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. 

Universal Orlando's Attraction Posters: Jurassic World River Adventure

Everyone loves theme park attraction posters! For a rather Disney-centric blog, when I share those for Universal Orlando Resort's great Jurassic Park attractions, they are among the most highly viewed of all blog articles. And why not! Islands of Adventure is now one of the world's most popular theme parks, eclipsing some of those found at Walt Disney World. And let's be honest: When Epic Universe opens, it will take another place in the Top Ten. Disney's off their game (as everyone knows) and Universal Creative is on a winning streak. 

On the Insights and Sounds blog, I've got one of the largest collection of beautiful attraction posters for all the other Jurassic Park / Jurassic World attractions as well as for the Disney Parks both domestic and international. If you love theme park concept art as much as I do, well, that's the backbone of the blog. There's are hundreds of pieces to be found here. Enjoy!

(Art copyright Universal Orlando Resort)

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.)

Universal Orlando's Monster of the Deep

Is this terrifying enough? Universal Orlando Resort has a great series of attraction posters for their Velocicoaster at Islands of Adventure. There's a few other ones on this blog, but this may be one of the best. While you're waiting in line for this incredible coaster, these line the queue. Are they posters of what's to come in the future for the Jurassic Park themed land? Certainly dinosaurs and more dinosaurs are the order of the day. We all love them. Except at Disney World apparently.

The money minded suits and the Imagineers at Disney look to be caving big time to Universal's dominance in the dinosaur market. By planning to bring Zootopia to replace Animal Kingdom's jeep ride, it certainly seems there's a Countdown to Extinction for Dinosaur. In the old days, they'd never let their main competitors win without a fight. These days, seems the suits roll over. The big beasts deserve a place in a theme park devoted to dinosaurs, don't you think? I know those folks spending their hard earned money tend to think so.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

A New Islands of Adventure Attraction?

Never content to let Disney steal the spotlight without a few well placed barbs, Universal Orlando Resort, has an ace up their sleeve to compete with Disney's recent D23 exposition in Anaheim, California. Introducing the brand new Jurassic World attraction, the Gyrosphere. This would be one incredible - and definitely thrilling- attraction should they decide to add it to Islands of Adventure. For now, we'll settle for a great attraction poster. But truth be told, Universal is going toe to toe with Disney, and it seems they won't stop. Epic Universe will pull yet another day from Orlando theme park guests, while it seems Disney might be content with upcharging everything in sight.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

The Velocicoaster Attraction Poster

 

Great attraction posters used to be the sole domain of the Disney theme parks, Disneyland in particular. No longer! All it took was me walking through the queue of Island of Adventure's incredible Velocicoaster. Lining the walls were these beautiful and chill inducing prints based on currently built and never built attractions at Jurassic World. The above print for this article's namesake attraction perfectly captures the thrill of it all. The hunt for the raptors and the escape for the guests that is! If you're brave enough! Kudos to Universal Creative.

When the Wizarding World Met the Jurassic World

Clash of the worlds! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter meets the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. In this case, it's Hogsmeade meets Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando's excellent Islands of Adventure theme park. I rather like this simple photograph that shows where titans collide. 

I'm busy writing the last installment of our very surprising trip, one where we directly evaluated Universal Orlando and its offerings against those at Walt Disney World. The results might be shocking. But enjoy the photos and read about the challenges I discovered comparing the two.

The Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Trip Report:

- Disney Springs 

- Was Rise of the Resistance Worth All This?

- Epcot on the Downhill Slide

- Does Animal Kingdom Rock?

- Magic in this Kingdom

- Wrapping Up Disney World and Hello Universal!

- Why Every Disney Imagineering Fan Should See Diagon Alley

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Before Jurassic Park and Jurassic World

Could Epcot's soon to open Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind take us back to the era of the dinosaurs? The title itself suggests going back in time. It would be a pretty cool nod to the past! When the previous Future World tenant Universe of Energy welcomed guests, after a mesmerizing pre-show, they were carefully placed into bench style theater seats that transformed into a ride to the prehistoric age on a single guide wire. It was quite the surprise when the seating sections broke off and started moving through the attraction. What an engineering feat! Those brilliant Imagineers found ways to delight and educate.

Globally, fans love their dinosaurs! Long before Universal's Jurassic Park area, and even the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films, the Disney theme parks were full of creatures from eons past. There are far more there than you might imagine. Take a journey into each of the parks and discover where these prehistoric beasts reside. They are taking over the world!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

A Brand New Fallen Kingdom

Can't wait to see the next installment of the new Jurassic World series! Chris Pratt is absolutely a blast here, playing our Indiana Jones type hero. This poster for Fallen Kingdom sticks with the classic look and focus of those that came before it. Why change what works? Should Universal Orlando Resort bring us a new somewhat twisted adventure to match the film? Sure! Imagine the rush of what can happen when we encounter a world where men think they are God, and it all falls apart.

Chris Pratt Talks About Jesus

Chris Pratt puts it pretty bluntly: A man came up to him and said, "Jesus told me to talk to you". And so begins the story he recalls of how he was - in his own words - "saved". It's a pretty interesting read and tells the tale of a man who does his own thing, not being swayed by Hollywood or by the church in America.

The full story is here. Go there- really!

A Dinosaur for Hong Kong Lands in Shanghai

Over four years ago, I was "gifted" with this piece of very rare concept art for Hong Kong Disneyland. The concept was obviously never brought to fruition, as the park opened with no dinosaurs at all. Even the recent and very successful expansion - which brought us Mystic Manor and more- yielded not one single prehistoric creature. Not one. But as you can tell by this post  where I chronologically present all the dinosaurs in Disney theme parks through the years and the wild success of Jurassic World, dinosaurs never go out of style. With kids of all ages.

Was this unbuilt attraction scheduled to go into the outdoor jungles of Adventureland? Was it meant for an indoor weather-proofed warehouse a la Indiana Jones? Or perhaps a roller coaster through the jungle? Maybe even a combination like what was once proposed but abandoned for the dinosaur area at Animal Kingdom?  

This we know- dinosaurs will appear in China. An attraction is built in an entirely different form at Shanghai Disneyland as part of the Roaring Rapids attraction at Adventure Isle. Instead of a train or car, expect to see a creature such as this while plunging down a wild raging river in a rounded craft similar to those found on Grizzly River Run at California Adventure. 

If you're like me, you cannot wait to see more concept art... or the final result!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Jurassic World's Monster

Could it be? Is it he? My hunch is this may be the genetically designed dinosaur beast whose the monster of this summer's Jurassic World.

The trailer sends chills down my spine! Perhaps Chris Pratt will actually pull off the lead role on his way to Disney's reboot of Indiana Jones.

(Image copyright Universal and Amblin.)