The Boneyard Animal Kingdom playground will officially close on September 1, 2025. This hands-on fossil dig site has been delighting young paleontologists since the park opened in 1998, and it’s now preparing for its final season.
Before Disney’s Tropical Americas expansion replaces it, we’re taking one last walkthrough of this legendary dig site.
A Prehistoric Playground from the Start
Even before Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened its gates, the Boneyard was part of the plan. It debuted in pre-opening specials like A New Species of Theme Park and appeared in countless Disney Parks promotional videos through the years, including a memorable 2004 souvenir VHS where Mickey Mouse joined in the fun.
It was a story-driven environment crafted by Walt Disney Imagineering to feel like a real dig site operated by the fictional Dino Institute.
Digging Into the Experience
Guests entered through a fossil-covered archway into a world of prehistoric wonder. Disney’s official site describes it as a place where kids aged 10 and under can cross rope bridges, climb through caves, and slide down twisting fossil-shaped slides. Themed sound effects, like excavation equipment and two-way radios, added to the realism.
The highlight of The Boneyard was the shaded dig site. Beneath giant tents, kids used buckets and brushes to uncover a full-sized replica Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops skeleton buried under soft, rubber “fossil sand.” While the kids dug, parents could relax in the shaded seating area cooled by large fans.
Throughout the space, fossil casts, educational displays, and hidden dinosaur facts made the entire area feel immersive and interactive. It was equal parts fun and educational—Disney at its best.
Imagineering Details and Classic Features
The Boneyard featured some of the tallest playground slides in any Disney park, including twin slides built through the ribs of a fossilized dinosaur. Walkways connected elevated scaffolding structures and climbing nets, giving kids a multi-level play zone unlike anything else at Walt Disney World.
Every detail, from the field guide signage to the ambient dig site announcements, helped tell the story. There was even a full background audio loop of dig site radio chatter and mock Dino Institute messages that made it feel like a real expedition.
Now, with the Tropical Americas expansion underway, The Boneyard will officially close after September 1, 2025. Disney has confirmed that a new interactive kids’ play area will be included in the upcoming land. But The Boneyard’s unique mix of adventure and authenticity will be missed.
It’s not just another playground. It’s a dig site full of Disney storytelling, ready for one final expedition.
