At the 2026 D23 Expo, the picture of Tropical Americas became clearer! That included a deeper look into the new Encanto attraction. In this post, we’ll share the news about that area before adding our commentary at the bottom of the post. Let’s get to it!

Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation Studios Jared Bush, who also happens to be the writer and director of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto, took to the Honda Center stage, giving fans a preview into how this lively land is coming together, including brand new details about the story and inspiration behind the Encanto attraction. 

New Details About the Encanto Attraction at Animal Kingdom

Jared reflected on the events of last night’s Studios showcase, where a sensational slate of upcoming films was shared with an enthusiastic audience. When asked by actor Skylar Astin what it’s like bringing those movies to life in the form of theme park experiences, he fondly recalled a legacy that traces all the way back to Walt Disney’s original dream for Disneyland. Walt wanted a place where films could be pulled from the screen and into the real world in a transformative, tangible way, and credits the new Encanto attraction as being a key part of this rich history. 

The first big reveal came with confirmation of the attraction’s official name: Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto. As previously shared, guests will be invited to celebrate Antonio’s new gift, which is the ability to communicate with animals. And the heartwarming message of this adventure is that we are all part of the familia of living things, regardless of our special gifts or abilities. 

Voice actors from Disney Animation’s Encanto return to the Casita to lend their voices, including Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow, and Diane Guerrero, playing the roles of Mirabel, Luisa, and Isabella, respectively. A behind-the-scenes video of them recording was shared for the crowd, with Jessica explaining that “it’s sort of a perfect film to take all these colors and excitement out of and allow audiences to immerse themselves in it.” 

Another helpful tidbit we learned? There will be no height requirement for the attraction, so it’s a fun family-friendly item to add to your Animal Kingdom itinerary. 

What Will the Encanto Attraction Be Like?

Jared shared that one of the most fun parts of working with Imagineers on this project has been to expand the world of Encanto as we know it by creating new parts of the Madrigal house you never see in the film. Since the attraction takes place on Antonio’s gift day, a sacred and special occasion for the family, riders are invited to Casita as part of a cheerful celebration. 

When you enter the house, you’ll board a ride vehicle meant to represent the different pieces of furniture assembled by the power of Casita to carry you through the rooms. They feel lively and dynamic, reacting like characters themselves to the scenes unfolding around you, which feels so perfectly representative of what we felt from the film. 

Jared showed a new rendering that details how you’ll move through the house, eventually ending upstairs in Antonio’s room. The space has been transformed into a verdant rainforest, overflowing with animal species of many shapes and sizes. In total, there are more than 50 animals represented inside the attraction, and we got to see a first glimpse at some of them in action, including a very cute capybara receiving a hair trim, along with a toucan and donkey.

Imagineer Joan Hartwig had previously given us an inside look at the research trip that the team had taken to Colombia, where they saw firsthand how certain colors, materials, and structures interact with things like climate, terrain, and the overall culture of the region. This mission of telling authentic stories with extreme care and attention to detail is present throughout the entire project process – we learned today that Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Team to make sure all of the animals included in the attraction are accurate to Colombia.

Commentary

As I mentioned in the Indiana Jones ride update, the care being put into Tropical Americas is charming and reassuring. Animal Kingdom feels as if it’s a sacred place when it comes to themed design and once Imagineers start talking about it, they’re eager to show you how it fits.

Thankfully, the new Encanto attraction seems to be a very good fit and not just because it’s set to have a bunch of animals in it. The spirit of the movie and aesthetic of the concept art make this feel like a natural fit. Not to mention, the park has like 6 rides total right now so adding anything that’s not Primeval Whirl and Triceratops Spin is a win in our book.

The Imagineering Pavilion featured a few of the animals that will be on the attraction. The capybara is the headliner, looking adorable as capybaras do.

The highlight of the Encanto ride news for me was the beautiful concept art revealed with the vehicles going up the stairs. That looks absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to see how they bring it to life. The color in Tropical Americas should be beautiful, as Imagineers mentioned several times in the pavilion about how this space will be more floral than other parts of Animal Kingdom.

The other bit of news here, outside of a strong attraction name, is that Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will not have a height requirement. This is beautiful news and something I applaud whenever this gets announced. Walt Disney World has too many attractions with a height requirement, especially among their recent additions. Having a new and top tier attraction actively promoting that anyone can go on this is wonderful.

For those keeping track of rumors at home, Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland doesn’t have a height limit either. Rumors have suggested that the ride system in Encanto will be the same, or at least similar as Mystic Manor. I’m excited to find out.

The one thing missing from the Tropical Americas segment of the Parks Showcase was an opening date. I was really hoping to hear confirmation that this would open in 2027. Monstropolis, at least most of it, received one! But, nothing was mentioned about Tropical Americas at all. I’m still thinking that November 2027 is the current target but that’s not much more than an educated guess.

Whenever this new land opens, it will feature 3 new attractions, a large counter-service option and shopping. We can’t wait to see it come to Animal Kingdom, led by Antonio’s Festival de Encanto!

Are you excited for the new Encanto ride at Animal Kingdom? Let us know your thoughts, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. This site offers discount tickets for those looking! 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. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate