Disney Begins Tree Removal on DINOSAUR, Closure Likely Imminent

Crews have begun removing trees around the DINOSAUR show building at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, indicating that closure is likely imminent to transform it into an Indiana Jones attraction.

Tree Removal at DINOSAUR

Theme park entrance with a dinosaur statue in front of a building adorned with a cartoon explosion graphic. Visitors walk and stand on the pink pavement under a sunny sky surrounded by trees.

During a recent visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we noticed that the trees around the show building for Dinosaur were thinning out, signaling that removal has begun.

The show building for DINOSAUR is unusual. When the structure was built, the goal was to hide the giant show building behind the much smaller Dino Institute building via trees planted both around the structure and on the building itself. It appears that crews have begun removing the trees that were planted on the building specifically, with some behind the structure also possibly removed.

A large dinosaur statue, reminiscent of Aladar, stands in front of a building with a sign reading "Dinosaur," surrounded by greenery and a few people in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

The above photo, taken in January 2023, shows the difference in tree density on and around the building.

A life-sized dinosaur statue stands in front of an amusement park building labeled "DINOSAUR" with a fiery explosion motif. Trees and a lamppost are in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

In these photos taken on July 30, 2024, we can see that trees are now further away from the building’s exterior, showing some angles that were once hidden by branches. Additionally, it looks as though any trees that were on the building itself are now gone.

People standing near a large dinosaur statue outside a building labeled "The Dino Institute" on a sunny day.

The above photo shows that parts of the larger show building are now more visible behind the Dino Institute facade, thanks to the reduced tree coverage.

Exterior of a building labeled "The Dino Institute" surrounded by trees and a dinosaur-themed decoration. People are standing outside the building, including a man in a white shirt.

The retheming of DINOSAUR into an Indiana Jones attraction was first announced during Destination D23, as part of a larger Tropical Americas reimagining of DinoLand U.S.A. Walt Disney Imagineering previewed a model of the land in a video earlier this year, which included both the proposed Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.

Crowds of people walk by a dinosaur statue in front of a building at a theme park on a sunny day.

It’s possible that with work already beginning on reducing the density of trees on and around the building a closure announcement is imminent. This announcement would likely come at the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase taking place during this year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on August 10.

Historically, it is not unlike Disney to announce that an attraction is closing at D23 and for that closure to take place soon thereafter. For example, The Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s Energy Adventure both closed three weeks following the announcement of their closure at the 2017 D23 Expo. The rumored closures of the Country Bear Jamboree and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room at Walt Disney World would have taken place shortly after the 2019 D23 Expo, had their Toy Story marionette show and Moana-themed Tiki Room show replacements come to fruition.

A group of people in a ride vehicle react to a large animatronic dinosaur in a dark, smoke-filled environment.

The first permit for the reimagined land was filed in May 2024. Most recently, a second permit for Walt Disney Imagineering trailers was filed in July. While the Indiana Jones retheming of DINOSAUR was initially described as a “blue sky” concept, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said in November 2023 that this idea is “where our heads are.”

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Disney Begins Tree Removal on DINOSAUR, Closure Likely Imminent appeared first on WDW News Today.