Dinosaur! ride...appropriate for little ones?

[Infamousmare]

My kiddos (ages 3 and 5) are really into dinosaurs and have been talking nonstop about "seeing dinosaurs" while at WDW (they both watched a WDW show on some cable channel recently).

We're going to be in AK for a safari one afternoon and I thought about taking the kids to the Dinosaur attraction before the safari. Is this appropriate for younger kiddos? (My youngest is also on the autistic spectrum and has issues with noise/claustrophobia.)

Have any of you been to this one? Did you like it? Did your kids like it? Is this the only dinosaur attraction (aside from Dino Diner or T-Rex restaurants) at WDW?

 

[Bradsdadg]

I would say this is not appropriate for little kids. It is loud, dark, throws you around alot, and I would say is very scary for little kids. The one time I went on it my neck hurt a bit afterwards. This is definitely not a fuzzy cuddly dino type ride. Animal Kingdom does have a themed area for kids/fun dino stuff. Like the Triceratops spin (Dumbo ride with Dinos instead) The boneyard play area, some Midway style carnival games, and some neat picture opportunities.

Edit* Here is some info on it if you would like to read up on it:

http://allears.net/tp/ak/akctx.htm

 

[lesliejmorris]

I would not bring the younger one in, it is VERY loud, my 5year old son has noise sensitivites and while he said it was awesome afterwards, he said he never wanted to go on again in his life. There is a lot to see in the boneyard and around the area that might satisfy their need to see dinosaur stuff.

The T-Rex Restaurant at Downtown Disney would also be a great option. The ride is VERY loud and VERY scary for young kids. I have heard it can also scare adults away, though I love it!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I have not been on it, but understand from my husband that it is very "jerky", rough and LOUD.

DS loves dinosaurs... when he was 3.5yrs we watched a video of the ride on YouTube and gave him the option to go on it once we were in the parks. He decided not to - thought it would be too scary. On the next trip he was 4.5yrs, decided to try the ride, and LOVED it even though it was so loud (and he's typically not a fan of such things).

Now, the T-Rex restaurant was of course a big hit... always!!

 

[Aimros]

I was 21 the first time I rode Dinosaur and I was scared! Everytime I go on it now I cover my eyes... I definitely don't think it's appropriate for kids younger than 7... I mean I guess it depends on your kids but at that age I think they might not really understand that it's just a ride, because a lot of it looks very real.

Off-topic, but the one thing I regret about all my Disney vacations is not purchasing the photopass photo from that first ride on Dinosaur. My sister, fiance, and I rode together and sat in the front row - DF on the left, me in the middle, and DSis on the right. The picture was priceless, DF was not scared at all and looked like he was having a blast, while I'm scrambling to hide my face in his shirt and DSis is scrambling to grab on to me.

 

[snykymom]

There's a carnival ride type area right near Dinosaur where they can "see" dinosaurs - much more kid friendly. And there's also the Dinosaur Boneyard play area.

 

[DisneyRockstar]

Well, it's loud, there are a lot of dark moments. And at the end there is a giant grotesque scary looking monster roaring loud in front of you.

If they're used to seeing big loud monsters, then go for it!

 

[grimley1968]

I once took my then 4 YO DD on it, and she wouldn't ride it for another three years, she was so scared of it. She loves it now that she's almost 11. She was plenty tall enough then, but it's a pretty intense experience for little ones.

But then I took our younger DD on it when she was about 4, and she loved it. But then she is a bigger dinosaur buff than her big sister.

I think the hardest thing to deal with is the extreme noise of the ride. It's difficult to cover your ears, since you need your hands to keep yourself steady in the jerky ride vehicle. Ear plugs, though, could really help in this situation. That way, kids can hold on tight to the bar in front of them, and not have their ears blasted.

In your specific situation, I'd bet your 5 YO will probably be alright with it, as long as you tell him/her a little about what to expect (loud noises, flashes, giant dinos seemingly coming right at them, etc.) I wouldn't take an autistic child on this until much later in their childhood than 3.

 

[Ohio Disney Girl]

I have a now 5 year old son who has mild PDD-NOS. He LOVES roller coasters, and I will not take him on Dinosaur! His 8 yr old sister rode it, liked the ride, but found it a little scary herself. It is VERY jerky and bumpy, almost pitch black in many parts, dinosaurs that are very lifelike come right over your head, "breathe" hot breath in your face, etc... and it all moves so fast that it is hard to take in, plus it is so loud that calming an upset child is very difficult. Stick to the Dinosuar gift shop and Triceratops Spin, or go "dig up" some dinosaur bones in the Boneyard playground! You won't need a therapist to talk your child into ever riding a ride again after those two!

 

[Fantasmic23]

I agree with the previous posters. The ride is loud, dark, jerky (as in movements) and in-your-face. It reminds me of the old carnival fun house/hanuted house rides where things randomly pop out at you. I wouldn't have been able to handle Dinosaur when I was younger and at 38, I still cover my eyes and scream.

 

[ValinWV]

My 4 year old daughter loved the ride. My 6 year old daughter wasn't sure about it. I made a point of telling them it was dark, loud, "bumpy" and the dinosaurs moved some. I don't like scaring them. At first the 4 year old said no and I agreed to wait with her at the exit of the ride. Just as I got settled on the bench she decided she wanted to go. She loved it and wanted to ride again. So I would say it depends on the child.

 

[ilovepete]

I would not. I have ridden it twice, and never again. It is too rough! I am literally in pain when I get off of it.
And on top of that, my two (2.5 and 5) would find it scary.

We opt for the dinosaurs on Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot instead.

 

[TheRider]

Skip it this trip. My wife and I went right after it opened before we had our son and it was not that bad. It has been re-tooled and we took our 3.5yo son last Sept and it was NOT for him. Really jarring and intense.

 

[NYDisGuy]

It's an intense ride (even though they tamed the ending and alot of effects dont work properly ) and extremley jerky. There is also a 40in height restriction on the ride, not sure if that affects your 3 year old. This definitley shows the "dark" side of the dinosaurs. As others said, there are more "interactive" and fun dinosaur areas for younger children. The gift shop after the ride is another great place to look, anyone can walk into that.

 

[Infamousmare]

*ROFL* I LOVE the comment about not needing therapy if we simply go to the Boneyard.

Wow - I'm so glad I asked you guys! We'll skip that one and just go to T-Rex/the little kiddie dino ride area.

Stupid question: Is T-Rex Cafe close to the kiddie ride area? And how far is the dino area from the Safari area? I'm a little ashamed to admit that I'm the WDW commando in charge of planning this entire vacay (for 8!) and, after lecturing everyone about the importance of being on time for our GG/ADRs, I want to budget plenty of time!

 

[PictureJumpr]

T-Rex is located in Downtown Disney.

The Safari and the Dinosaur area at Animal Kingdom are about as far apart as they can be - opposite corners of the park, I'm afraid.

 

[grimley1968]

Stupid question: Is T-Rex Cafe close to the kiddie ride area? And how far is the dino area from the Safari area? I'm a little ashamed to admit that I'm the WDW commando in charge of planning this entire vacay (for 8!) and, after lecturing everyone about the importance of being on time for our GG/ADRs, I want to budget plenty of time!

T-Rex Cafe is in Downtown Disney, and it's run by the same people as Rainforest Cafe. There is a Rainforest Cafe, though, just outside the AK gates.

The Dinoland area is kind of across the park from the Safari area. However, it's really not that bad a walk due to the pathway that goes from Dinoland, by Expedition Everest, and then over to Asia and Africa.

I'm not sure what you mean by kiddie ride area.

 

[NYDisGuy]

*ROFL* I LOVE the comment about not needing therapy if we simply go to the Boneyard.

Wow - I'm so glad I asked you guys! We'll skip that one and just go to T-Rex/the little kiddie dino ride area.

Stupid question: Is T-Rex Cafe close to the kiddie ride area? And how far is the dino area from the Safari area? I'm a little ashamed to admit that I'm the WDW commando in charge of planning this entire vacay (for 8!) and, after lecturing everyone about the importance of being on time for our GG/ADRs, I want to budget plenty of time!

T-Rex is located in the Marketplace area of Downtown Disney.

 

[Madi's Mom]

It is dark, loud and jerky - and I wouldnt recommend it given what you said about your kids. Another option is at Epcot try the UNiverse of Energy (the one with Ellen). There is a lasrgr section about dinos and they aren't scary but it is a long ride.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Its extremely loud!!!! I nearly jumped a foot in the air! I personally dont think the ride is worth the bother!

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