Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new Notice of Commencement for work on the Tropical Americas expansion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Imagineering Files Notice of Commencement for Tropical Americas
The document, filed today, December 13, 2024, lists 610 Dinoland Drive as the property being prepared for “Area Development;” this location is the relative area of the former Primeval Whirl attraction. The ride closed in 2020 and was demolished the following year. The area has since been blocked off from guests by construction walls.
The permit was filed with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, which has worked with Disney in the past on projects like Tomorrowland Launch Depot ahead of the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run, World Celebration Gardens, and most recently the upcoming “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The permit’s expiration date is set to expire on December 30, 2025. Disney previously announced its plans to construct the new expansion in phases, starting with the closure of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures on January 12, 2025.
Disney filed its first Notice of Commencement for the project back in May 2024. Another permit was filed in July for Imagineering trailers. In October, Disney filed a permit with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), detailing demolition plans for the project. SFWMD later requested additional information about the permit.
The new Tropical Americas expansion will include an Indiana Jones attraction replacing DINOSAUR, though the latter will remain open through 2025. Taking over the general footprint of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama and Primeval Whirl will be the “Encanto” attraction. Both are scheduled to open in 2027. Another attraction planned for the land will be a wood-carved carousel featuring several Disney animal characters.
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