Does anyone else hate the Dino-Rama part of Animal Kingdom?

[Donald A]

I do not like it

[TikiGoddess]

It has been mentioned in this thread that the area was done 'cheaply'. Do we have proof of this? I tend to think that they spent a lot of money trying to get the exact look they were going for...

TikiG

[Mikey Piano 23]

Yeah I am not really down with the carnival theming. The rest of Animal Kingdom is just sooooo beautiful and authentic but this looks like I just stepped into Coney Island. Come on Disney folks lets get on it and make it better!

[BritCody]

I'm ok with the rides in the area, but the general theming of the area does bother me some. It doesn't seem like Disney to me

[DisneyJunkie]

Regardless of any "point" or "backstory" to this part of the park (or the World, for that matter), the fact is, it's a cheap-looking blight on Animal Kingdom as a whole. It's completely out of place, has nothing of any real entertainment value to offer, and is a big mistake IMO. On the other hand, I do enjoy Dinosaur, which is nearby and probably my only real reason for ever going through the Dino-Rama area.

[A Foolish Mortal]

Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama is another piece of disney theming, just like the Tree of Life, or Everest. The story of that is that in the town of Dinoland, USA there were a husband and wife who absolutely loved dinosaurs, so they opened there roadside carnival and shop to go along with it. It actually fits in with the overall theming of the Dinoland area.

(If you had the Imagineer's Eye Tour of the AK it explains the entire thing)

[mickeys_princess]

I actually like this area also. Dinosaur is one of my fave rides (no matter how many times I have ridden I still scream at the t-rex) and I love Primeval Whirl also. We laugh the entire time we are on that ride!

[HallandNash]

Primeval Whirl is fun but, yeah that whole area needs a re-do.

[MrPeetrie]

I don't think there's another area on propety ANYWHERE that's more out of place than Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama. Animal Kingdom has such meticulous themeing everywhere except here. It almost seems as though Disney officials knew AK needed to expand to attract more guests, but they decided to do it quickly on the cheap. Primeval Whirl is the only rollercoaster on property that doesn't have a theme built around it. The midway looks like it used to be an access road and they just kept it. (The road may have been created as part of Disney's themeing. I don't want to criticize Imagineers when I don't know the truth.) But it almost seems to me if you replace the Dinosaurs with animals, it would fit better somewhere by the Boardwalk resort or something. I never understood the thinking behind this area.

[Aurora]

...I am a huge fan of roadside attractions as you cross America, and the fiberglass Dino Park is a staple. There are dino parks everywhere on the major highways and most of them look EXACTLY like the one at Disney.

Good point. There are cheap dino parks everywhere in America. So why put one in Disney World?

I don't think that people "miss" the point of the theming. I think people "get" the point exactly. And that's why they dislike it.

Disney putting a great backstory to a misguided idea doesn't elevate it. Disney parks have made their reputation on innovation and raising the bar, and that's what guests have come to expect. By this definition, Dino-Rama falls flat.

[DNS]

Regardless of any "point" or "backstory" to this part of the park (or the World, for that matter), the fact is, it's a cheap-looking blight on Animal Kingdom as a whole. It's completely out of place, has nothing of any real entertainment value to offer, and is a big mistake IMO. On the other hand, I do enjoy Dinosaur, which is nearby and probably my only real reason for ever going through the Dino-Rama area.

I think the dino-rama area is just that carnival part, not all of Dinoland. It's the carnival thing that bothers me. It's just so out of place at AK. Okay, I already posted here once, I won't go on again.

[Jared]

A better question would be if anyone doesn't hate Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama. Honestly, this section is the one blemish on a beautiful park. I refuse to even walk through a hot, dingy carnival in the Animal Kingdom.

[MickeyMousse]

I enjoy the "campyness" of the area...only enough to get on the rides and maybe play an arcade game where my boys actually have a chance to win something. I think WDW looked for the Route 66 feeling and achieved it, but yes, it does seem and feel non-Disney like.

[thrillme]

Focusing ONLY on the Dino-Rama part and not all of Dinoland...I'm really not keen on the carnival thing they have going on but I LOVE "Primeval whirl". The carnival thing really doesn't even fit in with the rest of the place. It's like for a moment in that tiny little spot you can EASILY forget you're at Disney.

My vote is to get rid of the carnival and put up another ride of sorts.

[Stu29573]

The proof that it was done on the cheap is the fact that the rides are "off the shelf" and not Disney designed at all. In fact (as I said in another post) I was at the State Fair of Texas and saw the roller coaster. Exactly the same, but a slightly different name. Just because you can come up with a backstory for something doesn't mean it's good quality. Also, it comes across not only as cheaply designed and built, but also as just an attempt to get more cash from visitors playing the games. Hopefully they'll use that money to put in something a little more appropriate....

[Dizneyfan]

I don't really mind it either. However, I do think that I could visit WDW without seeing it.

[johnO]

Good point. There are cheap dino parks everywhere in America. So why put one in Disney World?

I don't think that people "miss" the point of the theming. I think people "get" the point exactly. And that's why they dislike it.

Disney putting a great backstory to a misguided idea doesn't elevate it. Disney parks have made their reputation on innovation and raising the bar, and that's what guests have come to expect. By this definition, Dino-Rama falls flat.

Great post.
While I by no means "hate" the Dinorama it definetly feels "out of place". It doesn't have that Dinsey original feel, especially with the "Primevil Whirl" being a well known carnival ride A.K.A. "Crazy Mouse". It wasn't "Imagineered".

[Night Pirate]

Well My Family and I Find It To Be Quite In Line With Today's Style!!! It's The Thing To Be Retro And With It Being a 50's Carnival Theme... Well It Works!! We Loved It!!!!

[MNMS]

I undersand the history, but still am not a fan of it. It just doesn't have a Disney feel to me and I do feel the carney games are a blantant attempt to get money. Don't get me wrong, I have no real objection to Disney trying to separate us from our money but I expect more from them (e.g., Bibbity Boppity Botique, character meals, MVMCP, etc.). If I wanted carnival games and rides, I would go to a carnival.

[DisneyWitch]

I'm one of the minority who loves this area. I especially love the parking lot underneath. There is enough detail here to make it Disneylike. I love Primeval Whirl, especially the microwave "ding" when you get to the top! And when they tell you to stand up before exiting. My son and I try to exit without standing up and so far it hasn't worked. I definately think there's alot more they could do with Animal Kingdom in general. We never spend a whole day there but they should leave this area in.