The countdown to extinction is on for one area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Dinosaur, the park’s popular dark ride, along with the DinoLand U.S.A. area, will permanently close early next year.
The last day to experience the ride will be Feb. 1, Disney World has announced. The rest of the dinosaur-themed land—which includes the Dino Institute Shop and Restaurantoaurus—also will have its final day of operation the same day.
Disney first announced plans to close the area last year at its D23 event. The closure of that section of Animal Kingdom will make way for a new Tropical Americas-themed area called Pueblo Esperanza. The new land will include rides based on an “Encanto” and Indiana Jones. A carousel and a large quick-service restaurant are also part of the plans.
Dinosaur was originally named Countdown to Extinction when it debuted in April 1998 as one of Animal Kingdom’s opening day attractions. Its name was changed in 2000 to coincide with the release of the Disney animated film of the same name.
Construction has already begun on Tropical Americas. Disney closed some sections of DinoLand earlier this year to make room for the new area, including Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, TriceraTop Spin and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
The 11-acre Tropical Americas will be set in a fictional village and have a “lived-in” feel similar to the park’s Harambe village in the Africa section, Disney has said.
“With Tropical Americas, we’re bringing huge projects to life for generations of fans,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, last year. “This is the type of signature storytelling that our Disney Imagineers have been creating for 70 years.”
