In this post we give an overview of DINOSAUR, a thrill ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ section. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to DINOSAUR, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Animal Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Animal Kingdom.
DINOSAUR Basics
DINOSAUR is a thrill ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. DINOSAUR:
offers rider switch
has a Lightning Lane that is part of Genie+
does not have a single rider line
is about 4 minutes long
Disney warns that persons not in good health and expectant mothers should not ride. The ride is dark, scary, jerky, and bumpy.
Where is DINOSAUR Located?
DINOSAUR is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Dinoland USA. Entering the park, you’ll want to make a right U-turn at the Tree of Life. Following this path will take you to into Dinoland USA. Dino-Rama will be on your left, but to your right after Restaurantosaurus is the path to DINOSAUR.
How to Ride DINOSAUR
DINOSAUR is not among the most popular rides in the park, but it can get significant waits on busier days. It will typically be one of your later picks on Genie+ if you purchase that for your day at Animal Kingdom.
Without Genie+, the ride isn’t going to be a high priority, but we still recommend you consider heading there early. Because of its remote location, the ride typically has a short wait for a good chunk of the morning. If you can catch it before the crowds start heading there, you might walk right on.
Similarly, the ride is probably worth skipping during the peak hours of the day—noon to 4PM—in the hopes you can catch a low wait late in the day. Because it has a height requirement (40 in), it offers rider switch.
If you have a little one, both TriceraTop Spin and The Boneyard are nearby for them to enjoy while the rest of your party takes turns riding DINOSAUR.
DINOSAUR Ride Experience
This section contains spoilers.
The DINOSAUR queue begins outside before entering a museum-like indoor portion. It’s overall a pretty cool queue, including a (replica?) Carnotaurus fossil in the main room.
Lightning Lane riders merge inside this main room. In the next room you’ll watch a video where Dr. Seeker reveals he’s sending you on a secret mission to retrieve an iguanodon he tagged on a previous trip.
Unfortunately, he’s sending you to a time right around when Earth was hit by the asteroid that caused the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
We’re supposed to overlook a few things. First, the Iguanodon existed 126-122 million years ago, about 50-60 million years before the Carnotaurus and the K-Pg extinction event. This could be blamed on the fact that the ride is loosely connected to the year 2000 Disney film, Dinosaur, which contained similar errors.
Second, Dr. Seeker is sending us back to this time because that’s where/when the Iguanodon he’s tracking allegedly “is.” This doesn’t make any sense. It’s time travel—why can’t he just send us back to the second after he placed the tracker on it, and we can pick it up there/then?
Exiting this room, we enter the lab containing the time travel vehicles. This room is filled with easter eggs. Most famously, the pipes overhead contain formulas for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise because McDonald’s was the original sponsor of the land. It sounds absolutely bizarre saying it, but it is absolutely true.
On the wall after boarding you can see “SECTOR CTX-WDW-AK98” a reference Disney World (WDW), Animal Kingdom (AK), the year Animal Kingdom opened (1998) and the original subtitle of the ride “Countdown to Extinction.”
Shortly after boarding, you’ll be transported back to the Cretaceous, where your adventure gets exciting. You can view a video of the ride here.
DINOSAUR is an intense ride. It doesn’t go upside down, but it is bumpy, jerky, fast (at times), mostly in the dark, and overall pretty scary. This is definitely one that can scare young kids, and adults might find the movement strains their bodies just a bit.
We’re in the camp that thinks DINOSAUR is quite underrated. The ride infamously borrows its ride vehicle and track layout from Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland (it isn’t completely identical, but it’s close), and it suffers from negative comparisons to that incredible ride.
But if you put that comparison to the side—which you should because it’s silly not to—then DINOSAUR is a great thrill ride. It can be a bit too dark (literally, not metaphorically) at times, something Disney has slightly improved in it over the years. There are a few moments in the ride that hit flat, but overall it delivers when it matters.
DINOSAUR FAQ
How rough is DINOSAUR?
Pretty rough. It’s not like you’re in an ATV in the wilderness, but I can’t think of many controlled experiences I’ve been on that toss you around in a vehicle as much as this one.
Does DINOSAUR have drops?
There’s no drops on the ride, it isn’t a coaster or even really similar to a coaster.
Is DINOSAUR scary?
DINOSAUR is a scary ride. I don’t think it’s terrifying, but if “scares” worry you (for your sake or you little ones’), you might want to at least watch a ride video.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.