Walt Disney World Resort has quietly activated a vacant stretch of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. While the new offerings are far from headliners, they signal that Disney isn't content to leave the former DinoLand U.S.A. space empty while construction gets underway.
Lawn Games Fill the Attraction Gap at Disney's Animal Kingdom
WDWNT reported on May 26 that Disney cast members had set up a collection of lawn games in the footprint of the former DinoLand U.S.A., including tic-tac-toe, checkers, and cornhole. The addition wasn't announced publicly and won't appear on the Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park map. There's also no word on how long the setup will be in place.
The timing makes sense. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is operating with reduced ride capacity while Walt Disney Imagineers transform the former DinoLand U.S.A. space into something brand new. Filling that void with something — anything — for Disney Park guests to engage with during the interim helps soften the blow of the missing attractions.
What DinoLand U.S.A. Was and What's Replacing It
DinoLand U.S.A. closed in stages beginning in January 2025, when Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, TriceraTop Spin, and the Dino-Rama midway games area shut down first. The Boneyard play area followed in September 2025. The last pieces — DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus — finally went dark in February 2026, officially closing the book on one of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park's original lands.
What's coming in its place was confirmed at D23 Expo 2024, when Walt Disney Imagineering unveiled Pueblo Esperanza — a new land inspired by the landscapes and cultures of Tropical Americas. The expansion will introduce three new attractions to Disney's Animal Kingdom: a Disney-animal-themed carousel, a ride inspired by the Casita from Encanto (2021), and a retheme of the DINOSAUR attraction inspired by Indiana Jones, distinct from the Indiana Jones Adventure already operating at Disneyland Park.
Pueblo Esperanza is expected to open sometime in 2027. Walt Disney World Resort has not announced a specific date.
Have you played the lawn games at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
