NEED TO KNOW
- Disney World has announced a closing date for DINOSAUR and DinoLand U.S.A. at the Animal Kingdom theme park
- Portions of the land are already closed as officials make way for a new Tropical Americas section of the park set to open in 2027
- DinoLand debuted with the opening of Animal Kingdom, Disney World’s fourth park, in 1998
Time is running out for Disney World fans to ride DINOSAUR before it goes extinct.
The thrill ride and the entire DinoLand U.S.A. area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will permanently close on Feb. 2, 2026. That means the final day for prehistoric adventures is Feb. 1.
Disney World officials first announced the pending closure last year at D23 — Disney’s official fan event. The change will make way for a brand new Tropical Americas-themed area called Pueblo Esperanza. The new area will feature attractions based on Disney’s Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Currently, DinoLand U.S.A. is still open, but portions of the area are already closed for construction, including TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Fun Games, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures and The Boneyard.
DINOSAUR, the park’s time-traveling adventure ride, was one of Animal Kingdom’s opening day attractions back in 1998. Originally called Countdown to Extinction, the park renamed the ride in 2000.
Work has already begun on Disney’s Tropical Americas.
The new 11-acre section of the park will focus on the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere, Disney said. The area is supposed to feel lived-in, with rich history, similar to Harambe in the park’s Africa pavilion.
According to Disney Park Blogs, the space will feature a large fountain in the center where “villagers like to gather and tell stories.” A woodcarver has also created a giant working carousel with his favorite animals from Disney stories.
The land will be home to two signature attractions. The first, an all-new Indy ride “different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world,” per the blog. Guests will join Jones as he explores a perfectly preserved Maya temple — rumored to house a mythical creature.
Guests can also step into a real-life recreation of the magical Madrigal house featured in the animated film Encanto. The ride will follow Antonio as he explores his room which transformed into a rainforest.
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Pueblo Esperanza will also house one of Disney World’s biggest quick-service restaurants — a larger than life hacienda.
Disney has yet to announce an official opening date for the land, but has revealed Tropical Americas will open in 2027.
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