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

[yitbos96bb]

I posted this in another thread but its dead and since the story is interesting I wanted to share. I noticed A LOT of people who bad mouth Dinorama complaining it looks like a cheap theme park... In fact one person went so far as to imply that people who think its cool or fun don't love Disney or understand the old Disney. Having worked there for a couple of years and having spent more time in those parks playing around (pretty much every day before or after work) than most people I feel I have a pretty good understanding and I happen to like Dinorama's theming. A comparison was made to Dumbo which, while a traditional ride, was themed to make the rider believe they are Dumbo. The poster complained that Dinorama was just a cheap group of rides and had no value because it wasn't themed.

Unfortunately for the poster, he couldn't be more wrong. Dinorama is actually brillantly themed to the area and the Back Story of Dinoland. However, since many... including the Poster... don't know this story and since Disney has cut some elements that explain the story OR people don't take the time to actually look around and take in the subtlety of areas of the parks and really explore... the erroneous idea that Disney just threw up some garbage attraction continues to be out there... an idea that is not only dead wrong but insulting to the imagineers who worked their butts off in building that park. I've met Joe Rhodee, the guy who designed the park, and believe me, he doesn't just throw cheap junk up... there is a reason for nearly everything...


TO enlighten those who do not know, HERE is the story behind Dino Land. I was an opening crew Cast Member for Animal Kingdom and we were told this story as we were touring the park led by one of the imagineers. This was during my first college program in 1998. It is one of my favorite Disney back stories and began a fascination with these stories.

Story Begins!!!

So in such and such year (It was given but I can't remember, however if one explores the area they can figure it out I believe) Dinosaur fossils were found in the area. It was a HUGE fossil find and generated a lot of excitement. There is a BIG DIG SITE where fossils are uncovered (This is the purpose of The Boneyard Playground site within the theme... it represents the dig site) The Dino Institute bought up the land in the area and hired a bunch of grad students to work the find (I don't know if they are still there but when the park opened there were Streetmosphere performers who did a show AS THE GRAD STUDENTS who were there to dig the site). The Grad students hung out at a local cafe on their off time (Which brings Restraurantosaurus into the theming of the area)... if you look closely you can see where they have signed their names, left journals and other things and even momentos in the cafe. The Dino Institute in the meantime needed to make some money to keep funding the dig. So they opened up a time travel adventure (Countdown to Extinction which was a MUCH better name... but now known as Dinosaur... and YES it was planned from the beginning to be tied into the movie... we heard that as well which was the first most of us heard they were DOING a Dinosaur movie...). Using time machines, they could transport people back in time to see the dinosaurs living... thus raising money to fund the dig through the ride and of course the Dino Institute Gift Shop.

Ok At this point we have covered story elements of:

The Boneyard
Restaurantosaurus
Dinosaur
Dino Institute Gift Shop
Streetmo actors (although I am not sure if they still perform)

Sue wasn't really tied into the story, but fits the theme since they were cleaning the bones when the park first opened and did a big part of it in DAK. They just never claimed Sue came from the Dig site or anything...

The Theatre in the Wild (or what ever its called) where Nemo is now (and had the Jungle Book which was horrific and Tarzan Rocks which was mediocre) was never really considered a part of Dinoland and thus just shares proximity but not theming.

So this just leaves Dinorama and Chester and Hesters which is where the story resumes...

So when the fossils were found Dino Institute bought up all the land, but there was ONE owner who refused to sell. The names of the owners were... (and you might start to see where this is going) Chester and Hester. Chester and Hester owned a gas station and once the dig site became a tourist attraction, they decided to turn part of their Gas Station into a shop to sell cheap dinosaur items to tourist... basically turning the gas station into a Roadside Attraction (much like South of the Border, Wall Drug, etc).

Now Dino Rama wasn't part of the original story, but it writes itself... Chester and Hester refused to sell and opened a roadside attraction tourist trap to make money from all the tourists. Dino rama IS THAT TOURIST TRAP. THE WHOLE PURPOSE IS THAT ITS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A CHEAP TOURIST TRAP BECAUSE THATS THE THEME!!!!! The imagineers purposedly did this to fit into the Chester and Hester enviroment.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...&ct=image&cd=2

Look at the DAK Map over at Dinoland. Notice the area sectioning it off from the rest of Dinoland... its because the Dino Institute owns all of Dinoland EXCEPT Chester and Hesters and Dinorama which is owned by Chester and Hester.

Personally, the rides are mediocre and I agree more could have been done, but not too much since they went to the extreme in keeping the theme. The THEMING is brilliant and fits perfectly with what they are trying to do.

So just as an FYI, next time in DAK spend some time and REALLY look around DIno land. Look at Chester and Hesters and find the gas dispensers, toolboxes etc. Look at Restaurantosaurus and find all the grad student stuff. It was really brilliant in the subtlety of the theming.. THe problem is as COOL as this is IF YOU KNOW THE STORY behind it (just like Haunted mansion makes SO much more sense if you know the story of the bride and groom, etc) if you don't know it... well it just looks lame. Disney Imagineers come up with elaborate back stories... they need to share them or make it a bit more obvious. A Chester and Hester Streetmo would go a LONG way as well as the Grad students in getting this story told.

SO that's the long and short. Hope you found it interesting.

 

[neonurse]

Thanks for the story!!

 

[klofan]

Thanks for your info! I've always loved that section of the park, even though most don't.

 

[pumpkinfish]

Awesome backstory! I will be sure to share with DH when he wakes up.I too love this area. It's a shame most people don't get the theming.

Some of my favorite elements include the blacktop around the Chester and Hester area and the license plates used throughout. You know the "carnival rides" and "carnival games" were set up once Chester and Hester realized they could make some major money.

 

[let'sgo]

The "Wild by Design" tour is great for hearing all about the stories and theming of Animal Kingdom. We just did it in September, and loved it!

 

[Princess Steph]

If I recall correctly, the grad students were the waitstaff at Donald's Breakfast at Restaurantosaurus. Now it makes perfect sense. thanks for the story, I love this stuff!!

 

[superbird]

Alright I don't get when did this happen? Didn't Disney own all this property since the 60's? Is that the same spot Chester's used to own? How did Disney have the kids working there then? Could you provide the time frame?

 

[Katie Dawn]

Alright I don't get when did this happen? Didn't Disney own all this property since the 60's? Is that the same spot Chester's used to own? How did Disney have the kids working there then? Could you provide the time frame?

Superbird, it's not a story of actual historical events.... it's a made-up, pretend story the imagineers came up with as they created the theme for the area.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for posting the backstory!

We were at AK for the very first time before it opened to the general public. I can't remember if it was as AP holders or because we were staying at a Disney resort, but anyway, we did have the advantage of seeing the area with all the performers and the explanation for the theming. We could see all the subtle things that the OP mentioned and I thought the whole thing was brilliantly done.
Because we already knew the 'backstory' when Dinorama opened, we 'got' it understood why it was done that way (although I have to say I appreciated it more than the others I was with.) It also didn't hurt that we had been to Wall Drug, so we had actually seen one of the inspiration points. Some of the stuff (like the license plates and cracks in the blacktop) are really amazing when you understand. I appreciate them, although many people don't care even after they have the explanation. I've told the story before in posts when people have posted how much they don't like it.
It also doesn't help that the general theming of the area has gotten confused with things like Donald's Breakfastosaurus; instead of thinking of the original 'graduate students' , people think of Donald and friends when they see the restaurant. I remember the original tent of displays that was in the area, a clever bit of themed education, that also reinforced the theming.
The only part of the area I don't like is Primeval Whirl, but that's because my DD almost got spun out of it, nothing about the theming.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

That is great I always liked that area for just what it was. I also enjoyed findng all the Hidden clues (now that I know why they are there).

That story line makes so much sence now. I have always stated Disney would never just throw something in just for the sake of filling an area .

 

[bradk]

funny.. the way i know it, restaurantosaurus wasnt' a restaurant, it was where the interns lived. hence the trailer.

i know it something more like this, in a nutshell:

chester & hester had a gas station along highway 498 (so named because that's when DAK opened). fossils were found (boneyard) and the dino institute moved in and started buying up land (dinosaur, restaurantosaurus - where the interns lived). the dino institute tried to buy chester & hester's land but they wouldn't sell - instead, they set up a roadside attraction (complete with the concreteosaurus) and a bitter relationship between the dino institute & chester & hester continued. primeval whirl was created as a big slap in the face to the dino institute as it's a 'cheap' parody of dinosaur.

there's also a man vs nature storyline. initially all that land was undeveloped and wild, but due to the finds, the entire place was built on and squeezed out the wildlife. there's one corner there where you can find crocodiles, but that's about it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I had also heard what Brad had added.
I think the original story of the restaurant was that it was part of the 'complex' that housed the grad students and others working for the Dino Institute. So not really 'set up' as restaurant to serve 'guests' but a handy place to serve people who did show up at the Institute.

 

[tigerdragon]

Wow, now that I know the backstory I will pay more attention while in Dinoland. I've never disliked the area, but it has been the area we spend the least amount of time in while in AK. Thanks for sharing.

 

[northie]

OP, thanks for posting this....I love that story and it's why I like that whole area because I did a lot of traveling with my parents when I was small, and we stopped at places just like this on our travels! Back in the 50's these cheesy places were all over the place, at least toward the west, which is the direction we always went (we lived in KC, grandma in Phoenix=lots of drives on backroads across the country!)

The backstories are the fun stuff that really make Disney shine!

Sara

 

[yitbos96bb]

If I recall correctly, the grad students were the waitstaff at Donald's Breakfast at Restaurantosaurus. Now it makes perfect sense. thanks for the story, I love this stuff!!

I don't remember if some worked there or not in the theme... its been nearly 10 years ;-) But they DID hang out there which is cool...

The Streetmo adds a lot to the area. As I said, I have not seen them around the last few times I was there so I am not sure if they are still performing... which is a shame as it ads SO MUCH to the story.

 

[yitbos96bb]

OP, thanks for posting this....I love that story and it's why I like that whole area because I did a lot of traveling with my parents when I was small, and we stopped at places just like this on our travels! Back in the 50's these cheesy places were all over the place, at least toward the west, which is the direction we always went (we lived in KC, grandma in Phoenix=lots of drives on backroads across the country!)

The backstories are the fun stuff that really make Disney shine!

Sara

Your Welcome... and I agree... I have ALWAYS had a soft spot for Roadside Attractions... I am still planning the Route 66 trip and staying at the Tee Pee Hotels, etc. There are some great guides out there that REALLY take you off the beaten path in recreating the original road. Very little interstate tracel.

 

[yitbos96bb]

The "Wild by Design" tour is great for hearing all about the stories and theming of Animal Kingdom. We just did it in September, and loved it!

That's cool... so they go through ALL the back stories on the tour? I knew Africa's at one point, but can't remember most of it... the Dinoland was the first one I heard after Traditions and it has ALWAYS stuck with me. One of the coolest experiences ever is opening a Disney Park.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

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>

 

[bradk]

I don't remember if some worked there or not in the theme... its been nearly 10 years ;-) But they DID hang out there which is cool...

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.

 

[northie]

Your Welcome... and I agree... I have ALWAYS had a soft spot for Roadside Attractions... I am still planning the Route 66 trip and staying at the Tee Pee Hotels, etc. There are some great guides out there that REALLY take you off the beaten path in recreating the original road. Very little interstate tracel.

I lived about 12 miles from one of the teepee hotels for years, there is one on 24-40 in Lawrence, Kansas. It is still there but last time I was through there it was a gas station, the hotel has been gone many years. Ah childhood memories! We did go a ways on Rte 66 last year and it was a lot of fun. Someday I would like to do the whole thing, although much of the original road is gone or dirt track.