Walt Disney World is giving Disney’s Hollywood Studios visitors a miniature peek at the resort’s expansion plans. It’s a salute to three projects, but mostly Tropical Americas, the under-construction land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Near the rear of the Walt Disney Presents attraction at DHS is a formidable scale model of Tropical Americas, which is flanked by 2D artist concepts for the “Monsters, Inc.”-inspired land set for Hollywood Studios, and the Frontierland expansion, featuring “Cars” attractions at Magic Kingdom.

It isn’t newsy news. The model was unveiled at D23 event in California in August 2024, but it’s nice for WDW visitors to get a look. It’s fun to stare and go into Magic Eye mode, imagining where this all fits into Animal Kingdom. (Mentally align past and present entrances to get your virtual bearings.)

Also enjoyable is eavesdropping on the comments of passers-by, who display a wide range of Disney World knowledge, from shocked to informed. There’s usually one self-appointed expert in each group (and there are placards for each land to fill in key facts).

A common refrain is “Oh, that’s where DinoLand was” (or “is”). That’s not wrong. The future Tropical Americas will be on the footprint of the outgoing DinoLand USA. Some of that is demolished or closed already, including the TriceraTop Spin ride, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures store and the Boneyard play area. The final day to experience the current Dinosaur simulator attraction as well as the Restaurantosaurus eatery is Feb. 1, Disney says.

The model includes the “Encanto” attraction as well as the utilitarian show building that Animal Kingdom guests will likely only see from the inside. Tropical Americas is scheduled to open in 2027. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)

An astute comment centered on the boxy show building behind the house for the “Encanto” ride-through attraction. It looks large, relatively speaking, and signals “big deal.”

A few people stood and exclaimed that there was supposed to be an Indiana Jones element. Then, two beats later, “Oh, there it is!” … It’s the temple-looking structure in the back — think Epcot’s Mexico — reaffirming that the Dinosaur exterior will get a tropical facelift.

“Wow, it’s going to be big,” said a passing cast member.

Tiny visitors in a scale model of Tropical Americas walk near the future “Indiana Jones” ride, a renovated version of the current Dinosaur attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)

My personal takeaway is that there sure looks like a lot of trees, and we are here for it and the shade they will provide. But it’s a good time to remember it’s a model, not a blueprint. On the other hand, a sign near the model says the land will be “lush,” so let’s keep our trees crossed.

Among the other elements to be spied are a covered carousel, which Disney says will feature “hand-carved” animals from the company’s catalogue, such as Kevin from “Up”; a smallish fountain near one entrance; and dozens of wee future DAK visitors milling around.

The presentations for Monstropolis and the Frontierland expansion are less elaborate, primarily flat renderings with hints of the future. Most intriguing is the previously released picture of the door-themed ride that will be Disney’s first suspended coaster worldwide.

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On the Frontierland side, there’s an enlarged cartoonish map of Piston Peak National Park, the “Cars” area that’s in the works. Unmarked but obvious in the image are the existing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Frontierland storefronts.

It’s presented as if a drone were flying above the Hall of Presidents and aimed at the former Tom Sawyer Island. With the Rivers of America being drained, there may be a surprising amount of water present. And the area also appears more accessible than the island, but that was part of its charm, no?

The display is behind glass, and it’s a mild bummer that folks can’t wander to the back side. (Kudos to the walk-around model of Epic Universe at Universal CityWalk.)

Disney’s opening date for Tropical Americas remains sometime in 2027.

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Not included in the display are the reinvented animation area for Hollywood Studios, although it’s mere steps away, or the Disney villains area planned for Magic Kingdom in the space beyond Big Thunder. Expect Disney to spread out these morsels over the years.

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https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/15/disney-model-1017/