Disney’s Latest Permits Confirm Massive Changes Coming to This Theme Park
Disney has filed permits with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection detailing the new playground coming to Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom. The documents provide the first specific information about the play area Disney announced would replace The Boneyard.
Playground Location, Features and Permits
The permits show the playground will be built on the site of Cretaceous Trail, the walking path near DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus that currently hosts Daisy Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale character meet and greets.
According to the filed plans, the playground will include at least two slides and a climbing structure. This provides concrete details after Disney previously only confirmed a play area would exist without sharing design specifics.
Replacing The Boneyard
The Boneyard playground closed September 1, 2025, as the first DinoLand U.S.A. attraction to permanently shut down. The popular play area featured dinosaur skeleton climbing structures, slides, and interactive digging areas where children could uncover fossil replicas.
The new Tropical Americas playground serves similar purposes by providing dedicated play spaces for families with young children. The theming will reflect Central and South American landscapes and culture instead of prehistoric dinosaurs.
DinoLand U.S.A. Closure
DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus will close permanently after Sunday, February 1, 2026. This marks the end of DinoLand U.S.A. as a functioning land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The entire area transforms into Tropical Americas, scheduled to open in 2027 with multiple new attractions and experiences celebrating Central and South American stories and landscapes.
What’s Coming to Tropical Americas
DINOSAUR’s ride system will be reimagined as an Indiana Jones attraction. The track layout and vehicles remain the same, while theming, storyline, and environments transform completely.
An Encanto attraction will serve as the land’s signature ride. Construction has reached the vertical phase with steel framing visible as crews build the show building structure.
A hand-carved carousel inspired by animals from classic Disney films provides family-friendly experiences. Pueblo Esperanza Plaza with a fountain creates a central gathering space. Additional dining and entertainment round out the land.
Why Permits Matter
Filing detailed playground plans with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection demonstrates tangible progress in construction. The permits require specific details about construction plans, environmental impacts, and site modifications.
This indicates Disney has moved beyond design phases into preparation for actual construction implementation. The playground isn’t just conceptual; it has committed designs ready for construction.
Timeline Considerations
The 2027 Tropical Americas opening provides approximately 1 year between the closure of DinoLand U.S.A. and the reimagined land’s debut. This relatively compressed timeline suggests Disney wants to minimize the period when this Animal Kingdom section sits inaccessible behind construction walls.
The land will open with multiple experiences simultaneously rather than phased rollouts, creating a complete transformation guests can experience as cohesive environment.
DINOSAUR’s Final Days
Sunday, February 1, 2026 represents the final day for DINOSAUR before permanent closure February 2. The attraction has faced operational difficulties during its final week with delayed openings and reduced capacity.
Fans making farewell visits should expect increased wait times and potential technical issues as the attraction experiences heavy demand during its closing weekend.
Park Evolution
Tropical Americas continues Animal Kingdom’s evolution from its 1998 opening. Pandora: The World of Avatar opened in 2017, demonstrating Disney’s commitment to creating cutting-edge immersive lands.
Tropical Americas aims to maintain that momentum by replacing DinoLand USA with experiences leveraging Encanto and Indiana Jones intellectual properties while connecting to animal conservation and environmental themes.
Family Considerations
The confirmed playground inclusion provides reassurance for families that Animal Kingdom will maintain dedicated play spaces even as The Boneyard becomes memory. Young children visiting the park will have areas designed specifically for their needs within the reimagined land.
The playground location near dining and attractions suggests thoughtful planning to keep family amenities accessible rather than isolated in remote park sections.
We need animals from South America!!!