Theme Park Scope

Raise your hand if you’ve been mentally walking through Tropical Americas for months now, deciding which ride you’ll do first and where you’ll eat. (I see you. Both hands. Very good.)

The new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the kind of project that gives you something new to be excited about every time a photo shows up, so let’s catch up on where it all stands.

This week, @bioreconstruct brought a closer look at the land’s entrance archway, which leads into the fictional village of Pueblo Esperanza. Markings have appeared on the archway, wavy lines forming seemingly random shapes, with straight lines that appear to indicate a color or texture, and some sections labeled with an “S.” The thinking is that these are guides for future paint and possibly themed elements, and per concept art, the archway is meant to be painted to look old and faded. Crews have also been adding stucco and metal elements over the past few weeks. So the archway has gone from steel frame to something that’s starting to look like a real, lived-in entrance, which is exactly the kind of glow-up I love.

Now let’s talk about what’s actually going into this land, because it’s quite a lineup, and it’s a good one for families.

The star for the youngest guests might be Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, the first Encanto attraction at any Disney park. Guests enter the Madrigal family’s Casita, where furniture becomes the ride vehicles, including the family piano, and the ride moves through the house into Antonio’s room, which is themed as a Colombian rainforest. More than 50 Audio-Animatronic animals are being built for it, with input from Animal Kingdom’s animal experts, and there’s a show scene with donkey and capybara figures. And here’s the part families will want to know: there’s no height requirement. That means everybody in the stroller-to-grandparent range can ride together, which is not something every ride can say.

Then there’s El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a handcrafted carousel with 22 hand-carved wooden animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories. Joe Rohde called it a love letter to the last 100 years of Disney animated stories at D23, which is going to make it very hard for me to pick just one animal. There’s also a Maya-inspired play area planned, and a hacienda that will house one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World, so the “where are we eating” debate is already underway in my brain.

And then, the adventure. Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is the official name of the new ride that will replace DINOSAUR. Riders meet Dr. Jones as he explores a temple near a cenote, an underground cave that local legend says leads to the Maya Underworld, guarded by a giant serpent called Tsukán. Riders get pulled through a portal into the Underworld and face bats, giant scorpions, fire, and snakes, with Tsukán appearing throughout. The Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronic will be modeled on Harrison Ford, the first time his face will appear on a Disney attraction. I recently wrote about the temple’s progress, and it keeps getting more impressive. A quick parent note: with bats, scorpions, fire, and snakes in the story, this one sounds more intense than the Encanto ride. I haven’t seen a height requirement or intensity details announced, so I’d wait for those before planning it for little ones.

Now, the question everybody is asking. When does it open? Disney’s official line has long been 2027. But in September, reports noticed that the Walt Disney World website’s “Coming to the Parks” page had dropped the “2027” from its description of Tropical Americas, and that Disney hadn’t mentioned an opening year at D23. Disney hasn’t explained the change or announced a delay, and other Disney materials still reference 2027. In other words, 2027 is still the official target as far as anything announced, but I’d keep your travel plans flexible until Disney names a date. Anyone who tells you they know the exact month is guessing.

This land is shaping up to be a genuinely special addition, and what I love most is that it has something for the whole family. There’s a ride with no height requirement, a carousel that sounds like a work of art, a playground, a big restaurant, and a headline adventure for the thrill-seekers. That’s a rare combination, and it feels very Animal Kingdom, with real attention to nature, craft and storytelling.

On timing, I’m staying optimistic and patient. A website edit isn’t a delay announcement, and construction clearly continues. But if you’re planning a once-in-a-while trip around this land, I’d wait for an official date before booking anything that depends on it. Waiting is the least fun part of any new land, but it beats a disappointed kid.

If you’re a planner, my advice is to keep an eye on official announcements and let the land open before you build the whole trip around it. If you’re an excited-but-patient fan like me, enjoy the progress photos. The archway is looking great.

So which one are you most excited for: the Casita ride, the carousel, or the temple? Let me know in the comments. And keep checking back with Theme Park Scope, because we’ll share the opening date the moment Disney announces it.