Animal Kingdom is going through a pretty major shift right now, and if you’ve visited recently—or are planning to—you’ve probably already noticed how different the park feels.
It’s not just one change. It’s several happening all at once.
The biggest one is the closure of Dinoland. That entire section is now gone as Disney begins work on the new Tropical Americas land, which will feature Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions. Long-term, that’s a huge upgrade. But right now, it means a noticeable drop in the number of things to do.
And that’s only part of the story.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch has also closed temporarily to make way for a Bluey experience arriving this summer. That’s another space that’s currently unavailable, even if it will return in a new way soon.
When you combine both of those changes, you end up with a park that has fewer attractions operating at the same time.
But the crowds? They’re still showing up.
That’s where things start to shift.
Guests are now concentrating into the remaining areas—Pandora, Africa, Asia—and especially around the park’s biggest rides. And right now, one attraction is feeling that pressure more than any other: Expedition Everest.
It’s always been popular, but lately it’s become a go-to ride for guests trying to fill out their day. Wait times have climbed, and it’s not unusual to see people riding it multiple times just because there aren’t as many alternatives.
Disney clearly sees what’s happening.
That’s why this latest update to the Expedition Everest queue is actually more important than it might seem.
New pre-boarding video screens have been added in the final room before guests load onto the train. These screens walk riders through exactly what to do—how to secure the restraint, where to put loose items, and what to expect.
It’s simple, but it matters.
Instead of Cast Members repeating instructions over and over, guests now get that information ahead of time. That helps keep things moving, especially when lines are longer than usual.
And when a ride is this busy, even small efficiency improvements can make a big difference.
What makes it even better is that Disney didn’t just drop in modern screens without thinking about the theme. The visuals are designed to match the attraction’s Himalayan setting, so it still feels like part of the story.
All of this points to something bigger.
Animal Kingdom is in a transition phase. The future is clearly being built, but the present still has to function. And right now, Disney is making adjustments to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
Expedition Everest just happens to be at the center of it all.
