The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (The Ultimate Playground)

The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom permanently closes on September 2, 2025. You can read more about the closure here. The information below covers the attraction up to its closing date.

Would your children enjoy digging up a few dinosaur fossils during your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Namely, a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Or there might come a time when you need a break, and your children need to burn off a little extra energy. If so, the Boneyard is the perfect place to do just that. The Boneyard is a massive playground and activity area designed to resemble a dinosaur dig. It is specifically for children ages 10 and under and features multiple play areas, a dig site, rope bridges, caves, and slides.

Here are the quick reference details for The Boneyard.

The Boneyard	Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Location:	Dinoland U.S.A
Disney Height Requirement:	Any Height
Lightning Lane:	NA
Ride Type:	Playground
Seats Per Vehicle:	N/A
Rider Switch at Disney:	N/A
Good For:	Children
Scary Factor:	None
Must-Do List:	Low *But High for Kids
Perfect For:	Letting kids play while parents take a break.
Special Mention:	None

Per Disney:

• Guests may remain in wheelchairs or ECVs.
• Supervise children at all times.
  Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
• Please use caution while climbing and exploring.  
• You are about to enter an active dinosaur dig site. The Dino Institute has opened this site for your enjoyment and to inspire children of all ages to learn more about the mysterious world of dinosaurs. This imaginative play area is best enjoyed by children ages 10 and under.

When you cross into DinoLand U.S.A. from Discovery Island, you’ll walk underneath the Oldengate Bridge. It’s a bridge designed to look like a dinosaur skeleton. Just look up, you can’t miss it. This bridge leads to an extension of the Boneyard play area. You’ll find the entrance ahead on your immediate left.

The Boneyard is a tremendously large play area that might be compared to the size of indoor play areas you pay admission to visit with your children. Various ropes and climbing apparatus are available on multiple levels. A separate space for smaller children is set aside on the ground level.

One of the most popular places at The Boneyard is the Dig Site. It’s on the second level. You’ll cross the bridge to reach it. This area is a bit calmer than the playground portion and allows children to dig for fossils. You’ll find a few plastic buckets and shovels in the area.

The Dig Site is also a good place to keep your eye on children. When you are in the larger, more open area, there are so many nooks and crannies, including caves and slides, that children can easily tend to disappear momentarily. On my visits, I’ve noticed that there’s usually a cast member standing at the entrance. They won’t let children in or out of the area unattended.

Keep this play area in mind for when the children need to burn off a little extra steam and you need a break. For other fun, child-friendly attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might enjoy the following:

• Affection Section
• The Oasis Exhibits
• Kilimanjaro Safaris

Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? If so, you might like to browse the list of Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. Some of our favorite resorts include:

• Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
• Disney’s Art of Animation Review
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Check out some of our resources, like our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is an excellent resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.