Jared Bush, the co-director and writer of Disney’s Encanto and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation Studios, has officially confirmed his involvement in the highly anticipated Encanto-themed attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In a recent social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Bush shared that he’s hard at work on the project as he’s flying home from Europe!
“Flying home from Europe and my plane homework will be writing new dialogue for… the Encanto attraction at #DisneyAnimalKingdom which means new words for the magical, fantastical Familia Madrigal! You will not believe what the imagineers are cooking up.”
This is the first official confirmation that Bush is penning original dialogue for the ride, bringing his storytelling expertise directly into the parks.
The Encanto ride will be the first-ever ride-through experience based on the hit 2021 film and is set to debut in 2027. It will be located in the all-new Tropical Americas land, currently under development in Animal Kingdom. Inspired by the lush environments and cultures of Central and South America, Disney promises the new land will be filled with vibrant landscapes, rich storytelling, and appearances by beloved characters from the Madrigal family.
The Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature two major attractions: the new Encanto ride-through experience and a reimagined version of the current DINOSAUR ride themed to Indiana Jones. Additionally, the land will include a carousel, along with new shopping and dining locations inspired by Central and South America.
The projects are taking over the space formerly occupied by Dinoland U.S.A., as it closes in phases. Disney plans to keep DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus open a bit longer (but only until February 2nd, 2026!) before the rest of the land fully transitions to the new theme. Earlier phases saw the closure of the quirky Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama and Dinosaur Treasures gift shop in January 2025, while The Boneyard closed earlier this month.
Construction is already well underway for the Encanto attraction, with recent aerial photos captured by @bioreconstruct, revealing early work on the ride’s show building:
While story and character details remain under wraps for the Encanto attraction, Disney has promised an unforgettable experience that celebrates the heart, magic, and music of the Madrigal family.
