As of today, The Boneyard playground at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now officially closed, marking another milestone in the park’s transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into the new Tropical Americas land. The Boneyard had long been a haven for children (and parents!) since the park’s 1998 opening; offering fossil dig sites, rope bridges, and shaded tunnels where budding paleontologists could play and explore.
Over the years, The Boneyard was a bridge between imagination and discovery, where kids could dig for fossils and slide down “spill chutes” while parents could take a breather in a shaded, archaeologically themed setting. Alongside the nearby “Oldengate” Bridge and other thematic touches, it embodied the whimsical yet historic spirit of DinoLand, a land that is now making way for something entirely new.
I’m no stranger to saying goodbye to beloved Disney park playgrounds… Cue the tiny violins playing as I reminisce on the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure at Disney-MGM Studios. That Kodak film slide lives rent-free in my brain forever, no big deal. I personally have many childhood memories running around The Boneyard with my little sister, I had to sit atop the Pachysaurus one last time!
So long, Oldengate Bridge, I’ll miss you the most.
As of this morning, the main entrance and Oldengate Bridge entry point into DinoLand has been closed off. For those looking to access DINOSAUR and Resaurantosaurus, you’ll want to follow the path into DinoLand from the theater for Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond!
That being said, we do have a little while longer with some other elements of DinoLand U.S.A. If you’re visiting between now and the start of 2026, be sure to plan some time there while you still can. I highly recommend stopping into Restaurantosaurus, taking in the love-letter level of detail from Imagineering.
What’s Still Open in DinoLand
While much of DinoLand has now closed, a few familiar favorites remain in operation:
- DINOSAUR – the thrilling dark ride through the Cretaceous period. “You’re not gonna make it, you’re not gonna make it!”
- Restaurantosaurus – quick-service burgers and family dining
- Dino-Bite Snacks – ice cream sandwiches and cookies
- Trilo-Bites – snacks and frozen drinks near the bridge to Discovery Island
These locations will continue to welcome guests through at least the end of 2025; the last little living slice of DinoLand until the Tropical Americas project fully takes over.
Work is chugging along the previous site of Chester & Hester’s DinoRama:
What’s Coming to the Tropical Americas
Disney has announced an IP-filled attraction lineup for the new land, opening in 2027. Highlights include:
- Pueblo Esperanza – a richly themed area inspired by South American villages, designed with the same level of detail as Harambe in Africa
- Encanto Ride-Through – where guests will step inside the Madrigal family’s casita and experience Antonio’s magical gift of communicating with animals
- Indiana Jones Adventure – a thrilling new take where guests join Indy on a quest through an ancient Maya temple in search of a mythical creature
- Large Quick-Service Hacienda Restaurant – one of Walt Disney World’s biggest new dining locations
- Handcrafted Carousel – a family-friendly ride featuring wood-carved animals inspired by Disney stories
And importantly, Disney has confirmed that a new themed play area will be part of the Tropical Americas, ensuring that while The Boneyard has closed, exploration and discovery will live on in a fresh way for a new generation of adventurers.
The countdown to extinction is on. Are you good with saying goodbye to DinoLand, or are you team #SaveTheDinosaurs?
