Dinosaur queue

[cancilla]

On our first trip to AK, I am interested in going on Dinosaur, my wife is so-so interested, and I'm completely sure my son wouldn't like it. My plan was to go on the ride myself while my son and wife played in Dinoland.

My only question is, is there anything in the Dinosaur queue that my son (who is very into dinosaurs) might like to see? If so, am I correct in assuming that I could get on the ride and my wife and son could wait somewhere for me to return (or do a "baby swap")?

Thanks!

--Dominick

 

[bytheblood]

I think the queue is very cool myself, but nothing that would hold the excitement of a small child unless the line was moving at a moderate pace.
JMO

 

[JulielovesDisney]

The line has a huge skeleton of T-Rex, and outside, there are a couple statues and another skeleton of a T-Rex. There is also a shop that has some dino stuff, like t-shirts and toys.

Have fun!

 

[modernmickey]

Depending on how old your son is, Dinosaur actually has one of the most educational waiting areas in all of WDW (even moreso than most of the queues in Epcot). Lots of little exhibits when you first walk in with detailed info on dinosaurs and the history of what is known about that time period.

If he is old enough to read and does really, really love dinosaurs, the queue could actually turn out to be a definite highlight of the trip for him.

 

[cancilla]

My son will be eight when we take our trip, he's a great reader, and has a big interest in science (we go to the local science and natural history museums at least twice a month). He was very young when Dinosaur Sue came out here, but he still talks about it, and I think I read that there was a cast of that dinosaur at AK somewhere -- in the Dinosaur queue perhaps?

Anyway, you've convinced me to have him wait in line with me. Can anyone comment on the ease of a "baby swap" with this attraction?

Thanks!

--Dominick

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Yes Sue is there, I believe she is outside just before you go into the building, but I could be wrong on that it has been so long (I have only actually seen her all together once...I am used to her being in the lab where they were puting her together.

As for your other question... Dinosaur is very easy to get out of if you don't want to ride. The rotunda,main que, is where the Dinosaurs and little exhibts are (with narration from Bill Nye the Science Guy). Once you go through the Rotunda is the pre-show video, once the doors open from the pre-show your wife and son can exit from the double doors on the far left end of the hallway, those doors lead to the exit area of the ride (where you will come exit), depending on how long the que is from the pre-show to the ride vehicle it should take you about 10-15 minutes (or less) to get through while they wait (there is a gift area there as well as the ride photos). If they choose they can also wait the entire line with you and just walk through the vehicle when you get on (you get on and off at the same place), they would need to continue through to the exit as they can't wait right there, but then they would only be away from you for the few minutes that the ride actually takes. If you want to do the child swap, and you use this option just let the CM loading the vehicles know and they will advise you what you need to do. If you choose to have them wait at the exit right after the pre-show, the child swap is done from the outside exit area, just find a CM and advise them that you waited the ride together and your child didn't want to go and they will direct you.

 

[Earstou]

Sue is outside, situated close to the ride. When we were there 2 years ago, a CM gave a little talk right next to Sue, with a question and answer period at the end, which we really enjoyed.

 

[disneyholic family]

if he's 8 years old, why wouldn't he want to ride the ride itself?

 

[cancilla]

if he's 8 years old, why wouldn't he want to ride the ride itself?

Good question. My son has a very low tolerance for surprises and "peril" (even the fictional kind). He really dislikes most movies, for example, even on video. For this reason, I don't think he'll be happy with Dinosaur. Of course, I may change my mind after riding the attraction myself.

I appreciate info from anyone else who has brought kids on the attraction, however!

Thanks!

--Dominick

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Yes, if your son has a low tolerance level for surprises and/or peril, I'd DEFINITELY say have him skip that one. When it first opened, I believe I was 16 or so. I've always loved learning about dinosaurs and wanted to go on it. The main, large section of the building in the queue I believe had a lot of things and displays you could look at. I got in line and then decided to wait until my dad rode it to see if I could stand it (I too, even now at almost 23, hate things jumping out at me/loud noises/fake danger). My dad did and still does know me really well in terms of what rides I could/can handle, and that wasn't one of them. I believe his exact words were "You'd have had a heart attack." The point is though, when I left the line and exited, I stopped and read some of the signs and such. So there is a lot of interesting things there. And as others already said, Sue (or should I say pseudo-Sue, LOL) is outside.

 

[disneyholic family]

Good question. My son has a very low tolerance for surprises and "peril" (even the fictional kind). He really dislikes most movies, for example, even on video. For this reason, I don't think he'll be happy with Dinosaur. Of course, I may change my mind after riding the attraction myself.

I appreciate info from anyone else who has brought kids on the attraction, however!

Thanks!

--Dominick

well as everyone has said, Sue's outside on the path leading up to the attraction....and there are some other smaller dinosaurs on another path nearby...and he can ride on the dinosaur 'dumbo' ride (tricerotops spin perhaps it's called - it's just like the dumbo ride in the MK, but with tricerotops instead of dumbo)..
and the dig (the huge playground) is excellent....my kids played there when the AK was first opened....i can't remember how old they were....probably about 8 and 10 years old at the time....they really enjoyed spending a lot of time exploring it....and they also rode Dinosaur then (it was called Countdown to Extinction back then)..
but if your child doesn't like scary things, then he wouldn't like dinosaur i don't think...
but he will enjoy the playground a lot.....i'm sure he could easily spend as much time in the playground as you will in line, and in the preshow and on the ride...in fact, he'll probably want to stay in the playground for longer than that.....