Disney’s Animal Kingdom getting a full-blown makeover with nine new attractions coming to the park

It’s the circle of life.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is getting ready to go wild with at least nine new attractions on the way – though that also means saying goodbye to some longtime spots that have been part of the park for years.

The transformation is already underway at the Orlando park, as Disney pushes forward with a major overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A. The project will introduce a brand-new “Tropical Americas” land, according to permits filed by Walt Disney Imagineering, as reported by Disney blog Inside the Magic.

The filings cover several areas of the redevelopment zone and suggest construction is ramping up as Disney moves toward a multi-year rollout expected to open in 2027, which it initially annouced in 2024.

The plan is to completely replace DinoLand U.S.A. with an immersive new environment inspired by the landscapes, culture and storytelling of Latin America. Leading the changes are a new “Encanto-” themed attraction and a reimagined version of the current Dinosaur ride, which will be rethemed into an Indiana Jones adventure, according to ITM.

The new Indiana Jones attraction is expected to follow a format similar to the Disneyland version, welcoming a fast-paced, chaotic adventure filled with practical effects. It will reuse the existing ride system while delivering a refreshed guest experience, the report says.

Beyond the headline attractions, the work also includes a number of supporting and guest-focused spaces designed to round out the new land. These include a backstage pump house at 580 DinoLand Drive that will support water features and special effects, along with two meet-and-greet locations at 590 and 594 DinoLand Drive that will either be refreshed or newly created to expand character experiences.

Dining and guest areas are also getting a major refresh. Restaurantosaurus at 601 Restaurantosaurus Road will be completely reimagined as a large hacienda-style quick-service restaurant that fits the new theme, while the nearby entrance at 672 DinoLand Drive is also being redesigned to create a more immersive entry into Tropical Americas.

A wood-carved carousel at 671 DinoLand Drive will round out the additions, featuring animals inspired by Disney characters and adding a more whimsical touch to the land.

The transformation represents one of the most significant updates to the park since it opened in 1998. Animal Kingdom is currently the lowest-performing park at Walt Disney World in terms of attendance. In 2024, it ranked eighth in the U.S. and was also behind both Universal Orlando parks, making it the only domestic Disney park not to place in the global top 10, according to the Themed Entertainment Association Global Experience Index, released in October.

Worldwide, the Animal Kingdom ranked 15th, drawing about 8.8 million visitors. While that marked a slight 0.3 percent increase year over year, attendance remains well below pre COVID-pandemic levels, with the park having reached 13.9 million visitors in 2019. It is also the only Walt Disney World park to fall short of the 10 million annual visitor mark, and it sees less than half the attendance of Magic Kingdom, which remains the most visited theme park in the world.

The Independent has contacted Disney for comment.