Construction walls have become a familiar sight at Walt Disney World lately. Across the resort, Disney continues replacing older experiences with entirely new lands, attractions, and entertainment offerings designed for the next generation of visitors.
Animal Kingdom may now be seeing some of the biggest changes of all.
Disney’s future Tropical Americas expansion has reached a major new phase, and recent aerial imagery is giving fans a clearer look at what is happening behind the scenes. For months, guests mostly saw demolition work hidden behind walls inside the former DinoLand U.S.A. area. But now, actual structures connected to the future land are beginning to appear.
And suddenly, the project feels far closer to reality.
Goodbye to DinoLand U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom fans knew big changes were coming once Disney announced the closure of DinoLand U.S.A., but the speed of demolition has still surprised many visitors.
The land had existed since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 and carried a completely different energy from the rest of the park. Between the carnival-inspired atmosphere and the popular DINOSAUR attraction, the area developed a loyal fanbase over the years.
Now, much of it is gone.
Disney closed the area to begin work on Tropical Americas, the upcoming expansion centered around Encanto and Indiana Jones. Since then, overhead images have revealed just how much of the old land has already disappeared.
Pathways, themed structures, and large portions of the area have been demolished, leaving behind exposed construction zones that barely resemble the former land anymore. Restaurantosaurus remains one of the easier structures to recognize, though the building now sits in the middle of a rapidly changing construction site.
Compared to only a few months ago, the transformation is dramatic.
Aerial photo of the former Restaurantosaurus. To be rethemed for Tropical Americas. pic.twitter.com/Ka42iArQuR
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) May 30, 2026
Disney’s Indiana Jones Plans Are Becoming Visible
The future Indiana Jones attraction continues to generate major interest among Disney fans, especially because it will take over the former DINOSAUR attraction space.
Disney confirmed that the ride would use the same general ride system and layout from DINOSAUR, but the experience itself will feature a completely original story designed specifically for Animal Kingdom. Guests will reportedly follow Indiana Jones into a newly discovered Maya temple hidden within the rainforest.
Now, visible construction appears to be supporting that concept.
Recent overhead imagery shows the steel framework beginning to rise within the attraction area, giving fans a better sense of the project’s scale. While Disney has not fully revealed the attraction yet, the visible structural work shows that the transformation has officially moved beyond simple demolition.
The shift feels especially noticeable because the old DINOSAUR area already looked unfamiliar after Disney removed many of the attraction’s former signs and thematic details.
Now, actual new construction is beginning to replace them.
Aerial photos of steel frame for the Mayan Pyramid that will be in front of the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/iG64tGRACF
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) May 30, 2026
Encanto Is Becoming A Bigger Presence
The future Encanto attraction is also starting to emerge from the construction zone.
Disney previously revealed that the attraction would place guests inside Antonio’s magical rainforest room from the film. The experience is expected to lean heavily into animals and immersive environments, making it a natural fit for Animal Kingdom.
Overhead imagery now shows concrete walls rising for the future Casita structure, with the outline of La Casa Madrigal becoming easier to spot from above.
Even though construction is still in its early stages, the visible progress has helped fans better understand how large the Encanto section of the land may eventually become.
Many Disney fans already believe Encanto fits Animal Kingdom better than some of Disney’s previous intellectual property additions elsewhere across Walt Disney World. The tropical environments and strong connection to nature help the franchise blend naturally into the park’s overall atmosphere.
That connection may become one of Tropical Americas’ biggest advantages once the land officially opens.
Aerial photo of concrete walls recently cast for Casita (La Casa Madrigal). In front of the Encanto ride in Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/4v1rN1V3kK
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) May 30, 2026
More Than Just Attractions
Disney’s plans for Tropical Americas go far beyond the headline attractions.
The company previously confirmed the new land would include themed dining, shopping, interactive play areas, and a carousel featuring Disney animals. Recent aerial imagery even appears to show an early framework connected to the carousel section.
Those additions could help the land feel much more complete once guests finally enter the finished area.
Right now, construction equipment, dirt piles, and exposed foundations dominate the former DinoLand footprint. But as steel structures rise and more visible construction appears every week, Tropical Americas is beginning to feel less like a distant Disney announcement and more like a real destination taking shape inside Animal Kingdom.
Disney still expects the land to open in 2027, and based on the latest construction progress, that timeline suddenly feels much more believable.
