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Aerials Show Rockwork Framework Rising on Encanto Building at Animal Kingdom

Visible rooftop rockwork framework with rising berm walls shows Disney shifting from structural shells to surface theming as it works toward a 2027 opening window.

Overview

  • Mid-July aerial photos published July 18, 2026 show steel mesh framework on the Encanto show building roof and a large array of rooftop chillers and ductwork being installed.
  • Concrete berm and block walls in front of the Encanto building are rising to form the Casita’s hillside, a set-masking technique that will hide the operational show building behind themed terrain.
  • Multiple projects across the 11-acre Tropical Americas site are active, with the Indiana Jones Mayan temple steel superstructure climbing over the former DINOSAUR shell and the carousel’s poured base and decagonal steel ring taking shape.
  • A backstage staging yard is visibly producing prefabricated rock and facade sections, reflecting Disney’s use of off-site fabrication and reuse of existing shells to speed installation and control costs.
  • Disney has confirmed a 2027 opening window for Tropical Americas but has not given firm dates, and substantial interior finishes and operational details remain behind construction walls and unannounced.