Disney’s newest carousel is finally beginning to look a lot like the detailed attraction pictured in the original Tropical AmericasNew Animal Kingdom Permit Reveals More About Tropical Americas Expansion concept art.
Construction is moving quickly inside the future Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and one of the project’s most family-friendly additions has reached a particularly noticeable milestone. Crews are now installing large, dark-stained wooden roof trusses over the land’s new woodcarver carousel, giving guests their clearest look yet at the shape and style of the finished attraction.
The new roof pieces include carved details that help bring the carousel’s handcrafted backstory to life — and they are not the only major construction elements now visible inside the former DinoLand U.S.A. area.
Construction crews have started installing the wooden roof structure over the upcoming Tropical Americas carousel.
During a recent visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, crews could be seen using a crane to lift long, dark-stained wood trusses into position over the carousel building. Each truss features a carved, scalloped end, adding a layer of visible thematic detail before the completed roof covering has even been installed.
The wooden beams radiate outward from a central steel support column, creating the framework for the carousel’s peaked roof. A smaller vertical post extends from the top of that central column and could eventually support a decorative finial or another roof ornament, although Disney has not officially confirmed its purpose.
The trusses are being secured to painted steel beams that form a structural ring around the carousel. Temporary wooden shims, red safety tags, and visible connection points remain around parts of the structure as crews continue fastening the roof pieces into place.
Several rows of wooden trusses were visible at different stages of installation, showing that work is actively progressing across the structure.
The carousel’s emerging roofline closely resembles the design Disney previously shared in its official Tropical Americas concept art.
That artwork depicts an open-air carousel building with a tall, pagoda-style roof, elaborately carved wooden columns, and hanging lanterns. The attraction appears intentionally handcrafted rather than resembling a traditional brightly colored amusement park carousel.
The Tropical Americas scale model also depicts the attraction inside an octagonal structure with a similarly steep, peaked roof.
The newly installed wooden beams now make that planned shape much easier to recognize from inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The radiating layout of the trusses, carved beam ends, and central support align closely with the structure shown in the concept art and model.
The Carousel Has a Special In-Land Backstory
This will not be an ordinary Disney carousel.
According to Disney’s official story for Tropical Americas, a local woodcarver in Pueblo Esperanza created the giant working carousel and filled it with some of his favorite animals from Disney stories. Disney has described the attraction as a new interpretation of a classic ride designed especially for young families.
That backstory explains the increasingly detailed wooden design appearing around the attraction.
The carved edges on the new roof trusses support the idea that the entire carousel was built by a talented local artisan within the fictional community. Instead of appearing mass-produced, the building is being designed to feel handmade and connected to Pueblo Esperanza’s history.
Disney has not yet released the carousel’s official attraction name.
Disney has confirmed that the carousel will feature animals inspired by favorite Disney stories rather than a standard collection of traditional horses.
One of those detailed carousel animals was displayed during the 2024 D23 event, giving fans an early look at how much design work is being put into the ride vehicles.
The displayed figure featured extensive carving, decorative paint, and a style consistent with the attraction’s woodcarver storyline.
Disney has not yet revealed the full lineup of animals or confirmed which animated movies and characters will be represented. However, the company’s description suggests the carousel may include recognizable creatures from multiple Disney films rather than being tied to a single franchise.
The new woodcarver carousel is being constructed on the former site of The Boneyard playground.
The Boneyard was one of the first DinoLand U.S.A. experiences to close as Disney began clearing portions of the land for Tropical Americas construction. The nearby TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Trilo-Bites, and Dino-Bite Snacks also closed during the project’s earlier phases.
The carousel will sit near the main entrance to Pueblo Esperanza, making it one of the first major attractions guests encounter as they enter the new land.
Although The Boneyard will not return in its former form, Disney has confirmed that Tropical Americas will include a new themed play area for children.
The newly installed wooden trusses represent the next major step in a construction timeline that has moved rapidly throughout 2026.
The carousel’s concrete base was poured in March 2026. Its steel frame began rising one month later in April, establishing the attraction’s overall footprint and height.
With the carved wooden trusses now being secured over that steel framework, construction is transitioning from basic structural work into some of the themed architectural details that guests will see when the land opens.
Tropical Americas Carousel Construction Timeline
- Disney officially broke ground on Tropical Americas in January 2025.
- The carousel’s concrete base was poured in March 2026.
- The steel carousel structure went vertical in April 2026.
- Carved wooden roof trusses began appearing in July 2026.
- Tropical Americas is scheduled to open in 2027.
The installation of the roof trusses is one of the most visually significant carousel milestones so far because it begins transforming the attraction from a recognizable steel framework into a fully themed Disney environment.
The carousel is not the only Tropical Americas attraction making visible progress.
Construction continues on the exterior mountain range surrounding Disney’s first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction.
Behind the carousel, crews have installed wire mesh forms over structural steel framing along the top of the large Encanto show building. These mesh sections are creating the uneven silhouette of the future mountains, which will eventually be covered with themed rockwork and landscaping.
Scaffolding remains around much of the visible mountain structure while crews continue shaping the exterior.
When complete, the mountain range will help hide the attraction’s large show building and create a lush natural backdrop for the Casita Madrigal.
The new Encanto attraction will be the first ride-through Disney Parks experience based on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning film.
The story will take place after Antonio receives his magical gift—the ability to communicate with animals. Guests will enter the Casita and explore Antonio’s rainforest room alongside him, with the possibility of encountering other members of the Madrigal family during the journey.
Disney has said the attraction’s story will reinforce the idea that everyone, regardless of their individual gifts or abilities, belongs to the larger family of living things.
The ride is one of two major attractions planned for Tropical Americas.
Tropical Americas will also introduce an original Indiana Jones adventure inside a newly discovered Maya temple.
In the attraction’s story, Indiana Jones has found a perfectly preserved temple and heard rumors that a mythical creature may be hidden somewhere inside. Naturally, he decides to investigate and brings guests along for the expedition.
Disney has emphasized that this will be a completely new Indiana Jones experience and will differ from every other Indiana Jones attraction around the world.
The attraction will occupy the former DINOSAUR ride building, although the ride system and story are being completely reimagined for Indiana Jones.
The Tropical Americas land will be known as Pueblo Esperanza, which translates to “Village of Hope.”
Disney describes the approximately 11-acre area as a lush, sprawling community with a long history, vibrant culture, and strong relationship with the natural world. Like Harambe and Anandapur elsewhere in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Pueblo Esperanza is being created to feel like a real, lived-in place rather than a collection of unrelated attractions.
The fictional town will include:
- The new Indiana Jones attraction
- Disney’s first Encanto ride-through attraction
- The woodcarver carousel
- A new children’s play area
- A large central fountain
- A hacienda housing one of Walt Disney World’s largest quick-service restaurants
- Landscaped environments inspired by Central and South America
Imagineers have taken research trips through Honduras and Colombia to study the region’s architecture, materials, traditions, landscapes, artwork, and cultural history.
In Honduras, the team met with Maya artists connected to the preservation and recreation of carvings found at the ancient city of Copán. Imagineers also visited regional quarries, and Disney says native red and green stone from the area will be incorporated into Tropical Americas using traditional carving techniques.
The team traveled to Colombia as well, visiting locations and meeting people connected to the original research behind Encanto. Those trips helped Imagineers study everything from the colors of town plazas and haciendas to how buildings respond to the region’s terrain and climate.
Tropical Americas is scheduled to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom sometime in 2027. Disney has not announced a specific opening date.
The former DinoLand U.S.A. permanently closed in February 2026, allowing construction to expand across the remainder of the land.
Although the project still has a considerable amount of work ahead, the installation of carved wooden roof beams over the carousel shows that some of Pueblo Esperanza’s most recognizable architectural details are already beginning to appear.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Tropical Americas construction updates, Disney’s Animal Kingdom news, Encanto attraction developments, Indiana Jones ride updates, Walt Disney World opening timelines, and everything else happening across the Disney Parks.
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