BREAKING: ‘Moana’ and ‘Zootopia’ Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Shannen Michaelsen

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BREAKING: ‘Moana’ and ‘Zootopia’ Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

A land containing both “Moana” and “Zootopia” will replace Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Plans are still in the early stages, and no details on potential attractions have been announced.

DAK Moana Zootopia Concept Art

A single piece of concept art was released showing the potential land, including Moana’s boat on a lake and an aerial carousel ride.

A “Zootopia” land will be opening next year at Shanghai Disneyland.

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Author

  • Shannen Michaelsen

    Shannen has been a Disney Parks fan and lover of dogs since childhood, despite Pluto's attempt to eat Shannen's Minnie Mouse doll the first time they met. They've made up now. You can email Shannen at shannen@mail.hkdrnt.com.

14 thoughts on “BREAKING: ‘Moana’ and ‘Zootopia’ Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom”

  1. And raya which fits asia and is now a princess is left for ??? Esp when rivers inspired the music and we could bring that back w a play on raya. Plus wouldnt encanto wrk better here. Hello antonio and his animal friends?? I love moana but then whats the pt of the rock wall at epcot??? Oh i get zootopia believe me it yells dak but so do raya and encanto but not moana unless we are going to show love to pua (& not just got visit the real pua at conservation station)

  2. Okay this was just a what if none of this is actually coming to real life yet, these are literally just fanfiction

    Same deal with the Villains Land and Stuff behind Big Thunder

  3. This is kinda bitter-sweet news to me. If they get rid of Dinoland USA, what will fill in the gap for the prehistoric animal stuff? Animal Kingdom was meant to showcase animals that are alive, animals from prehistoric times, and animals that exist in fantasy. Avatar helped fill in the fantasy part. So what will take the dinosaur part if Dinoland usa is removed?

  4. So what does Moana have to do with Animal Kingdom? And how and why does it belong with Zootopia? And do we really need another boat ride at the park that already has two?

    • Nothing. Just trying to slap IP into real estate and call it “creativity.” The Chapek way. My toddler can come up with more creative and imaginative themed lands than Disney Imagineering these days. These ideas are still too focused on IP rather than true theming or fantasy or storytelling. Just another sign of a declining company. Pathetic.

    • yes totally agree better not get rid of dinosaur 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

      • It would make more sense to do a South America section. Could have Encanto theming (the Casita with Antonio’s animal room), Emperor’s New Groove theming (Kuzco’s Palace), and a South American rainforest with associated animals (glass enclosed structure with simulated rain storms would be neat, similar to the rainforest enclosure at Baltimore’s aquarium).

    • The message of Animal Kingdom is more than just animals…it’s about being good stewards of Mother Earth which Moana certainly champions.

  5. If it’s a good ride and well themed, I wouldn’t be concerned that it was another boat ride. Magic kingdom has Small World, Jungle Cruise, and Pirates. Epcot has Frozen, Living with the Land, and the Gran Fiesta Tour. I think one of Moana’s central themes was about nature so I can see that fitting with Animal Kingdom. The new Zootopia ride vehicle for Shanghai is identical to the Dinosaur ride vehicle. So I assume that ride would be cloned as a replacement to Dinosaur. Animal Kingdom needs more rides so adding both of these would be great.

  6. I know these are concepts and knowing wdw that could mean never happening..
    How about Raya as Asia is next to dino or did we forget??? Shes a new princess and sadly gets treated as such… dirt forgotten! Why more moana love moana but why the rocks at Epcot if moana was planned for DAK??? Zootopia i get but not moana! And i love moana! Raya would even incorperate rivers back in as the kites lets face it bomb! Rivers return is being asked for and missed even by the ones whom complained forget the fans! I get it like harmonious it went over folks head but Walt would have loved it as much as he loved DAK! Beyond Encanto fits DAK we could even have an animal show introducing antonios animals to the world. Which btw that does not belong at mk!

  7. This isn’t such a smart move but not the worst. Honestly a better plan could’ve been keeping Dinoland and adding T-Rex Cafe before returning it to Moana and Zootopia, which would then lead to retheming such restaurant to Zootopia theming (which would then lead to retheming Rainforest Cafe in general to a Moana theme and T-Rex Cafe at Disney Springs into Zootopia cafe).
    If it’s necessary to retheming this land, then the restaurants at Disney Springs would have to be returned as well for IP relevance.

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