At park opening, Countdown to Extinction along with Kilimanjaro Safaris was the must-do attraction in a park light on rides, heavy on shows and walking trails and zoological exhibits. With all the effects working and the sound and movement turned up on its original presentation, Countdown to Extinction was 100% scarier than anything conjured up by Indiana Jones. And that was part of its strength and appeal. Once the transport vehicle ride started losing effects, had a lessened ride profile and a less in your face sound experience, the now generically named Dinosaur lost a lot of its mojo. Rumors began years ago that Indy would come and take over the space. Now, it looks like it may be happening.
Indiana Jones Adventure and Encanto are on their way in its place in a "Tropical Americas" themed land. There's potential for something great. Potential.
Here, there's two thrill rides for adults and teens
Back to Indy. Anyway you look at it, Indy is a retheme of an old existing attraction. If Disney is smart, they'll give Florida audiences an entirely different Indy attraction than the one at Disneyland. Even smarter would be one that is not Temple of the Crystal Skull from Tokyo Disneysea. Perhaps they could slide in a tribute or two to El Rio del Tiempo, one of the most enchanting attractions that debuted at Epcot. A few Mayan priests, an ancient curse? Sounds like the beginning of a great storyline.
Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs.
Goodbye Dinoland U.S.A.
All that will be left is animals that exist now- or cartoon characters.
Will this be the end result or another Blue Sky concept under built or even never built?
Encanto is a hot property, but not so much with Indy after the dismal take of the Dial of Destiny movie. However, I maintain that Indiana Jones itself is iconic and outlasts any poorly designed film and how the audience shows up or doesn't. That said, I'm sorry to see a land dedicated to dinosaurs in a park dedicated to animals go by the wayside.
Just plain bad and cheap. No excuse.
An easy win in this is the total removal of the pathetic Chester and Hester's Dinorama. The worst addition to any Disney theme park. It makes California Adventure's awful Pixar Pier look like a masterpiece of Imagineering! Goodbye, I say very happily. (Want to see more? Look here.) Disney forgot that even little kids want to see "real" Dinos, and they left the little guys out in the cold. How hard would a sweet little "C Ticket" type dark ride have been? A nice sightseeing day to night tour with no jump scares, ending with a T-Rex battling something high above their heads a la Primeval World at Disneyland. But no.
as well as plenty of stuff for the entire family- including the littlest Dino fans.
Different story at Universal with their charming Camp Jurassic and the Pteranodon Flyers. Very different, where a variety of hands on experiences, exploration areas, and an overhead flying ride allow the littlest of guys to experience dinosaurs. Wise, family friendly and much needed.
Encanto will bring a beautiful and very different aesthetic to a park that needs even more visual diversity. In some ways, the lands of Animal Kingdom form more of a real world showcase than Epcot's World Showcase! Soon, you'll be able to travel to regions of Africa, Asia, and Central America to experience the food, music, and architecture of each region. That is a win as well! Will the area's second attraction be a Mystic Manor type ride? I certainly hope so. It could be the anchor attraction that draws everyone in.
My last visit to Dinoland U.S.A.?
The queue for the new Indy adventure could incorporate some cleverly included Audio-Animatronic snakes, similar to what Universal did with Velocicoaster. Might be a good beginning!
Don't get too excited. The story takes place in Asia.
Like the 5th film, will Indiana Jones go back in time? Will he encounter a dinosaur or two? Could be a nice nod to the past. I'd expect to hear more at the next D23. Only time will tell.
Universal's T-Rex! The new and still reigning Dinosaur king!
I'm just waiting for the snarky Universal post on Instagram!
If anyone could have given the Jurassic Park/ Jurassic World franchise a run for its money in the theme park battle of dinosaurs, it would certainly have been Disney Imagineering. But instead of investing deeply into the prehistoric piece of the Kingdom, Disney's calling it a day and tucking their horned tail between their legs.
It's hard to compete, though. Jurassic Park is just so good with its mix of attractions for guests of all ages, including dinosaur encounters that delight and others that scare. Universal Creative nailed it from every aspect.
Here comes "Tropical Americas".
So now, kids of all ages looking hard to find prehistoric creatures must go to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. (Isn't Harry Potter enough?) A majorly tossed aside opportunity for Disney- and one of the opening day mantras of the park is gone.
First, goodbye to Beastly Kingdom for Pandora World of Avatar, now this. What will a full Zootopia land one day replace? Real animals? Is Kilimanjaro Safaris next? I'm sure it isn't. Disney's not that stupid. Or are they? It's so hard to predict what bone-headed thing they'll do next!
No dinosaurs, no dragons. Oh my!
Read this Michael Eisner quote at the park's opening:
Welcome to a kingdom of animals… real, ancient, and imagined:
a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs, and dragons;
a kingdom of balance, harmony, and survival;
a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty,
thrill at the drama, and learn.
"It's Fast! It's a Blast! It's in the Past!"- Goodbye, Dinosaur. Time has left you behind.
(Concept art and some photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company. One by Universal Orlando, the rest by Mark Taft.)
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