Thanks to @bioreconstruct on X, we now know that both Aladar and Dino-Sue have been removed from the former DINOSAUR Courtyard in Animal Kingdom. He also snapped some shots of the rest of DinoLand, U.S.A. as the former land become the Tropical Americas.
Aladar & Dino-Sue Removed
The entire courtyard in front of DINOSAUR has been demolished. Aladar, the reflection pools and planters that surrounded him are all gone. The DINOSAUR marquee featuring the Carnotaurus and meteors is safe for now, although it will likely be removed soon as the building is retimed to look like a Mayan Temple for the upcoming Indiana Jones attraction.
For comparison, here is what the courtyard looked like before the demolition. Aladar has been a greeting guests since the year 200 when the original Countdown to Extinction ride became DINOSAUR.
After being marked for demolition, the replica of Sue the T. rex has been removed from the pathway walking toward DINOSAUR. Her podium is still there at this time.
The original Sue fossils were discovered in 1990 by Sue Hendrickson in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is still the largest and most complete T. rex specimen ever found. After a legal battle regarding ownership of the fossils, they were ultimately sold for $8.3 million at auction in October 1997 to the Field Museum of Natural History, with help from Disney Parks and sponsor McDonald’s.
Some of the preparation of Sue’s fossils then took place at DinoLand, U.S.A. in the Fossil Preparation Lab, visible to guests from 1998 to 2000. Disney made their own cast of Sue to display while the original went off to the Field, where it can still be seen today.
At this time, the area near Restaurantosaurus is relatively untouched. The overall building structure is expected to remain with possible additions and a reimagining to a large hacienda, which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort. It is expected to serve Colombian-inspired dishes, that Disney has been testing around Animal Kingdom.
The walkway that previously divided the two sections of construction is now gone. There is an excavator on top of broken concrete that used to be the path. The future carousel is located to the right.
Since our last aerial update of the former DinoLand, more structural framing has occurred for the carousel which will eature wood carvings of favorite Disney animal characters. Toward the middle, a smooth, layered circle shows where the base of the carousel will likely go with utility conduits being placed directly in the middle. There also appears to be concrete forms placed nearby that could end up as queue area for the attraction.
Several weeks ago now, framing of the Encanto ride building began, with interior framework beginning shortly after. We have been monitoring the roofing elements which are now being added to the lower level of the building, which could be the interior queue.
Biorecontruct also caught the second to last piece of structural frame being moved into and added to the building’s frame. The photo to the right shows the beam being slid into place by crew members.
Though it’s just a frame right now, the Encanto ride will eventually have a Casita façade. The ride will be set during the film, although it will go beyond the original story.
DinoLand U.S.A. closed in phases from January 2025 to February 2026. Check out our last looks at each part of the original land: DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, Donald’s Dino-Bash, Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and The Boneyard.
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