Exciting News: Disney Begins Work on Long-Awaited Animal Kingdom Expansion

It’s been nearly six months since Josh D’Amaro announced at the Destination D23 Expo that Disney’s Animal Kingdom would see some significant changes. Now, it appears that work will begin on those plans to turn DinoLand U.S.A into a Central and South American theme land, including an Encanto attraction.

Looks like work on a MAJOR Animal Kingdom project will be starting soon. A new SFWMD permit was filed for a 5 acre trailer compound just north of Kali River Rapids with infrastructure improvements along the BOH roadway leading directly to Dinoland. pic.twitter.com/H5f4algtzX

— Behind the Thrills (@BehindThrills) March 18, 2024

According to Behind the Thrills on X, Disney World has filed a new permit with the South Florida Water Management District for a five-acre trailer compound just north of Kali River Rapids with infrastructure improvement along the roadway heading toward DinoLand U.S.A.

While this may not seem like a big deal, it is the first step, of many, that Disney World must take to begin construction and update Animal Kingdom, and it’s a big step for Disney fans who have been waiting for something to happen for quite some time.

Along with replacing DinoLand to create the Encanto-theme land, Disney will also replace Dinosaur with an Indiana Jones-themed ride, similar to the one at the Disneyland Resort.

Related: Experts ‘Can’t Imagine’ Disney World Adding a Fifth Gate

This is the first significant update of Disney’s Animal Kingdom since 2017, when Pandora, the Avatar land, opened. It is also a much-needed update for the park that most Disney fans still consider a half-day park.

The concept art for the new land was released at the Destination D23 Expo and shows that South and Central American land will feature Casita from Encanto and a Colombian rainforest.

But beyond this tiny sliver of light, Disney fans hope for more significant changes to the Walt Disney World Resort. Two weeks ago, Disney fans were boosted by Bob Iger announcing that the company could build up to “seven new theme parks,” only to have Disney walk it back the next day.

While Disney fans do have Tiana’s Bayou Adventure coming to Magic Kingdom, there has been very little news on the previously announced expansion of Animal Kingdom, until now.

Josh D’Amaro has not announced anything further on the expansion of Animal Kingdom, and there have been no comments on the project from Walt Disney Imagineering on this new development; however, the pulling of permits shows that the project has begun.

We can only hope to see Indiana Jones Adventure and the new Encanto-themed very soon.

What do you think of this new development in the expansion of Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.

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