Goodbye DinoLand! Closing Timeline Revealed for Nostalgic Animal Kingdom Land

Change can be hard for Disney adults especially when it comes to classic attractions and areas in the Disney theme parks. You'll be hard pressed to find an announcement of change that isn't also followed by outcries.

DinoLand U.S.A. in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is one of those changes with the entire land being replaced by new Tropical Americas themed areas and attractions.

You might be waiting for me to express my nostalgia and disappointment over this most recent change… Well, sorry DinoLand fans but I am one Disney adult that is not sorry to see it go. Disney has broken ground on Tropical Americas and the sooner they tear down this dinosaur themed parking lot, the better! We have the full update on the closing timeline for Dinoland and how long you have to experience it all before it closes for good.

Disney Begins Construction on Tropical Americas

The Tropical Americas project team kicked off construction on January 17, 2025 with a groundbreaking ceremony at Animal Kingdom! The image shared by Walt Disney Imagineering features Imagineers and Disney executives breaking ground with shovels in the DinoLand area.

Construction walls are already up in the area as work had already begun to remove signage in the space and dissembling TriceraTop Spin, pictured above pre-construction. The first phase of closures in DinoLand includes TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures which all closed for good on January 12, 2025.

Disney shared new confirmation on the date changes – The rest of DinoLand will be available through 2025 which includes DINOSAUR, The Boneyard, and Restaurantosaurus. So basically, the main attraction, children's' play space, and the quick-service restaurant. These experiences will close in 2026 but no specific date has been announced.

We are most closely watching for the DINOSAUR closure because the work on the new Indiana Jones attraction can't begin until that ride closes down for the transformation. That's the aspect of the new land that we are most excited for so hope that they get to work soon. We would have been happy if that ride closed yesterday for the transformation instead of stretching out operations through the end of the year.

Tropical Amercias Land Coming Soon

The work to transform DinoLand U.S.A. to the Tropical Americas will happen in phases with the full land debuting in 2027. This land is not being themed to specific IP and is a generally themed land which helps keep the atmosphere of Animal Kingdom intact. This makes far more sense than a Dinosaur themed area ever did! This land will be similar to the atmosphere of Harambe in Animal Kingdom in that it feels lived in with its own rich history.

The Tropical Americas land is called “Pueblo Esperanza” and the work on this new 11-acre section of the park is now finally in motion with this groundbreaking ceremony announced. The space will be “lush and sprawling” which is a huge improvement over the cold, concrete parking lot vibe that DinoLand presented. The land will also be home to two signature attractions: an Indiana Jones experience and the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction.

Read more about all the details of the Encanto and Indiana Jones themed rides and experiences coming to the new Tropical Americas land including concept art and previews of models we saw at the D23 Disney Fan Convention!

Good Riddance, Dinosaurs!

I remember the first time I saw DinoLand U.S.A.. We turned the corner into the area and my initial impression was, “Wow, what a nice…. parking lot.” Before the DinoLand defenders come for me, I acknowledge that I may not share the same childhood nostalgia that some do for this area so this will impact my feelings on the matter! Don't worry, I'm not immune to Disney change. I'm still reeling from the Haunted Mansion bride scene change announced at Disneyland.

But in this case, I believe my lack of nostalgia here gives me an advantage into this subject as I'm not blinded by nostalgia goggles and can see this area objectively. DinoLand is far past its prime and this change was long overdue. The county carnival that visits my hometown of 30,000 people is far more impressive than this area was.

Okay, okay but what about DINOSAUR? There are many fans that are sad to see this ride go including my teenager! You still have the duration of 2025 to enjoy DINOSAUR one more time before it receives its Indiana Jones themed overlay. Since DINOSAUR is remaining open throughout 2025, I imagine that the Encanto themed area of the land is where Disney Imagineers are starting first.

Personally, this is another change that I welcome. I am not sad to see this ride go with its musty forgotten museum smell, depressing storyline of dying dinosaurs, and pitch black ride through experience. If anything, I wish they'd close the ride sooner so we can make way for Indiana Jones! Why keep it open all of 2025? Let's get the ball rolling here. But I recognize that opinion is not as popular as it's one I battle my son with all the time. When we visit Animal Kingdom I see this ride as a solid SKIP but he talks me into it each visit.

Either way, DINOSAUR fans have time yet to say goodbye to this attraction before it closes for good. However, the other area of DinoLand has now gone extinct.

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