Encanto Recording Begins for Animal Kingdom’s Next Ride

Published June 30, 2026 · Updated September 9, 2026

Adassa, the voice of Dolores in Encanto, has been back in the recording studio for Disney’s upcoming Animal Kingdom attraction. That matters because voice work is not vague concept art. It is actual attraction production.

But here’s the planning truth: this is exciting, not actionable yet. Until Disney gives guests an opening date, ride system details, height requirements, Lightning Lane status, or a confirmed location plan, you should not rebuild a Walt Disney World trip around it. Treat this as a strong sign that the Animal Kingdom project is moving, then plan your real park day around the attractions that already drive crowds: Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Na’vi River Journey, Kali River Rapids, and the park’s underrated walking trails.

What This Actually Means for Your Trip

The useful takeaway is simple: Encanto at Animal Kingdom is becoming more tangible, but it is still not something you can schedule around.

A performer recording dialogue usually means Disney is deep enough into the creative process that the attraction needs character voice material, whether that ends up in ride scenes, queue moments, preshow content, or other in-attraction storytelling. For Encanto fans, that is a good sign because Dolores is one of the characters whose voice and sound-based personality could translate especially well into an attraction environment.

What it does not tell you: when the attraction opens, how intense it will be, whether it will be family-friendly for all heights, whether it will use Lightning Lane, or whether it will reshape the best touring strategy for Animal Kingdom.

So if your trip is in the near future, make zero plan changes based on this. If your trip is farther out, keep Animal Kingdom on your radar as the park most likely to see a major planning shake-up once Disney releases actual operational details.

Do Not Sleep on Animal Kingdom While You Wait

A lot of guests treat Animal Kingdom like a half-day park. That can work, but only if you know what you are skipping. The park rewards people who slow down, and it also punishes people who show up late with no plan for Pandora.

Avatar Flight of Passage is still the big planning anchor here. It is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, which means it is purchased separately from Lightning Lane Multi Pass. If you are trying to avoid a long standby wait, this is the Animal Kingdom upgrade that usually deserves the closest look.

For Lightning Lane Multi Pass, think of Animal Kingdom as a park where your choices can be less stressful than Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, but timing still matters. The smart move is to use Multi Pass to smooth out your day, not to force a ride-stacking strategy that makes you crisscross the park in the heat.

If you are buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass, remember the current system: you purchase it by day and make advance selections before your visit. Disney resort guests can book starting 7 days before arrival for their trip, while off-site guests start 3 days before. The window opens at 7:00 AM Eastern on your eligible booking day. After you redeem a selection, or after its window passes, you can keep adding another one at a time in My Disney Experience.

The Best Animal Kingdom Day Still Starts Early

Until the Encanto attraction actually opens, your best Animal Kingdom strategy is still about timing the park’s existing heavy hitters.

If you are not buying Flight of Passage as a Single Pass, prioritize Pandora early. Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey can pull big waits because they sit in the same land and absorb both first-timers and repeat visitors. If you are skipping Flight of Passage or using Single Pass, then Kilimanjaro Safaris becomes the better early target.

Safaris is not just a ride; it is a timing play. Early morning can be excellent because temperatures are lower and the animals are often more active. Late day can also be strong, especially when crowds start peeling away. If your group cares about photos, the back row can give you better angles, though it is also the bumpiest seat.

Here’s the move most casual planners miss: build in time for the trails around the Tree of Life and the animal viewing areas, especially around midday. Some guests rush past them chasing rides, but Animal Kingdom’s animal areas can be at their best when Cast Members are feeding or working nearby and the animals are easier to spot.

The Encanto Crowd Effect Could Be Bigger Than One Ride

When this attraction opens, the impact may not be limited to the ride itself. Encanto has broad family appeal, which means it could pull in guests who might otherwise treat Animal Kingdom as optional.

That matters for planning because Animal Kingdom has a different crowd rhythm from the other parks. It often feels busiest in the late morning through mid-afternoon, then can get more comfortable later in the day. A major new family attraction could stretch the park’s demand curve, especially if it gives guests a stronger reason to stay past the usual early-exit window.

If the attraction is friendly for younger kids, expect it to change how families prioritize the park. If it has no height requirement, it could become a major first stop for groups with little ones. If it has a height requirement or a more elaborate ride system, it could behave more like a headliner. Disney has not provided those details here, so don’t assume either yet.

That is exactly where live data will matter. Once Disney releases operational details and the ride begins running, SupaPark’s wait-time patterns, best-time forecaster, and live alerts at supapark.com will be far more useful than guessing from a recording-studio post.

Where to Eat While Animal Kingdom Evolves

If you are spending a fuller day in Animal Kingdom, your food plan matters more than people think. This park can feel hot and spread out, so a badly timed meal can wreck your momentum.

Yak & Yeti is one of the easiest table-service picks to recommend for mixed groups because the menu has enough variety for picky eaters and more adventurous diners. The Ahi Tuna Nachos have a reputation for being a strong shareable order, and the Dragon Roll Bowl is a good example of the kind of meal that feels satisfying without being brutally heavy for a park day.

There is also a smaller insider angle: some Yak & Yeti secret-menu items have been available only at the bar inside the restaurant, including drinks and, when available, spicy garlic edamame. Do not build your whole meal around secret-menu availability, but if you are already stopping in and sitting at the bar, it is worth asking politely what is available that day.

For a lower-commitment break, Nomad Lounge is a smart Animal Kingdom reset when you can get in. It works especially well for adults who want a calmer pause without leaving the park. Just do not let a lounge stop eat the best Safari or Pandora window if ride efficiency is your main goal.

The Smart Move Right Now

If you are planning Walt Disney World today, treat the Adassa recording news as a confidence signal that Disney’s Encanto work for Animal Kingdom is moving forward. Do not treat it as a booking trigger.

For now, your Animal Kingdom plan should still be built around Flight of Passage strategy, smart Safari timing, Expedition Everest when waits cooperate, and enough breathing room to enjoy the animal trails instead of turning the park into a checklist.

Once Disney releases an opening date and operational details, that is when the strategy changes. Until then, the best move is to plan the park you can actually visit, keep an eye on the data, and be ready to adjust when the Encanto attraction becomes real for guests, not just real in the recording booth.

Go deeper — the full guides: Will Your Kid Hate Soarin’? How to Decide (And Where to Sit) · Why DINOSAUR Is Disney’s Most Intense Ride for Kids (And How to Know if They’re Ready) · Animal Kingdom Deep Dive: Conquering Pandora, Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris & Smart Touring

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.

Keep planning: today’s crowd forecast · is Lightning Lane worth it