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The era of prehistoric fossils and roadside carnival games at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has officially come to an end. Following the final closures of DinoLand, U.S.A. in early 2026, Walt Disney Imagineering is officially vertical on its most ambitious expansion in a decade: Tropical Americas.
Spanning 11 sprawling acres, this new territory shifts the park’s focus to one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth—stretching from the northern reaches of South America, up through Central America, and into parts of Mexico. Set to officially open in 2027, Tropical Americas blends rich, real-world cultural heritage with the magic of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lucasfilm.
Here is your ultimate guide to what is coming when the construction walls finally fall.
• The Hacienda: Food will play a massive role in grounding the land's authenticity. The center of Pueblo Esperanza will feature a giant hacienda that is slated to become one of the largest quick-service dining locations in all of Walt Disney World, serving up regional flavors.
• The Critter Carousel: Perfect for families, the village marketplace will house a vibrant, working carousel. Instead of traditional horses, this ride features intricately hand-carved animals from classic Disney stories, created by a local town woodcarver.
• Imagineering Insight: To ensure absolute authenticity, Disney Imagineers took extensive
research trips to the region. Recently, teams visited Honduras to collaborate with Maya artists who recreate the ancient stone carvings of Copán, ensuring the stones and architecture used in the park reflect genuine Central American craftsmanship.
For the first time ever in a Disney park, the magical Madrigal family is getting their own permanent, dedicated attraction area. Guests will be able to view the iconic, vibrant Casa Madrigal—complete with the family’s magical candle flickering in the window.
The attraction itself takes place on the exact day young Antonio receives his magical gift: the ability to communicate with animals.
• The Ride System: Guests will board moving vehicles (rumored to feature advanced, smooth trackless or Omnimover-style technology) that are themed to look like the house's enchanted, animated furniture.
• The Journey: The magical furniture will whisk riders straight into Antonio’s room, which has dynamically transformed into a sprawling, living rainforest. Along the way, guests will explore the deep wilds alongside Antonio and likely cross paths with other fan-favorite members of the Madrigal family (yes, we will talk about Bruno).
For those mourning the loss of the classic DINOSAUR ride, Disney has a massive consolation prize. Utilizing the same intense, rugged EMV (Enhanced Motion Vehicle) ride system, the attraction building is being entirely re-themed into an epic, original Indiana Jones adventure.
This isn't a carbon copy of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland in California or Tokyo DisneySea. Instead, it features a completely unique storyline tailor-made for Animal Kingdom's focus on nature and mythology.
• The Plot: "The man with the hat" has recently uncovered a perfectly preserved, ancient Maya temple deep within the rainforest.
• The Quest: Driven by rumors of a mythical creature hidden deep within the ruins, Indy enlists guests to join him on an archeological expedition.
• The Peril: As with any Indiana Jones trek, things are bound to go wrong. Guests will navigate unstable ancient terrain, supernatural elements, and yes—the age-old question remains whether Indy will have to face his ultimate dread: snakes.
While some fans initially wondered how franchises like Indiana Jones or Encanto fit into a park dedicated to animal conservation, former Imagineering lead Joe Rohde previously noted that a Maya-inspired territory was actually considered during the original conception of Animal Kingdom.
The ancient cultures of the Tropical Americas were intimately intertwined with, and shaped by, the natural world around them. By focusing on a region where the power of nature and human folklore are entirely inseparable, Disney is honoring the core thesis of Animal Kingdom—while giving modern audiences the high- stakes adventure and magical storytelling they crave.
Keep your eyes on the horizon for 2027; Pueblo Esperanza is shaping up to be an unforgettable journey.
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