As of closing time on Monday, September 1, an original Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park attraction is now extinct. Disney cast members shared a bittersweet goodbye to The Boneyard, the play area that opened alongside DinoLand U.S.A. in April 1998.
The writing was on the wall for The Boneyard when, at D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney Imagineers officially confirmed plans to build a Tropical Americas-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The land, Pueblo Esperanza, will replace DinoLand U.S.A. with two Encanto (2021) attractions and an Indiana Jones retheme of DINOSAUR.
Much of DinoLand U.S.A., including Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, TriceraTop Spin, and Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, closed permanently in January 2025. Construction walls appeared shortly after, and the entire area has since been bulldozed to make way for the Encanto rides.
Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that DINOSAUR, Trilo-Bites, and Restaurantosaurus will remain open through the end of 2025, at which point DinoLand U.S.A. will be considered closed. However, it wasn’t until June that Disney sealed the fate of The Boneyard, an interactive playground for young guests.
In June, after months of speculation, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that the final day to experience The Boneyard would be September 1, 2025. Now, that day has come.
On Monday, X (formerly known as Twitter) user @Nickpalermo824 shared this video of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park cast members giving the final closing spiel for The Boneyard:
Here is the video of the final goodbye spiel of The Boneyard
“Attention paleontologists and fellow dinosaur lovers, the time has come for you to hang up your shovels, as our excavations have ended for the day,” the first Disney cast member began. “We hope you have enjoyed exploring The Boneyard and that you enjoyed your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”
Then, a leader took the microphone for a final farewell to The Boneyard.
“From April 22, 1998, to September 1, 2025, paleontologists of all ages have explored The Boneyard and excavated the dig site,” the leader said. “DinoLand operations would like to thank all of our guests and cast members who have played a part in making this area so special. In Diggs County, we like to say, extinction is forever, but so are the memories.”
Guests cheered as cast members finished the closing procedures, marking the end of The Boneyard’s 27-year legacy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an exact closing date for the rest of DinoLand U.S.A. or a grand opening date for Pueblo Esperanza at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Follow Inside the Magic for updates as construction continues on this and other projects at Disney parks around the world!
Did your family visit The Boneyard on any trips to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!
The post Original Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Location Now Extinct appeared first on Inside the Magic.
