Walt Disney World Resort has permanently removed a beloved kid-friendly playground from Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
The Boneyard, a favorite attraction for young Disney Park guests, was officially closed on September 1, 2025, and by mid-September, Disney had already begun dismantling the area. This closure is part of a major transformation for DinoLand U.S.A., which will soon be replaced by a new Tropical Americas-themed land featuring Encanto (2021)-inspired attractions and an Indiana Jones retheme of the DINOSAUR ride.
The Boneyard, which opened alongside Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in 1998, allowed children to explore and dig for fossils, making it one of the most interactive parts of the park for young families. Now, just over two weeks after the final day of operation, Disney has begun clearing out the area. Once filled with towering structures and massive fossils, The Boneyard has been completely dismantled.
On September 17, 2025, X (formerly Twitter) user @DSNYNewscast shared an update from the construction site, showing photos of the playground area now reduced to rubble.
🚧 Latest construction update on Tropical Americas coming to Animal Kingdom!
The Boneyard has been mostly dismantled and demolished, only the berm remains.
This is where the new “artisan-crafted” animal carousel will be located within Pueblo Esperanza in 2027.
🚧 Latest construction update on Tropical Americas coming to Animal
Kingdom!The Boneyard has been mostly dismantled and demolished, only the berm remains.
This is where the new “artisan-crafted” animal carousel will be located within Pueblo Esperanza in 2027. pic.twitter.com/PtXKhuEDG2
— DSNY Newscast (@DSNYNewscast) September 17, 2025
The closure of The Boneyard is part of the broader overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A. The phased closure began in early 2025 with the shuttering of TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, and Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama (including the Fossil Fun Games). The Boneyard followed in early September. On February 1, 2026, the remaining DinoLand U.S.A. attractions will also shut down, and the entire DinoLand area will be blocked off to theme park guests.
Pueblo Esperanza is expected to open at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in 2027. An official opening date has yet to be confirmed.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort's decision to replace DinoLand U.S.A. with Pueblo Esperanza? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
