UPDATED December 4, 2024

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!

At the 2023 D23 Expo, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared that Disney would be “building on what makes Animal Kingdom so, so special” with a new area focused on the Tropical Americas! Then, in August 2024, Disney shared more details on what we can expect from from this new land, now officially named Pueblo Esperanza. 

With this announcement, Disney also confirmed that what is now DinoLand, U.S.A. will be transformed into Pueblo Esperanza, and the land will highlight the Tropical Americas through the stories of Encanto and Indiana Jones. 

Pueblo Esperanza will become home to two signature attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride! A Carousel will also provide another ride option.

The new land will feature classic Spanish-style architecture with a large hacienda that will also serve as one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World. The rich and lush color and biodiversity of the Tropical Rainforest will be on full display and at the center of Pueblo Esperanza will be a large fountain where stories will be told by gathering villagers.

Encanto Attraction

Pueblo Esperanza will feature an all-new Encanto-themed ride with the family Madrigal inside the enchanted Casita.

The boat ride will begin 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…”

Indiana Jones Attraction

An Indiana Jones ride is coming to Pueblo Esperanza! And while some may be familiar with the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction in Disneyland, the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom 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.”

Carousel Attraction

Additionally, Pueblo Esperanza will feature a new giant carousel “sculpted by a local woodcarver.”

We were able to take a closer look at one of the animals that will be featured in this new attraction — Kevin from UP!

Kevin roams around Animal Kingdom and can sometimes be seen near the entrance of DinoLand U.S.A. today.

We also believe we’ve spotted MORE familiar Disney characters that may be featured on the Carousel, and you can explore it in depth HERE!

Take a DEEP DIVE into the Pueblo Esperanza Carousel concept art HERE!

The Tropical Americas

Disney explained that Imagineers are taking inspiration from some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator here in the Western Hemisphere, including the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.

Work is already being done on the Casitas from Encanto to bring them to life inside the land.

While exploring a detailed model of the Family Madrigal’s Casita, we noticed that the Family’s magic candle can be seen in the Casita window.

The candle is always lit and gives the house — and the people living inside it — magical abilities.

In April 2024, Disney shared that Imagineers were on research trips to Mexico to gather inspiration for the new area. 

For instance, Imagineering took a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula so that they could learn about the art, culture, and archaeology of the Maya. This trip gave them some tools that they needed to begin working on the Dinoland re-theme into The Tropical Americas! 

More on Animal Kingdom’s Transformation

The retheming of this section of the park will be part of a $60 billion project set in motion to update and expand areas to Disney parks globally. In a November 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro has added, “We know what this business is capable of, we know what our fans expect of us, and we’re going all in. You’re going to see more and more of that. As we make our way through some of these ideas, some of them will become real, and we’ll say that’s specifically what we’re going to do, but I want our guests to be on the journey with us.”

“Animal Kingdom is about exploration and adventure,” D’Amaro says. “I was fortunate enough to have run that theme park, so I know how special it is, and I think there are a lot of stories that we can stay true to Animal Kingdom and express new properties in there, and that’s what you see us starting to do.”

DinoLand, U.S.A and Transformation Timeline

Disney has shared that Pueblo Esperanza will make its debut in the year 2027. 

Disney also stated that construction on the land would begin in the fall of 2024, adding, “but don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to experience Dinosaur again (and get that dino).”

The closure of DinoLand will take place in phases, and Disney has announced that the last day for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom is January 12th, 2025. Construction walls will go up around these areas on January 13th.

Closing dates have not yet been announced for DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites; however, in December 2024, Disney shared the following specifically in regards to DINOSAUR: Disney has officially announced that “2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!” So, if you want to ride DINOSAUR at least one more time before it’s gone for good, make sure you plan a trip to Animal Kingdom in 2025.

In the meantime, you can learn about EVERYTHING you can enjoy in Disney’s Animal Kingdom RIGHT NOW here!