A restaurant that fed generations of Walt Disney World Resort guests is now being taken apart piece by piece.
The Hip Joint Gets the Axe
On March 19, guests peering above the construction walls surrounding the former DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park got a clearer picture of what’s happening to Restaurantosaurus. WDWNT reported that a trailer once connected to the restaurant’s “Hip Joint” dining room has been officially marked for demolition, with exterior paneling already stripped from the structure. A photo documenting the progress was shared on Facebook.
Walt Disney World Resort is preserving and converting portions of the Restaurantosaurus building into a hacienda-style Quick-Service dining location designed to suit the aesthetic of Pueblo Esperanza, the Tropical Americas-themed land currently rising in DinoLand U.S.A.’s footprint. The “Hip Joint” trailer attached to the building didn’t survive the planning process, however, and is now being cleared from the site.
A Land That Closed in Chapters
DinoLand U.S.A. went extinct in stages, starting in January 2025 when Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, the Fossil Fun Games, and TriceraTop Spin all shuttered permanently. The Boneyard play area closed that September. The final chapter came in February 2026, when DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, and the last remaining elements of the land closed for good.
Pueblo Esperanza, announced at D23 Expo 2024, is what comes next. Walt Disney Imagineering has confirmed an Encanto (2021)-inspired Casita attraction, an Indiana Jones retheme of the existing DINOSAUR ride building, and a Disney animal-themed carousel featuring characters like Dug from Up (2009). Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures gift shop will also be repurposed into a new retail space fitting the Tropical Americas theme.
Pueblo Esperanza is expected to debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park sometime in 2027, though Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t confirmed an exact date.
Did you visit Restaurantosaurus one last time before it permanently closed? Share your favorite memories with Disney Dining in the comments!
