New permit filed for the Encanto ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, here’s where construction stands
Another construction permit just landed for the highly-anticipated Encanto ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and steel is already rising on site. Here’s what the paperwork means, where the build actually stands, and when you’ll finally get to visit the Madrigals.
Good news for Encanto fans: the first-ever major ride based on the hit Disney film is moving right along at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and a newly-filed construction permit is the latest sign of steady progress.
The permit is part of a growing stack of paperwork tied to the Tropical Americas project. But the more exciting story is what’s happening on the actual construction site. Here’s the full update.
What the new permit covers
Let’s start with the paperwork, since that’s the news.
Walt Disney Imagineering has filed another permit tied to the Encanto attraction’s construction site (address: 610 DinoLand Drive) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s one of a steady series of filings, covering everything from steel and set installation to electrical work, as Disney pushes the project forward.
These “Notice of Commencement” permits are a normal, ongoing part of a big theme-park build. Longtime Walt Disney World contractor Whiting-Turner is leading the project, with the current permit timeline running into May 2027.
Where construction actually stands
Here’s the part that matters more than the paperwork, and it’s genuinely exciting.
The Encanto ride isn’t just permits and planning, it’s physically rising out of the ground. Some verified milestones:
The final steel beam for the main ride building was signed by the Imagineering team and hoisted into place in February 2026, a major structural milestone.
Casa Madrigal (the “Casita”) has officially gone vertical, its show-building frame is up.
Crews have moved on to building the queue building that will connect to the ride.
Interior set pieces and scenic elements are already being fabricated inside the enclosed building, meaning the world of the Madrigals is actively taking shape.
In short: this is well past the “cleared dirt lot” stage. The building is up, and the magic is going in.
What the Encanto ride will be
Here’s what we know about the attraction itself.
According to Disney’s official description, the Encanto ride will follow Antonio, the youngest Madrigal, the day after he receives his magical gift, the ability to talk to animals. His room has transformed into a lush rainforest, and guests journey through the enchanted Casita, potentially bumping into various members of the Madrigal family along the way.
Fittingly for Animal Kingdom, the ride is expected to lean into the colorful animals Antonio can now communicate with, tying it neatly to the park’s wildlife theme. The Casita’s exterior façade will be modeled on the iconic house from the film.
The bigger picture: Tropical Americas
The Encanto ride is the headliner, but it’s not arriving alone.
It’s the centerpiece of an entirely new 11-acre land called Tropical Americas (officially Pueblo Esperanza), which is replacing the former DinoLand U.S.A. The land is designed to feel like a living village nestled in a lush rainforest, and it’ll feature three attractions total:
The Encanto ride (the big new headliner)
An Indiana Jones adventure, an all-new story that reuses the ride system from the now-closed DINOSAUR
A new carousel featuring popular Disney animal characters
For longtime fans, this is a bittersweet transformation, DinoLand and its beloved (if divisive) DINOSAUR ride closed in February 2026 to make way for it. But Tropical Americas represents a major, modern glow-up for a corner of the park that had gone stale.
When does the Encanto ride open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Here’s the timing, which is what most people want to know.
Disney has consistently targeted 2027 for the grand opening of the completed Tropical Americas land, including the Encanto ride. The permit timelines (now extended into May 2027) line up with that window.
Disney hasn’t announced a more specific date, month or season, beyond the year. But given how fast steel and sets are going in, the 2027 target looks realistic. We’ll keep tracking the permits and construction photos as the Madrigals’ new home gets closer to completion.
Encanto at Animal Kingdom: what we know so far
The newly-filed permit is another steady step in a build that’s genuinely humming along. The Encanto ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has its steel up, its Casita vertical, and its interior sets already being fabricated, real, visible progress toward a 2027 opening.
If you love Encanto, this is the attraction to watch. It’ll be the first major ride ever based on the film, the crown jewel of a brand-new land, and a long-awaited replacement for the DinoLand era.
We don’t talk about Bruno, but we can absolutely talk about how close this ride is getting. Keep an eye on Animal Kingdom in 2027, the Madrigals are almost ready for guests.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
WDW News Today and BlogMickey (May-July 2026), verified for the Encanto ride permit filings (the amended Notice of Commencement at 610 DinoLand Drive, Whiting-Turner as general contractor, the extension into May 2027), the February 2026 final-steel-beam milestone, and the queue-building and set-installation progress
AllEars.Net and Attractions Magazine (April-July 2026), verified for the Tropical Americas/Pueblo Esperanza details (the 11-acre land replacing DinoLand U.S.A., the three attractions, the Casita going vertical, the Mecca Productions set work and Pro Audio Video electrical permits), and the DinoLand/DINOSAUR February 2026 closure
Walt Disney World official description (via reporting) (2026), verified for the Encanto ride premise (following Antonio the day after receiving his animal-communication gift, the rainforest-transformed room, the journey through the Casita meeting the Madrigal family) and the consistent 2027 opening target