A NEW LAND themed to the Tropical Americas is coming to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park in 2027. Get ready to step into Pueblo Esperanza!
This new Tropical Americas-themed land will be home to both Encanto and Indiana Jones rides and more, and we simply cannot wait to experience it for the first time. While the opening may still be a ways away, we’ve been keeping up with all the construction progress — and now we have a new update!
We’ve got an updated look at construction on Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza, thanks to our friend @bioreconstruct on Twitter/X. Work seems to be moving right along, as the walls have been cast and placed for the Casita in front of the Encanto dark ride.
Below is a different angle of the Casita, which will be the entrance to the Encanto boat ride. The ride begins just as Antonio has received his special gift, and his room becomes a beautiful rainforest. You go explore with him, and according to Disney, “You never know what member of the family you might bump into…”
In the photos below, you can see that the steel frame is being installed for the Mayan Pyramid that will be in front of the Indiana Jones ride.
This version of the ride will feature a brand-new story. As described by Disney, the attraction will follow “the man with the hat” during a time when he has “recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya 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.”
Here is a slightly closer look at the steel frame. You can really start to see the pyramid taking shape!
We also got a new look at the former home of Restaurantosaurus. Disney hasn’t announced what exactly will be replacing this, but we anticipate it will be another quick-service restaurant themed to the Tropical Americas. We can’t wait to find out more!
We’ll be on the lookout for even more updates about Animal Kingdom and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!
Check out more Animal Kingdom news at the links below!
- Refurbishment Hits Yet ANOTHER Disney World Hotel
- BIG NEWS! ‘Encanto’ Ride NAME and FIRST LOOK for Disney World
- NAME REVEALED for Indiana Jones Ride in Disney World
- 22 Characters Revealed for NEW Carousel Ride in Disney World
- IT’S HAPPENING! Disney World Is Actually Fixing the Yeti in Expedition Everest!!!
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I love Indy but do not like snakes so hoping we won’t encounter them. I also hope this ride won’t be too dark or jumpy. Some of us get motion sickness and Disney seems to be installing too many rides that “thrill” us into illness for hours rather than do storytelling as Walt used to! Encanto water ride sounds great but where are the animal species from South America?? This is Animal Kingdom after all!! Thanks for keeping us updated!
Dear DFB friends, please help me out.
I was on vacation by myself at Disney World and yesterday I went to the Animal Kingdom Park. I was wearing a khaki skirt (it’s hot in Orlando in June). When I went on Expedition Everest, they placed a guy sitting next to me. During the dark part of the ride, to my surprise, I felt him putting his hands between my thighs (under my skirt). I was paralyzed with terror, I just froze, I couldn’t do anything. I reported the incident later to a cast member, but he just said, “make sure you wear pants next time.” I was so devastated with this and just cried and cried for the rest of the day. I still have five days of tickets left, but I’m too terrified to go back to the parks, and I didn’t pack any pants, just shorts and skirts. Oh please, please, could you make a video addressing what we ladies should do in situations like these?
Hi Miranda. Did you speak with anyone else after you spoke with the CM? If anything like that happens, I would ask for security.
I believe riders also have the right to say they want to ride alone…and insist on it. At best, this cast member needs a lot more training on how to speak to guests and what procedures are in place for this type of incident. My guess is wdw would have gone out of their way to provide assurance and upgrades, freebies, etc to avoid a lawsuit if she had spoken up more forcefully and gone up the chain of command until she got some satisfaction. To her I would say, these jerks are few and far between. Get back in the saddle and enjoy so much else all the parks, Springs and resorts that wdw has to offer!
Hi Miranda. I’m so sorry you had this happen. DFB Gigi is correct. You should contact someone at wdw immediately in the park. It’s possible they could have located this guy. I had an incident on Expedition Everest though with motion sickness. Not what you went through but my point is that I was so sick and dizzy that I needed help. I finally found a cast member who immediately helped me, offered me free food and got it for me, stayed with me until I felt better and then gave me free passes to enjoy . This is in no way to belittle your feelings but to tell you that in decades of going to wdw, my experience is that incidents that happened to you seem to be rare and that most cast members are compassionate and helpful. Never be afraid to speak up until you find someone who will listen and don’t let this one thing ruin your entire visit. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers for your healing and a return to joy and trust.
So the cast member who was apathetic when you told him about the incident was the same one who put this guy in the seat next to you? Sorry to leave such a cynical thought but is it possible the two of them were in on it together? Hopefully you got his name and reported him! Cast members generally don’t seat singles together unless it’s busy and you can still say you want to sit alone. In any case, wdw knows who was operating the ride at that time. That cast member definitely needs an attitude adjustment! Expedition Everest is a very fast, dark, scary ride. I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Absolutely report this to a cast member who cares and security who may have been able to evict him from the park by seeing him on camera somewhere. Please don’t be scared or let this color your life. Most people are not like him. You sound young. Enjoy one of the other parks!