BAY LAKE, Fla. – Like the very creatures who roamed the earth millions of years ago, Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be a thing of the past.
A small bright side is that the land isn’t shutting down all at once, but in phases.
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In January, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a notice of commencement for demolition of a facility at 614 Dinoland Drive, Bay Lake, Florida.
Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Fossil Fun Games, and TriceraTop Spin closed permanently on Jan. 13.
Dinoland U.S.A. opened with the park on Earth Day on April 22, 1998. In August, Disney announced several changes to the theme park, including a Tropical Americas-themed land that will replace Dinoland.
Many had long speculated that a Dinoland U.S.A. closure was coming. In March 2020, Primeval Whirl, a steel Wild Mouse roller coaster, closed permanently and was not replaced with a new ride.
Roamed around the Chester & Hester Dino-Rama area of #Dinoland U.S.A. one last time. The farewell to Cementasaurus was extra sentimental🦕 pic.twitter.com/51YWwEm0un
— Haley Coomes (@Haley_Coomes) January 12, 2025
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As was also shared at the D23 Expo in 2023, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said Dinoland was being reimagined into something completely different.
At the D23 2024, D’Amaro shared that Dinoland’s replacement, Pueblo Esperanza — which means “Village of Hope” — is comparable to Harambe in terms of its realistic and lived-in feel.
It’s set to house two major attractions — the first-ever “Encanto” ride at a Disney park, which will take over the area currently occupied by Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, and an Indiana Jones-themed attraction, which will take over Dinosaur.
As for other Dinoland attractions set for extinction, The Boneyard will welcome little archaeologists to play daily until Sept. 1.
Disney also confirmed there will be a new play area for kids visiting Pueblo Esperanza.
Dinosaur, the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites will remain open through 2025.
Disney has not posted details for Donald’s Dino-Bash, Dinoland’s character meet-and-greet opportunity.
While no official date has been given, Pueblo Esperanza is expected to be complete sometime in 2027.
Elsewhere in Animal Kingdom, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” is expected to debut in the winter of 2025 in the Tree of Life Theater. The theater’s previous residency was held by ”It’s Tough to be a Bug!”, which closed in March.
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