Disney's Animal Kingdom is in the middle of a significant transformation, and for fans willing to look past the construction walls, there's a lot to be excited about. The area formerly known as DinoLand U.S.A. has officially closed, making way for an ambitious new land called Tropical Americas — a vibrant addition that promises to bring fresh attractions, new dining, and a sense of completion that the park has long been working toward.

Recent aerial photography from bioreconstruct offers an unprecedented look at just how much is happening on the ground. For the first time, the fictional village of Pueblo Esperanza is beginning to take recognizable shape, with the carousel, the Encanto show building, and the Indiana Jones attraction facade all becoming increasingly visible from above. The scale of the worksite rivals anything currently underway across the broader Disney parks ecosystem.

A Carousel Taking Shape Near the Entrance

One of the most charming updates in the latest aerial photos is the progress on the future carousel, which is coming into focus near the northern entrance to Tropical Americas. Crews have been building the circular foundation and surrounding structures, and the progress is now visible enough to convey the finished attraction's scale.

When complete, the carousel will sit beneath a large canopy and feature hand-carved wooden animals inspired by Disney characters — including Kevin from Up. It will serve as one of the central gathering points within Pueblo Esperanza and will provide a family-friendly anchor alongside the land's two major attractions.

The Encanto Attraction and Early Rockwork

The massive Encanto show building dominates the northern end of the construction site, and the latest photos reveal something new developing around its exterior: the land's first apparent rockwork. Stacks of concrete blocks, pallets of finishing materials, and mesh elements are taking shape around the structure, laying the foundation for the natural-looking surfaces that will help Pueblo Esperanza blend seamlessly into Animal Kingdom's lush landscape.

Crews also appear to be building out multiple levels, walls, and elevated pathways within the attraction's footprint, suggesting theming work has begun to reach beyond the basic structure. Steel framing and mesh recently installed along the top of the show building are forming the underlying shapes for rockwork that will ultimately disguise the facility's scale.

Aerial video of construction of Tropical Americas. One of the things featured is that chips (wire mesh) for rock work are being installed on the highest roofline of the Encanto show building. — bioreconstruct, July 17, 2026

Indiana Jones and the Maya Temple Exterior

The former DINOSAUR attraction building is undergoing its own dramatic makeover into the upcoming Indiana Jones adventure. Steel framing attached to the show building rises several stories, with multiple projecting sections that will eventually form a Maya temple facade for the attraction. Boom lifts positioned around the tall central framework signal that work is actively continuing even as other new buildings develop across the land.

Best aerial photos I have this time of the development of scenic elements for the Indiana Jones ride in Animal Kingdom. In the Imagineering office area. — bioreconstruct, July 17, 2026

Landscaping and a Transplanted Tree

One of the more subtle but telling updates is the arrival of a mature transplanted tree in the developing northern entrance area. Workers are tending to it while orange fencing protects its large base. In Disney parks construction, the arrival of mature trees typically signals that landscaping efforts are ramping up alongside structural work — and this tree may well be one of the first things guests see when they step into Tropical Americas from the north.

The Full Scope of the Project

Tropical Americas is designed to celebrate the culturally rich diversity of Mexico, Central America, and South America through the lens of Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional village that serves as the narrative heart of the land. In addition to the carousel and two major attractions, a new playground will join the area, and the former Restaurantosaurus is being reimagined into a new dining venue, with a long facade already assembled from steel framing, concrete walls, and wood roof trusses.

A nearly straight-down aerial overview of construction of Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom. — bioreconstruct, July 17, 2026

Backstage, Disney has assembled a field of theming samples — freestanding wall panels, painted architectural finishes, and sculpted rock formations — that allow Imagineers and construction teams to evaluate how materials hold up against Florida's sun, humidity, and rain before anything is installed permanently. The collection reads like an outdoor showroom for the village's eventual look.

Disney has not announced a specific opening date for Tropical Americas beyond a general 2027 window. But for an Animal Kingdom that has long felt like it was waiting for its third act, the carousel foundation taking shape near the northern entrance is a very encouraging sight indeed.