Disney previews model of Encanto and Indiana Jones expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom

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Dinoland U.S.A. Blue Sky Concept Art

Posted: Thursday April 4, 2024 10:42am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering has released a behind-the-scenes look at work underway on bringing the Encanto and Indiana Jones expansion to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

In the video, we see a working model for the new lands and some details of research trips to the Yucatán Peninsula for inspiration on creating the lush landscape of the land.

Disney announced in September 2023 that new experiences inspired by "Encanto" – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones were being considered for the reimagined DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

New experiences inspired by “Encanto” and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The new land themed to the tropical Americas would replace the entire Dino-Land U.S.A. area, with Indiana Jones replacing the existing Dinosaur ride, and Encanto replacing Dino-Rama.

Dinosaur is replaced in this concept art with Indiana Jones

Dino-Rama is replaced with Encanto

Imagineering Boss Bruce Vaughn said, "Imagine a land filled with authentic experiences from this part of the world. With all of the placemaking and storytelling you'd expect. Look, it's a beautiful region to explore and has been the inspiration for so many magical stories over the years. We're looking forward to bringing all of that to life"

Tropical Americas Encanto land concept art at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Vaughn contninued, "Imagineering has been talking about stories from this part of the world; Encanto with Indiana Jones just rose to the top. They give us so much to play with. We have a long way to go now and a lot more to discover. But our team here in Florida is all over it."

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Animaniac93-981 hour ago

3 years is historically how long it takes for Disney to build major attractions, and this land recycles much of the existing infrastructure. If construction starts January 2025, having it done by late 2027 sounds doable.

arich351 hour ago

All of it is supposed to be open in 3 years? Skeptical

wdwmagic3 hours ago

Yep we already had that date. timelines at https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/d23/news/13aug2024-d23-2024-key-timelines-for-disneys-upcoming-park-projects.htm

brb10063 hours ago

Tropical Americas opens 2027

Timothy_Q18 hours ago

hard pass on ice age having any representation in the parks

James Alucobond19 hours ago

I don’t really see how? You’d be switching from a modern land where dinosaurs are extinct to one in the Pleistocene, which would still require a similar level of re-theming in order to work well unless you made two side-by-side time travel attractions.

Brer Panther19 hours ago

Okay, this is legitimately ridiculous... https://wdwnt.com/2024/11/ice-age-6-in-production/ Not just that they're doing a sixth (seventh if we count the Buck Wild movie) Ice Age after shutting down Blue Sky Studios, but they're still willing to milk the franchise and yet they won't add it to Dinoland? Wouldn't replacing Dino-Rama with Ice Age attractions be at least slightly cheaper than retheming the whole land?

JD801 day ago

AK is a great substitute for a mid-day break at the resort. Did it twice this last weekend. Went in grabbed lunch at Harambe while waiting to be sat at Nomad lounge for a few cocktails and churros. Sat at Nomad for over an hour or two before heading back to MK.

The Leader of the Club1 day ago

Tropical Americas not featuring Up in a greater capacity is the biggest miss here imo. I’d love to replace the Theater in the Wild with a Nemo attraction. I still think Jungle Book should go in this plot. Expand Asia.

Nickm20221 day ago

I was thinking about this too, it would be cool if they added this in the norther area of the park between river and Everest. Have Brother Bear in there, if you want try pocahontas, throw in Bambi. Personally I still can't get over how there is not an UP ride btw, especially in a Central/South American themed land. Really hope they move the birds and meet and greet over there once done.