Travel back in time on a perilous race to rescue an Iguanadon before the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs strikes. Step inside the pristine halls of The Dino Institute, a one-time secret research facility and museum that is home to real fossils dating back to when dinosaurs walked the earth. Stroll past prehistoric exhibits and behold the colossal skeleton of the carnivorous Carnotaurus, one of history’s most feared dinosaurs.
Dinosaur is one of the best rides in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and may be on a Countdown to Extinction (Dinosaur’s previous name) after almost 20 years in operation. The ride is simple but like many in the Disney parks loaded with fun details that you may not notice on your first visit. I wanted to document a bit of the ride and queue should the rumors be true and the ride become the next Indiana Jones adventure-themed ride with a change to Dinoland USA. Speculation is rampant because this area of the park could use a renovation and Dinosaur, California’s Disneyland and Tokyo’s DisneySea Indiana Jones ride use similar track/vehicles for their ride. (Just to note – the other Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland Paris is completely different.)
Indiana Jones doesn’t have an overwhelming animal connection but it would fit the Africa / Asia look and feel that exists in other areas of the park and more attention to another popular Disney product. In Disneyland it is in Adventureland so I am guessing the connection doesn’t have to be too overwhelming.
Again – this is just rumor but in case the ride closes or suddenly changes here are a few pictures of the outside, statues in the outside line queue and the inside lobby.
This might be a cast of Sue – the largest, most extensive and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever found at over 90% recovered. Disney (along with McDonald’s and California State University System) purchased and restored the specimen and a few casts were created for public display. I am not sure if this is the right one – it may have been one of the others outside but it is in or around the ride.
These pipes in red, yellow and white contain the chemical names for ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. This is a tribute to McDonald’s one of the original attraction sponsors.
Haven’t been on the ride or want to learn the full detailed history? I found this great video that explains more than you ever wanted to know.
