After nearly three decades of prehistoric adventures, DinoLand U.S.A. will permanently close on February 2, 2026, bringing an end to one of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s original lands.
The final day to experience DINOSAUR, The Dino Institute Shop, Restaurantosaurus, and Restaurantosaurus Lounge is February 1. Guests hoping for one last ride through the Cretaceous period will want to plan accordingly.
28 Years of DinoLand
DinoLand U.S.A. opened alongside Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998, making it one of the park’s foundational lands. For 28 years, the area transported guests to a quirky roadside-attraction version of a paleontological dig site, complete with midway games, spinning rides, and one of Walt Disney World’s most intense dark rides.
That signature attraction — DINOSAUR — originally opened under the name “Countdown to Extinction” before being renamed in 2000 to tie in with the Disney animated film. The ride sends guests hurtling back in time aboard a Time Rover to rescue an Iguanodon before an asteroid wipes out the dinosaurs. It remains a fan favorite for its combination of thrills, Audio-Animatronics, and sheer chaos.
A Gradual Goodbye
The closure hasn’t come all at once. Several DinoLand attractions and offerings have already shuttered in recent months as construction on the area’s replacement ramps up. TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, The Boneyard playground, Trilo-Bites, and Dino-Bite Snacks have all already welcomed their final guests.
With the February 2 closure, the last remaining pieces of DinoLand — DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, its lounge, and The Dino Institute Shop — will join them.
What’s Coming: Tropical Americas
DinoLand’s successor was officially announced at D23 2024, and it represents one of the most ambitious expansions in Animal Kingdom’s history. Tropical Americas, set to open in 2027, will reimagine the space as a vibrant, culturally rich land inspired by the rainforests, mythology, and traditions of Latin America.
The new land will be home to the first-ever Encanto ride-through attraction, bringing the Madrigal family and the magic of Casita to life. It will also feature a brand-new Indiana Jones experience, adding a major thrill ride to Animal Kingdom’s lineup.
Both attractions signal Disney’s intent to significantly elevate Animal Kingdom’s appeal, giving the park two headline rides in a single new land.
Restaurantosaurus Lives On (Sort Of)
For fans of Restaurantosaurus’s menu, there’s a silver lining. Select menu items from the restaurant will move over to Harambe Market, which reopens on March 1, 2026. The flavors will live on in Animal Kingdom’s Africa section.
An End and a Beginning
DinoLand U.S.A. was never the flashiest land in Walt Disney World, and it drew its share of criticism over the years for its deliberately kitschy aesthetic. But for a generation of guests who grew up dodging Carnotaurus attacks and digging for fossils in The Boneyard’s sandy pits, it holds a genuine place in theme park history.
Its closure marks the end of an era — and, if Tropical Americas delivers on its promise, the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
What’s your favorite DinoLand memory? Let us know in the comments below.
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