food IS a theme park
It’s the beginning of the end for this beloved Animal Kingdom ride.
DinoLand U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom is undergoing heavy renovations to make way for the Pueblo Esperanza expansion, and we’ve just taken another step closer to change.
Disney World is going through some MAJOR changes over the next couple years. We’re going to see the coming of Monstropolis to Hollywood Studios, Pueblo Esperanza to Animal Kingdom, and Villains and Cars Land to Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom!
In order to prepare for the massive expansion across the park, things are starting to close! If you’re planning a trip to Disney World for the early summer, these are six closures you should be aware of for the month of May!
Picture this — in a few years, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will look wildly different.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
We are getting an entirely new area dedicated to the Tropical Americas. But with new attractions and theming coming, we have to say goodbye to a land we love, DinoLand U.S.A. We have already seen the closure of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, but parts of DinoLand are still up and running. Now, Disney has announced those are coming to an end so it has us anxiously awaiting the BIG announcement on everyone’s mind.
As we have reported, HUGE changes are coming to Disney World this year.
Tree of Life
We have new shows, lounges, and of course, some closures happening around the parks. And with closures, we will be loosing some of our favorite things, like snacks! You’ll want to be sure to grab these two snacks before they go extinct.
The new land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park has now cleared a major regulatory hurdle!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In 2023, Disney announced that the DinoLand, U.S.A. area of Animal Kingdom would be transformed into a new land themed to the Tropical Americas. Some DinoLand, U.S.A. closures have already begun, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new land — officially named Pueblo Esperanza — took place earlier this year. And now, Pueblo Esperanza has cleared an important regulatory hurdle in development!
Disney Parks will always be changing because that was part of Walt Disney’s original idea for the parks. However, that doesn’t mean that change isn’t bittersweet.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
This month, we begin to say goodbye to DinoLand, U.S.A. in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as the land begins its phased closure to make way for a NEW Tropical Americas-themed land, Pueblo Esperanza. Now that parts of DinoLand, U.S.A. closed, Disney has confirmed that construction has officially started on the new land.
Construction walls have officially gone up in DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom.
The first construction walls are up
The first round of closures started on January 13th, 2025 to make way for the brand-new land themed to the Tropical Americas, Pueblo Esperanza. The closures consisted of TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and the Fossil Fun games.
Animal Kingdom is about to look a whole lot different. A brand-new Tropical Americas-themed land called Pueblo Esperanza is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2027.
Animal Kingdom
But, this new land is taking the place of DinoLand U.S.A., and the first phase of closures has already happened. And, now that the street carnival known as Dinorama is no more, Disney has rolled out some new park maps for Animal Kingdom in the park and on the My Disney Experience app. Let’s check it out the changes!
A brand-new Tropical Americas-themed land called Pueblo Esperanza is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But this new land must take the place of DinoLand U.S.A., and the first phase of closures is happening on January 13th, 2025.
©Disney
Disney’s new land is described as a colorful, lush world with details from Encanto and Indiana Jones. Construction is imminent since the new land will replace what is currently DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom. In fact, January 12th is the LAST day to see DinoLand U.S.A. in its entirety.
There’s no way of putting this gently: Disney World is going to be a bit of a mess this year and probably next year, too.
Animal Kingdom
That’s because a TON of new construction projects are happening in three out of Disney World’s four parks, meaning you’re going to see construction walls and detours EVERYWHERE (it’s like the EPCOT transformation times three). Magic Kingdom is getting an expansion AND a new land. Hollywood Studios is getting a new land. Animal Kingdom will also be getting a new land, resulting in construction walls and closures. Well, we’ve now got some maps to give you an idea of what Animal Kingdom will look like over the next few years.
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