Indy's Temple Takes Shape

Thanks to Bioreconstruct, we can see that Countdown to Extinction aka DINOSAUR at Disney's Animal Kingdom is quickly becoming the temple entrance to the new Indiana Jones Adventure. This will be the next in a series of temples in Walt Disney World. First, there are those in the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom. Next we have the pyramid and interior temples at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot. Now, this. We can debate whether or not Encanto and Indy fit, but the look and feel of Tropical Americas aligns perfectly with the park. Is it just my vivid imagination or is Disney's Animal Kingdom becoming the new World Showcase one step at a time?
 

Goodbye to Countdown to Extinction / Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It's over and now in the past. The original Countdown to Extinction at Disney's Animal Kingdom was ambitious in some ways and lazy in others. Stealing the exact same track layout as the great Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland was the lazy part but helped contain expenses in a park that was built way over budget. But from there on out, it was a pretty clever and unique take on the dinosaur world. 

Imagineer Joe Rhode and his team brought a great respectful vibe by housing the attraction in a museum, only to counterbalance it with adding much humor to the preshow. OK, sometimes it was cheesy. Very cheesy. I mean, Dr. Grant Seeker? 

In the early years of the new park, it was a thrill ride in a whole new vein from Universal's Jurassic Park. The difference was necessary if Disney was going to stand out from its main dinosaur competitor. It was dark, scary, and exhilarating! When they renamed the attraction to match a new movie, it was a bad move and the beginning of the end. Letting effects go missing, toning down the scare factor, and seeing maintenance become less and less, it was clear Disney suits were planning a change.

I'm very sad to see Disney give up on dinosaurs, but I'm excited for the transition of the land to Tropical Americas. The new Indiana Jones Adventure will surely be a great one, and an Encanto attraction - does it really fit either?- should be charming. It's a kid friendly dark ride this park needs so badly. The land should be beautiful and fit in well with what's in Africa and Asia and Discovery Island- something Chester and Hester's Dinorama never did accomplish.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Memories of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama

Early next year, Dinoland U.S.A. is fully set to close. Dinosaur aka Countdown to Extinction bites the bullet as the suits at the Walt Disney Company concede that the world of dinosaurs belongs to Universal's Jurassic Park franchise. This includes the earlier closure of  Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama.

 

While I consider this area a total failure solidly on the same level as California Adventure 1.0 to the Walt Disney Studios Paris at opening,  I do have some happy memories. The top photo on TriceraTop Spin is a family favorite. 

The photo directly above is a funny one. Our wonderful friends took a ride on Primeval Whirl, a cheap carnival ride that made us laugh while we slammed into each other at every curve. 

No, I won't defend this as the art of Imagineering, but the land had some clever elements to make up for the unimaginative rides. Still, glad to see it go in favor of Tropical Americas. The beautiful Disney's Animal Kingdom may just remain the best Imagineered and most consistent park in Disney's Florida kingdom. 

(Photographs by Mark Taft.)

Not Our Dinosaur!

Forgive me for doing so. But to quote the infamous Dr. Grant Seeker from Countdown to Extinction aka the very generic but soon to be disappearing Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom,  "That's not our dinosaur"! Jurassic World Rebirth is a mediocre film. The big bad beast is out of place. The pacing lacks, there's too much backstory in an attempt to make viewers really care about the characters.

The talents of the cast are wasted. Under Gareth Edward's leading, the talented Scarlett Johansson just doesn't have much to do. But it is not her fault. The story just isn't there. The best of the cast performances come from Jonathan Bailey in one single moment: his sincere and slightly frightened Dr. Henry Loomis gets appropriately choked up when he touches his first prehistoric beast. 

Yes, plenty of dinosaurs eating both good and bad guys, but that's about all this movie has to offer besides the air conditioned theater it is shown in.
 

If You Can't Go to Tom Sawyer Island, Go Here Instead

The closure of Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom got you down? Does the removal of the Rivers of America bring a tear to your eye and make you wish for the days when Walt Disney ran Imagineering? Don't worry! We have you covered! There's a great place within reach that will remind you of the golden days of theme park design at its best.

Just head down the street from Walt Disney World and take a turn into Universal Orlando Resort. Head into Islands of Adventure. Walk past Hogsmeade and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and even go beyond Velocicoaster. Travel into Jurassic Park and stop. Take a deep breathe. Look around until you find Camp Jurassic. 

This place has all the charm and design detail you'd see on the soon to be demolished Disney island, just with a bit more thrill. Beautifully designed amber studded caves remind you this is not Huck Finn's playground. Is there something dangerous lurking around the bend?

Maybe there are flying dinosaurs overhead. Oh, no! It looks like the creature has a few victims that are being taken high above the island. I guess you could go up there for quite a ride and an incredible view.

But if you're inside those caves and hear a monstrous beast roaming them, hurry up! Get out of those caves, and take shelter up above! At least you'll get a better view of what is on the prowl. And you'll get to see how much there is to explore. 

This overlooked gem in a park stacked with thrills brings a different and immersive vibe on the world of prehistoric creatures. So, if you're missing Tom Sawyer Island and soon, the rest of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this is the place to go! Yes, Universal now owns dinosaurs in the theme park world. But at least they do it well!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Bored With Disney But This Excites Me

At D23, when it comes to the theme parks, the Disney suits promise one incredible experience after another. Sometimes they deliver. Many times, projects are cancelled, and even sometimes, projects are a bust. Imagineering may come up with incredible ideas but they are often budgeted to death. California Adventure 1.0, Hong Kong Disneyland at opening, or Walt Disney Studios Paris come to mind? Maybe you're still stinging a bit like I am over the "new" Epcot. 

Now, they're ready to take on Disney's Animal Kingdom with new attractions. Sure, it's sad they gave up on dinosaurs and Countdown to Extinction aka Dinosaur. But who came blame them? Universal owns Jurassic Park / Jurassic World and they own dinosaurs just like Disney owns mermaids.  

Which all brings us to Tropical Americas. I'm not too trusting that the suits will do Encanto justice. This isn't Tokyo Disney Resort and the Oriental Land Company. What should certainly be a ride on the scale of Haunted Mansion may end up being another Ariel's Undersea Adventure. Yet, with Epic Universe on the way- the one everyone is excited about and for good reason- it is an encouraging sign that Imagineer Joe Rhode has been brought back into the fold to map this expansion out. And then there's Indiana Jones.

Now, this is something I am excited about! A brand new story that isn't Disneyland's original or Tokyo Disneysea's next chapter. Perhaps this new adventure will feature new effects previously unforeseen in the States. Thinking specifically here of Jack Sparrow's first appearance in Shanghai Disneyland's incredible Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure or Mystic Manor's artifact transformation when that magical little music box is opened. 

They'd better get it right this time. Most of Epcot's revisioning fell flat, and Disney's Hollywood Studios needs more help than what's planned. if they want to counteract the Universal problem. Indiana could be just what the doctor or should I say professor ordered. I'm hoping it is!

Jurassic World: Dinosaurs are Never Extinct

If you've ever really wondered why the suits at Disney have given up on the Dinoland U.S. A. portion of Disney's Animal Kingdom and have plans to turn it into Tropical Americas, Jurassic Work Rebirth might be the answer you're looking for.

 

It's not beyond Disney to create compelling stories that demand sequels and raise subsequent generations knowing the characters and music. But they just can't do it when it comes to prehistoric creatures of any kind. The market is just cornered by Universal's Jurassic Park  / World. They own dinosaurs just like Disney owns mermaids and now snowmen. 

I'd venture to say their dinosaur franchise is every bit as powerful as anything in Marvel, maybe moreso. It's definitely a countdown to extinction for Dinoland U.S.A. another's nothing anyone can do about it. Dinosaurs rule- and they belong to Universal. 

Lazy Day at Disney's Animal Kingdom

You might say the last day of our Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort trip was the best one- and you'd probably be right. (I can't imagine ever visiting Central Florida again without seeing both resorts. Try it for yourself. Even as an Imagineering geek, you might be pleasantly surprised.) As you could guess by the photo above of Expedition: Everest, our last theme park day was at the stunningly beautiful Disney's Animal Kingdom. 

We began our trip with four great days at the parks, followed by one very bad day that ended well. (In order, with trip reports linked, they were: Islands of Adventure ("The Best Family park for Thrill Seekers?"), Universal Studios ("Why I May Never Go to Universal Studios Florida Again"), Magic Kingdom ("How to Beat Disney at Their Own Game"), Epcot ("Is Disney World's New Epcot an Improvement?"), and finally Disney's Hollywood Studios ("The Worst Disney Park in Florida?".)

The theme of the day was "Chill", and it is exactly what happened. No rush, no worries, no early mornings to beat the crowds. Even walking into the park, the vibe felt different, and it was. Take in a deep breath, relax. We all did, but I also prepared to say goodbye to a couple of opening day attractions: It's Tough to Be a Bug, and Dinosaur aka Countdown to Extinction.

As with Epcot, this park and its creation and evolution has fascinated me. In fact, one of the most popular series on this blog is an eight part (so far) series highlighting its history. Throw in pieces of our trips reports, tons of photos and rare concept art, and it makes for a great read. Check it out: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight. 

After many visits year after year, Disney's 4th Florida theme park is as  interesting, immersive, and lovely as ever. Not perfect, not complete, but certainly one of the very best the Imagineers ever created.

Large strange Avatar world plant.

Soaring through Pandora was a must. It's my favorite attraction in this park. However, the upkeep on the film is horrible. Truly bad and needs to be top quality if the suits are going to charge add-on prices to ride the thing without a two hour wait. When you're not using physical sets to pull off immersion, the film you do use had better not be out of focus, but it certainly was. Those of us with and without lenses noticed this.

Not a heart racing thrill, but a ride of mystery and discovery.

With that disappointment behind us, we discovered a quick 15 minute wait for Nav'i River Journey. I'm a sucker for an old school dark ride on water. Give me Pirates of the Caribbean, El Rio del Tiempo- I mean Gran Fiesta Tour- and even It's A Small World and I'm happy as can be. The lack of Audio-Animatronic people apart from the large blue woman at the end is still a disappointment but not as much as a lack of Audio-Animatronic animals. This is Animal Kingdom, after all. Screens just don't do it! The most successful animals seen are those jumping frog type creatures on the leaves found over passengers' heads. That simple effect is impressive and playful. With waterfalls setting what's to come, black light effects that are top notch, and the cool of the evening as a story backdrop, the journey may not be an "E Ticket" in the traditional sense, but it is a quite enjoyable one. 

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Gotta love the Tree of Life!

On the way to our next adventure, we found ourselves still in awe of the park's icon: The Tree of Life. From every angle, this work of art impresses. At different times of the day, it seems to evolve into a piece of the landscape that's distinctive from the one before it. Light and color and forms change and create beauty. It's my favorite Florida park icon by far.

A view I normally don't shoot.

Hot! Hot! Hot! By this point in the day, it was already a very warm one. Time for Kali River Rapids. As usual, it was a quick walk through the queue, but dang, that area is filled with wonderful detail! The ride itself is honestly not that impressive and is the biggest disappointment of all the major attractions to be found here. The fun is there, but the length of the ride sells it short. The original plans for Tiger River Run would have added the thrill element for sure.

It was time to eat, but we still wanted to get a morning excursion on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Heading out to Africa, the lushness of the park and the stunning Tree of Life never fails to amaze us. Again. (If the real Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was this spectacular, well, what a sight!) 

Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery seemed like our best bet, and what a great little find it turned out to be! I'm not an egg guy at all- not even close- but the Breakfast Totchos were so good I couldn't believe I was eating something this tasty from a Disney snack bar. We snuck around to a secluded patio area nestled between Mombassa Marketplace and Tabu Tabu Refreshments and took it in, enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

As authentic as can be for a theme park.

The theming was subtle, remote feeling, and charming. Surely, this wasn't a theme park. You gotta give props to Imagineering's Joe Rohde and his team. They created a modern masterpiece. This placemaking (Does Disney still use that term or do they not care anymore?) is what I loved about Epcot's World Showcase. As they move firmly away from realism into an increasingly cartoon look for this once great park, I find I appreciate this aspect of Animal Kingdom more than ever. I do know transformation is coming. D23 promises Encanto and Indiana Jones coming here, but I hope they do not go full blown fantasy for the architecture and feel of the area. It's the last U.S. Disney theme park that is coherent in its execution. Please keep it that way. A guy can dream, right?

Some folks might say that creating a park that looks like the real world is not what they come to Disney for. I say, bring it on! Even though my daughter in law is from Kenya, I may never go there. So, Disney's Animal Kingdom may be as close as I ever get. My son and his family have been on a real safari. (How does it compare? Check this out. You might be surprised by their photos.) If they ever go to Disney with us, it will be very interesting to hear their thoughts.

Can't miss this one.

If you're reading this, I'm sure you how some of those trips through the beautiful Disney created savannah are just so-so? Not this one! With more animals out than we'd ever seen, it was just wonderful, making this one of the best excursions we've ever had. We'd seen the safari lands at twilight, early in the morning, and even late afternoon, but this time, the animals were plentiful and active. Perhaps they'd just been fed? I don't know, but what a ride. Although I miss the original drivers that were from the continent, this American guide knew his stuff. 

Animals in every form. Incredible artistic interpretations throughout the park.

More than any other on the Walt Disney World property, taking time for exploration and taking in the details is the way to visit this park. There's something to be discovered around every corner if you do so. 

This is the this way I love visiting the Disney theme parks- the way it used to be when you could spend a few hours in say, New Orleans Square at Disneyland, and soak in all the details instead of rushing around from attraction to attraction. With Lightning Lane / Genie+ / Virtual Queue, the suits are trying to manipulate us and take away that leisurely visiting. It's a money maker, but it degrades and defiles what should be the Disney experience that differentiates them from their competition. As it stands now, it is a less pleasant vacation than it used to be. This will only lead to decreased return visits- and lower profits long term. Moving forward, Universal Orlando would do well to learn from Disney's mistakes, and this is one of the biggest.

The world awaits- all in one day.

Wandering around Disney's Africa, I couldn't help but think about the plans that were once in place for an Equatorial Africa spot at EPCOT's World Showcase. I imagine it will never happen in any form now, but that's fine. It exists in its best presentation here in Animal Kingdom. It's so rich an experience! From the Gorilla Falls Trail to each shop, cafe, and attraction, the work of the Imagineers places you in the middle of a place that seems very real but still alluring.

I will not miss Dino-Rama.

You can argue all you want about how in-theme and how excellently done Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama is. The truth is, the little slice of Americana carnival was a blemish on a beautiful park. It never fit nor should it have been built. (For that matter, remove Pixar Pier from Disney California Adventure as well. Do it yesterday.)  

Removing Dinoland U.S.A. is a whole different story. 

Dinosaurs belong in this park. In fact, they belong in any park themed to animals of all kinds. Who doesn't love them? To see Disney lift the white flag in defeat to Jurassic Park over at Islands of Adventure sadly encourages guests to give up on Animal Kingdom and take in a day at Disney's biggest competitor instead. If dinosaurs are your thing, drop into Islands. The comparison between how each company handled them is so shockingly different. Check this article out, and then tell me who won the dino wars. Any guesses?

A taste of creatures to come.

Long live the DINO INSTITUTE!

Knowing this would be our very last ride on Countdown to Extinction aka the generically named Dinosaur, brought a bit of sadness as well as thrills. It was one of the opening day attractions, and we as a whole family of six joyfully rode it on our first park visit in 1999. Consensus was Disney had a major hit on their hands. Then they toned it down year after year as well as allowing the broken effects to remain.

One last ride in the CTX Time Rover.

Oh you beast!

But it still rocked in a good way. And over two decades later, we loved the ride for what it was: a rite of passage for the grandkids among a long list of thrilling rides to be found here in the Orlando area.

Name changes come and go, but a piece of history was still there waiting to be found.

 

The medallion. Pretty stinking cool!

Will the Imagineers leave a piece of the past as they turn this into a piece of the Indiana Jones saga? I hope so. Let's just hope it is not a clone of either ride found at Disneyland or in Tokyo Disneysea. Let it be a brand new story that rings out with It's Fast! It's a Blast! It's in the Past! 

Hey Brucie!

The diversity of feathers, fur, shells, and scales is a great thing in this park- and the shows, rides, and attractions are equally, delightfully different from each other.  In Nemo's big blue world, it's a sweet story of a father's love for his children and his willingness to put himself in danger to bring them safely home. The larger than life puppets are just incredible! The colors are stunning, the music is bright, the story charming, and air conditioning wonderful. Seriously, it's an overlooked gem for families and even those without kids. We were never able to see Festival of the Lion King this trip, so this filled the gap. But do see each if you can. They are unique and both are incredibly well done and worth your time. 

In a land far, far away...

Cooled down now, we were now ready for something different. 

An adult retreat.

This isn't a full Dine or Ditch review- I'll cover this place soon- but as of this trip Nomad Lounge is our new Animal Kingdom tradition when there's no kids in our group.  The setting just around the river bend by Pandora is a million wonderful miles from civilization. This cannot be a theme park!

Yum!

The adult beverages are delicious, and the service top notch. Well, what can I say about the Bangkok Chicken Wings? They may be the best thing I put in my mouth the entire trip. I would eat them non-stop if I could. Remember, we were at the Flower and Garden Festival with all those outdoor kitchens, so that is saying something!

Delectable dining choices.

We sat and rested, ate, drank, and shared stories for almost one and a half glorious hours. A perfect chilly afternoon while it was still hot. I never have more than one alcoholic drink unless I have a second at home. (I don't like the buzz.) But oh my gosh, they know how to serve up something uncommon and very, very tasty. More wings, though, please.

My youngest son loves the design details as much as I do.

Bonus thought- Use the restroom while you're there. Since they are shared with the ultra high end Tiffins, sneak a look at all the different rooms you can eat in. Worth the five extra minutes to do so.

Trust me, make time in your Animal Kingdom visit for this place.

Now, it was time to say goodbye to one more opening day attraction: It's Tough to Be A Bug. Whether or not the audience knew it was slated to be replaced by something Zootopia, I do not know. But the crowd response was more than polite. Perhaps even we were responding as though it was brand new because we knew it'd be our last timing watching this special effects story. Bugs Life is not a great movie, but it made for an enjoyable show.

Hopper is soon to be banished.

Everyone screamed, jumped, and laughed at just the right times. The story writers for the next show had better come up with some great ideas. I hope it's as successful as the recent revisioning of the Magic Kingdom's Country Bear (Musical) Jamboree. There's a respectful balance of honoring the old, presenting something fresh, and giving the guests something truly worthy of their time and money. 

Always a great photo opportunity!

We'd end our day in this place by riding one of the biggest thrills in a park brimming with adventure- Expedition: Everest, Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Not once, but twice. The lines were almost non-existent by the late afternoon. We rode in the back of the train, then I rode in the very front on the single rider line. I was a bit queasier the second trip, but it has to be my increasing sensitivity to arching up while moving backwards. Disco Yeti was in full swing. As always, we got off with huge smiles on our faces and that always welcome rush of adrenaline.

Last vistas here made me a little sad.

Over drinks, we decided it was a leisurely Italian dinner at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria that we really wanted. Planning in advance, we'd booked a place for the end of the night, knowing we could move it out to another time if we chose to do so. This meant a quick Uber ride to EPCOT. 

Lovely.

We explored a bit, visited Figment- whose ride seems to disintegrate more each visit- and dropped into Gran Fiesta Tour. Some shopping and a stop to see the beautiful Canada Far and Wide before heading to the other side of World Showcase for dinner. To summarize because this was about Animal Kingdom and not Disney's second park in Florida, the pizza was solid, more than average but not fantastic. The same couldn't be said for the tiramisu. We agreed this dessert was the highlight of our meal. We were thankful to the Lord for a great trip with our youngest son. We all work hard and serve God's people well, but we also play hard. We're blessed in the truest sense of the word.

The last night of a trip is bittersweet. Talking about the day and our trip to each place led to many expected comparisons between Disney and Universal. It was clear we'd split our time between the two resorts going forward. This meant cutting out a Disney park day once the new Epic Universe opens. Which one would it be? Not Animal Kingdom.

That is Disney's true thrill park but the most relaxing day of all. The variety and intensity of attractions plays well against the very serene surroundings, creating an experience like no other. It's also a day to chill as crowds haven't truly discovered it, still perceiving it as a partial day park. And rightly so.

We love it, but as it has often been said, it just needs more. Is anyone at Disney listening?

Guess its time to finish up my trip report on our previous (real) Italy vacation and then over to Paris now...

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Encanto In, Dinosaur Extinct at Animal Kingdom- Universal Orlando Wins on Battle of the Dinosaurs

Seems as if Disney has waved the white flag to Universal Orlando Resort and its excellent Jurassic Park themed land at Islands of Adventure! If all goes according to plan, Dinoland U.S.A. is now extinct and its Dinosaur attraction, aka Countdown to Extinction is on its way out. Should we Walt Disney World fans be sad? Well, that decides how you look at it! (Note- Updates below from original September 9 posting.)

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.

Will this be the end result or another Blue Sky concept under built or even never built?

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. 

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. 

Here, there's two thrill rides for adults and teens

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.?

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.

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!

Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs.

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. 

Goodbye Dinoland U.S.A.

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!

All that will be left is animals that exist now- or cartoon characters.

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.)