A brand-new land and park expansion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom means DINOSAUR is now officially closed.
Full of twists, turns, sudden drops, and plenty of surprises along the way, DINOSAUR is always a thrill to experience. But soon, guests at Animal Kingdom will find the ride as extinct as the Cretaceous period it’s set in.
When the news of Animal Kingdom’s brand-new Tropical Americas land was first announced at Destination D23 in 2023, it seemed like an expansion alone. But as we’ve learned increasingly more about the plans for Tropical Americas, we now know that certain areas of Animal Kingdom will close permanently to make way for the new attractions, restaurants, and other experiences – including DINOSAUR.
So, when exactly will DINOSAUR close at Animal Kingdom in Disney World? DINOSAUR officially closed on February 2, 2026. The last day to ride the attraction was on February 1.
As of February 2, 2026, DINOSAUR and the remainder of DinoLand, U.S.A. are now permanently closed. Construction for the forthcoming Pueblo Esperanza will last through 2027, when the new land will open.
Find out more about its closure below.
A Brief History of DINOSAUR
Photo by Cliff Wang
DINOSAUR is as old as Animal Kingdom itself – the turbulent dark ride opened with the theme park itself on April 22, 1998, making it an opening day attraction. But if you visited Animal Kingdom during its first two years, you might know the ride under a different name.
When it first opened, DINOSAUR was named Countdown to Extinction. In 2000, the attraction’s name changed to DINOSAUR in an effort to promote the Disney animated movie Dinosaur. Luckily, it was a perfect swap – the two dinosaurs guests see most frequently in the ride, the Iguanodon and Carnotaurus, were also the stars of the film. The attraction’s pre-show was updated, however, to make the link to the movie a bit more obvious.
Today’s version of DINOSAUR takes guests back in time, putting them directly in peril’s path as they race to rescue a 3.5-ton Iguanadon before the giant meteor strikes and extinction occurs. Along the way, the Time Rover ride vehicles encounter everything from Velociraptors hunting to Cearadactylus flying overhead (and of course, meteors do make an appearance!).
When is DINOSAUR Closing at Disney World?
At D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August 2024, Disney revealed that DinoLand U.S.A. will close to make way for the upcoming Tropical Americas expansion at Animal Kingdom. And with the closure of DinoLand comes the closure of one of its landmark attractions: DINOSAUR.
With work already underway in late 2024 on Tropical Americas, DinoLand will begin closing attractions in phases. TriceraTop Spin and most of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama closed on January 13, 2025.
DINOSAUR officially closed on February 2, 2026. That means February 1 was the last day guests can ride the attraction.
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