New photos from friend of the site Bioreconstruct reveal that vertical construction has begun for two centerpiece structures within the upcoming Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The vertical construction of the Mayan temple and Casita Madrigal mark major milestones for the new land, which is set to open next year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Here’s a look.
Vertical Construction of Castia Madrigal
Over in the former Dino-Rama plot of the former DinoLand USA, we can see that vertical construction has begun for Castia Madrigal. When it opens next year, Disney’s first-ever Encanto-themed ride will take guests through the various rooms of the magical house as we celebrate Antonio’s gift of being able to talk with animals.
The early vertical construction seen below could be for the base of the casita, or a retaining wall for the hill that Casita will be built on. It’s a little too early to tell, but either way, vertical construction on the Casita part of this project is underway.
In the photo below, we can see the steel outline of the garden house entrance to the interior part of the queue. The Casita vertical construction is taking place in the middle of the photo, with some concrete forms and walls taking shape.
The Encanto attraction will be the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through experience at any Disney park, featuring the beloved Madrigal family from the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film.
The Story: Guests arrive on the day Antonio receives his special gift, the ability to communicate with animals. His room inside the Casita transforms into a lush rainforest, and guests journey through the Madrigal family home in ride vehicles inspired by furniture brought to life by the Casita itself.
During our journey, we’ll learn that no matter what our special gifts or abilities are, we’re all part of the “familia” of all living things.
Authentic Research: To ensure authenticity, Disney Imagineers visited the same regions of Colombia that inspired the original Encanto filmmakers, staying true to Animal Kingdom’s deep storytelling tradition.
First Announced: Plans for the Encanto attraction were first revealed at Destination D23 in September 2023 and officially confirmed at the 2024 D23 Expo.
Vertical Construction of Mayan Temple
The tone shifts from magical to mysterious as we make our way over to the former DINOSAUR attraction. Here, a Mayan temple is starting to rise as the centerpiece facade element for the upcoming Indiana Jones ride.
In the photos below, we can see the steel frame of the Mayan temple taking shape in front of the former Dino Institute.
The Indiana Jones attraction will be a reimagining of the existing DINOSAUR ride system, using the same ride track while receiving a completely new story, set design, and themed facade.
The Story: Indiana Jones has just discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple and invites guests along to explore it with him. Deep inside, rumors of a mythical creature await, and the adventure promises to be unlike any other Indiana Jones experience found anywhere else in the world.
Unique Storyline: As Disney confirmed, this will be a completely unique storyline compared to other Indiana Jones attractions at Disney parks worldwide.
Imagineering and Maya Collaboration: Walt Disney Imagineering has worked closely with Mayan experts to bring authentic cultural depth to the attraction, consistent with Animal Kingdom’s identity of richly themed, real-world storytelling.
Construction: Permits for set installation inside the former DINOSAUR building are actively being filed, with work progressing toward the 2027 target opening.
Outside, the temple is starting to take shape.
For everything you need to know about the Tropical Americas retheme project for DinoLand USA, check out our article below!
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