Today marks the first day that the Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama section of DinoLand, U.S.A. is closed permanently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
Disney announced the timing of this closure last Fall, as part of a larger phased closure of the entire DinoLand, U.S.A. land by next year. The area is being replaced by a new Tropical America’s themed land featuring attractions based on Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Photo of recently added planters in front of Dino-Rama area, Photos by sjlemme
The TriceraTop Spin flat ride, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures gift shop are now closed and blocked from guest access by work walls and portable planters.
The walkway leading from DinoLand to the Finding Nemo theater show remains open, now lined with work walls that block access to the Dino-Rama area.
Work has not yet begun to clear the Dino-Rama area, but trucks can be seen parked behind the newly-added barriers. Materials to add additional work walls can be found staged in multiple places, likely to replace many of the rolling planters in place now temporarily.
The rest of the DinoLand area remains open, including the Dinosaur ride, The Boneyard play area, and Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites dining locations.
Disney says that the Dinosaur ride will remain open throughout all of 2025, so we are not expecting it to close until January 2026 at the earliest.
For now, an area set aside for character meet and greets has been left accessible for guests near the Dinosaur Treasures gift shop, so Donald and friends can continue greeting in this area.
The area that closed today, which was themed as a colorful roadside attraction, will be completely demolished and become home to a brand new indoor ride based on the Walt Disney Animation film, Encanto.
Official concept art for “Encanto” Attraction
Once closed next year, the Dinosaur ride will be reimagined into a new ride themed to Indiana Jones.
Art for new “Indiana Jones Attraction”
The rest of the DinoLand area will be transformed into a new Tropical Americas land, inspired by the biodiverse areas of the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.
Official concept art for Tropical Americas, coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In addition to the Encanto and Indiana Jones rides, a carousel will also be added to this new land, to be built roughly where The Boneyard play area is located now.
Official concept art for the Esperanza Carousel
Tropical Americas area will be 11 acres in size. Disney has given the fictional town where the land takes place the name of “Pueblo Esperanza,” which they call a lush and sprawling town.
Official concept art for “Esperanza – Open-Air Market”
Restaurantosaurus will be transformed into a large hacienda, which Disney says will be one of the largest quick service restaurants at Walt Disney World. Concept art refers to this dining location as the “Esperanza Market.”
The completed Tropical Americas land is expected to open in 2027. See our previous coverage for more information on the planned attractions for this new area, and see our vlog saying goodbye to the Dino-Rama area before it closed. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of this large project for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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