Phased Closure of Dinoland USA at Disney's Animal Kingdom Expected Before 2024 Holidays to Make Way for Encanto and Indiana Jones

Sep 27, 2024 in "Tropical Americas"

Posted: Friday September 27, 2024 10:45am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom is expected to begin a phased closure before the 2024 holiday season, making way for the park's upcoming Tropical Americas expansion.

Tropical Americas Concept Art

According to sources, the first section to close will be Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama, with its carnival-themed games and rides, including TriceraTop Spin. This area is slated to be transformed into a new Encanto-themed attraction, where guests will step inside the magical Casita from the popular film. The first-ever "Encanto"-themed attraction will bring casita to life as guests join the beloved Madrigal family on the day Antonio receives his special gift, the ability to communicate with animals. Guests will feel like part of the family Madrigal as they join the celebration and explore their magical home.

Dino-Rama is expected to be the first part of DinoLand to close

The phased-closure process will continue into 2025, with Dinosaur, the park's original thrill ride, closing to make way for a new Indiana Jones adventure. This attraction will differ from other Indiana Jones experiences worldwide, featuring a journey through a newly discovered Maya temple. Guests will join Indiana Jones on a quest to explore the temple and uncover the mysteries of a rumored mythical creature lurking deep inside.

Dinosaur is expected to remain open into 2025

Disney has not yet announced a precise timeline for the closures, but we expect more details, including specific closing dates, to be revealed soon. Construction on the new attractions is set to begin later this year, with the entire Tropical Americas land projected to open in 2027. Visitors who want to experience Dino-Rama or Dinosaur before they close should plan their trips accordingly as Disney prepares for these major changes to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Tropical Americas Concept Model

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Mr. Sullivan25 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.

gorillaball26 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 Mom26 days ago

Please get back on topic. Thank you.

MisterPenguin27 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 Club27 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.

Biff21527 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. Sullivan27 days ago

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

UNCgolf27 days ago

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

Mr. Sullivan27 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 Panther27 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. Sullivan27 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. Sullivan27 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.

Professortango127 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.

Professortango127 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.