Disney’s Animal Kingdom Update: Avatar Land Construction, Dinosaur Back Open, Holiday Decor and More

The holidays have arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and DINOSAUR is back open again! After its recent refurbishment, DINOSAUR has re-opened with new lighting and special effects and more. While the ride is still incredibly dark, some areas have been enhanced with lit-up backdrops and the Compsognathus have been replaced with projected screens (which is actually an improvement in my opinion.) Some other improvements include the Carnotsaurus skins’ paint scheme has more detail and the museum lobby displays in the queue have been improved. Over at Pandora: The World of Avatar construction, the pathway leading into the new area has received new lanterns and a big weird scary fake plant too. See the video and images below for more information and stay tuned for more theme park updates!


Photo Update

Welcome to Animal Kingdom at the Holiday season

Welcome to Animal Kingdom at the Holiday season

Chip 'n Dale ready for the cold

Chip ‘n Dale ready for the cold

Holiday decor on all the buildings throughout most of the park

Holiday decor on all the buildings throughout most of the park

Christmas items in all the gift shops

Christmas items in all the gift shops

Meet Baloo and King Louie

Meet Baloo and King Louie

Restaurantosaurus decorations

Restaurantosaurus decorations

Fuzzy snowman at Dino-Rama

Fuzzy snowman at Dino-Rama

Meet the Disney dogs at Dinoland USA

Meet the Disney dogs at Dinoland USA

Santa-Saurus!

Santa-Saurus!

DINOSAUR ride back open after being closed for refurbishment

DINOSAUR ride back open after being closed for refurbishment

Fountain with Aladar statue filled with water again

Fountain with Aladar statue filled with water again

The museum displays inside the ride queue have been improved with more fossils

The museum displays inside the ride queue have been improved with more fossils

Some new displays have replaced old flat murals

Some new displays have replaced old flat murals

New lighting and special effects added to the ride

New lighting and special effects added to the ride

A happy monkey!

A happy monkey!

Visiting the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia

Visiting the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia

Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon

Monkey enclosure at Maharajah Jungle Trek is closed for refurbishment

Monkey enclosure at Maharajah Jungle Trek is closed for refurbishment

This enclosure usually houses lion-tailed macaques

This enclosure usually houses lion-tailed macaques

The monkey enclosure should be opening back up by mid-December

The monkey enclosure should be opening back up by mid-December

Welcome to Pandora: The World of Avatar

Welcome to Pandora: The World of Avatar

The view from inside the park, near Tiffins

The view from inside the park, near Tiffins

The bridge leading to Pandora

The bridge leading to Pandora

Many different style lanterns added along the pathway

Many different style lanterns added along the pathway

These lanterns made to look like they were made by the Na'vi, but others will look man-made

These lanterns made to look like they were made by the Na’vi, but others will look man-made

Crazy weird-looking giant plant thing at the end of the path

Crazy weird-looking giant plant thing at the end of the path

This thing looks wild!

This thing looks wild!

Close up view of wild plant

Close up view of wild plant

Floating mountains and a large construction crane

Floating mountains and a large construction crane

View of the area from the side

View of the area from the side

Floating mountains

Floating mountains

Closer view of the mountains

Closer view of the mountains

Super close up view of the top of the floating mountains

Super close up view of the top of the floating mountains

Closer view of the vines connecting the mountains

Closer view of the vines connecting the mountains

View of the area from the back-side

View of the area from the back-side

You can see the large show building, floating mountains, and front-facing facade

You can see the large show building, floating mountains, and front-facing facade

Baby floating mountains behind the facade

Baby floating mountains behind the facade

Backside of front-facing facade

Backside of front-facing facade

Front corner of facade

Front corner of facade

Detailed mountain tops facade

Detailed mountain tops facade

Dirt being piled high to create a long berm to block view from guests

Dirt being piled high to create a long berm to block view from guests

Workers on new berm

Workers on new berm

Wide view of new berm. Will probably be covered in grass and new plants will be added behind it soon to better block the area

Wide view of new berm. Will probably be covered in grass and new plants will be added behind it soon to better block the area

One last quick look at the floating mountains before we go

One last quick look at the floating mountains before we go

That's all for this update! Check out our previous Avatar update more concept art and more!

That’s all for this update! Check out our previous Avatar update more concept art and more!


avatarlandlogoThat’s all for this update. See all Avatar updates here and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!

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2 Comments
  • Bob

    Reply

    Thanks for the update. It is my understanding that the macaque exhibit is a brand new addition and has yet to been seen by the public. It has been under construction for the past year. Tapirs used to be housed in the space, but the last one died and it was decided to change it to macaques.

    • Alicia Stella

      Thanks for the info! I’ll follow up on the addition in January when I visit again.

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