Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed more character designs being developed for the Tropical Americas carousel at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Tropical Americas Carousel Wooden Models
The latest behind-the-scenes footage was shared during a presentation in the expo hall at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing development of Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom includes a quick look at a collection of unpainted wooden models in development for the land’s central carousel ride.
Animal characters in the lineup include Heimlich, the caterpillar from A Bug’s Life; Kevin from Up; Ray from The Princess and the Frog; Nala from The Lion King; Kaa from The Jungle Book; and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
Eeyore appears at the front of the lineup, complete with his drooping ears, mane, and tail. This is an earlier, unpainted look at the same character whose more complete and colorful maquette was displayed at D23. Additional painted maquettes are on display alongside Eeyore at this year’s D23 event, including Chispi from Encanto, Pua from Moana, and Nigel from Finding Nemo.
Heimlich is depicted with his distinctive oversized eyes, antennae, open mouth, and prominent front teeth. His compact body has been shaped to create a small seat behind his head. Kaa rises upright from his tightly coiled body, with the coils forming the base of the figure. Nala is positioned on all fours, while Kevin’s tall neck and birdlike form make the Up character one of the more vertically oriented designs in the collection. Kevin was notably the first animal revealed for the ride at the prior D23 event in 2024.
Ray features a particularly zany look in his upscaled wooden form, characteristic of the spunky bayou firefly from The Princess and the Frog.
The completed carousel will be presented as the work of a local woodcarver in Pueblo Esperanza, explaining why its Disney animal figures resemble elaborately hand-carved sculptures.
The carousel will be one of three attractions in Tropical Americas, joining new experiences featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones. The land is replacing DinoLand U.S.A. and is scheduled to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2027.
Check out the Encanto attraction models from Tropical Americas and our construction updates.
Watch our video of the Imagineering Horizons Exhibit at D23:
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