New permit suggests major expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a go

Mar 18, 2024 in "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

Tropical Americas Encanto land concept art at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Posted: Monday March 18, 2024 6:15pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering suggests that the previously announced "Blue Sky" Indiana Jones and Encanto expansion project at Disney's Animal Kingdom is now green-lit and ready to begin.

The permit outlines plans to install a Walt Disney Imagineering project trailer compound behind Kali River Rapids and a parking lot for more than 300 vehicles. The area has a backstage roadway and walkway leading to DinoLand U.S.A. These types of facilities are common for large construction projects that we have seen in the past, including the Fantasyland redevelopment at Magic Kingdom and Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

While the permit does not detail any specifics on what project the trailers are for, this is likely the first stage of beginning the previously announced "Blue Sky" Indiana Jones and Encanto redevelopment of DinoLand U.S.A.

Disney has two big dates in the coming months that could be used to announce the Animal Kingdom expansion: the Annual Shareholders meeting on April 3 and the 2024 D23 Fan Event in August.

Disney announced in September 2023 that new experiences inspired by "Encanto" – the Academy Award winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film – and the fan-favorite adventurer Indiana Jones were being considered for the reimagined DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The new land themed to the tropical Americas would replace the entire Dino-Land U.S.A. area, with Indiana Jones replacing the existing Dinosaur ride, and Encanto replacing Dino-Rama.


Imagineering Boss Bruce Vaughn said, "Imagine a land filled with authentic experiences from this part of the world. With all of the placemaking and storytelling you'd expect. Look, it's a beautiful region to explore and has been the inspiration for so many magical stories over the years. We're looking forward to bringing all of that to life"

Vaughn contninued, "Imagineering has been talking about stories from this part of the world; Encanto with Indiana Jones just rose to the top. They give us so much to play with. We have a long way to go now and a lot more to discover. But our team here in Florida is all over it."

In addition to Encanto and Indiana Jones, Disney has also previously confirmed that a new show based on "Zootopia" is being created for the Tree of Life theater at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The current concept for the new "Zootopia" experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters.

Disney says that Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept, and more details will be coming in the future.

The new show will replace "It's Tough to Be a Bug," although no closures dates have yet been announced.

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    ToTBellHop1 day ago

    We do not talk about that scene!

    Agent H1 day ago

    With the exception of a Bruno scene it probably won’t be that dark

    Mike S1 day ago

    Until they create projectors that can match the natural light around them it would be way too bright for this to work in a ride as dark as something like Haunted Mansion.

    Gusey1 day ago

    The actual article https://blogmickey.com/2025/02/disney-patent-conceal-other-ride-vehicles/

    TheMaxRebo1 day ago

    Yeah, just throughout the ride and hopefully just a test out more effective lol

    Agent H1 day ago

    Kinda reminds me of the little mermaid ride

    TheMaxRebo1 day ago

    Just saw about this new patent - wonder if it could be used as part of the Encanto ride to make it more immersive and help hide the track and other cars from you

    TheMaxRebo1 day ago

    I think it will be like trains of cars, so like 4 cars, each that hold up to 6 people that leave the loading area together/connected and then in each show scene can be slowed down or even stopped to let the action/story unfold for those ~24 people at a time Vs the classic dark ride which are just one car and then continuously move through the ride with no pausing for show So in that way more like Figment

    Agent H1 day ago

    Okay phew

    rle4lunch1 day ago

    yep.

    Agent H1 day ago

    You’re talking about the latter 2 right? Right? In any case as @TrainsOfDisney said I was talking ride system not the actual quality of the ride

    TrainsOfDisney1 day ago

    Ride system. Mermaid and Mansion have the same ride system.

    rle4lunch1 day ago

    In my minds eye, I can't imagine a ride built in the year 2025 that should even closely resemble the utter failure that JII is.

    Ichabod Crane1 day ago

    If the ride vehicles don’t end up being connected at all then you’re actually looking more at a classic fantasyland dark ride type deal like Pooh Alice or Pinocchio with Encanto moreso than a Figment.