Disney's Animal Kingdom Announces First Dinoland U.S.A. Closures for Tropical Americas Project

Oct 14, 2024 in "Tropical Americas"

Posted: Monday October 14, 2024 3:13pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney's Animal Kingdom is preparing for a major transformation as the phased closure of Dinoland U.S.A. begins to make way for the much-anticipated Tropical Americas expansion.

The first wave of closures will take place in January 2025, with the final day for guests to experience TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Fun Games, and the charming shop Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures set for January 12, 2025.

While much of the Dino-Rama area will be closing, several DinoLand attractions will remain open, at least for now. DINOSAUR, The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites will still be available to visitors until later in 2025.

TriceraTop Spin closes January 12, 2025

Dinoland U.S.A.'s Phased Closure

The closure of Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama is the first significant step in the transformation of Dinoland U.S.A. into Tropical Americas, a land inspired by the cultures, wildlife, and environments of Central and South America. Central to this reimagining will be the introduction of Disney's first Encanto-themed attraction. This magical experience will invite guests into the heart of the Madrigal family's casita, where they'll take part in a joyous celebration of Antonio receiving his special gift: the ability to communicate with animals.

As visitors step inside the casita, they'll join the Madrigals on an adventure filled with magic and wonder, exploring the mystical home and engaging with the animals in Antonio's enchanted world.

Tropical Americas Concept Art

What's Next for DINOSAUR and Other Attractions?

As the phased closures continue into 2025, another major change looms for Dinoland. DINOSAUR, one of Animal Kingdom's original thrill rides, will remain operational for the time being but will eventually close to make way for an entirely new Indiana Jones adventure. This new attraction will take guests on an archaeological journey through a recently uncovered Maya temple, with Indiana Jones leading the way as they search for a mysterious creature rumored to inhabit the temple's depths.

Tropical Americas Concept Model

Preparing for Tropical Americas

Construction on the new attractions will begin shortly after the initial closures, with the entire Tropical Americas land slated to open in 2027.

For visitors hoping to experience the final days of Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama, this is their last chance to do so before the land begins its transformation. Disney will provide further updates on additional closures as 2025 progresses.

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WorldExplorer36 minutes ago

Disney Guide to Running Animal Kingdom: Do you want to cut costs somewhere? Yes - Proceed to next question Of course! - Proceed to next question Can it be blamed on animals and their welfare, event if it isn't true? Yes - Do so! Aren't you so caring? No - Blame Dinoland! How could they do this?! Enjoy your money!

lazyboy97o37 minutes ago

Outside of veterinary treatment and specific needs based on care, animals are not forcibly moved around the habitats and barns at any well run zoological park. The park already ran night safaris nor was night activities something unique to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

GhostHost10001 hour ago

$taff

FerretAfros2 hours ago

Nonsense. The park regularly operated a nighttime version of the safari from 2016 (coinciding with the Pandora opening, the nighttime lagoon shows, and push toward greater nighttime activities in the park overall) through early 2020 until the Covid shutdowns. They did so in full compliance with animal welfare regulations and best practices. Yes, there were challenges with certain species. No, not all species were present in the evening. Yes, visibility was limited with the low light levels. But they were able to operate the nighttime attraction for years, while complying with animal safety and comfort needs, without even needing to pause operations in the evening while certain animals came indoors for the evening. While the number of animals visible was lower than during the day, they were often much more active, accounting for some of the more interesting sightings I’ve had on the attraction (including a rhino running alongside our ride vehicle and lions getting frisky after dark). They don’t run it any more because they’re too cheap to operate the park with any meaningful nighttime activities. And curiously, when there’s barely anything to do after dark and all of the animal viewing opportunities close early, park guests also leave early, reinforcing their self-fulfilling claim that nobody wants to be in the park after dark. It has nothing to do with animal welfare, and everything to do with being cheap. How quickly we (willfully?) forget our history!

Mr. Sullivan6 hours ago

They stop the safaris earlier than park close because it can be a rather complicated process to take the animals in for the evening. They don't just leave them there on the savannah overnight, they are taken to backstage facilities to be cared for and put to bed. It's the same reason that not many zoos stay open past dark. It's a pretty difficult thing to get the animals in where they need to be at night, especially since many of them are nocturnal and thus more active and less prone to following along what needs to be done. Beyond that too, these animals are used to a routine and it can be very distressing to them if this routine is broken. They're used to being put in their backstage places at a certain time, and it could very well be troubling to them to be left out and met with the trucks and park guests past the time they're used to winding down. Yes, a night safari would be cool but logistically there's just not really any way for them to do that that also allows the zoological cast members to do what they need to do to the best of their ability. They already are working on it past park close as is, it'd be a real nightmare and time consuming process for them if they were only starting it at park close.

mysto8 hours ago

I'm pretty sure it makes life difficult for the resident animals who cannot choose to escape the loud noise and lights like people can. It's the same reason the park closes so early.

EagleScout6108 hours ago

https://attractionsmagazine.com/animal-kingdom-construction-january-2025-tropical-americas-triceratop-spin/

AidenRodriguez7319 hours ago

I guess it can stop people from getting in lines for "one last ride" on FOP. Since they won't make it to the queue before the park close. Much easier to clear people out with one last show than keep open what rides they would go on for a last ride on for longer.

gerarar10 hours ago

They sometimes add a late FOTLK showing right at park closing. Can't remember the exact reason why but it was done very recently. Edit: It was extended evening hours. Say park closed normally at 6pm, there were FOTLK showtimes at 6pm and 7pm. It's rare, but they often do late showings.

MagicHappens197111 hours ago

The theater show performers are unionized and there are restrictions on how many shows they can perform a day and rest times and such. They already have two casts for this reason, another thing is that these closing shows would probably not bring in enough guests to justify adding the cost.

MrPromey15 hours ago

Only thing I can think of is cast pay/scheduling which feels like a solvable "problem".

MrPromey15 hours ago

I never heard. Was there a logistic or animal safety reason why night safaris couldn't continue other than the park no-longer being open past dark? Having been on one, I didn't think it was a bad experience. Certainly not the same as the day one and it felt like fewer animals but being in relative darkness also changed the feel of it, too making it seem in some ways like a different ride - something worth trying even if you'd already done the day one, for instance.

IMDREW15 hours ago

Question, why do park shows never run at nighttime? Whats stopping Nemo and Lion King from a performance at like 8?

SpectreJordan16 hours ago

I'd say they'd need another ride in Africa first; the rumored Lion King ride would be perfect. The Africa land is essentially dead at night since they have to close the Safari, trails & show early. It'd be really difficult to justify this park being open later if there's a big land in the middle that closes early.