Grab your sunscreen and your last sifter—today is the final day to romp around The Boneyard, Disney’s dino-themed dig site at Animal Kingdom. After tonight, it’s history.
That’s right. The much-loved (but often overlooked) kids’ playground in DinoLand U.S.A. is officially closing for good at 6:00 PM on September 1, 2025, as part of Disney’s sweeping plan to overhaul the area and usher in a more contemporary concept known as the Tropical Americas.
If your little ones had dreams of unearthing fossils and crossing those rope bridges one last time, consider this your last boarding call. The Boneyard joins a growing list of shuttered attractions in a land that’s slowly being erased—bone by bone.
What’s Being Lost
For nearly three decades, The Boneyard has served as one of Walt Disney World’s go-to destinations for families with young kids. The playground was always a bit of an under-the-radar treasure: shaded, immersive, and interactive without being overwhelming.
Set up like a working paleontology dig site, it featured climbing nets, bone pits, slides, and even a jeep for little adventurers to crawl through. Its clever theming gave kids a way to play while parents caught a breath—an underrated but critical service in a theme park.
But despite its charm, The Boneyard is the latest casualty in Disney’s attempt to reshape Animal Kingdom’s identity and refresh a section of the park that hasn’t aged particularly gracefully.
What’s Taking Its Place?
If there’s one thing Disney fans have learned, it’s this: nothing disappears without something shinier waiting in the wings. And in this case, Disney’s got big plans.
The closure of The Boneyard is part of a massive, multi-year transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into an entirely new space dubbed Tropical Americas. Inspired by the lush biodiversity and cultural richness of Central and South America, this new area is being designed to breathe new life into the park.
Among the confirmed and rumored additions:
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A new Encanto-themed attraction, likely a dark ride through the Madrigal family’s magical casita.
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An Indiana Jones ride that’s expected to replace DINOSAUR, utilizing the same ride system but with a reimagined storyline and visuals.
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A brand-new kids’ play area—yes, a successor to The Boneyard—but no real details have been revealed beyond the promise that it will be part of the Tropical Americas lineup when it opens in 2027.
It’s a total creative reboot—and Disney’s banking on it turning heads.
DinoLand’s Disappearing Act
With The Boneyard’s closure, the list of now-defunct DinoLand experiences grows longer.
Already gone:
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TriceraTop Spin, a mini spinner ride that many saw as Dino Dumbo.
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Fossil Fun Games, where you could once win stuffed dinosaurs at carnival-style booths.
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Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, the over-the-top gift shop filled with kitschy “roadside” theming.
Still clinging on—for now—are:
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DINOSAUR, the last major ride in the land, though it’s widely expected to be rethemed.
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Restaurantosaurus, still flipping burgers but likely on borrowed time.
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Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites, snack stops that serve ice cream and drinks.
Bottom line: if you’re looking around DinoLand today, the writing is clearly on the wall. This isn’t a renovation—it’s a full-blown extinction.
The Real Reason This Is Happening
Let’s cut to it—Animal Kingdom needs the boost.
Since Pandora – The World of Avatar opened in 2017, the park has seen moments of crowd surges, but it’s also the first to quiet down every afternoon. It’s long held the unfortunate rep as a “half-day park,” and it’s become a bit of a punchline that Genie+ is cheapest here because, frankly, it’s the park where guests need it least.
Disney needs Animal Kingdom to pull its weight. With Universal’s Epic Universe which has just opened just up the road, the competition for tourist attention—and spending—is about to get real.
So while The Boneyard’s closure stings for nostalgia lovers, it’s part of a larger play to make Animal Kingdom a full-day destination again, packed with high-demand IPs, immersive theming, and—hopefully—better food (a food blogger can dream, right?).
What the Future Could Look Like
Here’s what makes this moment so fascinating: Disney hasn’t officially confirmed every detail, but they’ve teased enough that fans have been buzzing for months.
The Tropical Americas land was first teased at Destination D23 with concept art and commentary from top Imagineers. The vibe they’re going for? Lush, colorful, and culturally inspired—think Colombian rainforest meets cinematic magic.
Disney execs also referenced Coco as a potential influence for the new land’s entrance or dining offerings—though that part is still unofficial.
What’s absolutely confirmed:
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A Zootopia-themed show will replace It’s Tough to Be a Bug inside the Tree of Life.
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The land will have “family-friendly attractions” and “immersive environments.”
What’s still in the rumor zone:
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Encanto dark ride: All signs point to yes.
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Indiana Jones: Highly likely, especially given the matching ride systems.
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Coco dining? Maybe.
So, Should You Be Excited?
Here’s the thing: the closure of a fan-favorite like The Boneyard can sting. It’s easy to roll your eyes when Disney retires something simple and nostalgic in favor of a flashy IP-driven experience.
But if Animal Kingdom is going to stay competitive—and stay open later—it needs more. More attractions. More food. More entertainment. And yes, more Encanto.
That doesn’t mean we won’t miss The Boneyard. It’s always hard to lose a piece of park history, especially one built on creativity and charm rather than screen-based storytelling.
But let’s be real—if Disney delivers on even half of what they’ve teased for Tropical Americas, this will be a major upgrade. The key now is execution.
Final Fossil Finds
If you’re in the park today, swing by DinoLand and let the little ones scramble through The Boneyard one last time. It’s open until 6:00 PM, and then the fences are going up for good.
Take a few photos. Let the kids get dirty. Then head over to Flame Tree BBQ, grab a pulled pork sandwich, and pour one out for the last dig site at Walt Disney World.
The dinos had a good run—but their time is officially extinct.
