Tropical Americas Progress: New Contractor Lot Approved at Disney's Animal Kingdom

May 13, 2025 in "Tropical Americas"

Gallery / 2 Photos
Tropical Americas Contractor Lot Permit

Posted: Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:50pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has received official approval from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for the construction of a new contractor support area near Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The permit, issued on May 13, 2025, authorizes the development of a 10.43-acre DAK Contractor Lot, which will provide parking and infrastructure for crews working on the Tropical Americas expansion.

Tropical Americas Contractor Lot Permit

According to the permit, the project will not affect any wetlands or surface waters, and no endangered or threatened species were observed on the site. The area is already part of a previously approved stormwater basin under CFTOD’s master permit.

This infrastructure project is another sign of continued progress on the Tropical Americas land at Animal Kingdom, which will replace the former Dinoland U.S.A. with new experiences themed to Encanto and Indiana Jones. Demolition in the area began earlier this year.

Tropical Americas Concept Art

The contractor lot is designed to handle increased construction activity and help facilitate the multi-year transformation of the park.

Tropical Americas Contractor Lot Permit

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Mr. Sullivan20 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.

gorillaball21 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 Mom21 days ago

Please get back on topic. Thank you.

MisterPenguin21 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 Club22 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.

Biff21522 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. Sullivan22 days ago

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

UNCgolf22 days ago

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

Mr. Sullivan22 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 Panther22 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. Sullivan22 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. Sullivan22 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.

Professortango122 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.

Professortango122 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.