Kali River Rapids Reopening Mid December to Boost Sparse Animal Kingdom Attraction List

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I’m so excited! Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom is finally reopening on December 12th! It’s been closed for its yearly maintenance since October 6th, but we’ll be able to brave the rapids again soon, and I can’t wait!

This refurbishment is happening sooner than normal, as the ride usually closes for updates in January and February. In some years, it hasn’t reopened until March. This early work seems to be related to upcoming changes in the DinoLand U.S.A. area.

Since the land is scheduled to close completely in early 2026, the resort changed the maintenance timeline to ensure Kali River Rapids reopens before DinoLand closes.

Animal Kingdom’s shrinking attraction roster

With Kali River Rapids now back open, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is seeing a decrease in the total number of rides and things to do, and that trend will continue. Several attractions in the DinoLand U.S.A. area have closed, and more will close in the coming months, as the park transforms the area into a new land called Tropical Americas / Pueblo Esperanza.

Key closures and changes include:

  • TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures have all closed for good. Their last day of operation was January 12, 2025, with January 13th marking the official closing date.

  • The Boneyard — a fossil-themed playground — closed permanently on September 2, 2025.

  • The popular DINOSAUR ride at Disney’s DinoLand, known for its thrilling dinosaur experience, will close for good on February 2, 2026.

  • Dino‑Bite Snacks and Trilo‑Bites closed October 20, 2025. DinoLand’s last eating spots, Restaurantosaurus, is also set to close February 2, 2026.

By December 2025, with the reopening of Kali River Rapids, Animal Kingdom will offer Expedition Everest, Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, and Kilimanjaro Safaris. A new show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, has also debuted, taking the place of It’s Tough to Be a Bug! earlier in 2025.

Compared to previous years, there’s a clear decrease in the number of exciting rides, things for families to do, shows, and areas for kids to play.

Context: DinoLand transformation and the path ahead

These changes are happening because Disney is completely transforming DinoLand U.S.A. into a new area called Tropical Americas / Pueblo Esperanza. Disney has announced that the area will close in stages and is expected to reopen around 2027.

Plans and recent announcements reveal the redesigned area will include exciting new attractions like an “Indiana Jones”-themed ride taking the place of DINOSAUR, an attraction based on the movie Encanto, and a classic carousel. The area will also offer a new quick-service restaurant and a play space, replacing the existing Boneyard.

Why Kali River Rapids’ return matters now

The return of Kali River Rapids on December 12th is a welcome addition to the park. It’s a fun water ride that offers something different during the cooler months, and gives guests a chance to enjoy a classic attraction before more changes happen.

It looks like a smart move to fix Kali River Rapids before DinoLand U.S.A. completely closes. Since DINOSAUR and the rest of that area will be gone by early 2026, getting Kali River Rapids back up and running now helps offset the overall loss of rides.

I’m excited Kali River Rapids is back, but honestly, the park still feels a little limited in what it offers. There just aren’t as many rides for families, places for little kids to play, or even some of the classic attractions we used to love. I’ve heard the new Tropical Americas area isn’t opening until 2027, so I think we all might need to be a little flexible when we plan our visits for now.

Conclusion

While the return of Kali River Rapids on December 12, 2025, is welcome news for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park currently has fewer attractions overall. This is because some areas have closed permanently, and the DinoLand U.S.A. section will be closing in early 2026.

Guests can look forward to a brand-new section of the park opening in 2027. However, those visiting Animal Kingdom in 2026 may find there aren’t as many activities available.

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2025-12-12 00:57