A closing date has been announced for Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
It wasn’t a sudden, cataclysmic asteroid event that destroyed DinoLand, USA, as it was 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, the extinction of DinoLand has been a years long process.
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Reduced to a low, seasonal operation in 2019, Primeval Whirl, the “spinning, wild mouse” type coaster ceased operating in 2020 and was removed shortly after the reopening of Walt Disney World from lockdown related closure.
Primeval Whirl was the first indication of change coming to DinoLand. At the D23 Expo in 2023, Disney announced that DinoLand, USA would be replaced entirely by a “Tropical Americas” section, with no expansion to the park. All traces of dinosaurs would soon see their final days at the park. “Chester & Hester’s DinoRama” games area, along with the Dumbo style “Tricerotops Spin” closed on January 12, 2025, with “The Boneyard” children’s play area being the last section of DinoLand (so far) to see it’s final day of operation on September 1, 2025.
A Changing Map — No More Dinosaurs!
With the closure of the Boneyard play area, the main entrance to DinoLand, USA was walled off for construction and the Animal Kingdom Park Map saw a major change.
The queue for Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: Follow The Bradley’s Fun
All of what was The Boneyard, Triceratops Spin, Chester & Hester’s, and Primeval Whirl are now shown as trees on the current map, and in order to make it back to the last remnants of DinoLand (Dinosaur the ride and Restaurantosaurus) you now have to walk nearly to the Finding Nemo theater, having to backtrack the length of a football field past construction walls to even get to the ride.
Disney has finally confirmed that the last operating day for both the ride and dining location will be Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Yes, the closing date for Dinosaur will be on on Groundhog’s Day, where Punxatony Phil will most definitely not see a dinosaur’s shadow. As of February 2, 2026 all dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom will be permanently extinct.
The Tropical Americas Are Coming, But When?
Dinosaur (an opening day attraction at Animal Kingdom) will be replaced after its closing day by an Indiana Jones themed ride that Imagineers claim will not be a clone of the Disneyland version.
Official concept art showing the exterior of the new Indiana Jones attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Credit: Disney Parks Blog
The Tropical Americas, aka “Pueblo Esperanza” will also house an Encanto themed ride attraction, a carousel, and a new children’s play area. No specific opening date has been given for the new area other than a vague “sometime in 2027.” But can Disney truly deliver new experiences by this date, or will the time table shift?
A Track Record That is Off Track
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was a single ride that only needed to be rethemed, but that took four years from its announcement in 2020 until it’s reopening on June 28th, 2024.
Construction Walls outside DinoLand USA in Disney’s Animal Kingdom – X, @AshleyLCarter1
Projects such as Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Tron Light cycle Run, and the EPCOT overhaul all took far longer than expected, and over the last decade Disney hasn’t shown the best track record for replacements and new attraction building when it comes to a tight timeline. Given the historical information we have to go off of, we could speculate that while 2027 is the current year given for the opening of Pueblo Esperanza, it’s not beyond reason to think we may not see this new land until 2028, or even possibly 2029.
No More Dinos at Disney; The Universal Alternative
If you are headed to Disney World this year or at the beginning of next, and you have a dinosaur enthusiast in your family, now is your last chance to take in Dinosaur the ride at Animal Kingdom before its closing date on February 2nd, 2025.
The Entrance to Jurassic Park at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Photo Credit: That Park Place
However, fret not dino lovers! Jurassic Park is here to stay at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. There you may soar with your littles on Pterodon Flyers, plunge with your family into the waters of the Jurassic Park River Adventure, or if you’re brave enough take on the Velocicoaster! You can even come face to face with a fierce velociraptor at the Velociraptor Encounter! With Epic Universe also on the expansion trail, the possibility exists for even more dinosaurs to come in Orlando.
How do you feel about Dinosaur setting a closing date at Animal Kingdom? Will you try and get one last ride before it closes? Are you excited for Pueblo Esperanza, or would you prefer to Venture to Universal Islands of Adventure and keep your dinosaur fun alive? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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I’m both sad and happy I never went to Disneyland or Disney World in my life.
I grew up when Disney was at its Prime, and to see these Parks be destroyed just like their Films would be horrible.
Some of these things are worthy of being in a Museum like that Ferry Boat which was recently destroyed!!!!!!!!