How scary is dinosaur?

[daannzzz]

I was considering trying this ride, although now I'm not too sure.

For anyone who's been to Disneyland... how does Dinosaur compare to the Indiana Jones ride? The descriptions sounds similair, but I'd like to hear a comparison from someone's who has ridden both.

It has the same track layout and transport vehicles. The movement of the vehicle is very similar though programmed to match what is going on in the dino ride. The difference is in the sets and story. Indy has great sets that are very easy to see. Dinosaur is very dark and the sets are separated by dark sections. It is mostly "forested" with dark blue backgrounds and there use to be many, many more meteorites falling but those effects have stopped or are turned off. Most of the area is dimly lit with some of the dinos lit a bit brighter. The one that comes out of the cave above you at the end roars so loudly it almost hurts.
Considering Dino and Indy are the same layout and transport the rides are very, very different on the whole.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't find it frightening. I am pretty sure DS rode it for the first time when he was 8, and it has never frightened him. (He is TERRIFIED of TOT.)

Dinosaur is really, really loud, and it is really, really bumpy/jerky/rough. I don't ride it very often anymore because I have a bad disc in my back and I just don't want to chance it. I have been told the front of the vehicle is more stable, so if I do ride I ask to sit in the front.

 

[Manda]

I'll put it this way: it's scary as hell.

And by scary, I don't mean it's all darkness, dread, and forboding. No, it's scary as in an absolute assault on your senses.

It's dark, unbelievably loud and jerky, and crap is popping out at you from all directions with strobes going off in your face. About half way through I had had enough and just put my head down.

Yes, all this. Rode it once wayyyy back in 2000 and never again! All I remember is spinning around in the pitch black and and then - BAM - very loud dinosaur in your face. Repeat. After a few times of that, I just closed my eyes and hoped for it to end. LOL. I've heard people claim that they made it less intense at some point... I don't know if that's true, but I'm not going to revisit to find out if it's true.

 

[LoveToT]

For anyone who's been to Disneyland... how does Dinosaur compare to the Indiana Jones ride? The descriptions sounds similair, but I'd like to hear a comparison from someone's who has ridden both.

Its actually the exact same track as Indy. We live in CA and are AP to disneyland. Last year was our first trip to WDW and it was trippy to know what the car was going to do even though we had never been on Dinosaur before.

That being said, we didn't know what Dinosaur was, but we all love dinosaurs so we thought we would give it a try (me, Dbf, DS (4), DD (4) ) - We had no idea what was in store for us!!!! Totally scary You can't see DD or DS in the picture shot because they are burying their heads in our laps

However, they are little daredevils and wanted to do it again.

Bums us out that the height requirement for Indy is 48" here. Although its the same ride as dinosaur and that is only 40" requirement

 

[CanadianPaco]

I was considering trying this ride, although now I'm not too sure.

For anyone who's been to Disneyland... how does Dinosaur compare to the Indiana Jones ride? The descriptions sounds similair, but I'd like to hear a comparison from someone's who has ridden both.

Same here ... I'd like to know.... We love the Indy Ride at DL

 

[texasgirl73]

My then 5 year old (she's 7 now) was very scared (she loved Space Mountain and was even okay with Expedition Everest, and she wants to go on Tower of Terror) and she says she doesn't want to go on it again. My then 8 year old did not enjoy it. Even the 13 year old said it was scary. I thought it was fun but they won't go back on it with me.

 

[Jensmom80]

I think it is more jerky than scary. If you don't like getting bounced around hard, don't go on it. It is fun to see the theme of the whole ride, but I can't take the jerking.

I have to agree. The ride is very jerky and bumpy. You do have to remember that it is a Dinosaur ride made by one of the best if not the best companies in the world for their animatronics. There are several parts where I scream or my DD9 screams but we still ride it many times every year! It is sort of a "safe" scared. You know you're gonna be scared but you also know nothing can actually eat you! Ride it, enjoy it, get the picture saying you survived it! You'll be proud of yourself afterwards!

 

[Ride Junkie]

I don't think Indy is as jerky as Dinosaur. When Indy first opened, it was EXTREMELY jerky and people were complaining. So they toned it down a few months later, and it's not as jerky now. It's much more open and not as dark as Dinosaur. Love Indy.

DH and I won't ride Dinosaur anymore simply because we think it is a stupid ride. There was all this buildup about how scary it was, and we were laughing at the end because it was so silly. When they take your pic, it isn't even in front of the scariest dinosaur. And it's been so long since I rode it, I don't remember how loud it was. I say try it and if you don't enjoy it, you never have to ride again.

I loved the Extra-Terrorestrial Alien Encounter. It was scary in a good way. Now THAT was an attraction that messed with your head! I miss it.

ETA: there are several point-of-view videos of this ride on youtube.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

So... we were on Dinosaur last summer and it was a little girl's first trip to Disney(she was about 4 years old) sitting behind us on the ride. Her mother took her on Dinosaur for her very first ride ever at Disney
It was so sad! She cried the entire time. Mom tells her "not all the rides are this bad" Ever heard of starting with "Its a Small World". I'm sure Disney is ruined for this poor child. Very scary ride

 

[LittleMissDisneyBabe]

Im 14 year old, thrill-ride LOVER and this ride freaked me out. Basically if you dont like:

1)the dark
2)Giant, sharp toothed, 3-D dinos in your face
3)Bumpy, crazy, out-of-control driving
4)The sound of screaming

Dont ride this ride.

 

[aduck126]

it scared me when i was 16 and rode it for the first time and even to this day it scares me even though i have been on it at least 10 times. it is awesome though.

 

[BelleChick]

imagine drunk driving meets pop out in your face animitronic dinos.

Hahahahahah...I have never thought of it it that way...but so true!

 

[lblume91]

Our 1st time on it was in '06. DH stayed out with DD3 while I took DD13 & DD8 on the ride. I was expecting DD8 to be scared, which she was. However, I didn't expect DD13 to be terrified. I sat between them with both clawing at me to hide their eyes & ears through the whole ride. In the photo, DD13 is hanging onto rail in front of her for dear life with her head down, using her arms to cover her ears. DD8 is buried in my armpit with her hands over her eyes. I am smiling like a maniac because I LOVED it!! I talked it up so much, DH wanted to ride but neither of the girls would go with him. We couldn't go together & leave all DDs alone so... When we returned in '07, DD(now)14 went with him but she wasn't happy about it! In '09, whole family rode & DD16 & DD11 were still scared. DD6 loved it. Go figure...

 

[SleepingUgly]

DH and I won't ride Dinosaur anymore simply because we think it is a stupid ride. There was all this buildup about how scary it was, and we were laughing at the end because it was so silly. When they take your pic, it isn't even in front of the scariest dinosaur. And it's been so long since I rode it, I don't remember how loud it was. I say try it and if you don't enjoy it, you never have to ride again.

This is exactly how we felt about the ride. Maybe it was all the buildup from my brother and his family. We went on the ride with our two daughters, ages 8 and 5, and by the time the ride ended, they were like, "That's it? What was the big deal?" However, they are little daredevils so we knew they could handle it. Depends on your kids. And yes, the ride is really bumpy and jerky. We were not that impressed.

 

[2cats1kid]

My DD rode it at 9 and hated it. She was terrified of the noise and hated the jerkiness of it (must admit, my head and neck were snapping around all over -not comfortable). She came off crying. She wouldn't ride it last time we visited when she was 11 and I wasn't disappointed to miss it out.

 

[pocahontasgal87]

when i first rode it( i think i was around 13 or 14) i wasnt scare but LOVE IT, i think it was the 2nd yr or so when AK open and it was our first visit there, it was my fav. ride from there and still is

 

[kisobel]

dino scares the poop out of me and i am 42. i still ride it but i spend most of the time with my eyes closed. i still think the dinos will eat me. and definately a middle seat helps.

kate

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

This is exactly how we felt about the ride. Maybe it was all the buildup from my brother and his family. We went on the ride with our two daughters, ages 8 and 5, and by the time the ride ended, they were like, "That's it? What was the big deal?" However, they are little daredevils so we knew they could handle it. Depends on your kids. And yes, the ride is really bumpy and jerky. We were not that impressed.

Add me to that list.
I still enjoy riding it-but I really don't see the big deal.

 

[Mr. Disney 1986]

It all depends on the person. I have seen younger children cry while others came right off saying “I want to go again.”

 

[jdisnut]

It also depends how your children handle feeling scared! My brother and sister were both frightened by Dinosaur when they were younger. I have seen a few hilarious post-ride photos with their head in their hands, cowering in fear. But that never stopped them from wanting to ride each visit.

Sure, Dinosaur is scary. It may be the scariest attraction on property, along with the Tower of Terror. It's loud, it's dark and the dinosaurs are intimidating. For some people, that's the fun part!

To address the post regarding the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, I think it's a better attraction than Dinosaur. It's a bit smoother and the experience is fuller and richer.