We’re live from Destination D23 where we just got some MASSIVE news — DinoLand U.S.A. is CHANGING in Disney World, and Disney has now announced specifically what will replace this land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Animal Kingdom
We heard some hints about the land’s re-theme at the 2022 Destination D23 event, but now we’ve got more details to share with you on what’s actually going to be replacing this section of the park.
During this year’s Destination D23 event, Disney announced that DinoLand U.S.A. will be CLOSING to make way for new lands in that area. Specifically, the area will be updated to become The Tropical Americas, which will feature attractions and details from Encanto and Indiana Jones!
DinoLand U.S.A.
Work is already being done on the Casitas from Encanto to bring them to life inside the land, and bringing both of these popular stories into the parks is “building on what makes Animal Kingdom so, so special,” according to Josh D’Amaro.
©Disney
This also means that it’s very likely Indiana Jones will be replacing Dinosaur, as the ride system is similar to the Indiana Jones ride that already exists in Disneyland. Disney said that there’s still a long way to go with these ideas, but that the Imagineering team in Florida is up for the challenge.
Indiana Jones Ride
Disney explained that Imagineers are taking inspiration from some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator here in the Western Hemisphere, including the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.
Part of Animal Kingdom is getting a makeover!
We’ll be watching for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for more Destination D23 announcements!
Click here to see more announcements from Destination D23!
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Are you excited for these changes? Let us know in the comments.
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend the Destination D23 event. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
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Nooo! I love the Dinosaur ride! Why do they have to remove it? They have room for an Indiana Jones ride over where Primevil Whirl used to be. I must be the only person out there that thought Encanto was dumb. It had a terrible storyline with some catchy music. I can’t believe they’re going to build a land around that movie 🙄Dinosaurs are timeless- I think they should bring in an Indiana Jones ride, not remove Dinoland.
What does any of this have to do with animals? Are they changing the name to Random Kingdom?
Maybe once the Indy stuff gets there I can *finally* convince hubby to get APs.
What do those 2 ideas have anything to do with animal kingdom?
So, last year they said moana and zootopia, which actually fitted in with animal kingdom, but now indianna Jones and encando???? What????? I understand the ride system, but zootopia has the same ride system and its animals. I was looking forward to moana…..
In my opinion, Pandora absolutely doesn’t belong in Animal Kingdom. There was to have been a section with mythological beasts; at least those were animals. I’m sorry to see Dinoland go because the idea and execution (thank you, Joe Rohde) were excellent, as was the entire original design of AK. Seems to be a lot of blurring of themes in the DW parks lately, but I still enjoy them all.
Did they not just get rid of the Indiana Jones Stunt show at Hollywood Studios?! Dinosaur is such a classic ride!!! It seems they keep getting rid of all the stuff that made it popular. I for one will not be going to these new lands cause it seems they’re trying to be like the other parks instead of just being original.
I’m would like a zootopia land. It has animals! While I enjoyed Encanto it has nothing to do with animals . And Indiana Jones again no animals. If Disney incorporates Encanto and Indiana Jones into Animal Kingdom they will have to rename this park. It seems Disney has lost it touch . Why is Iger giving an OK on this ridiculous non theming idea. It started with the hotels removing period theming now the parks are starting to loose their storyline and fluency.
No way should they get rid of Dinosaur ride!!
It’s a favorite, and at least they’re animals
Disney please stop f ing around and doing stupid [redacted]
Oh No!!! Not another beloved family favorite. My kids will be so upset. Please Disney, No.
Dinosaurs can’t catch a break. This is the second time they face extinction.