Animal Kingdom Guests Have Made a Drastic Behavior Change at Disney World
Walt Disney World is entering a period of rapid change, and the effects are being felt immediately.
As January 2026 draws to a close, Walt Disney World Resort finds itself in the middle of one of the most transformative moments in its history. Over the past year, several long-running experiences have exited the stage, including Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom, along with MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now, attention has shifted to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where another long-standing land is preparing to shut down for good.
DinoLand U.S.A. is officially nearing the end of the road as Disney prepares to replace it with Pueblo Esperanza, a new Tropical Americas–themed land inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones. Disney has already confirmed that Pueblo Esperanza is slated to open in 2027, but demolition and construction efforts have been steadily ramping up behind the scenes for months.
Much of DinoLand U.S.A. has already disappeared from guest access. Locations like Dino-Bites Snacks and Trilo-Bites are no longer operating, and The Boneyard playground has permanently closed. That leaves just two original offerings still standing: Restaurantosaurus and the DINOSAUR attraction.
That limited lineup is about to shrink to zero. Disney Experiences has confirmed that the remaining pieces of DinoLand U.S.A. are closing this week, officially ending the land’s nearly three-decade presence at Animal Kingdom.
February 1, 2026, will be the final opportunity for guests to eat at Restaurantosaurus or experience DINOSAUR. Both will close permanently on February 2. Construction is expected to quickly expand into the DINOSAUR show building, where Disney plans to overhaul the existing ride system into a new Indiana Jones attraction. According to Disney, this version of Indiana Jones will be completely original and will not replicate any attraction currently operating elsewhere.
While excitement continues to build for new additions at Animal Kingdom, the loss of DINOSAUR is hitting longtime fans hard. That sentiment has been reflected in recent crowd behavior.
As seen yesterday, and reported by WDWNT, DINOSAUR had the longest wait time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, replacing the park’s usual top attraction, Avatar Flight of Passage. According to the report, DINOSAUR reached a 50-minute wait, surpassing Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, and Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. With the closure date fast approaching, demand is expected to climb even higher.
All eyes will be on wait times during DINOSAUR’s final day of operation on February 1. One thing is certain: by next week, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feel very different, marking a major shift not just for the park, but for the entire resort.
Construction on the Encanto attraction is already moving forward. Vertical structures are now visible, signaling meaningful progress. The ride is expected to focus on Antonio Madrigal’s bedroom. In Encanto (2021), Antonio—voiced by Ravi Cabot-Conyers—possesses the gift of speaking with animals, a natural fit for Animal Kingdom’s environmental themes.
With DinoLand U.S.A. closing entirely this week, Animal Kingdom is retiring one of its original opening-day lands. After debuting in April 1998, the area is being removed after nearly 28 years of operation, permanently reshaping the park.
For some guests, this marks the end of a deeply nostalgic era. For others, it represents a bold step toward a refreshed future.
Are you sad to see DINOSAUR go? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
