Demolition has begun on Restaurantosaurus, part of the former DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The area is becoming a new Tropical Americas land.
Tropical Americas Construction
This building near Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures has been stripped of exterior paneling. The sides are covered by gray tarps. This was previously a shed with a reddish-brown wood exterior.
Dinosaur Treasures will be re-themed to become a new gift shop. The shed may also be re-themed. The nearby Donald Duck meet and greet structure has been torn down.
In the distance, we can see part of The Dino Institute’s exterior queue structure. Some of the trees surrounding the DINOSAUR building were cut down. We know from aerial photos that the Aladar statue, Dino-Sue, and DINOSAUR marquee were removed. The building will get a new Maya temple facade as it becomes an Indiana Jones ride.
There is lots of activity on the ground throughout the site. Most of the pavement has been removed. Nets and temporary fencing surround ditches in the dirt.
In front of Restaurantosaurus, is the concrete foundation for a brand-new carousel. It looks like some water has collected on top of the foundation.
Restaurantosaurus
Crews have started to remove exterior paneling from Restaurantosaurus and the attached Dino-Bite Snacks kiosk. The kiosk’s awning and metallic exterior are gone although its sign remains on the roof along with dinosaurs on the Restaurantosaurus roof behind the sign.
The trailer that was attached to the restaurant’s “Hip Joint” dining room has been marked for demolition.
“Restaurantosaurus” signs remain in place. The building will remain standing to be re-themed into a hacienda-style quick-service restaurant.
Encanto Ride Building
A new Encanto ride is under construction on the old Dino-Rama site. Crews continue to add steel to the building.
Dozens of vertical steel beams now almost completely cover a wall near the tower crane. More vertical steel is visible on the back of the building.
Crew members in a lift were working on the side wall.
On the roof are several piles of Kingspan sheathing. These panels are mostly still wrapped in plastic but we’ll likely start seeing them installed soon.
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