Is This the Inspiration for Excavator for Animal Kingdom?

As rumors continue to swirl about a proposed change from Dinosaur into an Indiana Jones themed dinosaur filled jeep adventure, my mind turns to the Excavator coaster which was never built for Animal Kingdom. Is it back on the table? The suits and Imagineers are certainly looking to expand the park's capacity. Avatar / Pandora is an unqualified hit- and Flight of Passage and the family friendly  Na'vi River Journey are still bringing in the guests. 

More people eating attractions are certainly needed and quickly. The beautiful park is an amazing place, but Dinoland U.S.A.'s parking lot carnival needs a revamp to bring it up to par with the rest of the place.

What you're looking at is actually a piece of concept art for Disneyland Paris. Alain Littaye's Disney and More site presented this article with an extremely rare piece of concept art by Imagineer John Horny. The post is here.  

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Making an Appearance at Shanghai Disneyland

Long ago, in a land far away, this piece of concept art was sent to me. It was sent labeled "HKDL", and was probably a piece designed for an unbuilt attraction mixing Countdown to Extinction with a roller coaster along the lines of Animal Kingdom's aborted Excavator. One of many planned for the woeful at opening Hong Kong Disneyland. Given the released attraction list for Shanghai, I think we'll see some of this at Adventure Isle and the Roaring Rapids attraction. Not the coaster, but a watery version of a thrill ride. Time will tell.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Dinosaur Excavation

Here's a great piece of concept art from the amazing "Tales from the Laughing Place". It's a pretty off the shelf looking coaster, but the imaginative twist would have been fun.

(You really need to subscribe to this!) The infamous Animal Kingdom coaster that was originally planned for Dinoland U.S.A.? Well, that is what you are looking at. Looks like a fun angle about a dinosaur dig. This rockin' coaster didn't make the opening day line-up. Will it ever? There's still space for it as far as I can tell...

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company)