NEWS: Aerial Photos Show Significant Progress on Tropical Americas Land at Animal Kingdom

Construction on the new Tropical Americas Land at Animal Kingdom is coming along nicely. Planned to open in 2027, the new Tropical Americas land replaces Dinoland which closed permanently on February 2, 2026. The land is inspired by South and Central America along with parts of Mexico. Disney recently provided an update on the new land along with some background on the process of bringing this next adventure to life.

Aerial photos of the construction site show significant progress. Since the last update, much of the main structure for the Encanto attraction has been erected. The entrance of the old Dinosaur attraction is being transformed into a pyramid for the new Indiana Jones attraction. Also, the town of Pueblo Esperanza and the Indiana Jones Playground are beginning to take shape.

Wide view of Tropical Americas Land

The Village of Pueblo Esperanza which will be the entrance of Tropical Americas Land and will feature a carousel.

The former Restrauntosaurus quick service dining location.

The entrance to Dinosaur is being transformed into a pyramid which will house the new Indiana Jones attraction.

The entrance to the new Encanto attraction.

The photos above were originally posted by @bioreconstruct on Instagram.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tropical Americas Land, Indiana Jones &  Encanto Ride Details

Last fall 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…