NEWS: Closing Date Announced for Another Animal Kingdom Attraction

DinoLand U.S.A. has seen a lot of changes this year as Disney prepares for the land to be fully closed to make way for a Tropical Americas land to replace the original DinoLand, scheduled to open in 2027. While we know that Dinosaur will remain open through the end of 2025, other closing dates have been unknown. Disney has announced the closing date for the popular The Boneyard play area for kids. Learn more below.

According to the Walt Disney World website, the last day of operation for The Boneyard will be September 1, 2025. The play area will close forever on September 2, 2025.

Starting in 2027, guests at Disney’s Animal Theme Park can step into the vibrant heart of the Tropical Americas, a thrilling new land inspired by the lush landscapes, rich cultures, and extraordinary wildlife of Central and South America. This immersive 11-acre area will include two new signature attractions, including a ride-through experience based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and an original adventure inspired by Lucasfilm’s “Indiana Jones.” Keep reading to learn more about the Tropical Americas land below.

RELATED ARTICLE: NEWS: Tropical Americas Land Confirmed; Indiana Jones and Encanto Ride Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

by Chad and Cindy Nykamp

In fall 2023 Disney announced ideas about a Tropical Americas retheme for DinoLand, USA. During the  Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney confirmed the changes are coming and construction will begin this fall. Learn more below.

Disney Cast Member Michael Hundgen shares the details below:

A new adventure awaits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the addition of a new space themed around Tropical Americas. Welcome to Pueblo Esperanza.

As Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro explained during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, work on this new 11-acre section of the park is set to begin later this year. Just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history — plus there’s a large hacienda which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort.

The space will be lush and sprawling, featuring a large fountain in the center where the villagers like to gather and tell stories. Additionally, a woodcarver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories. It’s a new take on a classic attraction that young families are going to love.

That’s not all that will be located here – the new land will include not one but two signature attractions!

Indiana Jones

A new Indy experience is set to arrive in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and will be different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world.

In this new venture, the man with the hat has recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Encanto

If you’re a fan of drawers, floors, and doors, let’s go! The first-ever “Encanto”-themed ride-through attraction is coming to Animal Kingdom, featuring the beloved Madrigal family from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals — and his room has transformed into a rainforest. It’s time to go explore alongside him, and you never know what member of the family you might bump into…

Construction on the land is set to begin this fall and will open in 2027 — but don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to experience Dinosaur again (and get that dino).

And, elsewhere in Animal Kingdom, there are more exciting updates coming, too! The newest show coming to the Tree of Life Theater features Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and all their friends from Disney Animation’s Zootopia. The show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” will take guests on an adventure through different biomes seen in the film and opens next winter.