As Walt Disney World followers plan to take farewell journeys for points of interest & areas which are closing in Animal Kingdom, readers are asking about closure dates for DINOSAUR, Dinoland, and Dino-Rama. This explains when the rides, eating places, outlets, and leisure on this land will go extinct. (Up to date January 12, 2025.)
A few of this was already coated Development & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Walt Disney World. That gave a rundown of all initiatives on the horizon, and our expectations as to when closures would happen and when the reimagined replacements or new points of interest would open. This submit elaborates on that, providing corroboration and new rumors concerning the demise of dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom.
The very first thing we all know up to now is that Tropical Americas is the following huge enlargement (or redevelopment, if you happen to’d want) on the horizon at Walt Disney World. Second, we all know that Dino-Rama is already extinct. Lastly, though the exact date when DINOSAUR will shut has but to be introduced, it’s beginning to come into focus. Think about subscribing to our free Walt Disney World publication, the place we’ll share prompt updates as quickly as they’re introduced. For now, right here’s every little thing we all know concerning the finish instances for Dinoland USA, and after we count on DINOSAUR to go extinct…
January 12, 2025 Replace: The Dino-Rama subsection of Dinoland USA is now formally extinct, which suggests the next is completely closed:
- TriceraTop Spin
- Fossil Enjoyable Video games
- Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures
Development partitions for Tropical Americas will go up in a single day and be seen to company on January 13, 2025. It’s clear Walt Disney World goes to waste no time attending to work on demolish Dino-Rama to begin building of the brand new Encanto magical casita darkish journey.
Simply final week, Walt Disney Imagineering filed two ‘Discover of Graduation’ building permits for the ‘facility demolition’ of TriceraTop Spin and the Fossil Enjoyable Video games space in Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama. The contractor listed for the initiatives is Whiting-Turner, an organization that ceaselessly works with Imagineering on Walt Disney World’s large-scale improvement initiatives.
The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Chunk Snacks, Trilo-Bites, and DINOSAUR will keep open for now based on Walt Disney World.
Should you’re wanting the closure date for every little thing else narrowed past “for now,” Walt Disney World adopted that up with a wide-ranging replace on what’s coming to the parks in 2025, and that included information concerning the closing of DINOSAUR. Right here’s the announcement:
Final Likelihood for DINOSAUR! When you’re visiting Animal Kingdom, be sure to “go get that dino” at DINOSAUR. We’ve beforehand shared this attraction can be closing to make approach for the brand new Tropical Americas land – 2025 is your yr to go to earlier than it goes extinct!
Walt Disney World emphasizing that company have “via 2025 to go get that dino…earlier than extinction” fairly conclusively signifies the attraction isn’t closing till 2026.
Our unique commentary beneath covers a spread of eventualities for the DINOSAUR deadline, together with one in January 2026. I’d be shocked if it closes a lot later than that. It’s doubtless that Walt Disney World will get via the vacation rush, plus possibly Marathon Weekend and MLK Day Weekend, however not Presidents Day or Spring Break.
In all probability, DINOSAUR will shut alongside an identical timeline as Dino-Rama, only one yr later (most likely plus or minus at some point to at least one week). It stands to cause that the identical can be true of the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, and possibly Trilo-Bites. These don’t essentially want to shut earlier. Given their areas and the turnaround time wanted to reimagine or substitute them, they may even keep open a bit longer than DINOSAUR.
It’ll come right down to what is smart from a capability and crowd-absorbing perspective. With DINOSAUR closed, will company actually be venturing to this dead-end nook of the park? Even with DINOSAUR open, it’s doable that demand drops to the purpose that Walt Disney World opts to shut the play space or eating choices earlier. Once more, it is a firm huge on saving working bills each time doable.
I additionally wouldn’t advocate ready that lengthy to say your goodbyes to DINOSAUR, regardless. One factor we’ve seen time and time once more with journey reimaginings is that, as soon as an attraction is slated for alternative, it stops receiving TLC upkeep. To make sure, Disney will proceed doing needed work on the journey system to make sure it’s secure. However something non-essential–that means to the present scenes, lighting, and so on–that’s all however over.
DINOSAUR is already infamous for being poorly-maintained (“dinosaur on a stick,” anybody?), and that’s solely prone to worsen in 2025. I assume it’s doable that Walt Disney World will need it in its greatest form so followers can provide their fond farewells…however does anybody actually imagine that? Who else rode Splash Mountain within the final 10-12 months of its life, and went via complete scenes with no present lighting or static AAs?
If something, I’d count on DINOSAUR to be worse than that, not higher. Say your goodbyes ASAP. You most likely don’t need to bear in mind the journey primarily based on its December 2025 situation. (Actually hope to be flawed about this, and never attempting to be a debbie downer…simply being real looking primarily based on loads of previous precedent.)
Actually, I don’t love this information. Having extra time to say goodbye to DINOSAUR may sound like excellent news on the floor, however this implies a tighter timeline for the reimagining into Indiana Jones Journey. Should you’re a Walt Disney World diehard enjoying the lengthy recreation, it’s best to need as a lot time as doable for that journey redo because it’ll be with us for many years to return.
I additionally suppose this takes Tropical Americas opening early off the desk. As mentioned beneath, my hope had been that they’d push for a Christmas 2026 opening, as Animal Kingdom wants assist sooner somewhat than later. This will increase the probability of a Summer season 2027 opening for Tropical Americas, which was all the time probably the most logical timeframe, anyway.
Whereas it bodes effectively that Walt Disney World is already submitting permits for the demolition of Dino-Rama and can put up building partitions in a single day on January 13, it nonetheless wouldn’t shock me if Tropical Americas doesn’t debut till Christmas 2027. This can be a huge mission and that’s nonetheless a decent turnaround time, despite the fact that it might not seem to be it on the floor.
Should you’re questioning how this multi-phase closure will work, it’s as a result of there are additionally a number of sub-lands or areas inside Tropical Americas.
The primary is Pueblo Esperanza, the hub in coronary heart of the rainforest that’s title interprets to “Village of Hope.” (Some followers have began referring to this entire Tropical Americas mission as Pueblo Esperanza–it’s our understanding this title is only for the core neighborhood up entrance. It’s kinda like the brand new EPCOT, which has a bunch of unnecessary neighborhood names.)
The Pueblo Esperanza neighborhood will characteristic a big hacienda, which can be one of many largest quick-service eating places at Walt Disney World Resort. It’ll additionally provide a critter carousel as an attraction. Pueblo Esperanza will substitute the Boneyard, TriceraTops Spin, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Chunk Snacks, and (presumably) Trilo-Bites.
After leaving the Pueblo Esperanza, company can enterprise deeper into the rainforest to search out not one however two signature points of interest. To the left is the Encanto magical Madrigal Casita darkish journey, which is prone to be a family-friendly Omnimover–maybe like an Encanto-ized model of Mystic Manor.
The Encanto attraction will substitute all of Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, together with all of its carnival video games, that huge roadside dinosaur, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Donald’s Dino-Bash, and TriceraTop Spin (once more–it straddles the Pueblo Esperanza and Encanto areas).
That is the world of Tropical Americas building the place partitions will go up on January 13, 2025.
Lastly, there’s the new Indiana Jones Journey attraction, which is able to substitute DINOSAUR.
I assume there’s additionally Dino-Sue and a few winding pathways with statues again right here, however for probably the most half, this space is solely being reimagined from DINOSAUR to the third incarnation of Indiana Jones Journey.
Towards the backdrop of those three mostly-distinct areas of Tropical Americas, let’s flip to when every little thing goes to shut…
Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro already revealed that work on this new 11-acre part of the park is underway, with building set to start later this yr. Extra particularly, Walt Disney World acknowledged the next: “Development on the land is about to start this fall and can open in 2027 — however don’t fear, you’ll nonetheless have loads of time to expertise Dinosaur once more (and get that dino).”
It’s essential to attract a distinction between work and building, as Disney itself has carried out this. Work is already underway on plenty of these initiatives or will begin quickly. That’s a nebulous time period, and will imply something from the submitting of permits to set up of trailers to backstage prep to clear the best way for precise building.
In contrast, building does (or ought to) imply that company are going to see closures, partitions go up, and stuff taking place on the substance of the additions. Not less than, to the extent that is doable–a number of of those initiatives are correct expansions or will happen close to or past the berm. We most likely gained’t see a lot in the best way of Villains Land work as a consequence of its location.
Anyway, we already knew that building on Tropical Americas is already underway and that company “nonetheless have loads of time to expertise Dinosaur once more.” From that, we beforehand inferred that this is able to be a multi-phase mission with Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama closing first and DINOSAUR someday after that.
Since DINOSAUR isn’t closing ASAP, it’s secure to imagine that Indiana Jones Journey journey reimagining is not being fast-tracked, and likewise that Tropical Americas will not open in phases. That’s most likely a wise transfer, because the strategy didn’t go effectively for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We suspect Walt Disney World wouldn’t make the identical mistake twice, even when there’s an pressing want to present Animal Kingdom a wanted/overdue shot within the arm.
If the Tropical Americas land is opening suddenly as a substitute of in phases, there’s extra work to be carried out on the Encanto–a model new construct–than there’s on Indiana Jones Journey, which is able to reuse the prevailing journey system from Dinosaur. All of those had been our fairly-confident assumptions primarily based on Disney’s public statements.
This has now been formally confirmed by Walt Disney World. Dino-Rama will shut first, in early 2025, with every little thing else staying open for now. The one actual shock right here is that this isn’t already closed–there had been rumors that Dino-Rama would go extinct late final yr, earlier than the vacation season. (The delay is sensible–Christmas is busy!)
In any case, the a lot larger query is when every little thing else will shut. Although Pueblo Esperanza and Indiana Jones Journey are two distinct areas, I’m going to lump them collectively for the needs of building. The explanation for that’s purely sensible–as soon as the entrance part closes, it’s recreation over for DINOSAUR. That attraction turns into inaccessible.
Equally, as soon as DINOSAUR goes down, there’s not a lot to attract folks again to this nook of the park. It’ll all shut across the identical time except administration seems like Restaurantosaurus is required as eating capability for a bit longer. I doubt that, although.
It additionally simply is smart. The whole lot except for the critter carousel is a reskinning or reimagining, and it’s not like a carousel is the head of attraction complexity. In the case of these two areas, the time wanted to transform DINOSAUR to Indiana Jones Journey will doubtless dictate the closure date, because it’s probably the most complicated element of this half (give or take) of Tropical Americas.
When attempting to reverse engineer DINOSAUR’s closure date from the deliberate 2027 opening of Tropical Americas, now we have some current precedent to work with: Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Frozen Ever After. These two initiatives each took round 18-20 months.
Clearly, these usually are not excellent comparisons since each are slow-moving boat rides whereas Indiana Jones Journey is an exciting high-speed attraction. Splash Mountain and Maelstrom additionally had work that wanted to be carried out that’s doubtless irrelevant right here. However, I’d name them “adequate” proxies.
If we assume that Walt Disney World needs Tropical Americas open by Summer season 2027, then they will push off the closure of DINOSAUR till January 2026. In the event that they don’t intend to open Tropical Americas till Christmas 2027, they may be capable to push off the extinction date till after Spring Break 2026.
I may see DINOSAUR surviving till then…however I view that as unlikely. About the one factor that would trigger that a lot delay is Walt Disney World needing to refurbish different points of interest in Animal Kingdom first (so there aren’t a number of simultaneous closures in 2025-2026) or the corporate anticipating a blockbuster 2025 because of the debut of a drone present.
That additionally appears impossible. Even when Walt Disney World rolls out wonderful leisure in Summer season 2025 for DAK, it’s solely going to take action a lot and for therefore lengthy. It’s more likely that the corporate realizes Animal Kingdom goes to be the park hit hardest by Epic Universe, and quick tracks the Tropical Americas mission to the best extent doable.
Given every little thing we all know, the most definitely closure date for DINOSAUR is January 12, 2026.
That’s after the vacation season, after colleges return into session, and likewise after the 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon wraps up. I actually hope Walt Disney World doesn’t delay the date till after Spring Break 2026. The longer DINOSAUR is closed, the extra time Imagineering has to do justice to an bold reimagining. The whole lot I’ve heard about this model of Indiana Jones Journey has me optimistic, together with insiders suggesting it has the potential to be one of the best of the trio.
However that solely occurs if Imagineering is given the time, sources, and cash to make it so. Their concepts and ambition are clearly essential, however that solely issues a lot in the event that they’re hamstrung by tight timelines or restricted funding. I’m truthfully not fearful concerning the latter–Burbank opened the cash spigot in the beginning of the most recent fiscal yr.
What’s the larger concern is Walt Disney World administration taking a look at Animal Kingdom’s already restricted journey roster and demanding a quicker turnaround for worry of hemorrhaging (much more) attendance. That’s going to occur regardless with Epic Universe, and DINOSAUR isn’t the outcome-determinative issue. Hopefully classes had been realized with that mentality from Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and Imagineering could have rather less than two years to remodel DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you count on DINOSAUR and Dinoland at Animal Kingdom to shut utterly? Assume DINOSAUR will go extinct in January 2026–or not till after Spring Break? Assume the Tropical Americas opening can be moved ahead or delayed? Assume our hypothesis is flawed, and this whole land closes suddenly? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!