Steel framing at the former DINOSAUR site went vertical weeks ago. Now the construction is climbing higher, and the Mayan temple for the Indiana Jones attraction is starting to look like the concept art. Here’s a closer look!
Mayan Temple Steel Framework Climbs at Animal Kingdom
In This Article
- Mayan temple steel framing progress at the former DINOSAUR site
- How the current framework compares to the released concept art
- What the finished Indiana Jones attraction is expected to look like
- When could the rethemed attraction open?
New aerial photos from Bioreconstruct show the steel framework for the Indiana Jones attraction’s Mayan temple facade continuing to climb above the former DINOSAUR building shell, maintaining an impressive pace of construction as Walt Disney World continues to target a 2027 opening timeframe.
FRAMING CLIMBS HIGHER
The photos show a multi-level steel framework now rising above the existing DINOSAUR building. The structure extends forward from the existing building shell. Workers are active on the framing throughout, with heavy equipment, including a telehandler and scaffolding, staged across the site. Meanwhile, stockpiles of steel beams remain visible nearby, suggesting additional work is still to come.
The stepped, tiered profile of the framing continues to echo what Disney has shown in concept art for the land. In time, the framework, once clad in rockwork and theming materials, should begin to resemble the terraced Mayan pyramid seen in official renderings.
A wider aerial view captures the scale of the construction zone. Orange construction fencing defines the work perimeter. A portion of the existing queue pathway and courtyard remains visible in the foreground, though clearly within the active footprint.
CONSTRUCTION VS. CONCEPT ART
Disney’s released concept art depicts the finished temple as a richly detailed, multi-tiered structure in terracotta and rust-red tones. Carved ornamentation, masks, and decorative reliefs climb each level. In the ground-level rendering, guests approach through ancient stone ruins and columns before the temple reveals itself above the jungle canopy. Additionally, the aerial concept shows the temple tucked into the jungle, partially obscured by overgrowth, with vines and vegetation woven into the architecture.
Comparing current framing to the concept, the structural skeleton lines up with the temple’s stepped, forward-projecting profile. Still, the rockwork, carved theming, and facade treatments that will define the final look are well ahead.
OPENING EXPECTED IN 2027
Disney has not announced a specific opening date for the Indiana Jones attraction or the Tropical Americas land. However, Disney has confirmed both will open in 2027. Based on the pace of structural work visible here, we expect framing to continue for some time before exterior theming materials begin going up. I’d put the current over/under at October 1, 2027. Time will tell. We’ll keep covering construction progress as it develops.
OUR TAKE: In general, we have been impressed by the nimbleness and speed of Walt Disney World construction projects over the past few years, and the Tropical Americas project is certainly included in that. We still think the land is going to open later in 2027, but the construction team is creating some large structures with some impressive speed, allowing for the scenic painters to come in and really spend some time creating something that feels like it belongs in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
For me, the Tropical Americas project can sort of be the canary in the coal mine for the current crop of Imagineers. There have been some recent refurbishments and reimagining wins such as Buzz Lightyear, Big Thunder, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but can Imagineers pull a brand new land out of the ground at Walt Disney World’s most highly themed theme park and make it feel like it fits? We’re excited to see if they can deliver.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!