Particle.news
Download on the App Store

First Steel Rises for Encanto Attraction as Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas Goes Vertical

Imagineering’s on-site video marks the shift from groundwork to show-building construction with a 2027 opening still targeted.

Overview

  • Walt Disney Imagineering released a behind-the-scenes video confirming the first vertical steel columns for the Encanto show building have been installed at the rear of the site.
  • The Encanto ride will anchor the new Tropical Americas land, known as Pueblo Esperanza, which is replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus are slated to close in early February 2026 as the DINOSAUR ride system is repurposed for a new Indiana Jones attraction with its own storyline.
  • A model on display in Walt Disney Presents highlights a central Pueblo Esperanza plaza with a fountain, a hand-carved carousel, two headline attractions, and a quick-service location.
  • The Encanto experience follows Antonio the day after he receives his ability to communicate with animals, with his room becoming a rainforest, as steel now becomes visible from guest areas.