DinoLand U.S.A. Attraction at Animal Kingdom Is Open for Disney World Guests
Something new has appeared in the space where DinoLand U.S.A. once stood at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. While it’s a far cry from what used to be there, it gives Walt Disney World Resort guests something to do in a corner of the theme park that has been largely empty for months.
Lawn Games Arrive Without an Announcement
WDWNT reported on May 26 that Disney cast members have set up lawn games in the former DinoLand U.S.A. footprint, including tic-tac-toe, checkers, and cornhole, now available for guests to enjoy. Walt Disney World Resort made no public announcement about the addition, and it won’t appear on the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park map. How long the games will be available is unclear; the setup is temporary by nature and subject to change without notice.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is operating with reduced attraction capacity while the former DinoLand U.S.A. area undergoes a transformation into something brand-new. Giving Disney Park guests an interactive reason to wander into that area helps fill the void left by the land’s closure.
How DinoLand U.S.A. Disappeared
The end of DinoLand U.S.A. didn’t happen overnight. Walt Disney World Resort wound the land down in phases over more than a year. Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, TriceraTop Spin, and Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama — including the Fossil Fun Games midway — were the first to close in January 2025.
The Boneyard play area shut down in September 2025. DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus, the last remaining pieces of the original land, closed in February 2026, bringing DinoLand U.S.A. to its final end after decades as part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
What’s Being Built in Its Place
The transformation of the former DinoLand U.S.A. space was announced at D23 Expo 2024, when Walt Disney Imagineering revealed Pueblo Esperanza — a new land rooted in the landscapes and culture of Tropical Americas. Three new attractions are planned for the area: a Disney-animal-themed carousel, an experience inspired by the Casita from Encanto (2021), and an Indiana Jones retheme of the DINOSAUR attraction, distinct from Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland Park.
Pueblo Esperanza is currently targeting a 2027 opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Walt Disney World Resort has not committed to a specific date.
Do you like it when Walt Disney World Resort adds lawn games like these to its theme parks? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
