Disney Shares NEW Details and 3D Models For the Changes Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
While nothing has been “officially” announced yet, perhaps the worst-kept Disney secret is that a new Tropical Americas land will soon replace DinoLand at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Blue Sky plans for the Tropical Americas were initially unveiled at last year’s Destination D23, with Josh D’Amaro teasing that new Encanto and Indiana Jones experiences would be included in the land.
While presented as a “possible” new addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, plans for the Tropical Americas have since seemingly solidified.
“We’ve got so many stories to tell. We have so many things we want to make even better in the theme parks. My plan is to continue to share that with the guests. I know people are like, ‘My gosh, I can’t believe he’s saying this. Is he serious, is he not?’ The answer is, we are absolutely serious,” D’Amaro would later say.
Then, earlier this year, Disney filed permits for a massive construction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Their target area? You guessed it. DinoLand.
New Imagineering Documentary Gives Glimpse at Tropical Americas
Today, as part of the new YouTube documentary series “This is Imagineering,” Disney revealed some of the 3D models that are being used during the development of the Tropical Americas land.
According to Imagineers, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is one of the “many locals” that the new land will draw inspiration from.
“We recently took a trip down to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to study culture, art, and the archeology of the Maya,” said Neal Emery, Principal Landscape Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering.
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The goal, Emery says, is to “bring the fantastical and magical to life.”
More Details Will Be Revealed at D23
While the models don’t give much detail, they do clearly show that Disney is moving forward with the project.
So far, all we know is that it looks like a new Encanto-inspired area will be built, and Dinosaur will be replaced with an Indiana Jones ride. It also looks like there will be a carousel attraction.
According to Disney, however, more details will be revealed at this year’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event.
“And as you might already suspect, you won’t want to miss what we have to share in August during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, like this story about Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” Disney teased.
So, while it looks like the Tropical Americas are definitely coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we will have to wait a few more months to get the details.