Construction on the Tropical Americas land at Disney's Animal Kingdom has reached a significant milestone — the massive tower crane that has loomed over the site is now gone, opening up the sky and signaling real progress on this highly anticipated new land.

Crews first installed the tall tower crane back in September 2025 to support construction of the new Encanto ride. Tower cranes play a critical role on builds like this, lifting heavy construction materials — including steel beams and large machinery — to the highest points of a structure. Now that the crane has been removed, it's a strong indicator that the tallest portions of the land are fully in place.

Themed Rockwork Takes Shape

While the crane may be gone, construction is very much still underway — and things are getting exciting. Themed rockwork is now visible across the site, giving us our first real glimpse of the land's future look and feel.

The pieces closest to the ground don't appear to be attached to any of the structures that have risen on the site so far. They're very likely the samples that had previously been spotted in aerial photos staged near the Imagineering office, and they appear to be positioned along what will become the future walkway through the center of the land. Meanwhile, the taller gray rockwork — which began as plain concrete columns — is now receiving its rock texture theming.

Both sides of the soon-to-be entrance on the Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! side of the land are also getting the themed rock treatment, adding to the immersive environment taking shape.

What's Coming to Tropical Americas

Tropical Americas will bring to life the fictional community of Pueblo Esperanza. The land is scheduled to open in 2027 and will include a carousel, a new Encanto attraction, a playground, and an Indiana Jones adventure replacing DINOSAUR.

Which part of Tropical Americas are you most excited about? Let us know!