The Story of Dinoland or why Dino-Rama actually fits the theme well...

[ChrisFL]

whew, well I am so glad that in order to make a quality disney product these days, all you need are some off the shelf carnival rides, some ripoff midway games and tacky paint jobs, and as long as you have a long, drawn out story behind it, everything is ok

 

[dejr_8]

whew, well I am so glad that in order to make a quality disney product these days, all you need are some off the shelf carnival rides, some ripoff midway games and tacky paint jobs, and as long as you have a long, drawn out story behind it, everything is ok

Yep. Have to agree. No matter what the back story is the area is still below Disney standards. Plus, the cost of the games is a complete ripoff.

This area could be turned into a parking lot and I wouldn't miss it.

 

[mill4023]

I've said before that Dinoland is an example of the outstanding execution of a terrible idea. Don't assume that those of us who hate Dinoland just don't understand that it is supposed to look that way. Yes, it is very well themed and Disney did a great job of getting the look they were going for. But it's still a horrible area. It does not fit in at all with the rest of AK.

 

[yitbos96bb]

1) We toured AK, and Dinoland, pre-opening as a CM.
2) The "story" was explained.
3) It made sense when FULLY told and FULLY explained.
4) Without such an explanation, the overall design makes little or no sense.
5) OK, so it makes no sense.
6) It is nice when people have understated and esoteric meanings.
7) But, if it can't be transmitted easily to others, it means nothing.

NOTE: I think several areas of AK, and Dinoland in particular, is a great definition of the word esoteric: requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group <esoteric terminology>; broadly : difficult to understand <esoteric subjects>

Fair enough... although if you remember from pre-opening they also said that part of the "theme" of the park was adventure... there was a lack of signage on purpose when the park first open and the the cast member exit and entrance is where the guests enter as well. It was designed with the idea of guests exploring and finding there way on an Adventure... they were supposed to ask cast members and the CMs were supposed to be more involved. Unfortunately, as cool as this was (and is a text book example of esoteric) most people are in WAY too much of a hurry to look around and explore and smell the roses so to speak. Its all about the rides and NOT about the themes and surroundings to them... its unfortunate that they are unwilling to do this as it really increases the value of the parks... but its also why SOME dont get the theme... at times its hard to draw a balance there. Disney needs to do a better job in getting the messages across. Honestly, a piece of a back story in the map, some Streetmo such as the grad students and having a Chester and Hester (don't remember there being a Streetmo Chester and Hester in 1998, but I may be wrong) would go a long long way in conveying the message and would be something that returns trememdous value. Unfortunately, since Eisner over extended the company and got cheap and Iger has yet to prove he won't do the same, it will go a long way.

To sum up, I agree. If the message isn't easily conveyed its no good. My issue was people saying Disney was lazy or producing garbage because of Dinorama (and the All-Stars and Pop Century... without which MANY MANY families couldn't afford to stay on Disney property) when Dinorama fits the theme perfectly.

Were you opening crew at DAK as well? Where at? Where have you worked at Disney?

 

[yitbos96bb]

Well I DID work there so I know they all have a back story. And yes they aren't obvious enough, but frankly, maybe they should be.

Yes the average guest does miss it, which is a shame as it adds so much. Its like knowing that Disney painted the carousel with 24K gold.. it just adds a lot to it and the level of detail. I always loved the stories I heard... I used to know quite a few but have forgotten them in recent years. Disney needs to do more to get these stories out there.

Ooops... Missed the lived... Yeah I think you are right about that.

Yeah, Joe's earring is a bit freaky... I think I could fit two fingers through the hole. Its cool though how he got it... stayed with a tribe while researching the park and they gave it to him as a sign of friendship.

well, like i said.. LIVED there. thus the trailer. it's also a series of different rooms whose decor is meant to replicate that of a dorm room.

and smear, splat & dip currently perform there.

as far as backstories being obvious, most of the time they're just not. they're really not meant to be appreciated by the average guest, they're just a key imagineering concept to serve as a foundation for what's there today. when you walk down the street in your neighborhood and see the Indian restaurant, you don't know who the proprietor is or where he came from, how he ended up here, etc., but the reality is all those questions have answers. some more clear and concise than others.

they usually aren't obvious in WDW and really, one of the most popular and infamous ones for the HM turns out not to be a genuine backstory at all. but aside from HM (well, until recently), everything imagineering creates has a backstory. some are more elaborate than others.

i don't know Harambe's story entirely. it's a small rundown village next to a wildlife preserve who survives mostly on commercialism (and not all that successful at it based on the state of the buildings). it has a hotel, a TON of safari companies (you see them all listed on the boards at Tusker House, although for the most part, only Kilimanjaro and the Pangani trail run expeditions while you're in the park) and Joe Rohde sells a lot of earrings.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I've said before that Dinoland is an example of the outstanding execution of a terrible idea. Don't assume that those of us who hate Dinoland just don't understand that it is supposed to look that way. Yes, it is very well themed and Disney did a great job of getting the look they were going for. But it's still a horrible area. It does not fit in at all with the rest of AK.

I didn't say all, I said many... and we'll have to disagree... Dinoland as a whole fits the theme of Animals past, present and fantasy very well.

 

[yitbos96bb]

whew, well I am so glad that in order to make a quality disney product these days, all you need are some off the shelf carnival rides, some ripoff midway games and tacky paint jobs, and as long as you have a long, drawn out story behind it, everything is ok

As compared to a cheap carnival ride shaped to look like teacups or a flying elephant...

It fits the theme and a lot of people like it.

 

[bradk]

oh.. might as well

you can see the chairs and coolers on the roof, the arrow shooting someone's been practising and of course the anonymous practical jokers who went around adding '-osaurus' to the end of everything (hence breakfastosaurus and restaurantosaurus)

 

[ChrisFL]

As compared to a cheap carnival ride shaped to look like teacups or a flying elephant...

It fits the theme and a lot of people like it.

and a LOT of people hate it. I know where you're going but the fact is that among other things, such as budget restraints, I can see why Dumbo and the Teacups aren't much more than off the shelf rides. They were built at the same time that dozens of other high quality immersive attractions were being built, so it wasn't a glaring issue.

But when Animal Kingdom was lacking anything decent as far as rides, Disney went the CHEAPEST route they could, and being totally unashamed about it, never gave us Beastly Kingdom, or a variant of the idea.

It's a sad state when that's what people have come to accept on Disney property.

 

[Poohbear123]

Like the area, and was told it was Suppose to be where Beastly Kingdom was put, but instead they put Dino-rama there instead. Not sure how true that is, but, anyway, I like the area, hang out there more than any other area.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Like the area, and was told it was Suppose to be where Beastly Kingdom was put, but instead they put Dino-rama there instead. Not sure how true that is, but, anyway, I like the area, hang out there more than any other area.

Actually, Beastly Kingdom was supposed to go where Camp Minnie-Mickey now is. You can still see the dragon-shaped stone fountain that was supposed to be part of BK.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

whew, well I am so glad that in order to make a quality disney product these days, all you need are some off the shelf carnival rides, some ripoff midway games and tacky paint jobs, and as long as you have a long, drawn out story behind it, everything is ok

My thoughts exactly. As I was reading it, I thought, "Great story!" In the end, it's still just a story though. IMO, that doesn't make the chintzy attractions any better. Tell me a good story, & link it to quality attractions, & I'll be impressed.

 

[Evil Princess]

My thoughts exactly. As I was reading it, I thought, "Great story!" In the end, it's still just a story though. IMO, that doesn't make the chintzy attractions any better. Tell me a good story, & link it to quality attractions, & I'll be impressed.

Agreed. I always knew the backstory, and the Imagineer point that, "It took a lot of money and planning to make it look that cheap!" but the rides themselves are lackluster. Two wild mouse coasters that you can find at carnivals, a dino themed dumbo, and carnival rides...well I'm sorry, but it's just not up Disney caliber, no matter what the theme is surrounding it.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

whew, well I am so glad that in order to make a quality disney product these days, all you need are some off the shelf carnival rides, some ripoff midway games and tacky paint jobs, and as long as you have a long, drawn out story behind it, everything is ok

Disney tried to get away with this when it built DCA. Now it's spending $1.2 billion to fix its mistake.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Because we are discussing Dino Rama (one of my favorite Disney places) I thought I would share this.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I was wondering if there was a good thread or a link someone could post that discusses other Disney ride backstories. I liked hearing about the dinosaur one and want to hear some more

 

[WEDWDW]

One thing I can add to the backstory is that I have always heard that the fossils were first discovered one day when Chester and Hester's dog came walking up to the gas station with a strange looking bone in his mouth which turned out to be a dinosaur fossil.Word spread quickly and the rest is history. I guess I am so pro-Walt Disney World that I find it hard to criticize them about any of their projects.They ALL fascinate me-just some more than others.

 

[SusanEllen]

According to many of the replies on this thread, it seems the Imagineers shot themselves in the foot when they created Dinoland in the AK and Paradise Pier at DCA. However, I think of them both as reminders of the contrast in quality of the Disney Parks that generations have come to take for granted and their predecessors, the old amusment parks that were all that existed before Walt and Roy Disney's brilliant innovations. I'm particiularly fond of Paradise Pier and think of it as an homage to the old seaside parks like the one at Santa Monica, but suppose tacky is tacky (even when crafted carefully and purposefully) and understand why the theme itself leaves so many cold. I don't know for sure, but suspect that the Imagineers working on the Chester and Hester part at AK must have been thinking of how all the non-Disney (and certainly non-Disney quality) motels and tourist/souvenir places encroached upon Disneyland so rapidly after it opened.

For those of you who have expressed an interest in traveling a bit (or all) of Route 66, it's there. You just need to do a little research on the state(s) you'll be traveling through. You might have to drive on sections of new road, more in some states than others, but the remnants of the old road should be somewhere close by even in those areas. I live in Oklahoma and understand that we have the most miles of original road still in use (the mixed blessing of living in a political culture that believes strongly in not spending too much of the taxpayers dollar!) Every day part of my drive to and from work is on the actual, no kidding historic Route 66, so I can testify it's still here. Any time you're ready, you can come get your kicks on Route 66.

 

[Figaro972]

That is a great story, i can not wait to show that to my husband. He loves that part of the park.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Yep. Have to agree. No matter what the back story is the area is still below Disney standards. Plus, the cost of the games is a complete ripoff.

This area could be turned into a parking lot and I wouldn't miss it.

Well, it actually IS a parking lot. See Chester and Hester built the carnival on the parking lot of thier shop, and if you look on the blacktop you can still see the parking spaces marked off under the rides...so I guess you got your wish!

Actually, Beastly Kingdom was supposed to go where Camp Minnie-Mickey now is. You can still see the dragon-shaped stone fountain that was supposed to be part of BK.

Camp Minnie-Mickey was always supposed to be there. It wasn't supposed to be its' own "land" but rather a transition from reality to fiction. That's why the characters are there, since they live in both worlds at once