NEWOpened May 27, 2017
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Animal Kingdom • land
A fully immersive Avatar land with floating mountains.
- Now
- Open with two attractions
Source · Walt Disney World
Animal Kingdom
What's changed at Animal Kingdom
What's new and what's gone at Disney's Animal Kingdom, including the transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. and retired shows and attractions.
- Verified changes
- 19Verified changes
- Earliest year
- 2016Earliest year
- Current through
- 2026Current through
The short answer
Since 2016, 19 verified changes have been recorded at Disney's Animal Kingdom: 7 openings, 5 closures and 7 replacements, rethemes or operational changes. The additions include Pandora at Night, Satu'li Canteen, Na'vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage. The losses include Dino-Rama, DINOSAUR, It's Tough to be a Bug! and Primeval Whirl. The most recent entry is Dino-Rama (Closed, 2025-01).
- Added
- 7 openings and new lands
- Gone
- 5 closures
- Reworked
- 7 replacements and updates
19 shown
NEWOpened May 27, 2017
Avatar Flight of Passage
Animal Kingdom • attraction
A flying simulator that still draws some of the longest waits at Walt Disney World.
- Now
- Open in Pandora
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened May 27, 2017
Na'vi River Journey
Animal Kingdom • attraction
A gentle boat ride through a bioluminescent rainforest.
- Now
- Open in Pandora
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed January 14, 2025
Dino-Rama
Animal Kingdom • land
The carnival midway area is gone.
- Then
- Carnival games and Triceratop Spin
- Now
- Closed for Tropical Americas
Source · Parkstalgia Research
GONEClosed 2025
DINOSAUR
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The dark ride closed to be reimagined.
- Then
- Open since 1998
- Now
- Closed for Indiana Jones retheme
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed July 10, 2020
Primeval Whirl
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The DinoLand spinning coaster was demolished.
- Then
- Seasonal operation
- Now
- Removed
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed March 15, 2020
Rivers of Light
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
The nighttime water show did not return after 2020.
- Then
- Nightly show
- Now
- Retired
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed March 17, 2024
It's Tough to be a Bug!
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The 4D show ended its run inside the Tree of Life.
- Then
- Open since 1998
- Now
- Closed
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened May 27, 2017
Satu'li Canteen
Animal Kingdom • dining
A build-your-own bowl quick service widely rated among the best at WDW.
- Now
- Open in Pandora
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDMay 2016
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The chase ending was removed and night safaris were added.
- Then
- Poacher chase finale
- Now
- Straight wildlife tour with night version
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDMay 27, 2016
Animal Kingdom Evening Operations
Animal Kingdom • planning
Animal Kingdom now regularly stays open after dark.
- Then
- Park closed at dusk
- Now
- Regular evening hours
Source · Parkstalgia Research
REPLACEDJune 13, 2022
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
The musical returned in a shorter, restaged form.
- Then
- Finding Nemo – The Musical
- Now
- Shorter reimagined version
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGED2020
Expedition Everest
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The yeti figure remains in a stationary lighting effect.
- Then
- Fully animated yeti
- Now
- Strobe-lit 'disco yeti'
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened May 27, 2017
Pandora at Night
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
Pandora's night lighting became a reason to stay late.
- Now
- Glowing plants after dark
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened May 27, 2016
Nomad Lounge
Animal Kingdom • dining
The lounge opened with Pandora-era expansion and is now a favourite.
- Now
- Lounge beside Tiffins
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened May 27, 2016
Tree of Life Awakenings
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
Night-time projections on the Tree of Life began with evening hours.
- Now
- Projection vignettes after dark
Source · Parkstalgia Research
REPLACEDApril 22, 2018
UP! A Great Bird Adventure
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
The classic bird show was rethemed around Up.
- Then
- Flights of Wonder
- Now
- Russell and Dug host the bird show
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGED2024
Restaurantosaurus
Animal Kingdom • dining
Dining in DinoLand is winding down for the new land.
- Then
- Full quick service in DinoLand
- Now
- Limited operation ahead of Tropical Americas
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJune 2021
Rafiki's Planet Watch
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The train-accessed area returned with a modified experience.
- Then
- Closed since 2019
- Now
- Reopened with adjusted programming
Source · Parkstalgia Research
Coming next
Officially announced or under construction — not open to guests yet, and not counted in the totals above.
ANNOUNCEDExpected 2026
Tree of Life theatre
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
The long-running bug show was replaced.
Announced November 2025 · not open to guests yet
Source · Walt Disney World
COMINGExpected 2027
Tropical Americas
Animal Kingdom • land
DinoLand is becoming a Latin America-themed area.
Announced January 2025 · not open to guests yet
Source · Parkstalgia Research
COMINGExpected 2027
DinoLand U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom • land
The land is being rebuilt around Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Announced November 2024 · not open to guests yet
Source · Walt Disney World
Year by year
A one-line summary of every year we have verified records for.
- 2025 lost Dino-Rama and DINOSAUR.
- 2024 lost It's Tough to be a Bug!; changed Restaurantosaurus.
- 2022 changed Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!.
- 2021 changed Rafiki's Planet Watch.
- 2020 lost Primeval Whirl and Rivers of Light; changed Expedition Everest.
- 2018 changed UP! A Great Bird Adventure.
- 2017 opened Pandora at Night, Satu'li Canteen, Na'vi River Journey, Avatar Flight of Passage and Pandora – The World of Avatar.
- 2016 opened Nomad Lounge and Tree of Life Awakenings; changed Animal Kingdom Evening Operations and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Common questions
What has changed at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
Since 2016, 19 verified changes have been recorded at Disney's Animal Kingdom: 7 openings, 5 closures and 7 replacements, rethemes or operational changes. The additions include Pandora at Night, Satu'li Canteen, Na'vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage. The losses include Dino-Rama, DINOSAUR, It's Tough to be a Bug! and Primeval Whirl. The most recent entry is Dino-Rama (Closed, 2025-01).
What is new at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
7 additions are recorded, including Pandora at Night, Satu'li Canteen, Na'vi River Journey, Avatar Flight of Passage, Pandora – The World of Avatar and Nomad Lounge.
What is gone at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
5 closures are recorded, including Dino-Rama, DINOSAUR, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Primeval Whirl and Rivers of Light.
What is the biggest change at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
Pandora – The World of Avatar opened. A fully immersive Avatar land with floating mountains. Opened May 27, 2017.
See only what changed since your trip
The personalized report filters all of this down to what happened after your last visit.