Walt Disney World has launched a brand new timeline for the extinction stage occasion of DinoLand USA, DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, the Boneyard, and so on. With that in thoughts, let’s get diggin’, diggin’ in DinoLand.
Most of this has been coated elsewhere in our 5-12 months Development Plan for Walt Disney World. That provides a regularly-updated rundown of all tasks on the horizon, and our expectations as to when closures would happen and when the reimagined replacements or new points of interest would open.
This covers the newest on every thing we all know concerning the finish instances for DinoLand USA, when DINOSAUR to go extinct, and so forth. One factor we must always notice is that though it is a newly-released timeline from Walt Disney World, it doesn’t actually disclose or affirm any new particulars or rumors. Take into account subscribing to our free Walt Disney World e-newsletter, the place we’ll share prompt updates as quickly as they’re introduced. Accordingly, this replace is extra precious for what it does not say, which we’ll break down within the commentary following the FAQ from Walt Disney World…
What’s already closed in DinoLand USA?
To accommodate building, the primary wave of closures occurred earlier this 12 months, with TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Enjoyable Video games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures operating their final day of operations on January 12, 2025.
Mainly, the Dino-Rama carnival subsection (the world we hated with the burning ardour of a thousand suns) is already closed. The nice portion of DinoLand USA (that we like) continues to be open.
Is DinoLand nonetheless open?
Sure! You don’t even want a Time Rover to go to DinoLand as a result of components of the world are nonetheless at present open by means of 2025.
What’s taking place to Dinoland?
Introduced throughout final 12 months’s D23 Expo, DinoLand is closing to make manner for a brand new location in Animal Kingdom: Tropical Americas. Inside this location, a brand-new thrilling Indiana Jones expertise will debut following Indy’s journey to discover a legendary creature deep throughout the temple — and it’s in contrast to any Indy expertise you’ve ever seen earlier than. And, a really well-known home is coming to life, actually, with the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction based mostly on the Walt Disney Animation Studios movie.
Filth is transferring on flooring, drawers, and doorways for what’s coming subsequent. Extra to come back!
When is DinoLand USA closing?
For those who’re hoping to get in some prehistoric enjoyable, 2025 is your final 12 months to go to DinoLand earlier than it goes extinct. Presently, a lot of DinoLand places are nonetheless working, together with DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, and Restaurantosaurus. When building ramps up all year long, we’ll convey you extra data sooner than a Time Rover can race out of the tip of the Cretaceous interval.
When is DINOSAUR closing?
That is your 12 months to go quick and go to the previous. DINOSAUR closes in 2026.
When is Restaurantosaurus closing?
You’ve nonetheless bought time in 2025 to rustle up some grub at Restaurantosaurus, and it’s the right place to refuel earlier than your subsequent wild journey within the park. You may even catch a efficiency from the Dino Institute Intern — on a break from his internship duties — pleased to entertain everybody and anybody who will take heed to his unique dino-themed tunes.
The close by Dino-Bites Snacks can be nonetheless open, the place you possibly can choose up an ice cream cookie sandwich or the Dig Dino ice cream sandwich — you possibly can’t go improper with both snack.
When is the Boneyard closing?
There’s nonetheless time for an additional excavation (or two) all through 2025. The Boneyard continues to be open and welcoming little archeologists to play each day.
What else is thought about Tropical Americas?
Tropical Americas — higher often called Pueblo Esperanza — will probably be a brand new 11-acre lush and sprawling space. Identical to Harambe, this land will really feel lived in, with an extended, wealthy historical past. Not solely will the land embrace a hacienda — which will probably be one of many largest quick-service eating places at Disney World Resort — but in addition two signature points of interest for Indiana Jones and Encanto.
Moreover, the world will function a big fountain within the heart and an area wooden carver has created a large working carousel that includes his favourite animals from Disney tales. It’s a brand new tackle a traditional attraction that younger households are going to like.
Development on the land is at present ongoing and Tropical Americas will open in 2027.
Our Commentary
What’s most notable about this non-update replace is its existence. Walt Disney World launched this for a motive, and that motive will not be that it declares something concrete. It doesn’t. My robust suspicion is that this was printed at the start as a result of there was a whole lot of visitor confusion about Dinoland’s operational standing and, extra probably than not, decreased foot site visitors again right here. Which means fewer folks eating at Restaurantosaurus and decrease utilization of every thing else.
I strongly suspect this as a result of DTB has encountered precisely this, fielded a whole lot of questions, and repeatedly defined the excellence between Dino-Rama and Dinoland. That’s why I added the little bit of editorializing within the FAQ above. (Sadly, Walt Disney World didn’t embrace that line about hating Dino-Rama with the burning ardour of a thousand suns. However they need to’ve.) Readers of this web site are typically higher-knowledge than extra mainstream audiences, so should you all are questioning about it, I can solely think about the scene on Fb and amongst extra informal audiences.
That is additionally why we beforehand mentioned that the cut-off date of Restaurantosaurus and every thing else that isn’t DINOSAUR will come all the way down to what is smart from a capability and crowd-absorbing perspective. Are friends nonetheless venturing to this nook of the park in excessive numbers now that building partitions are up? It’s attainable that demand drops to the purpose that Walt Disney World opts to shut the eating choices earlier. Once more, it is a firm large on saving working bills each time attainable.
Decreased demand for Restaurantosaurus (and so on.) is already enjoying out, and is probably going each the rationale for this announcement’s existence and in addition why Walt Disney World nonetheless is enjoying coy with the closure dates. It would take much less time to reimagine Restaurantosaurus into the brand new cantina than it would to remodel DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey.
From a logical perspective, it stands to motive that DINOSAUR would be the final thing to shut. That every thing else won’t want to be taken offline earlier, and it’ll all shut concurrently. However choices aren’t made out of a perspective of what’s logical, and if that have been the agency plan, Walt Disney World might merely announce as a lot right here, with a 2026 timeline for every thing in Dinoland. The FAQ provided a possibility to make clear closure dates for every factor of Dinoland USA. Disney declined.
Possibly every thing else will shut with DINOSAUR. Maybe this announcement will elevate consciousness that Restaurantosaurus continues to be open and will probably be open by means of early 2026. Personally, I’m skeptical. As we simply noticed with Muppets Courtyard, there’s an irresistible temptation for operational cost-savings of “underutilized capability.” If Restaurantosaurus is deemed pointless, it’ll shut earlier than 2026.
I might additionally see a state of affairs the place Restaurantosaurus goes seasonal, closing someday after spring break season however reopening for a last farewell at Christmas. No matter Restaurantosaurus, we totally anticipate there to be a 76th Annual Dino Institute Vacation Occasion this November and December on the again porch and within the surrounding space.
Purely speculative, however I believe it’s extra probably that Restaurantosaurus goes seasonal or closes early than the identical taking place with the Boneyard. That play space isn’t precisely costly to function, it’s proper on the entrance to the land, and is a well-liked place for teenagers. It’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World acknowledged the Boneyard can be open “all through 2025.” Whereas that’s not essentially conclusive, it a minimum of suggests the play space will shut in 2026–in all probability on the identical date as DINOSAUR.
For these of you who need extra readability, the almost certainly closure date for DINOSAUR is January 13, 2026. (That means the final day to expertise the attraction earlier than extinction can be January 12, 2026.)
That is our prediction, and never something formally introduced by Walt Disney World–and even rumored. That’s one 12 months after Dino-Rama closed, adjusted for a comparable Monday extinction occasion. There’s a motive for this–and why this kind of main change/closure so typically happens on the second Monday in January.
That’s after the vacation season, after faculties return into session, and in addition after the 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon wraps up. It’s the tip of the height season, and begin of the winter season. It’s additionally attainable Imagineering waits till after Spring Break 2026, however I actually doubt it–and hope not.
The longer DINOSAUR is closed, the extra time Imagineering has to do justice to an bold reimagining. All the things I’ve heard about this model of Indiana Jones Journey has me optimistic, together with insiders suggesting it has the potential to be the perfect of the trio. Tropical Americas is already going to have a tricky time hitting its 2027 goal date with this belated closure of DINOSAUR.
Talking of which, one other factor this FAQ from Walt Disney World does is reiterate that the plan is to debut Tropical Americas in 2027.
After the closure timeline for Muppets Courtyard was just lately launched–and revealed a lot earlier time limits than we anticipated (by roughly a full 12 months)–we questioned whether or not that was a matter of cost-cutting, or if Monstropolis and Tropical Americas had flipped opening dates. The latter would make sense. It’s simpler to assemble a coaster inside a gravity constructing backstage and retheme present buildings than it’s to construct an elaborate darkish trip, rework DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey, and construct out every thing else in Tropical Americas.
I’d cease in need of saying this affords affirmation that Tropical Americas is subsequent up, however it does a minimum of recommend that’s the case. If there was a timeline change, it’s attainable that data isn’t prepared for public consumption, so Walt Disney World is sustaining the established order of bulletins. If Walt Disney World drops the 2027 from future updates on Tropical Americas, or places extra emphasis on Monstropolis when sharing information, that may recommend the opening years have switched.
It’s additionally attainable one hand doesn’t know what the opposite is doing, and the 2027 opening for Tropical Americas is solely inaccurate, copied and pasted from the final replace. (I’d additionally level out that this FAQ refers to Tropical Americas as Pueblo Esperanza, and I’ve beforehand confirmed with Disney that the 2 names are not interchangeable. That Tropical Americas is the entire growth, and Pueblo Esperanza is the central village. It’s a subset of the land, identical to Dino-Rama was with Dinoland–however hopefully not terrible.)
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YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you anticipate DINOSAUR and Dinoland at Animal Kingdom to shut fully? Assume DINOSAUR will go extinct on January 13, 2026–or not till after Spring Break? Count on Restaurantosaurus and the remainder of the land to shut then, or earlier as a consequence of lack of demand/cost-savings? Assume our hypothesis is improper, and this whole land closes unexpectedly? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
