Joan Hartwig is the executive director for the Tropical Americas project at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For 36 years, she has worked at Disney and been a part of building the legacy that continues to grow at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: “a place that celebrates the intrinsic value of nature, explores the interconnectedness of all living things, and transforms every visitor through adventure.” For nearly three decades, the park has been a celebration of nature, storytelling, and adventure. Now, it is working on entering a new chapter where this will be done with new stories. These stories include those of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto and Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones films. They also further the legacy of this park, Hartwig shares. Things have come a long way since the Tropical Americas were announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event nearly two years ago.

As work continues on Tropical Americas, Hartwig has taken to the Disney Parks Blog to share more about this project. This includes a look at how it fits into the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, along with the research that is going into making it. Take a look at what Hartwig shared today below!

A New Natural Wonder to Explore at Animal Kingdom

When it opens in 2027, the new land will represent one of the most culturally rich regions on the planet. From the northern reaches of South America, through Central America, and into parts of Mexico, this is a part of the world where nature doesn’t just surround communities — it shapes them.

And ancient cultures are still present in everyday life. Explorers and curious travelers continue to fall in love with the region and all there is to discover.

During the 2024 Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we shared that Tropical Americas will be home to Pueblo Esperanza when it opens at Animal Kingdom. Just as you stroll through the Port of Harambe in Africa, or wander the Kingdom of Anandapur in Asia, you’ll get to experience Pueblo Esperanza, a town with its own history, vivid culture, and of course, vibrant nature.

Welcoming Tropical Americas Home

Imagineers have long dreamed of adding a land inspired by this region to Animal Kingdom. In fact, earlier concepts of potential park expansions imagined guests journeying into an ancient Maya temple and exploring a lush rainforest… sound familiar?

As my friend and longtime colleague, Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde said, “We thought for a really long time about building a Tropical Americas-inspired land at Animal Kingdom. Specifically, one that features the Maya because of how intertwined with nature they were — it’s just a natural fit for the park.”

Of course, ideas at Walt Disney Imagineering never fully disappear; they evolve and inspire new experiences. Mix in the enchanting world of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto, the beloved escapades of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones, and a region where the power of nature entwines with human stories… and you get Tropical Americas, courtesy of a team of Imagineers continuing a grand tradition of bringing imagination to life.

Inside Imagineering’s Research Trips for Tropical Americas

From the very beginning of this project, Imagineers knew the story of Tropical Americas needed to be grounded in the real world. Just like the Imagineers of yesteryear did when first building Animal Kingdom and the exciting additions that have opened since, our team embarked on several research trips to learn more about the region’s culture, customs, architecture, and folklore.

We always want to tell Disney stories from a place of curiosity and humility, and these trips allow us to go beyond simply re-creating the areas that inspire us. Recently, a small group took a trip to Honduras where we met with Maya artists whose life’s work is carving and recreating intricate details found throughout the Copán site, one of the most extraordinary and well-preserved cities of the ancient Maya civilization.

Together, we traveled through the lush mountain valleys to the very quarries that have supplied this region for centuries. We experienced firsthand the striking red and green stones native to the landscape. Witnessing this artistry was a breathtaking moment, made even more meaningful knowing that the same materials that built Copán will find their way to Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom to be crafted by carvers using time-honored techniques.

The team also traveled to Colombia to immerse ourselves in the places and cultures that inspired Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto,” which will be represented in the first-ever Encanto attraction at a Disney park.

There, guests will be invited to celebrate Antonio’s new gift: the ability to talk to animals. And along the way, we’ll learn that no matter what our special gifts or abilities are, we’re all part of the “familia” of all living things. During the research trip, the team met with many of the people and visited many of the places that the original “Encanto” filmmakers first visited in researching Disney Animation’s Academy Award-winning film.

We also gathered first-hand experiences to ensure Pueblo Esperanza feels like a real, lived-in town true to the region—from the colors and materials of town plazas to hues of haciendas in varying light to the way buildings respond to the climate and terrain.

These journeys are not just about where we go, but the insight, inspiration, and deeper understanding that shapes every detail we bring back. Imagineers travel because there is always more for us to learn, and each experience brings us closer to telling these stories with authenticity and care.

Bienvenidos a Pueblo Esperanza

Our research results in a richly layered environment that honors Central and South America, all through the lens of Disney storytelling. In 2027, Pueblo Esperanza will welcome visitors to a crossroads of culture surrounded by a rainforest filled with life.

What do you think about these updates about Tropical Americas, along with the perspective about how this land fits into the bigger picture of Disney’s Animal Kingdom? What are you most excited about with Tropical Americas? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!