One of the most exciting projects at Walt Disney World is starting to look a lot more like the concept art Disney showed fans.
New aerial photos from Disney’s Animal Kingdom reveal that construction continues to move quickly on the future Indiana Jones attraction in the upcoming Tropical Americas land. The latest images show the steel framework for the attraction’s massive Mayan temple facade climbing even higher above the former DINOSAUR attraction building.
The newest aerial photos shared by @bioreconstruct on X show a multi-level steel structure rising from the front of the former DINOSAUR attraction. The framework extends outward from the existing show building and continues to grow taller as crews work throughout the site. Construction equipment, scaffolding, and additional steel beams remain visible, indicating that significant work is still underway.
What’s especially interesting is how closely the structure is beginning to resemble Disney’s previously released concept art.
The stepped, tiered design visible in the steel framework mirrors the profile of the ancient Mayan temple Disney plans to create as the new entrance to the attraction. Once rockwork, carvings, weathering, and other themed elements are added, the structure is expected to transform into a lush jungle temple rising above the Tropical Americas landscape.
Comparing Construction to the Concept Art
Disney’s concept art depicts a towering Mayan temple featuring:
- Multiple terraced levels
- Ancient stone carvings and masks
- Rust-red and terracotta coloring
- Dense tropical vegetation
- Jungle overgrowth woven throughout the structure
- Ancient ruins and columns surrounding the entrance pathway
The current steel skeleton already appears to match the temple’s forward-projecting, stepped profile shown in Disney’s artwork. While the attraction is still a long way from its finished appearance, the overall shape is becoming much easier to recognize.
Built on the Former DINOSAUR Attraction
The Indiana Jones attraction is taking over the existing DINOSAUR ride system as part of Disney’s transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into Tropical Americas.
Construction on the temple facade first became visible earlier this year when crews began foundation work in front of the former Dino Institute entrance. Since then, vertical construction has accelerated rapidly as Disney continues work on one of the largest projects currently underway at Animal Kingdom.
The attraction is expected to utilize the existing ride system while introducing an entirely new Indiana Jones adventure inspired by ancient Maya culture and storytelling. Disney Imagineering has previously discussed collaborating with Maya cultural experts as part of the attraction’s development.
Still on Track for 2027
Disney has not announced an exact opening date for either the Indiana Jones attraction or the Tropical Americas land.
However, Disney has confirmed that both the attraction and the new land remain scheduled to open in 2027. Based on the pace of construction visible in recent aerial photos, significant structural work is continuing throughout the area as Imagineers bring the ambitious project to life.
Meanwhile, construction continues across the rest of Tropical Americas, including work on the future Encanto attraction and other new experiences planned for the reimagined section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
A Major Milestone for Tropical Americas
While guests can’t yet see much of the project from inside the park, these aerial photos offer one of the best looks at how quickly the transformation is progressing.
The steel framework now rising above the former DINOSAUR attraction marks another major milestone for Tropical Americas and provides the clearest indication yet of just how impressive the Indiana Jones temple entrance could become once Disney adds its signature rockwork, theming, and landscaping.
Seeing the temple profile emerge from the construction site makes 2027 feel a little closer.
We’ll continue following all the latest Tropical Americas construction updates, Indiana Jones attraction news, Animal Kingdom developments, and Walt Disney World announcements, so be sure to check back soon for more Disney Parks news.
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