Disney World beloved ride and restaurant close forever 

When my best friend was a small child, she would constantly dig and play in the dirt and sand, always looking for something. A hidden treasure, perhaps. She grew up to be a very successful archaeologist. 

While not all children get to explore their greatest passions in life at a young age, many do. It’s just a question of whether their parents notice something bigger behind the child’s play and nurture that passion. Not every parent lets their children come home muddy and dirty. 

My niece has recently become obsessed with dinosaurs. She is five and is dragging large books, trying to remember their tongue-twisting names and characteristics. Will she grow up to be a paleontologist (a word and profession I am only aware exists thanks to the character Ross from the show “Friends”)? 

What matters is that she has the opportunity to explore her interests. Play matters more than we think, and Disney has long mastered the art of turning childhood curiosity into a multi-billion-dollar business. 

However, nostalgia alone doesn’t pay for the next generation of innovation. That’s why one theme park with plenty of interactive educational exhibits that focus on paleontology and the Earth’s prehistoric life is closing forever. 

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom closes DinoLand permanently 

A favorite land for dinosaur fans, DinoLand U.S.A. at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom will close its doors for good on February 2, 2026. The closure was first announced in August 2024.

The live attraction page for Dinosaur currently displays a banner stating: “The last day to experience DINOSAUR is February 1. The attraction will close permanently on February 2 to make way for Tropical Americas.” 

What is closing at DinoLand

• DINOSAUR (the ride)
• The Dino Institute Shop (the gift shop at the ride exit)
• Restaurantosaurus (the quick-service restaurant)
• Restaurantosaurus Lounge 
  Source: Disney Parks Blog 

While most of the attractions will close permanently to make room for the new theme park, the “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” stage show in the Theater in the Wild will continue to operate, according to WDW Daily News. 

Why is Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand closing? 

To remain attractive, The Walt Disney Company needs to continually adapt its offering to evolving customer desires and trends.

DinoLand will close to clear the space for a brand-new land themed around the Tropical Americas. It will be called Pueblo Esperanza, which roughly translates to “Village of Hope,” according to All Ears. 

Disney also confirmed the planned addition of the “Indiana Jones” and “Encanto” attractions within this new land.

New major attractions and experiences in Pueblo Esperanza 

• “Indiana Jones Adventure”: Guests will join the famous explorer as he enters a Maya temple. The story involves rumors of a mythical creature hidden deep inside the temple that Indy has to see for himself.
• “Encanto” Attraction: This will be the first-ever ride-through attraction based on the movie “Encanto.” Guests enter the Casita Madrigal just after young Antonio has received his special gift of communicating with animals. His room transforms into a rainforest that guests explore alongside him.

• Animal-Themed Carousel: A giant, working carousel created by a local woodcarver.  
• Pueblo Esperanza Town Center: The land itself is designed to feel like a “lush and sprawling” village with a large fountain in the center where villagers gather to tell stories.
• New Dining: The area will include one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort, styled as a large hacienda.
  Source: Disney Parks Blog

Per the report, the new theme land will open in 2027. 

 Disney World attractions that are currently closed: 

If you are visiting Disney World right now, a few other features and rides are temporarily unavailable for maintenance:

• Disney Skyliner: Closed for its annual checkup from January 25 to January 31, 2026, according to All Ears. 
• “Frozen Ever After” (Epcot): Closed starting January 26 to update the Elsa and Anna robot figures. It should reopen later in February, reported Attractions Magazine. 
• “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” (Magic Kingdom): Remains closed for a massive year-long renovation, writes Undercover Tourist.

Disney’s strategy behind theme park makeovers

In my previous coverage, I noted that Disney, to remain successful (it currently boasts 50 million visitors per year, according to Magic Guides), must stay connected to younger generations, who are more likely to relate to “Frozen” and “Moana” than to “The Lion King” and “101 Dalmatians.” 

Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro told Main Street Magic that Disney Parks have more construction and new projects happening right now than at any other time in Disney’s history. 

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“For every one park visitor, Disney believes there are ten people who want to visit a Disney theme park. Also, the Disney Company has 3,000 Imagineers around the world,” D’Amaro said, adding that when a film is released, the parks do something to bring it to life in physical form. 

In a September 2023 announcement, Disney promised to nearly double its spending on parks to $60 billion over the next 10 years, to support expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity.

The company confirmed that central to the business’s growth strategy will be a focus on stories, scale, and fans.

“Throughout our history, we’ve created enormous growth by investing the right amount of capital into the right projects at the right moment,” stated Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger. “We are planning to turbocharge our growth yet again with a robust amount of strategic investment in this business.”

Related: Disney quietly reverses decades-old parking rule