Walt Disney Imagineering used D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to share new models of the Encanto ride heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The display gave fans their clearest look yet at a ride scene, the vehicles guests will board, and several of the animal characters that will populate the attraction. Here is a breakdown of what the models revealed and how it fits into the larger Tropical Americas project.
A Peek Inside the Casita Kitchen
One of the standout pieces was a detailed model of a ride scene set in the kitchen of Casita, dressed up for Antonio’s birthday celebration. The space is filled with the kind of lively touches you would expect from a party at the Madrigal home.
Animals appear throughout the scene, including a pig and a donkey, with a bird perched on the chandelier overhead. Another animal sits among the presents stacked on the table. Colorful bunting hangs from the ceiling, tying the whole room together and setting a festive mood for guests as they pass through.
A Story Centered on Antonio
While the ride is set during the events of the film, the models suggest it will lean more toward Antonio and his animals than the movie’s broader plot. That focus lines up with earlier concept art, which showed a scene set in Antonio’s jungle bedroom.
For guests, this means the attraction is shaping up to be a warm, character-driven experience rather than a retelling of the full story. Centering the ride on Antonio’s gift and his connection to animals gives Imagineering a clear theme to build each scene around.
Ride Vehicles Inspired by Household Furniture
The event also brought the first look at the ride vehicles, and they carry a clever nod to the film. Each vehicle incorporates household furniture, including a piano and a dresser, rather than looking like a standard ride car.
Guests will sit on benches designed to resemble couches or chairs, arranged in two rows with four seats in each row. The concept draws directly from the movie, where Casita can magically bring furniture to life. In the same spirit, the house creates these vehicles for guests, making the act of boarding the ride part of the story itself.
The Animatronic Characters on Display
Several animatronic models rounded out the presentation, offering a sense of the creatures guests will meet. Among them were a donkey, a toucan, and a capybara.
The toucan was shown perched atop the donkey, which carries party supplies for the celebration. That pairing hints at the playful, detail-rich staging Imagineering tends to bring to its animal figures. Seeing these models in person gives fans an early read on the style and personality the finished animatronics will have.
Chispi Connects Two Attractions
The capybara on display is Chispi, Antonio’s friend from the film. Beyond the Encanto ride, Chispi will also appear on the Tropical Americas carousel, serving as one of the ride seats.
That overlap is a nice example of how Disney is weaving characters across the new land. Guests who grow fond of Chispi on the carousel will recognize the same friendly face inside the Encanto attraction, helping the different pieces of Tropical Americas feel connected.
Where This Fits in Tropical Americas
The Encanto ride will anchor the new Tropical Americas, the land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The area is set to open in 2027, so these models represent an in-progress look rather than a finished product.
For anyone tracking the transformation of that corner of the park, the D23 reveal offers a helpful checkpoint. The scene model, vehicle design, and character animatronics together paint a clearer picture of what the ride experience will feel like once construction wraps.
Final Thoughts
The Encanto ride models shown at D23 gave fans a well-rounded preview of what to expect, from the party-ready Casita kitchen to furniture-inspired vehicles and familiar animal friends like Chispi. With a story that centers on Antonio and thoughtful ties to the wider Tropical Americas land, the attraction is coming into focus ahead of its 2027 debut. It is worth keeping an eye on Disney’s Animal Kingdom as this project continues to take shape.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
