New: 10-Acre Expansion at Disney World—What It Means for Guests

Over the next few years, the Walt Disney World Resort will grow exponentially with a slew of new offerings.

In mid-January, Walt Disney World Resort closed three attractions in its popular DinoLand U.S.A. area. This was to make way for the already announced Tropical Americas-themed land which will feature signature experiences based on the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises.

The former will be an attraction based on Antonio Madrigal’s bedroom–in the 2021 movie, Antonio gains the miracle power to talk to animals–and the latter will replace the DINOSAUR ride and can be expected to operate in a similar fashion to the Indy ride found on the West Coast’s Disneyland Resort.

Last year, Disney Experiences chief Josh D’Amaro promised fans at D23 Expo 2024 that dirt was moving and that every announcement made during the busy weekend was in motion–this came after 2022’s Expo where Disney largely presented “blue sky” ideas and nothing specifically concrete.

D’Amaro’s declaration is coming true. Following the closure of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and the removal of the classic DinoRama entrance sign, Walt Disney Imagineering officially announced that DinoLand’s transformation had begun.

Now, a new permit reveals just how much support this large-scale evolution will need. In a report from WDWMagic, the permit application with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) details a 10-acre development that will include multiple establishments and be known as the DAK Contractor Lot.

The permit details infrastructure improvements in an undeveloped area between Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Western Way, near the Walt Disney World Horticulture department,” the report reads. “The project includes: contractor parking, sidewalks, stormwater treatment systems, drainage collection, and conveyance systems.”

The Tropical Americas land is set to open in 2027. Alongside the Encanto and Indiana Jones rides, the Pueblo Esperanza will also be home to a large fountain and “a giant working carousel featuring [a woodcarver’s] favorite animals from Disney stories,” per Disney Parks Blog.

This is not the only change happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, earlier this week the resort announced the official closing date of It’s Tough to be a Bug! the resident show at the Tree of Life Theater. The A Bug’s Life show–which opened in 1998–will close on March 17 to make way for the upcoming Zootopia-themed, Zootopia: Better Zoogether.

Elsewhere at the resort, Magic Kingdom will also undergo a large-scale renovation as Disney removes multiple attractions within the Frontierland area to make way for Pixar’s Cars franchise. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is already closed indefinitely in what seems to be the first phase of the development. The classic attraction aims to reopen sometime in 2026 with a “little bit of new magic.”

With Big Thunder’s closure, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure acts as the sole anchor to Frontierland.

How do you feel about all the changes at Walt Disney World Resort? Let us know in the comments down below!