Disney’s Animal Kingdom is in that in-between phase right now, where a big chunk of the park is still a construction zone, but the shape of what’s coming is finally visible enough to get genuinely excited about. The former DinoLand U.S.A. is long gone, the walls have been up for a while, and the Tropical Americas project is now at the stage where aerial photography is showing real progress instead of just cranes and dirt.
The latest updates from bioreconstruct show the developing Pueblo Esperanza village moving from skeleton to something that actually resembles a place. The carousel, the Encanto attraction, the Indiana Jones reimagining, and the restaurant transformation are all underway simultaneously, which means the scale of this construction site is genuinely massive.
Here’s what the photos are showing.
A nearly straight-down aerial overview of construction of Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/uYBraLFAa7
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) July 17, 2026
The Animal Kingdom Carousel Has a Foundation and a Name to Go With It
The most exciting single detail in this update: the future carousel near the northern entrance to Tropical Americas is taking visible shape. The circular foundation is there, the surrounding structures are being built out, and the picture is getting clearer.
When it opens, the carousel will live under a large canopy and feature hand-carved wooden animals inspired by Disney characters. The one already being talked about the most is Kevin from Up, who is going on a carousel, and that sentence alone justifies the whole land. This will be one of the central spots inside Pueblo Esperanza when Tropical Americas opens in 2027.
Encanto‘s Building Is Getting Its First Skin
The Encanto show building dominates the northern end of the site, and it’s been a massive concrete-and-steel presence in the aerial photos for a while. What’s new this round: the first apparent rockwork is beginning to develop around the structure.
That’s a meaningful milestone. Mesh, masonry elements, and stacks of finishing materials have shown up around the building’s exterior, laying the groundwork for the textured, natural-looking surfaces that will eventually make Pueblo Esperanza feel like a place rather than a construction project. Multiple levels and elevated pathways are also being built out within the attraction footprint. The steel framing along the top of the building is visible from certain angles inside the park.
Aerial video of construction of Tropical Americas.
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) July 17, 2026
One of the the things featured is that chips (wire mesh) for rock work are being installed on the highest roofline of the Encanto show building. pic.twitter.com/mRxu0a2Z2j
Indiana Jones Is Getting a Temple
The former DINOSAUR building is transforming into the new Indiana Jones adventure. The exterior work involves a steel framework rising several stories with projecting sections that will eventually form a Maya temple facade. Boom lifts are still positioned around the structure, confirming the work is active even while other parts of the land are further along in their finishing stages.
Best aerial photos I have this time of the development of scenic elements for the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom.
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) July 17, 2026
In the Imagineering office area. pic.twitter.com/Do3kkF4HGJ
A Tree Arrived and That’s Actually News
Among the smaller but telling updates: a mature transplanted tree has appeared in the northern entrance area, with workers tending it and orange fencing protecting its base. In Disney parks construction, mature trees aren’t planted until a project is far enough along to begin thinking about the final experience. So, this arrival suggests the landscaping phase is beginning to ramp up alongside the structural work. This tree may be one of the first things guests see when entering from the north.
The Animal Kingdom Backstage Clue
Behind the construction walls, Disney has a field full of theming samples, wall panels, painted finishes, sculpted rock formations, all standing in rows so Imagineers can evaluate how they hold up in Florida’s sun and humidity. This happens before anything gets permanently installed. It looks like an outdoor showroom for Pueblo Esperanza’s future look. It’s one of the clearest signals that design decisions are being made and tested in real time.
What’s Still Coming
Disney hasn’t locked in a specific date beyond 2027 for Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom. But the carousel foundation, the Encanto rockwork, the Indiana Jones framework, and the transplanted tree all point to a project that is moving. And it is moving faster than the wall-covered entrance might suggest.
DinoLand had a long run. What’s replacing it is shaping up to be something Animal Kingdom has genuinely been missing.
