As Walt Disney World followers put together to take farewell journeys for sights & areas which might be closing in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, readers have been asking about closure dates for DINOSAUR, Dinoland, and Dino-Rama. If you happen to’re questioning when the rides, eating places, retailers, and leisure on this land will go extinct, this explains what we all know.
A few of this was already coated Building & 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 sights would open. This publish elaborates on that, providing corroboration and new rumors concerning the demise of dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom.
What this publish doesn’t supply is an official announcement or affirmation of something. These are credible rumors which might be strengthened however what Walt Disney World has already shared by way of development timelines and opening dates, however particular closure dates haven’t been revealed. If that’s all you care about, this publish isn’t for you. Take into account as a substitute subscribing to our free Walt Disney World publication, the place we’ll share immediate updates as quickly as they’re introduced.
What we all know up to now is that Tropical Americas is the subsequent massive growth (or redevelopment, for those who’d favor) on the horizon at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World has already revealed that Tropical Americas will include three considerably distinct areas.
The primary is Pueblo Esperanza, the hub in coronary heart of the rainforest that’s identify interprets to “Village of Hope.” (Some followers have began referring to this entire Tropical Americas mission as Pueblo Esperanza–it’s our understanding this identify is only for the core group up entrance. It’s kinda like the brand new EPCOT, which has a bunch of useless neighborhood names.)
The Pueblo Esperanza group will characteristic a big hacienda, which might be one of many largest quick-service eating places at Walt Disney World Resort. It’ll additionally supply a critter carousel as an attraction. Pueblo Esperanza will change 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 seek out not one however two signature sights. 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 change all of Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, together with all of its carnival video games, that massive roadside dinosaur, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Donald’s Dino-Bash, and TriceraTop Spin (once more–it straddles the Pueblo Esperanza and Encanto areas).
Lastly, there’s the new Indiana Jones Journey attraction, which can change 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.
In opposition to 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 development set to start later this 12 months. Extra particularly, Walt Disney World acknowledged the next: “Building on the land is ready 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 necessary to attract a distinction between work and development, as Disney itself has executed this. Work is already underway on quite a lot 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 development.
In contrast, development does (or ought to) imply that company are going to see closures, partitions go up, and stuff occurring on the substance of the additions. At the very least, to the extent that is attainable–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 on account of its location.
Anyway, so we already knew that development on Tropical Americas is slated to start in Fall 2024 and that company “nonetheless have loads of time to expertise Dinosaur once more.” From that, we beforehand inferred that this could be a multi-phase mission with Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama closing this 12 months and DINOSAUR closing in 2025.
Since DINOSAUR shouldn’t be closing ASAP, it’s secure to imagine that Indiana Jones Journey journey reimagining is not being fast-tracked, and in addition that Tropical Americas will not open in phases. That’s most likely a wise transfer, because the method didn’t go nicely for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We suspect Walt Disney World wouldn’t make the identical mistake twice, even when there’s an pressing need to offer Animal Kingdom a wanted/overdue shot within the arm.
If the Tropical Americas land is opening all of sudden as a substitute of in phases, there’s extra work to be executed on the Encanto–a model new construct–than there may be on Indiana Jones Journey, which can reuse the prevailing journey system from Dinosaur. All of those have been our fairly-confident assumptions primarily based on Disney’s public statements.
Effectively, now wdwmagic has corroborated this, reporting on a rumor that the primary closure will happen “earlier than the 2024 vacation season” when Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, its carnival-themed video games and rides, and TriceraTop Spin all shut. We view this rumor as extremely credible primarily based each on the supply reporting it and the fact that logic just about dictates it being true.
I hesitate to foretell a exact closure date for Dino-Rama as a result of I doubt it’s being given strategic thought. That means they gained’t essentially wait till after Columbus Day or Veterans Day or no matter–they’ll simply shut it when Imagineering is able to get began on the Encanto growth.
If something, I’m barely stunned that Dino-Rama hasn’t closed already. It could’ve been a robust assertion for Josh D’Amaro to stand up on stage at D23 and announce that partitions have been going up in a single day and development would start instantly again in August. There’s nothing of worth being misplaced in Dino-Rama, it doesn’t meaningfully add to Animal Kingdom’s capability or cachet, and it’s been the low season. Closing it final month made sense, whereas walling it off proper at first of the vacation season is much less logical. I assume the very best factor to come back from this corroboration is that the closure, fortunately, has not been pushed off into January 2025.
With regard to Dino-Rama, I believe the largest query is whether or not the primary present store–Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures–will shut together with the remainder of the miniland. This store is technically on the opposite aspect of the “highway” (which is staying) and the present store itself is staying. There’s no want to shut it so early, until Walt Disney World views it as pointless throughout development and the working bills exceed the income generated. Frankly, I may see that going both method–however I’d lean barely in favor of the present store remaining open.
In any case, the a lot larger query is when every little thing else will shut. Regardless that Pueblo Esperanza and Indiana Jones Journey are two distinct areas, I’m going to lump them collectively for the needs of development. The rationale for that’s purely sensible–as soon as the entrance part closes, it’s sport over for DINOSAUR. That attraction turns into inaccessible.
Equally, as soon as DINOSAUR goes down, there’s not a lot to attract individuals again to this nook of the park. It’ll all shut across the similar time until administration looks like Restaurantosaurus is required as eating capability for a bit longer. I doubt that, although.
It additionally simply is sensible. Every thing except for the critter carousel is a reskinning or reimagining, and it’s not like a carousel is the head of attraction complexity. Relating to these two areas, the time wanted to transform DINOSAUR to Indiana Jones Journey will seemingly 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, we’ve got 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 exhilarating high-speed attraction. Splash Mountain and Maelstrom additionally had work that wanted to be executed that’s seemingly irrelevant right here. Nonetheless, I’d name them “ok” proxies.
If we assume that Walt Disney World desires Tropical Americas open by Spring Break in 2027, we will conclude that the newest seemingly closing for DINOSAUR is after Summer season 2025. If that opening shifts to Summer season 2027, so too does the closing of DINOSAUR. There’s a situation the place Walt Disney World may be capable to push off the extinction date till January 2026.
In a unique timeline, I may see DINOSAUR surviving till then…however I view that as exceeding unlikely. About the one factor that might trigger that a lot delay is Walt Disney World needing to refurbish different sights in Animal Kingdom first (so there aren’t a number of simultaneous closures in 2025-2026) or the corporate anticipating a blockbuster 2025 as a result of debut of a drone present.
That additionally appears impossible. Even when Walt Disney World rolls out glorious leisure subsequent 12 months 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 attainable.
Given all of that, I may see an inside push to have Tropical Americas executed by early December 2026. (The Encanto journey stays the limiting issue there–there’s solely so early Tropical Americas can debut since that darkish journey will take no less than 2 years to construct.)
Between the potential of an aggressive opening date for Tropical Americas and the chance that Animal Kingdom goes to be slower for the foreseeable future (each more likely than the options), my guess is that DINOSAUR goes extinct shortly after Spring Break 2025. That’s most likely the final massive season when Walt Disney World will “want” the journey capability, and it provides company ample time to say their goodbyes.
The excellent news for these of you who’ve procrastinated and haven’t taken farewell journeys is that Easter falls a couple of weeks later subsequent 12 months–on April 20, 2025. My guess can be that DINOSAUR survives Easter and Earth Day, and doesn’t shut till April 28, 2025 on the earliest. If there’s a drone present subsequent summer season and it’s projected to maneuver the needle on demand, I’d revise this date to August 11, 2025.
Whereas I clearly know nothing and am merely speculating, I’d pencil in these two dates because the almost certainly closure prospects for DINOSAUR. At any time when that attraction closures, you possibly can anticipate the remainder of the land to shut and be walled-off, too. (Even with out having any inside data, my intestine says {that a} late April 2025 closing for DINOSAUR is the almost certainly situation–above 50%.)
Truthfully, I’d like to be incorrect and for DINOSAUR to shut in mid-January 2025. I actually don’t assume that’ll occur, nevertheless it’s my hope. The longer DINOSAUR is closed, the extra time Imagineering has to do justice to an formidable reimagining. Every thing I’ve heard about this model of Indiana Jones Journey has me optimistic, together with insiders suggesting it has the potential to be the very best of the trio.
However that solely occurs if Imagineering is given the time, assets, and cash to make it so. Their concepts and ambition are clearly necessary, however that solely issues a lot in the event that they’re hamstrung by tight timelines or restricted funding. I’m truthfully not frightened concerning the latter–Burbank is opening the cash spigot at first of the upcoming fiscal 12 months.
What’s the larger concern is Walt Disney World administration taking a look at Animal Kingdom’s already restricted journey roster and demanding a sooner turnaround for worry of hemorrhaging (much more) attendance. That’s going to occur regardless with Epic Universe, and DINOSAUR shouldn’t be the outcome-determinative issue. Hopefully classes have been discovered with that mentality from Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and Imagineering could have two years or so to rework DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you anticipate DINOSAUR, Dinoland, and Dino-Rama at Animal Kingdom to shut? Suppose DINOSAUR will go extinct in April 2025–or shut earlier or later? Suppose the Tropical Americas opening might be moved ahead or delayed? Suppose our hypothesis is incorrect, and this whole land closes all of sudden? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
