Animal Kingdom’s future became clearer at the D23 Expo. Tropical Americas, the land replacing Dinoland and some backstage areas, was given an opening date and a few details. In this post, we’ll share the news as well as add our own commentary. Let’s get to it!

A new adventure awaits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the addition of a new space themed around Tropical Americas. Welcome to Pueblo Esperanza.

As Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro explained during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, work on this new 11-acre section of the park is set to begin later this year. Just like Harambe, the land feels lived in, with a long, rich history — plus there’s a large hacienda which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort.

The space will be lush and sprawling, featuring a large fountain in the center where the villagers like to gather and tell stories. Additionally, a woodcarver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories. It’s a new take on a classic attraction that young families are going to love.

That’s not all that will be located here – the new land will include not one but two signature attractions!

Indiana Jones

A new Indy experience is set to arrive in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and will be different from any other Indiana Jones experience around the world.

In this new venture, the man with the hat has recently discovered a perfectly preserved Mayan temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Encanto

If you’re a fan of drawers, floors, and doors, let’s go! The first-ever “Encanto”-themed ride-through attraction is coming to Animal Kingdom, featuring the beloved Madrigal family from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Inside the Casita, Antonio has just received his special gift — the ability to communicate with animals — and his room has transformed into a rainforest. It’s time to go explore alongside him, and you never know what member of the family you might bump into…

Construction on the land is set to begin this fall and will open in 2027 — but don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to experience Dinosaur again.

Commentary

Having some official details to digest when it comes to Tropical Americas is a relief! We’ll start with the last of those details shared which is that the new land will open in 2027. In terms of Disney theme park construction, that’s a quick turnaround. Yes, they’ve already begun in some fashion and most of where they are working won’t be in an active guest part of Animal Kingdom, but that’s still relatively fast.

Considering the current state of the park, that’s great news! I will always be one of Animal Kingdom’s biggest defenders. I think it’s one of the prettiest theme parks in the world and love the concept. But there’s no doubting that there’s not enough to do in Animal Kingdom right now. Even with this 2027 addition, the amount of rides will only add up to what they had in 2019. That’s a start, and it looks to be a good one!

Moving to the rides, Indiana Jones getting an original story is exciting. I don’t expect the attraction to have a significantly different feel from Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea since the ride system will be the same but having a new plot to experience is fun. Making it thematically appropriate to this new area is important, at least to me. The facade in the concept art looks adventurous and beautiful, Animal Kingdom’s strongest components. While I enjoy the campiness of Dinosaur and think it’s a fun attraction, the current state of the ride is bad. I appreciate that many people love it but am personally looking forward to Indy coming.

Encanto’s details are just as intriguing, although less clear. Many others have projected that the ride system will be the same as Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor. If that’s the case, sign me up! That attraction is seen as one of the best in the world. There is nothing near confirmation of that rumor, just some plot device overlap. Here’s hoping!

Regardless of the ride system, Encanto and Animal Kingdom are a match. Getting past the surface level idea of “it needs animals” and looking deeper, the movie has a sense of exploration and is fascinated by the world. There’s beautiful color in that movie and I’m looking forward to seeing that spread across the land, especially compared to what it replaced.

The other bits of information about the carousel and counter-service spot are promising too. It gave the impression that they are working hard to integrate the area into the existing park. Of course, we won’t know how well it fits for a few years! I would love to hear news of an animal exhibit or two coming here, as well as a few exploratory trails. Hopefully that comes in the future.

As for now, Tropical Americas is the expansion I’m most bullish on as far as projects at Disneyland and Disney World. The two new attractions seem like great ideas, the concept of the entire land looks beautiful and lush and the fit seems natural. We’ll keep you updated with any other news that’s released!

Are you excited for Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom? Let us know, along with any thoughts you might have, in the comments below! If you are planning a trip to Disney World, then check out our planning guide. Looking for discount Walt Disney World tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!