Walt Disney World has dropped another new timeline for the extinction level event of DinoLand USA, revealing the official closing date for the Boneyard, which is earlier than previously suggested. With that in mind, let’s get diggin’, diggin’ in DinoLand.
Some of these closure details have been covered elsewhere in our 5-Year Construction Plan for Walt Disney World. That offers a regularly-updated rundown of all projects on the horizon, and our expectations as to when closures would occur and when the reimagined replacements or new attractions would open.
This covers the latest on everything we know about the end times for DinoLand USA, when DINOSAUR to go extinct, and so forth. One thing we should note is that even though this is a newly-released timeline from Walt Disney World, it doesn’t really disclose or confirm any new details or rumors. Consider subscribing to our free Walt Disney World newsletter, where we’ll share instant updates as soon as they’re announced. To that end, Walt Disney World has shared an updated FAQ, revealing the closure date for the Boneyard and operational updates for the rest of DinoLand USA. Let’s start with the latest news…
When is the Boneyard permanently closing?
Walt Disney World has just announced that The Boneyard will go extinct as of September 2, 2025. This means that the last day to experience the play area is September 1, 2025.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, the Boneyard is arguably the best play area at Walt Disney World. I say arguably because I don’t want to rile up my fellow purists by suggesting that anything surpasses Tom Sawyer Island. But honestly, I think the Boneyard has more that appeals to today’s children than Tom Sawyer Island. (The latter’s strength is serenity, not its substance.)
The Boneyard invites kids ages 10 and under to clamber across rope bridges, climb through mysterious caves, and hurl down twisting slides. At the dig site, children can help excavate fossils from a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Parents of busy explorers can enjoy a shaded seating area at the dig site, where large fans help cool things down.
Isn’t this earlier than what was previously announced?
Yes. Previously, Walt Disney World shared this: “There’s still time for another excavation (or two) throughout 2025. The Boneyard is still open and welcoming little archeologists to play daily.”
Although that “throughout” left some ambiguity about the closing date, Walt Disney World subsequently followed up with a proactive statement that the rest of DinoLand USA wouldn’t close until sometime in 2026. Obviously, September 2, 2025 is before 2026.
Walt Disney World has been full steam ahead of Tropical Americas construction, with the first crane appearing on-site last week. It appears that the project is being fast-tracked and the accelerated closure of the Boneyard is to facilitate demolition of that and construction of the new critter carousel.
Will there be a kids play area in the Tropical Americas?
Yes! The new land will include a themed play area for kids visiting Tropical Americas.
While more details about this kids area have yet to be revealed, it probably appears in the “Project Ro” post-development plans filed with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) last October. Those revealed a reimagined space between the counter service restaurant and gift shop, essentially in the middle of the Tropical Americas where the Cretaceous Trail is currently located.
It was previously unclear as to whether this would be an ‘exploration trail’ and animal exhibit, meet & greet area, or kids play area. Unless the plans have changed considerably since then (doubtful as new permits haven’t been filed), we now should have our answer: kids play area.
Is DinoLand still open?
Yes! You don’t even need a Time Rover to visit DinoLand because parts of the area are still currently open until 2026. There’s even the new-ish Eco-Rhythmics entertainment act near the land’s entrance that’s presumably meant to draw guests deeper into the park who are asking this very question.
What’s already closed in DinoLand USA?
To accommodate construction, the first wave of closures happened earlier this year, with TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures running their last day of operations on January 12, 2025.
Basically, the Dino-Rama carnival subsection (the area we hated with the burning passion of a thousand suns) is already closed. The good portion of DinoLand USA (that we like) is still open.
What’s happening to Dinoland?
Announced during last year’s D23 Expo, DinoLand is closing to make way for a new location in Animal Kingdom: Tropical Americas. Within this location, a brand-new thrilling Indiana Jones experience will debut following Indy’s journey to find a mythical creature deep within the temple — and it’s unlike any Indy experience you’ve ever seen before. And, a very famous house is coming to life, literally, with the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios film.
Dirt is moving on floors, drawers, and doors for what’s coming next. More to come!
When is DinoLand USA closing?
If you’re hoping to get in some prehistoric fun, 2025 is your last year to visit DinoLand before it goes extinct. Currently, many of DinoLand locations are still operating, including DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, and Restaurantosaurus. When construction ramps up throughout the year, we’ll bring you more info faster than a Time Rover can race out of the end of the Cretaceous period.
When is DINOSAUR closing?
This is your year to go fast and visit the past. DINOSAUR closes in 2026.
When is Restaurantosaurus closing?
You’ve still got time in 2025 to rustle up some grub at Restaurantosaurus, and it’s the perfect place to refuel before your next wild adventure in the park. You might even catch a performance from the Dino Institute Intern — on a break from his internship duties — happy to entertain everyone and anyone who will listen to his original dino-themed tunes.
The nearby Dino-Bites Snacks is also still open, where you can pick up an ice cream cookie sandwich or the Dig Dino ice cream sandwich — you can’t go wrong with either snack.
What else is known about Tropical Americas?
Tropical Americas will be a new 11-acre lush and sprawling area. Just like Harambe, this land will feel lived in, with a long, rich history. Not only will the land include a hacienda — which will be one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World Resort — but also two signature attractions for Indiana Jones and Encanto.
Additionally, the area will feature a large fountain in the center and a local wood carver has created a giant working carousel featuring his favorite animals from Disney stories. It’s a new take on a classic attraction that young families are going to love.
Construction on the land is currently ongoing and Tropical Americas will open in 2027.
Our Commentary
On a personal note, I’m really torn about this news. On the one hand, I’m happy to see accelerated extinction dates for DinoLand USA, as it strongly suggests Walt Disney World is serious about fast-tracking this project. On several occasions, I’ve previously “advocated” for this land closing earlier, and expressed concern about DINOSAUR staying open until early 2026.
We’re playing the long game, and want Imagineering to have as long as necessary to accomplish a quality reimagining. I expressed similar sentiment with Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, hoping the latter would open behind schedule as opposed to ahead of it (and now we know how that turned out!).
On the other hand, we’re also playing the short game to some extent. Our daughter had just started walking last year right before our Christmas-time trip to Walt Disney World and she was immediately enamored with the Boneyard. Unfortunately, she was limited in her enjoyment of the area by her little legs and their reliability. So she only scratched the surface of what the Boneyard had to offer.
In the months since then, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure has risen to the top of Megatron’s theme park attraction power rankings, with its only weakness being that it lacks the “Hot Dog Song” (something she believes is integral to any attraction’s success). I was really looking forward to seeing how she’d enjoy the Boneyard this Christmas.
While there are a few opportunities for Sarah and Megatron to make it out to Walt Disney World with me prior to the September 2, 2025 closing date of the Boneyard, I’m doubting that it’ll actually happen. And even if it does, the weather might prohibit meaningful excavations. So that’s a bummer. But you’re probably less concerned with all of this.
On balance, I still think it’s a bullish sign that Tropical Americas is being accelerated as opposed to delayed. Most fans aren’t going to be too upset about this, as our circumstances are very unique. More would definitely be upset about DINOSAUR closing before January 2026, but honestly, I really hope that’s the news we get next. What’s a few months when Indiana Jones Adventure is going to be around for a few decades?!
Beyond this, Walt Disney World reiterated once again that Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR will both remain open throughout 2025. At least with regard to Restaurantosaurus, I feel like that should use some wiggle words–at this time, Walt Disney World intends for Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR to both remain open throughout 2025.
As we’ve mentioned previously, there has been a lot of guest confusion about Dinoland’s operational status and, more likely than not, decreased foot traffic back here. That means fewer people dining at Restaurantosaurus and lower utilization of everything else. We’ve received questions about this, and I can only imagine that more construction walls blocking off walkways are going to further decrease foot traffic.
This is also why we previously said that the closing date of Restaurantosaurus and everything else that isn’t DINOSAUR will come down to what makes sense from a capacity and crowd-absorbing perspective. Are guests still venturing to this corner of the park in high numbers now that construction walls are up? It’s possible that demand drops to the point that Walt Disney World opts to close the dining options earlier. Again, this is a company big on saving operating expenses whenever possible.
Decreased demand for Restaurantosaurus (etc.) is already playing out, and that’ll be even more true once the off-season starts and the Boneyard closes.
It will take less time to reimagine Restaurantosaurus into the new cantina than it will to transform DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Adventure. So logically, the other dining options should not “need” to close any earlier than DINOSAUR. But decisions aren’t made from a perspective of what’s logical, and if that were the firm plan, Walt Disney World could simply announce as much here, with a 2026 timeline for everything in Dinoland.
Maybe everything else will close with DINOSAUR in early 2026. Personally, I’m skeptical. As we just saw with Muppets Courtyard, there’s an irresistible temptation for operational cost-savings of “underutilized capacity.” If Restaurantosaurus is deemed unnecessary, it’ll close before 2026.
I could also see a scenario where Restaurantosaurus goes seasonal, closing sometime after spring break season but reopening for a final farewell at Christmas. Regardless of Restaurantosaurus, we fully expect there to be a 76th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party this November and December on the back porch and in the surrounding area.
For those of you who want more clarity, the most likely closure date for DINOSAUR is January 13, 2026. (Meaning the last day to experience the attraction before extinction would be January 12, 2026.)
This is our prediction, and not anything officially announced by Walt Disney World–or even rumored. That’s one year after Dino-Rama closed, adjusted for a comparable Monday extinction event. There’s a reason for this–and why this type of major change/closure so often occurs on the second Monday in January.
That’s after the holiday season, after schools go back into session, and also after the 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon wraps up. It’s the end of the peak season, and start of the winter season. It’s also possible Imagineering waits until after Spring Break 2026, but I really doubt it–and hope not.
The longer DINOSAUR is closed, the more time Imagineering has to do justice to an ambitious reimagining. Everything I’ve heard about this version of Indiana Jones Adventure has me optimistic, including insiders suggesting it has the potential to be the best of the trio.
Tropical Americas is already going to have a tough time hitting its 2027 target date with this belated closure of DINOSAUR. But who knows–work has been progressively relatively quickly on demolition and the first crane is now on-site. This timeline acceleration is promising, so hopefully you have one last chance to dig in DinoLand before the whole area goes extinct.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Surprised that the Boneyard is closing on September 2, 2025? Optimistic that its extinction event is being accelerated? When do you expect DINOSAUR and Dinoland at Animal Kingdom to close completely? Think DINOSAUR will go extinct on January 13, 2026? Expect Restaurantosaurus to close then, or earlier due to lack of demand/cost-savings? Think our speculation is wrong? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!