Disney’s Animal Kingdom is getting a new land called Tropical Americas and construction is rapidly underway. You can follow the construction progress on our Disney World Construction Tracker. This week the Disney Parks Blog shared the most detailed look yet at what guests can expect when it opens in 2027. The update covers the creative vision behind Pueblo Esperanza, the fictional town at the heart of the land, along with new details on the two anchor attractions and the Imagineering research that shaped it. Track the construction progress on our Disney World Construction Tracker her.
Joe Rohde, the legendary Imagineer who led Animal Kingdom from its earliest development, spent fifteen years pitching a Tropical Americas land for the park and recently spoke openly about it on social media. Many of those pitches proposed replacing DinoLand U.S.A. entirely. Every one of them was turned down. He retired from Disney in 2021 without ever seeing it get the green light.
But, hidden in plain sight at Tiffins Restaurant, a wood carved world map includes a Maya temple in the Tropical Americas region that matches the temple in the Indiana Jones concept art. It went largely unnoticed for nearly a decade until Rohde revealed it himself. He said when you’re creating permanent artwork, you have to “bet on some futures.”
The land centers on Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional town which imagineering describes as a place shaped by nature, ancient tradition, and the cultures of Central and South America. To design it, Imagineers traveled to Honduras and Colombia, visiting the Copán archaeological site to work directly with Maya artists, studying local architecture and materials, and spending time in the communities that inspired the film Encanto. Distinctive red and green stones run through the buildings. Structures are designed to blend into the surrounding landscape. A central fountain is the focul point of the town where villagers gather. A woodcarver has built a working carousel featuring animals from Disney stories. The quick-service restaurant is one of the largest at Walt Disney World, designed to feel like a working hacienda rather than a park food court.
Two E-ticket attractions anchor the land. The first is the first-ever Encanto experience at a Disney park, a dark ride centered on Antonio’s gift to communicate with animals, with his room transformed into a living rainforest. The second is a new Indiana Jones adventure, a reimagining of the existing DINOSAUR ride system with a storyline unique to Animal Kingdom. This will be the third distinct version of the attraction across Disney’s parks. Younger kids will also have a dedicated playground, and the previously mentioned carousel rounds out the attraction line-up.
Rohde has been vocal about his admiration for what the current Imagineering team is building, specifically praising the depth of research and the sophistication of the detail. This is the man who built Animal Kingdom from the ground up. If he’s impressed, that should get even the most cynical parks fan excited.
What This Means for Your Next Visit
Animal Kingdom is in a transitional moment in 2026. With DinoLand gone and Tropical Americas still a year out the attraction count is limited. However, Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Flight of Passage, and Festival of the Lion King, and all the animal trails still make it a worthwhile visit, and the opening of Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station on May 26 will bring some extra excitement for families with young kids.
But 2027 is when this park becomes a very different conversation. Tropical Americas is going to make Animal Kingdom the place to be at Walt Disney World. And with D23 around the corner I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new night time show announced along with extended evening park hours.
From The Kingdom Sentinel
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