- Announced
- Pre-Construction
- Under Construction
- Opening Soon
- Open
- Opening
- 2027 Disney confirmed
- Status
- Under Construction
- Announced
- September 2023, Destination D23
- Last updated
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom is under construction and opens in 2027, confirmed by Disney.
Latest update
Tropical Americas is under active construction as of mid-September 2026. The most recent confirmed BioReconstruct aerial coverage, from September 5, 2026, documented the Casita Madrigal tower frame rising at Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, roof decking progressing on El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a concrete circular form marking the future village fountain, and painted Maya pyramid facade sections installed on Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. Ground-level reporting from September 17, 2026 confirmed that entrance pillars on the land boundary are complete and the archway framework is fully covered in preparation for themed surface work.
Disney confirmed a 2027 opening for Tropical Americas at D23 in August 2024 and reaffirmed it with official attraction names and story details at D23 in August 2026, as documented on the Disney Parks Blog. In September 2026, the year-specific mention was quietly removed from the official Walt Disney World website, though the 2027 reference persists on the Disney Parks Blog and disneyexperiences.com.
About Tropical Americas
Tropical Americas is an 11-acre destination replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom, set in the fictional village of Pueblo Esperanza. The land will feature Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, the first-ever Encanto ride-through attraction celebrating Antonio's gift day inside the Madrigal family's Casita, alongside Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, a new adventure through an ancient Maya temple home to the legendary Tsukan serpent. El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a carousel with 22 hand-carved Disney and Pixar animal figures, anchors the village, which also includes one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort and a Maya-inspired children's play area.
Aerial timeline
A wide aerial video captures the full Pueblo Esperanza construction site, with the Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto show building largely enclosed behind the multi-level Casita facade frame, including a tall central tower whose silhouette now matches published concept art. The roof over El Carrusel de los Animalitos is mostly covered in plywood, with an opening at the center for the raised roof element still to come, and queue structures flank the carousel on multiple sides. A large circular concrete form with reinforcing steel at its center has been poured in the open plaza between the carousel and the former Restaurantosaurus, marking the future location of the village's central fountain.
Pre-painted facade sections for the Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent temple are visible being lifted into place, featuring red stonework with decorative blue scroll details that match the published attraction model. Cables attached to the top of the pieces are shown raising them onto the steel structure, with the upper and lower thirds of the pyramid facade now clad while the middle section remains exposed framing. The pieces were fabricated and painted off-site at the Imagineering backstage area over several months before installation.
Steel framework for the Casita Madrigal facade has risen at the front of Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, with a concrete retaining wall dividing the future guest area from the in-progress house structure. Wire mesh panels are being applied to the Indiana Jones temple steel frame, beginning the rockwork sculpting phase of that facade. The El Carrusel de los Animalitos roof canopy remains exposed, and a new steel frame entrance is visible at the front of the former Restaurantosaurus hacienda building, where old roofing has been stripped in preparation for themed replacement.
Wire mesh chips for rockwork are installed on the highest roofline of the Encanto show building, now painted in go-away green, marking the first exterior theming work visible on the structure. The carousel foundation and its surrounding structures are taking shape near the northern entrance, and a mature transplanted tree has been placed in that same entrance area. At the Imagineering backstage area, the clearest aerial photos yet show scenic element development for the Indiana Jones ride, while the Maya temple steel facade on the former DINOSAUR building remains active with boom lifts still positioned around the multi-story framework.
Foam blocks are staged across the roof of the enclosed Encanto show building, consistent with exterior landscape hill construction. Concrete archways have formed on both sides of the pedestrian entry path near the carousel, with one central arch still being framed in wood and two smaller arches on the opposite path fully poured and stripped of forms. At the Casita Madrigal base, fresh dirt fills the completed concrete forms and new U-shaped forms in front indicate berm construction to seat the Casita on a hillside.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows a more defined Mayan pyramid steel framework rising above the former DINOSAUR building, a 10-sided carousel canopy frame in place over its concrete foundation, recently cast concrete walls at the Casita Madrigal base, and a wide overview of the broader Pueblo Esperanza construction zone.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show vertical construction underway on the Casita Madrigal base, with steel framing for the garden house queue entrance visible alongside concrete walls for the Casita structure, and the Mayan temple facade rising at the former DINOSAUR building.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows the steel frame for the Maya temple facade of the Indiana Jones ride installed at the former DINOSAUR building, with the carousel canopy and Encanto show building visible in the background.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the carousel canopy frame with horizontal perimeter beams installed atop vertical supports, the Encanto show building with roofing progressing, and a staging area where reference models for land theming elements are being worked on.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show tall scaffolding erected adjacent to the carousel concrete foundation, with the Encanto show building visible in the background and additional foundation work for land entrance structures in progress.
BioReconstruct aerial photos reveal the DINOSAUR marquee fully removed from the former attraction building, concrete forms placed in front for the Indiana Jones temple facade, and theming models and texture test panels visible at the Imagineering laydown yard north of Expedition Everest.
BioReconstruct aerial photo shows texture test panels in a laydown yard north of Expedition Everest representing wall finishes, roofing, archway, and rockwork for Tropical Americas, alongside what appears to be early construction of the Indiana Jones Mayan temple facade.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows the entirety of the former DINOSAUR courtyard cleared, demolition active at the ride's entrance, the carousel base taking shape, and the Encanto show building frame progressing with the crane in operation.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the complete Tropical Americas site now open to construction after DinoLand closure, with the entire pathway through the former land demolished, the carousel base defined, and the Encanto show building frame progressing.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the Encanto ride building steel frame rising with roofing materials being added to the top, a tower crane on site, and Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures building still standing ahead of final DinoLand closure.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show concrete forms in place for the carousel foundation at the former Boneyard site, with steel staged nearby and early excavation work visible adjacent to the forms.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show concrete recently poured for the Encanto show building foundation, with the large footprint of the future attraction clearly visible and a change in elevation apparent across the construction area.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show vertical construction begun on the Encanto show building, with support columns rising from the foundation and a deep excavation area near the rumored finale scene location, plus a crane installed at the Casita construction site.
The Boneyard playground demolition is shown as nearly complete in aerial photos from this flight, with the former structures reduced to rubble and the DinoLand entrance marquee removed. Separately, concrete footers are being poured for the Encanto show building foundation, with the base of a tower crane assembled nearby in preparation for vertical construction.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show new progress on the Encanto attraction site including expanded backstage area work, material and scenic paint tests at the Imagineering laydown yard north of Expedition Everest, and dirt work extending into the backstage perimeter.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show early-stage demolition of the former Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama area with construction vehicles and a crane positioned at the back of the site beyond the former DinoLand perimeter fencing, and a hydrovac truck prepping the ground in the old Dino-Rama space.
Official Disney announcements
- August 15, 2026Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
At D23 2026, Disney confirmed the official name of the Encanto attraction as Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, revealed that original Encanto voice cast members including Stephanie Beatriz, Jessica Darrow, and Diane Guerrero are reprising their roles, confirmed there is no height requirement for the attraction, and named the carousel El Carrusel de los Animalitos with 22 hand-carved Disney and Pixar animal figures.
- August 15, 2026Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
At D23 2026, Disney confirmed the official attraction name Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, announced Harrison Ford as the model for the attraction's Audio-Animatronics figure, and described the storyline involving an ancient Maya temple, a cenote passage to the Underworld, and the hand-sculpted Tsukan serpent Audio-Animatronic.
- August 15, 2026Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
The D23 2026 Disney Experiences showcase roundup confirmed Tropical Americas announcements including Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto and Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, as part of a broad presentation of active Disney Parks projects described as the biggest slate of expansion in Disney World history.
- April 30, 2026Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Executive Creative Director Joan Hartwig published an inside look at Imagineering research trips to Honduras and Colombia undertaken to ground Tropical Americas in authentic Maya and Encanto-inspired culture, confirming active construction progress and reaffirming the land's 2027 opening at Animal Kingdom.
- March 11, 2026Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle referenced Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom as one of several projects currently under construction as part of Disney's ongoing investment in Florida, in a post commemorating the Thornton Park Florida Project plaque unveiling.
- October 28, 2025Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Disney confirmed DinoLand U.S.A. would permanently close on February 2, 2026, officially clearing the way for Tropical Americas, and reiterated the land's attractions including an Indiana Jones adventure, the first Encanto ride-through attraction, and the animal carousel.
- March 25, 2025Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Disney published additional details about Tropical Americas on the Disney Parks Blog, describing Pueblo Esperanza's layout including the large hacienda quick-service restaurant, the central fountain, the critter carousel, and confirming the Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.
- August 11, 2024Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Disney officially announced Tropical Americas at D23, confirming an 11-acre land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. with an Encanto ride, a new Indiana Jones adventure, and a carousel, with a 2027 opening target.
- August 9, 2024Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
The D23 2024 news roundup confirmed Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom, stating it would open in 2027 featuring Indiana Jones and the Madrigal family's Casita from Encanto.
- September 30, 2023Disney Parks BlogRead the announcement
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro first announced a Tropical Americas-themed expansion for Animal Kingdom at Destination D23, confirming the area would build on the park's existing storytelling.