Animal Kingdom has celebrated nature, storytelling, and adventure for nearly thirty years. It’s a place where magic happens!

Having worked at Disney for 36 years, I’ve seen firsthand how Animal Kingdom brings nature, adventure, and incredible stories together. This park truly celebrates the value of nature, showing us how everything connects and transforming every guest who visits. It’s a special place, and I’m thrilled to be part of its growth!

You already explore the savannas of Africa, the Himalayan peaks of Asia, and Pandora’s floating mountains. Soon, you’ll dive into the lush rainforests of Tropical Americas! As the Executive Creative Director for this project, I want to give you a peek behind the curtain at how we’re making this joyful new land a reality.

Get ready for 2027! This new land will immerse you in one of the world’s most vibrant cultural regions. Imagine an area stretching from northern South America, through Central America, and into Mexico. Here, nature doesn’t just surround communities; it actively shapes their lives.

Ancient cultures thrive here, woven into daily life. Explorers and curious travelers constantly discover new wonders and fall in love with the region.

At the 2024 Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we revealed exciting news: Tropical Americas will feature Pueblo Esperanza! Just like exploring Harambe in Africa or Anandapur in Asia, you’ll step into Pueblo Esperanza, a town brimming with its own unique history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty.

Imagineers have dreamt of a land like this for Animal Kingdom for ages. Early park expansion ideas even included guests exploring ancient Maya temples and lush rainforests. Sound familiar?

As Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde, a dear friend and colleague, once said: « We thought for a long time about a Tropical Americas-inspired land at Animal Kingdom. Especially one featuring the Maya, as their culture ties so closely to nature. It’s a perfect fit for the park. »

At Walt Disney Imagineering, ideas never truly vanish; they simply evolve, sparking new experiences. Combine the magical world of Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto, the thrilling adventures of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones, and a region where nature’s power intertwines with human stories – that’s how we get Tropical Americas. A dedicated team of Imagineers carries on the grand tradition of bringing imagination to life here.

From day one, we knew Tropical Americas needed a foundation in the real world. Just like the original Imagineers building Animal Kingdom, our team explored the region. We went on several research trips, diving deep into its culture, customs, architecture, and folklore.

We always tell Disney stories with curiosity and humility. These trips let us do more than just recreate inspired areas; they allow us to truly understand. Recently, a small group visited Honduras. There, we met Maya artists whose life’s work involves carving and recreating intricate details from Copán, one of the most incredible ancient Maya cities.

We traveled through lush mountain valleys to ancient quarries. These quarries have supplied the region with materials for centuries. We saw firsthand the striking red and green stones unique to this landscape. Witnessing this artistry was truly breathtaking. It’s even more special knowing that the same materials used to build Copán will come to Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, where carvers will shape them using age-old techniques.

Our team also explored Colombia, immersing ourselves in the cultures and places that inspired Disney Animation Studios’ « Encanto. » This trip directly influenced the first-ever Encanto attraction coming to a Disney park!

Guests will celebrate Antonio’s new gift: talking to animals! Along the way, we’ll discover that no matter our unique talents, we all belong to the « familia » of living things. During our research, we visited the very same places and met the people that inspired the original « Encanto » filmmakers for Disney Animation’s Academy Award-winning movie.

We also gathered firsthand experiences. This ensures Pueblo Esperanza feels like a truly authentic, lived-in town. We studied everything: the colors and materials of town plazas, the shifting hues of haciendas in different light, and how buildings adapt to the climate and terrain.

These journeys are about more than just visiting places. They give us insight, inspiration, and a deeper understanding that shapes every detail we create. Imagineers travel because we always have more to learn, and each experience helps us tell these stories with true authenticity and care.

All our research helps us craft a richly layered environment. It honors Central and South America, all through the magic of Disney storytelling. In 2027, Pueblo Esperanza will welcome you to a vibrant crossroads of culture, nestled within a rainforest teeming with life.

Loads of magic is coming to Animal Kingdom! Keep an eye on DLP Welcome for all the exciting updates as this journey unfolds.