The doors to Casita are getting ready to open…and for the first time, WE’RE invited inside!
Disney just revealed a mountain of new information about the Encanto attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and we finally know exactly what to call our upcoming visit with the Madrigal family.
During Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios revealed the attraction’s official name: Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.
But that was just the beginning.
We now know how guests will travel through Casita, which members of the Madrigal family are returning, what happens when we reach Antonio’s magical room, and even how many animals will appear throughout the experience.
And there’s some particularly good news for families: the attraction will have NO height requirement.
Meet ‘Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto’
The Encanto attraction coming to Animal Kingdom officially has a name!
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will be one of the headlining attractions inside the new Tropical Americas land currently under construction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush, who wrote and directed Encanto, joined the Horizons presentation to reveal new details about the attraction’s story.
As Disney previously teased, the attraction takes place on Antonio’s gift day, celebrating his magical ability to communicate with animals.
Guests are invited into Casita to join the celebration, with Disney describing the heart of the story as the idea that we’re all part of the family of living things, regardless of our individual gifts or abilities.
And this time, we aren’t simply watching the Madrigal family’s story unfold. We’re actually going inside their home.
We’re Going INSIDE Casita
This may be one of the most exciting details Disney revealed.
Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will take riders through Casita, including areas of the magical Madrigal home that audiences never got to see in the original movie.
Bush explained that working with Imagineers gave the creative team an opportunity to expand the world of Encanto by designing entirely new parts of the house. That means this won’t simply be a greatest-hits recreation of scenes from the movie. Disney is actually expanding Casita specifically for the theme park attraction.
And naturally, Casita itself will have a pretty big role in getting us around.
Even the Ride Vehicles Are Part of Casita
Disney also finally explained what we’ll be riding in.
Rather than boarding a traditional boat or ride vehicle, guests will climb aboard vehicles designed to look as though Casita itself has assembled different pieces of furniture to carry us through the house.
And apparently, these aren’t going to feel like lifeless pieces of furniture.
Disney says the vehicles will be lively and dynamic, reacting to the different scenes unfolding around riders almost as though they’re characters themselves.
Considering we watched floor tiles, staircases, doors, drawers, and practically every other piece of the Madrigal home develop a personality in Encanto, that sounds pretty perfect.
Casita isn’t just where the ride takes place. It sounds like Casita is helping take us on the ride.
Antonio’s Magical Room Is Going to Be HUGE
Eventually, our journey through the house will take us upstairs into Antonio’s room. And Disney is going all-in on the animals.
Just like we saw in Encanto, Antonio’s magical room has transformed into a massive, lush rainforest filled with vegetation and animals.Disney confirmed there will be more than 50 animals represented throughout the attraction.
And we’ve already gotten a first look at a few of them. Among the scenes Disney teased during Horizons is an extremely adorable capybara getting a haircut, along with appearances from a toucan and donkey.
Because apparently even magical rainforest capybaras need a little self-care.
Disney Is Making Sure the Animals Are Accurate to Colombia
The animals aren’t being selected randomly, either.
Walt Disney Imagineering has partnered with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team to ensure that the animals depicted throughout the attraction are accurate to Colombia.
Imagineers also previously traveled to Colombia to conduct research for Tropical Americas, studying the country’s colors, architecture, materials, climate, terrain, and culture firsthand.
That research is helping inform the environments Disney is creating for the new land and attraction. It’s an especially important detail for Animal Kingdom, where Disney is working to make the Encanto experience fit naturally alongside the park’s existing focus on animals and the natural world.
And Antonio’s gift makes him a pretty natural Madrigal to build that connection around.
Mirabel, Luisa, and Isabela Are Returning
It wouldn’t exactly be a Madrigal family celebration without some familiar voices. Disney confirmed several members of the original Encanto cast are returning to record new dialogue for the attraction.
That includes:
- Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel
- Jessica Darrow as Luisa
- Diane Guerrero as Isabela
Disney showed D23 attendees behind-the-scenes footage of the actresses recording for the attraction during the Horizons presentation.
Disney hasn’t yet revealed the complete character lineup we’ll encounter inside the ride, so there could still be more Madrigal family members waiting to be announced.
And yes, we’re wondering about Bruno, too.
There Will Be NO Height Requirement
Families, this is a BIG one. Disney confirmed that Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto will have no height requirement.
That means Disney is designing the attraction as an experience the entire family can enjoy together, including younger children who may not be tall enough for some of Animal Kingdom’s other major attractions.
It also gives us a much better sense of what kind of ride this will be.
While the attraction appears to feature sophisticated ride vehicles and immersive environments, Disney is clearly positioning Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto as a family-friendly adventure through Casita rather than a thrill ride.
When Will the ‘Encanto’ Ride Open?
Disney has not announced a specific opening date for Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto yet.
The attraction will be part of the larger Tropical Americas expansion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, alongside Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent and the newly named El Carrusel de los Animalitos carousel.
Disney also revealed new construction photos during Horizons showing just how much progress is being made on the land.
And while we still have plenty of questions about exactly what happens during Antonio’s fiesta, we know considerably more about this attraction than we did before D23.
We’re entering Casita. The house itself is putting together our ride vehicle. We’ll explore rooms we’ve never seen before. Antonio’s rainforest will be filled with more than 50 animals. Mirabel, Luisa, and Isabela are returning. And everyone in the family will be able to experience it together. Consider our invitation to the fiesta officially accepted!
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest D23 announcements, Encanto attraction updates, Tropical Americas construction news, Disney’s Animal Kingdom updates, and everything new coming to Walt Disney World.
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