Theme Park Scope

Disney’s CEO went on a Walt Disney World construction tour, and we all got to peek over his shoulder.

Josh D’Amaro walked through 3 of the resort’s biggest upcoming projects with Walt Disney Imagineering and shared photos on Instagram, saying there is “an incredible energy” at Walt Disney World right now.

The three stops were Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge on Bay Lake. He also thanked the Imagineering team, writing that seeing the projects in person makes him “even more excited for what’s ahead.”

Let’s start with Tropical Americas, because the star of the photos is the Maya temple for Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. Scaffolding still surrounds it, but turquoise, red, and gold rockwork now covers the upper tiers, which is a visible jump from the aerial photos we saw in September. A close-up shows a hand-carved wooden column with a flower rosette and carved leaves, and I love that kind of detail because it tells you a lot about how much craft is going into the land. The new Indiana Jones attraction replaces DINOSAUR, and Tropical Americas is set to open, at least in part, in 2027. The land also includes an Encanto attraction and El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a carousel of animals from Disney and Pixar stories.

Over at Hollywood Studios, one photo shows an Imagineer holding a tablet with what looks like concept art for the Welcome to Monstropolis show, which is coming to the Glob Theater. Monstropolis replaces the old Muppets Courtyard, and the first phase is set to open in 2027. That phase includes the Welcome to Monstropolis show, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, Harryhausen’s, and the Scareporium shop. The Monsters, Inc. door vault roller coaster will follow later.

The third stop is Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, the new Disney Vacation Club resort on Bay Lake. It’s set to open July 1, 2027, with 967 accommodations, including studios, villas, and waterfront Lake Houses. In the photos, D’Amaro signs a concrete floor already covered in signatures while wearing a hard hat marked “Josh.” The room has a wood-paneled ceiling, a triangular skylight, and tall windows. Another photo shows two Imagineers in front of the main building, with balconies rising behind a canopy that’s still under construction. Reservations for the resort are open now.

This is exactly the kind of progress post I like, because it shows actual work instead of just promises. The Indiana Jones temple is the one I’d stare at the longest, since turquoise and gold on that scale is going to look incredible against the Animal Kingdom skyline. For families, 2027 is shaping up to be a big year, with a carousel and an Encanto attraction for younger kids, a Monsters, Inc. land for the whole family, and a lakeside resort to stay in. A signed concrete floor, a carved wooden column, and a painted temple are the kind of things you can’t fake with concept art.

We’ll keep sharing construction updates and opening news as they come. Keep checking back with us here at Theme Park Scope for everything happening at Walt Disney World, and tell us in the comments which of these three you’re most excited to visit.