Walt Disney World has dropped one other new timeline for the extinction stage occasion of DinoLand USA, revealing the official deadline for the Boneyard, which is sooner than beforehand advised. With that in thoughts, let’s get diggin’, diggin’ in DinoLand.
A few of these closure particulars have been coated elsewhere in our 5-Yr Building 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 part we all know in regards to the finish instances for DinoLand USA, when DINOSAUR to go extinct, and so forth. One factor we must always word is that despite the fact that this can be a newly-released timeline from Walt Disney World, it doesn’t actually disclose or verify any new particulars or rumors. Contemplate subscribing to our free Walt Disney World publication, the place we’ll share immediate updates as quickly as they’re introduced. To that finish, Walt Disney World has shared an up to date FAQ, revealing the closure date for the Boneyard and operational updates for the remainder of DinoLand USA. Let’s begin with the newest information…
When is the Boneyard completely closing?
Walt Disney World has simply introduced that The Boneyard will go extinct as of September 2, 2025. Because of this the final day to expertise the play space is September 1, 2025.
For many who are unfamiliar with it, the Boneyard is arguably the perfect play space at Walt Disney World. I say arguably as a result of I don’t wish to rile up my fellow purists by suggesting that something surpasses Tom Sawyer Island. However actually, I believe the Boneyard has extra that appeals to immediately’s kids than Tom Sawyer Island. (The latter’s power is serenity, not its substance.)
The Boneyard invitations youngsters ages 10 and underneath to clamber throughout rope bridges, climb via mysterious caves, and hurl down twisting slides. On the dig website, kids may help excavate fossils from a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Mother and father of busy explorers can take pleasure in a shaded seating space on the dig website, the place massive followers assist cool issues down.
Isn’t this sooner than what was beforehand introduced?
Sure. Beforehand, Walt Disney World shared this: “There’s nonetheless time for one more excavation (or two) all through 2025. The Boneyard continues to be open and welcoming little archeologists to play day by day.”
Though that “all through” left some ambiguity in regards to the deadline, Walt Disney World subsequently adopted up with a proactive assertion that the remainder of DinoLand USA wouldn’t shut till someday in 2026. Clearly, September 2, 2025 is earlier than 2026.
Walt Disney World has been full steam forward of Tropical Americas development, with the primary crane showing on-site final week. It seems that the undertaking is being fast-tracked and the accelerated closure of the Boneyard is to facilitate demolition of that and development of the brand new critter carousel.
Will there be a youngsters play space within the Tropical Americas?
Sure! The brand new land will embody a themed play space for teenagers visiting Tropical Americas.
Whereas extra particulars about this youngsters space have but to be revealed, it in all probability seems within the “Challenge Ro” post-development plans filed with the South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD) final October. These revealed a reimagined house between the counter service restaurant and present store, basically in the midst of the Tropical Americas the place the Cretaceous Path is presently positioned.
It was beforehand unclear as as to if this is able to be an ‘exploration path’ and animal exhibit, meet & greet space, or youngsters play space. Except the plans have modified significantly since then (uncertain as new permits haven’t been filed), we now ought to have our reply: youngsters play space.
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 presently open till 2026. There’s even the new-ish Eco-Rhythmics leisure act close to the land’s entrance that’s presumably meant to attract friends deeper into the park who’re asking this very query.
What’s already closed in DinoLand USA?
To accommodate development, the primary wave of closures occurred earlier this 12 months, with TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Enjoyable Video games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures working 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.
What’s occurring to Dinoland?
Introduced throughout final 12 months’s D23 Expo, DinoLand is closing to make method 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 not like 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 primarily based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios movie.
Grime is transferring on flooring, drawers, and doorways for what’s coming subsequent. Extra to come back!
When is DinoLand USA closing?
In the event you’re hoping to get in some prehistoric enjoyable, 2025 is your final 12 months to go to DinoLand earlier than it goes extinct. At the moment, a lot of DinoLand areas are nonetheless working, together with DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, and Restaurantosaurus. When development ramps up all year long, we’ll carry you extra data quicker 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 obtained 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 would possibly even catch a efficiency from the Dino Institute Intern — on a break from his internship duties — glad to entertain everybody and anybody who will take heed to his authentic dino-themed tunes.
The close by Dino-Bites Snacks can also be nonetheless open, the place you’ll be able to decide up an ice cream cookie sandwich or the Dig Dino ice cream sandwich — you’ll be able to’t go incorrect with both snack.
What else is thought about Tropical Americas?
Tropical Americas will likely be a brand new 11-acre lush and sprawling space. Similar to Harambe, this land will really feel lived in, with an extended, wealthy historical past. Not solely will the land embody a hacienda — which will likely 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 middle and a neighborhood wooden carver has created an enormous 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.
Building on the land is presently ongoing and Tropical Americas will open in 2027.
Our Commentary
On a private word, I’m actually torn about this information. On the one hand, I’m glad to see accelerated extinction dates for DinoLand USA, because it strongly suggests Walt Disney World is severe about fast-tracking this undertaking. On a number of events, I’ve beforehand “advocated” for this land closing earlier, and expressed concern about DINOSAUR staying open till early 2026.
We’re taking part in the lengthy sport, and wish Imagineering to have so long as crucial to perform a high quality reimagining. I expressed comparable sentiment with Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Journey, hoping the latter would open not on time versus forward of it (and now we all know how that turned out!).
However, we’re additionally taking part in the brief sport to some extent. Our daughter had simply began strolling final 12 months proper earlier than our Christmas-time journey to Walt Disney World and she or he was instantly enamored with the Boneyard. Sadly, she was restricted in her enjoyment of the world by her little legs and their reliability. So she solely scratched the floor of what the Boneyard needed to provide.
Within the months since then, Redwood Creek Problem Path at Disney California Journey has risen to the highest of Megatron’s theme park attraction energy rankings, with its solely weak point being that it lacks the “Sizzling Canine Track” (one thing she believes is integral to any attraction’s success). I used to be actually trying ahead to seeing how she’d benefit from the Boneyard this Christmas.
Whereas there are a number of alternatives for Sarah and Megatron to make it out to Walt Disney World with me previous to the September 2, 2025 deadline of the Boneyard, I’m doubting that it’ll really occur. And even when it does, the climate would possibly prohibit significant excavations. In order that’s a bummer. However you’re in all probability much less involved with all of this.
On steadiness, I nonetheless suppose it’s a bullish signal that Tropical Americas is being accelerated versus delayed. Most followers aren’t going to be too upset about this, as our circumstances are very distinctive. Extra would positively be upset about DINOSAUR closing earlier than January 2026, however actually, I actually hope that’s the information we get subsequent. What’s a number of months when Indiana Jones Journey goes to be round for a number of a long time?!
Past this, Walt Disney World reiterated as soon as once more that Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR will each stay open all through 2025. At the least with regard to Restaurantosaurus, I really feel like that ought to use some wiggle phrases–presently, Walt Disney World intends for Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR to each stay open all through 2025.
As we’ve talked about beforehand, there was plenty of visitor confusion about Dinoland’s operational standing and, extra seemingly than not, decreased foot visitors again right here. Meaning fewer individuals eating at Restaurantosaurus and decrease utilization of every part else. We’ve obtained questions on this, and I can solely think about that extra development partitions blocking walkways are going to additional lower foot visitors.
That is additionally why we beforehand mentioned that the deadline of Restaurantosaurus and every part else that isn’t DINOSAUR will come all the way down to what is sensible from a capability and crowd-absorbing perspective. Are friends nonetheless venturing to this nook of the park in excessive numbers now that development partitions are up? It’s doable that demand drops to the purpose that Walt Disney World opts to shut the eating choices earlier. Once more, this can be a firm huge on saving working bills each time doable.
Decreased demand for Restaurantosaurus (and so on.) is already taking part in out, and that’ll be much more true as soon as the low season begins and the Boneyard closes.
It can take much less time to reimagine Restaurantosaurus into the brand new cantina than it is going to to remodel DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey. So logically, the opposite eating choices mustn’t “want” to shut any sooner than DINOSAUR. However choices aren’t created from a perspective of what’s logical, and if that had been the agency plan, Walt Disney World may merely announce as a lot right here, with a 2026 timeline for every part in Dinoland.
Perhaps every part else will shut with DINOSAUR in 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 may additionally see a state of affairs the place Restaurantosaurus goes seasonal, closing someday after spring break season however reopening for a remaining farewell at Christmas. No matter Restaurantosaurus, we absolutely count on there to be a 76th Annual Dino Institute Vacation Get together this November and December on the again porch and within the surrounding space.
For these of you who need extra readability, the more than likely closure date for DINOSAUR is January 13, 2026. (That means the final day to expertise the attraction earlier than extinction could 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 purpose for this–and why this sort of main change/closure so usually 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 doable 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 formidable 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 troublesome time hitting its 2027 goal date with this belated closure of DINOSAUR. However who is aware of–work has been progressively comparatively shortly on demolition and the primary crane is now on-site. This timeline acceleration is promising, so hopefully you’ve one final likelihood to dig in DinoLand earlier than the entire space goes extinct.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Shocked that the Boneyard is closing on September 2, 2025? Optimistic that its extinction occasion is being accelerated? When do you count on DINOSAUR and Dinoland at Animal Kingdom to shut utterly? Assume DINOSAUR will go extinct on January 13, 2026? Anticipate Restaurantosaurus to shut then, or earlier because of lack of demand/cost-savings? Assume our hypothesis is incorrect? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
