DINOSAUR
Encyclopedia
DINOSAUR is a dark ride
at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
.
In the attraction, guests board vehicles called Time Rovers
and are taken on a turbulent journey through the Cretaceous
era, featuring prehistoric scenes populated with animatronic dinosaurs. The ride liberally utilizes dry ice and fiber-optic meteor effects.
Originally named Countdown to Extinction, the ride's name was later changed to DINOSAUR to promote the film of the same name
during its release year. The attraction has never contained any explicit references to the film. However, the two dinosaurs most prominently featured in the ride have always been an Iguanadon and Carnotaurus, which were both featured prominently in the film. Scenes from the movie also appear in the pre-show, to help the guests identify the Iguanadon as the film's protagonist, Aladar.
, they are taken to a room where they watch a pre-show video. The ride's pre-show film director is Jerry Rees
, best known for his animated film The Brave Little Toaster
. It was written by Steve Spiegel, with Reed Smoot
as Director of Photography.
In the video, Dr. Marsh announces that the guests are about to board Time Rovers
that will take them on peaceful tours of the early Cretaceous
period. As she finishes, however, Dr. Seeker cuts off Dr. Marsh and, from his laboratory, informs the guests that he plans to send them to a time towards the end of the late Cretaceous period so that they can rescue an Iguanadon which he has previously tagged
from extinction on an 'unauthorised field trip'. Dr. Marsh overhears Dr. Seeker and enters his lab, arguing that the mission is too dangerous, as the time the guests would be sent to is extremely close to the time when the meteor that killed the dinosaurs hits. After Dr. Marsh has left, Dr. Seeker says that he has hacked the time travel systems so that the guests can go to rescue the Iguanadon, and reassures the guests they'll be out before the meteor breaks the atmosphere.
Lights flash around the guests, then the lights go out and a field of stars appears briefly around them before a prehistoric jungle scene fades into view.
The Time Rover drives through the jungles looking for the tagged iguanodon, guided by Seeker. A Styracosaurus
near a volcanic vent leans against a tree, pushing it dangerously near to the vehicle. An Alioramus
digs in the ground for prey, then pulls out a large lizard whose legs and tail wiggle in the grasp of the dinosaur's jaws. A mother Parasaurolophus
(mentioned less specifically as a hadrosaur) watches over her young and a lone Dromaeosaurus
(mentioned as a raptor
) stands on a ledge in search of prey. Suddenly, Seeker locks the Time Rover's autopilot on a homing signal that he thinks will lead the guests to the Iguanodon. They take off at a rapid speed through the jungles, but the dinosaur they come to stop in front of is not the Iguanodon, but a dangerous Carnotaurus
.
The Time Rover speeds away frantically, jerking left and right, the tires screeching, and they come to a stop near a peaceful herbivore, Saltasaurus
. Seeker insists that they keep moving, or else they won't be able to make it back to their own time before the meteor hits. The Time Rover enters a clearing in the jungle where a thunderstorm rages behind the trees and where two baby Cearadactylus are perched. The vehicle goes down a drop just in time to avoid a collision with a larger, flying Cearadactylus
. As the guests fall down the drop, more small, jumping Compsognathus
pass over their heads.
They enter complete darkness and the vehicle computer informs of a 'loss of traction'. Suddenly, after a few movements through the dark, strobe lights flash to reveal the Carnotaurus. The dinosaur walks toward the vehicle, and the guests flee from the predator and take many left and rights turns, only to meet up with it again. For the first time, the Carnotaurus raises itself to its full height and roars loudly (it is here where the on-ride picture is captured). The vehicle drives away again and Seeker tries desperately to abort the mission, but to no avail.
The Time Rover proceeds down a path where large trees are tipping toward it. The Iguanadon appears, but Seeker nevertheless tries to abort, as the Iguanadon struggles to hold up a fallen tree so that the guests can pass under. They pass safely by when the Time Rover's computer announces that there are only a few seconds to spare before the meteor impact. Seeker, unable to initiate the time travel sequence fast enough, warns the guests to brace themselves. The boom of the meteor resounds through the jungles and a flash of light from the impact briefly illuminates the area so that the guests can a previously unseen but menacing horn-headed dinosaur lunging toward them. The Time Rover plunges down a slope into complete darkness, then once again, stars appear. Lights come on so that the guests find they are inside the time tunnel, as Seeker fears that the guests won't make it back in time. They exit the tunnel and see on a television screen that the Iguanadon, who apparently followed guests into the time tunnel, is wandering the halls of the institute. Seeker thanks the guests for their help and excuses himself so he can find the dinosaur "before security does."
"Dinosaur" is similar to "Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
" at Disneyland in Anaheim, as both rides have identical track layouts and use enhanced motion vehicles (EMVs)
.
in front of the building was taken away and replaced with a statue of Aladar. Now that the attraction was marketed as a tie-in to the film, more children would be riding. Because of this, the movement of the Enhanced motion vehicle
s was changed to be less intense and the ride was also given a less frightening soundtrack. In the original soundtrack, after the encounter with the first audio-animatronic Carnotaurus, the footsteps and roars of the dinosaur could be heard directly behind the vehicle, giving guests the feeling that they were being pursued. Now, during the same moments of the ride, the roars of the Carnotaurus can be heard far behind the guests, implying they have safely escaped.
, and the victim's parents said he had a heart condition. An investigation showed the ride was operating correctly and was not the cause of death.
28°21′18.71"N 81°35′17.96"W
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake....
.
In the attraction, guests board vehicles called Time Rovers
Enhanced motion vehicle
-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
and are taken on a turbulent journey through the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
era, featuring prehistoric scenes populated with animatronic dinosaurs. The ride liberally utilizes dry ice and fiber-optic meteor effects.
Originally named Countdown to Extinction, the ride's name was later changed to DINOSAUR to promote the film of the same name
Dinosaur (film)
Dinosaur is a 2000 American computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on May 19, 2000, and is the 39th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
during its release year. The attraction has never contained any explicit references to the film. However, the two dinosaurs most prominently featured in the ride have always been an Iguanadon and Carnotaurus, which were both featured prominently in the film. Scenes from the movie also appear in the pre-show, to help the guests identify the Iguanadon as the film's protagonist, Aladar.
Pre-show
Guests enter the Dino Institute, a once secret research facility. After moving through the queue area, which features real dinosaur remains and a background narration by Bill Nye the Science GuyBill Nye
William Sanford "Bill" Nye , popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science educator, comedian, television host, actor, mechanical engineer, and scientist...
, they are taken to a room where they watch a pre-show video. The ride's pre-show film director is Jerry Rees
Jerry Rees
Jerry W. Rees is an animator and director best known for the 1987 Emmy-nominated animated film The Brave Little Toaster. He supervised and helped create many of the visual effects for the cult classic Tron, and is also a sculptor and fine artist....
, best known for his animated film The Brave Little Toaster
The Brave Little Toaster (film)
The Brave Little Toaster is a 1987 animated adventure film adapted from the 1980 novel of the same name by Thomas Disch. The film was directed by Jerry Rees and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is set in a world where household appliances and other electronics have the ability to speak...
. It was written by Steve Spiegel, with Reed Smoot
Reed Smoot (cinematographer)
Reed P. Smoot A.S.C. is a United States cinematographer associated with many successful IMAX documentaries and theme park rides.Less recently, he did the cinematography for The Great American Cowboy, which won the 1973 Academy Award for best documentary feature.Smoot is a Latter-day Saint...
as Director of Photography.
In the video, Dr. Marsh announces that the guests are about to board Time Rovers
Enhanced motion vehicle
-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
that will take them on peaceful tours of the early Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
period. As she finishes, however, Dr. Seeker cuts off Dr. Marsh and, from his laboratory, informs the guests that he plans to send them to a time towards the end of the late Cretaceous period so that they can rescue an Iguanadon which he has previously tagged
Microchip implant (animal)
A microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog, cat, horse, parrot or other animal. The chips are about the size of a large grain of rice and are based on a passive RFID technology....
from extinction on an 'unauthorised field trip'. Dr. Marsh overhears Dr. Seeker and enters his lab, arguing that the mission is too dangerous, as the time the guests would be sent to is extremely close to the time when the meteor that killed the dinosaurs hits. After Dr. Marsh has left, Dr. Seeker says that he has hacked the time travel systems so that the guests can go to rescue the Iguanadon, and reassures the guests they'll be out before the meteor breaks the atmosphere.
The Ride
The guests exit the pre-show area and proceed down a staircase to the underground loading area. Disney staff dressed as Dino Institute workers stand at control panels for the Time Rovers. Through windows in the walls (actually projection screens), guests can see that the room is surrounded by lava. Guests board a Time Rover and the vehicle proceeds around a corner and inside the time tunnel.Lights flash around the guests, then the lights go out and a field of stars appears briefly around them before a prehistoric jungle scene fades into view.
The Time Rover drives through the jungles looking for the tagged iguanodon, guided by Seeker. A Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
near a volcanic vent leans against a tree, pushing it dangerously near to the vehicle. An Alioramus
Alioramus
Alioramus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Asia. The type A. remotus, is known from a partial skull and three metatarsals recovered from Mongolian sediments which were deposited in a humid floodplain between 70 and 65 million years ago. These...
digs in the ground for prey, then pulls out a large lizard whose legs and tail wiggle in the grasp of the dinosaur's jaws. A mother Parasaurolophus
Parasaurolophus
Parasaurolophus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 76.5–73 million years ago. It was an herbivore that walked both as a biped and a quadruped. Three species are recognized: P. walkeri , P. tubicen, and the...
(mentioned less specifically as a hadrosaur) watches over her young and a lone Dromaeosaurus
Dromaeosaurus
Dromaeosaurus was a genus of theropod dinosaur which lived during the Late Cretaceous period , sometime between 76.5 and 74.8 million years ago, in the western United States and Alberta, Canada. The name means 'running lizard'....
(mentioned as a raptor
Velociraptor
Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
) stands on a ledge in search of prey. Suddenly, Seeker locks the Time Rover's autopilot on a homing signal that he thinks will lead the guests to the Iguanodon. They take off at a rapid speed through the jungles, but the dinosaur they come to stop in front of is not the Iguanodon, but a dangerous Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus was a large predatory dinosaur. Only one species, Carnotaurus sastrei has been described so far.Carnotaurus lived in Patagonia, Argentina during the Campanian or Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous...
.
The Time Rover speeds away frantically, jerking left and right, the tires screeching, and they come to a stop near a peaceful herbivore, Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
. Seeker insists that they keep moving, or else they won't be able to make it back to their own time before the meteor hits. The Time Rover enters a clearing in the jungle where a thunderstorm rages behind the trees and where two baby Cearadactylus are perched. The vehicle goes down a drop just in time to avoid a collision with a larger, flying Cearadactylus
Cearadactylus
Cearadactylus is an extinct genus of large, Early Cretaceous pterosaur from South America. The type species is Cearadactylus atrox, described and named in 1985 by Giuseppe Leonardi and Guido Borgomanero. The genus name refers to the Brazilian state Ceará and combines this with Greek daktylos,...
. As the guests fall down the drop, more small, jumping Compsognathus
Compsognathus
Compsognathus was a small, bipedal, carnivorous theropod dinosaur. The animal was the size of a turkey and lived around 150 million years ago, the early Tithonian stage of the late Jurassic Period, in what is now Europe. Paleontologists have found two well-preserved fossils, one in Germany...
pass over their heads.
They enter complete darkness and the vehicle computer informs of a 'loss of traction'. Suddenly, after a few movements through the dark, strobe lights flash to reveal the Carnotaurus. The dinosaur walks toward the vehicle, and the guests flee from the predator and take many left and rights turns, only to meet up with it again. For the first time, the Carnotaurus raises itself to its full height and roars loudly (it is here where the on-ride picture is captured). The vehicle drives away again and Seeker tries desperately to abort the mission, but to no avail.
The Time Rover proceeds down a path where large trees are tipping toward it. The Iguanadon appears, but Seeker nevertheless tries to abort, as the Iguanadon struggles to hold up a fallen tree so that the guests can pass under. They pass safely by when the Time Rover's computer announces that there are only a few seconds to spare before the meteor impact. Seeker, unable to initiate the time travel sequence fast enough, warns the guests to brace themselves. The boom of the meteor resounds through the jungles and a flash of light from the impact briefly illuminates the area so that the guests can a previously unseen but menacing horn-headed dinosaur lunging toward them. The Time Rover plunges down a slope into complete darkness, then once again, stars appear. Lights come on so that the guests find they are inside the time tunnel, as Seeker fears that the guests won't make it back in time. They exit the tunnel and see on a television screen that the Iguanadon, who apparently followed guests into the time tunnel, is wandering the halls of the institute. Seeker thanks the guests for their help and excuses himself so he can find the dinosaur "before security does."
"Dinosaur" is similar to "Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
Indiana Jones Adventure
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a dark ride motion simulator attraction based on the Indiana Jones films. Guests accompany intrepid archeologist Dr. Indiana Jones on a quest for the Jewel of Power through a dangerous lost temple, then board military troop transport vehicles...
" at Disneyland in Anaheim, as both rides have identical track layouts and use enhanced motion vehicles (EMVs)
Enhanced motion vehicle
-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
.
Dinosaurs featured in the ride
- StyracosaurusStyracosaurusStyracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
- AlioramusAlioramusAlioramus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Asia. The type A. remotus, is known from a partial skull and three metatarsals recovered from Mongolian sediments which were deposited in a humid floodplain between 70 and 65 million years ago. These...
- ParasaurolophusParasaurolophusParasaurolophus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 76.5–73 million years ago. It was an herbivore that walked both as a biped and a quadruped. Three species are recognized: P. walkeri , P. tubicen, and the...
(mentioned as "Hadrosaur") - DromaeosaurusDromaeosaurusDromaeosaurus was a genus of theropod dinosaur which lived during the Late Cretaceous period , sometime between 76.5 and 74.8 million years ago, in the western United States and Alberta, Canada. The name means 'running lizard'....
(mentioned simply as "Raptor") - CarnotaurusCarnotaurusCarnotaurus was a large predatory dinosaur. Only one species, Carnotaurus sastrei has been described so far.Carnotaurus lived in Patagonia, Argentina during the Campanian or Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous...
. According to Research and Documentation Manager Carol Lee, the discovery of CarnotaurusCarnotaurusCarnotaurus was a large predatory dinosaur. Only one species, Carnotaurus sastrei has been described so far.Carnotaurus lived in Patagonia, Argentina during the Campanian or Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous...
came as Disney was planning the Countdown to Extinction attraction. Original plans called for Tyrannosaurus rex, but Disney responded to the latest news by incorporating Carnotaurus instead. - CearadactylusCearadactylusCearadactylus is an extinct genus of large, Early Cretaceous pterosaur from South America. The type species is Cearadactylus atrox, described and named in 1985 by Giuseppe Leonardi and Guido Borgomanero. The genus name refers to the Brazilian state Ceará and combines this with Greek daktylos,...
(mentioned as "Pterodactyl") - SaltasaurusSaltasaurusSaltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
(mentioned as "Sauropod") - IguanodonIguanodonIguanodon is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived roughly halfway between the first of the swift bipedal hypsilophodontids and the ornithopods' culmination in the duck-billed dinosaurs...
- CompsognathusCompsognathusCompsognathus was a small, bipedal, carnivorous theropod dinosaur. The animal was the size of a turkey and lived around 150 million years ago, the early Tithonian stage of the late Jurassic Period, in what is now Europe. Paleontologists have found two well-preserved fossils, one in Germany...
Changes since the release of the film
Shortly after the release of the film on May 19, 2000, the attraction underwent many changes to make it closer to the film. The attraction would now be marketed as a direct companion to the film, rather than a subtle tie-in. Though originally named "Countdown to Extinction", its named was changed to "DINOSAUR". The original logo was taken down from the entrance building and replaced with a new sign of the logo for the film. The original statue of the StyracosaurusStyracosaurus
Styracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
in front of the building was taken away and replaced with a statue of Aladar. Now that the attraction was marketed as a tie-in to the film, more children would be riding. Because of this, the movement of the Enhanced motion vehicle
Enhanced motion vehicle
-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
s was changed to be less intense and the ride was also given a less frightening soundtrack. In the original soundtrack, after the encounter with the first audio-animatronic Carnotaurus, the footsteps and roars of the dinosaur could be heard directly behind the vehicle, giving guests the feeling that they were being pursued. Now, during the same moments of the ride, the roars of the Carnotaurus can be heard far behind the guests, implying they have safely escaped.
Accidents
In April 2005, a 30-year-old from Mooresville, Indiana lost consciousness shortly after exiting the ride and later died. He wore a pacemakerArtificial pacemaker
A pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart...
, and the victim's parents said he had a heart condition. An investigation showed the ride was operating correctly and was not the cause of death.
Attraction statistics
- Grand opening: April 22, 1998 (Opened with Disney's Animal Kingdom)
- Previous attraction name: Countdown to Extinction, changed shortly after the Dinosaur film was released (which was on May 19, 2000).
- Show length: 3:10
- Height Requirement: 40" (102 cm) or taller
- Additional features:
- Interacts with Pal MickeyPal MickeyPal Mickey is a discontinued interactive plush toy developed by The Walt Disney Company and previously sold at Walt Disney World Resort. While Pal Mickey was discontinued and no new stock is available for purchase as of October 2008, all three versions will continue to function.The toy is a ten...
- Interacts with Pal Mickey
- Location: DinoLand U.S.A.
- Geographical location: 28.357109°N 81.587262°W
- Ride system: Computerized ride vehicle, termed EMV (Enhanced Motion Vehicle)Enhanced motion vehicle-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
, which are synchronized to, and trigger show scenes.- Uses the same EMVEnhanced motion vehicle-EMV :Disney filed for patent on the Enhanced Motion Vehicle ride system on November 16, 1995.This ride system was developed for the Indiana Jones Adventure...
technology and bolt for bolt identical track layout as Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden EyeIndiana Jones AdventureIndiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a dark ride motion simulator attraction based on the Indiana Jones films. Guests accompany intrepid archeologist Dr. Indiana Jones on a quest for the Jewel of Power through a dangerous lost temple, then board military troop transport vehicles...
, only the themeing is different.
- Uses the same EMV
- Features: Appearances by actors Wallace LanghamWallace LanghamJames Wallace Langham II is an American actor. He currently plays the role of David Hodges in the American crime drama television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Film career:...
and Phylicia RashadPhylicia RashadPhylicia Rashād is an American Tony Award winning actress and singer, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
.
External links
- Official Walt Disney World Dinosaur page
- A video of the full ride on You Tube - Patent for the Enhanced Motion Vehicle used in this attraction.
- All Ears Net Dinosaur Page * WDWMAGIC Dinosaur Page
28°21′18.71"N 81°35′17.96"W