AK DinoLand versus Jurassic Park

[carmiedog]

(not sure which board to post this on )

Which park's Dino area would you rate as "better"?

My 2 boys (9 and 6) refuse to ride Dinosaur again at AK (too scary!), so that leaves Triceratops Spin (yes, my oldest son still rides the "Dumbo" type rides), Boneyard and just walking/enjoying the area. We haven't been to Jurassic Park yet.

Would my dino-obsessed 9yo be more impressed by JP, or in your opinion are both dino areas still worth doing?

 

[hack2112]

Jurrasic Park use to really transport you into a different world, until HP construction started. Now it still does, but just a little less transporting than usual. The JP river ride can get rather scary, but it is one of my favorite rides ever, because the theme is so great, and it really feels like you're stepping into Jurassic Park. Also, JP has Camp Jurassic, which is a play area that is greatly themed that includes Pterodadon Fliers, which is a high flying ride over Jurassic Park. There's also the Discovery Center that looks identical on the outside to the one in the movie. And that contains an eatery upstairs and fun games downstairs like watching a dinosaur hatch and playing a cheesy dino trivia game. All of this, plus the cohesive theming, really makes the island top-notch.

For me, Dinoland USA is the area before Dino-Rama came in, and the Theater in the Wild. Dinosaur is one of the greatest themed rides ever as well as one of my favorites. The theming is set up from the moment you walk into Dinoland. The Dino Institute is such a great idea, that they could have spread it over and used that as the theme for Dino-Rama, which I won't even get into.

So, yes I prefer JP, but Dinoland USA would have been #1 if they kept with the theming.

 

[Metro West]

Jurrasic Park use to really transport you into a different world, until HP construction started. Now it still does, but just a little less transporting than usual. The JP river ride can get rather scary, but it is one of my favorite rides ever, because the theme is so great, and it really feels like you're stepping into Jurassic Park. Also, JP has Camp Jurassic, which is a play area that is greatly themed that includes Pterodadon Fliers, which is a high flying ride over Jurassic Park. There's also the Discovery Center that looks identical on the outside to the one in the movie. And that contains an eatery upstairs and fun games downstairs like watching a dinosaur hatch and playing a cheesy dino trivia game. All of this, plus the cohesive theming, really makes the island top-notch.

For me, Dinoland USA is the area before Dino-Rama came in, and the Theater in the Wild. Dinosaur is one of the greatest themed rides ever as well as one of my favorites. The theming is set up from the moment you walk into Dinoland. The Dino Institute is such a great idea, that they could have spread it over and used that as the theme for Dino-Rama, which I won't even get into.

So, yes I prefer JP, but Dinoland USA would have been #1 if they kept with the theming.

Yeah...I agree. JP takes you into another world while Dinoland makes you feel like you're at the carnival.

 

[hack2112]

Yeah...I agree. JP takes you into another world while Dinoland makes you feel like you're at the carnival.

Unless you're in the Institute area. Then you're in another world.

 

[ky07]

Yeah...I agree. JP takes you into another world while Dinoland makes you feel like you're at the carnival.

I agree

 

[Bigbluebear]

Yeah...I agree. JP takes you into another world while Dinoland makes you feel like you're at the carnival.

That, i believe, is the whole point

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

We took our last trip to US/IOA in July and both of my sons love love love
JP! My little one is afraid of the River Adventure ride, but does it anyway
but he really loved the play area, there are caves, and rope walls to climp on
a water area, they have a blast there. The theming can't be beat

 

[LilMommyBug]

I prefer JP to Dinoland. Yes, I know it's meant to be themed as a Carnival - but I find it really cheap looking honestly. (Coming from a person who loves wdw)

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

The actual Dinosaur ride is top-notch but the land is just.. no..

Jurassic Park all the way..

 

[Metro West]

I prefer JP to Dinoland. Yes, I know it's meant to be themed as a Carnival - but I find it really cheap looking honestly. (Coming from a person who loves wdw)

And that...is my point!

 

[skifast22]

The actual Dinosaur ride is top-notch but the land is just.. no..

Jurassic Park all the way..

I agree. The ride DInosaur is one of my favorites at WDW, but there's not much else there to my liking. Even at 31, I love walking through the caves and exploring Camp Jurassic. Even walking through the gates to the JP land, hereing the music and seeing the jungle, transports you to a different age right away. JP wins hands down over Dinoland.

 

[damo]

Ack...I can't stand Dinosaur after riding Indy at Disneyland. Seeing how amazing it could have been leaves me very, very disappointed. Indy is probably my all time favourite theme park ride.

 

[LilMommyBug]

I guess im in the minority - I hate the Dinosaur ride. It's so dang rough - I get off feeling like I have brain damage.

 

[keishashadow]

Ack...I can't stand Dinosaur after riding Indy at Disneyland. Seeing how amazing it could have been leaves me very, very disappointed. Indy is probably my all time favourite theme park ride.

it's def a better, less herky jerkey ride than Dinosaur imo

i was able to ride it several times this summer , no issues with bad back that i have on Dinosaur (oh to have it put in somewhere @ WDW )

dinoland def has the carny atmosphere down pat

while the boneyard is a great idea in theory, they need to limit the # of people @ one time...always lost screaming lost kiddos & parents...so hard to keep an eye on ur kid there

 

[ChrisFL]

No Comparison, JP is much bigger and better with a LOT more activities to take part in and has a much more immersive feel. Even the "institute" area of Dinoland is very very small and there's not much to do there.

At JP you have a huge playground, a swinging ride you can't find anywhere else in Florida, the incredible Discovery Center just like in the movie where you can watch a live raptor hatching, play a mini-game show, make your face look like a Dinosaur and other things. It has a great CS restaurant overlooking the splashdown of JP (I love that atmosphere)

Dinorama (other than the actual Dinosaur ride) has about the same level if immersion and excitement of going to Cypress Gardens

 

[carmiedog]

Just coming back to say thanks, everyone! It will certainly help our schedule if I can cross Dinoland off our AK list. If we have time and feel like it, we'll still go, but I'm not going to worry about it. I think ds10 is going to love Jurassic Park. Actually, this is our first trip to Universal and I'm not telling him about it. The new T-Rex restaurant is going to be a surprise as well. I'm so excited - don't know if I can wait another 9 months!