical Americas expansion and the land's attractions.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

Pizza Moon1 hour ago

I remember people b****ing about Pandora before it opened too.😂

Pizza Moon1 hour ago

Serious question, what percentage of people visiting Animal Kingdom go to Conservation Station? The whole concept is literally designed for kids, the train, the petting zoo. It’s like a better Tom Sawyer’s Island. When my baby cousins go to Animal Kingdom, they’re going to love Bluey there; it’s actually a good kids show, totally different than so much of the slop today, which is probably why it’s so popular, so yeah, it’s a needed change. If they took over the Tree of Life Theater with Bluey I’d complain, just like I’ve blasted Zootopia: Better Zoogether. I think ITTBAB needed an update or a new IP, it frankly was really cool, but its target demographic really wasn’t into it, but they didn’t need to make a clip show to replace it. It’s also sad we lost big representation, so I hope they add small big exhibit or dinosaur fossils throughout the park (like you could have fossils from say a native species to Asia or Africa). Not that they’d do it, but it’d be cool. Encanto is happening because they need a family ride too, so, while we could just get a Mystic Manor clone with changes, its budget is probably double that they could’ve justified for that, and I think Encanto actually would work exceedingly well as a ride, not all IPs translate well, but I think it will. Indiana Jones is just correcting what they should’ve done from the start.

danlb_20001 hour ago

The Mom2 hours ago

Any further off topic posts will be deleted. Bickering posts have been deleted.

Animaniac93-983 hours ago

It was going to have an extensive, indoor queue and be fully enclosed. Quite a lot of space and expense for a spinner.

Casper Gutman4 hours ago

The level of discourse is really falling on these boards. We need to enforce bans on AI slop and encourage posters not to fill threads with poorly written and argued shouting matches devoid of content.

BrianLo4 hours ago

This is the first time I have seen there, not sure how! Chapek really doesn’t hold up well in retrospect, this was his signature one-more -thing announcement of D23 2019. Way to bury the lead.

gorillaball13 hours ago

Can you tell us why you don’t want it then? I don’t think I’ve heard that yet. Just kidding around. I know you were making a point about it having nothing to do w the the people or it’s message.

FettFan14 hours ago

Why not? It would be far better than the Mary Poppins Reboot Tea Party that was planned for Epcot.

HMF14 hours ago

As I have said before nearly every second Gen Imagineer has worked on at least one or two not so well-received projects.

HMF14 hours ago

They certainly used to. I firmly believe something like Hunchback for example would likely never be made today because people would be offended by some of the more serious and adult themes in it never mind its condemnation of hypocrisy.