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156. Improving DinoLand, U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

12.20.2021 by Dan Heaton // 2 Comments

The skeleton looms over guests in DinoLand, U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom.


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Disney’s Animal Kingdom has grown on me since its early days; I’d argue it’s the most beautiful Disney park in the United States. Its theme has largely remained intact even with the addition of Pandora: The World of Avatar. The one exception is DinoLand, U.S.A., which has parts that seem out of place within the rest of the park. Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama has a detailed back story to explain its old-fashioned carnival style. Even so, reactions among guests (including this one) about it have been mixed. That’s also true of the full land, which draws a wide range of responses. This variety makes it the perfect choice for this fun project.

This episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast is all about DinoLand, U.S.A. and ideas for improving it. I’m giving my own thoughts on changes that I’d love to see in this inconsistent land. I also talk about your submissions and ideas from podcast guests. It’s really just an excuse to come up with fun “what if” scenarios for a park we love. Should we demolish the entire land and start over? Why not lean even further into the dinosaur theme? What about bringing in live actors to sell the Dino Institute concept? These possibilities and more are covered in this episode.

My goal here isn’t to criticize DinoLand or take easy shots at its shortcomings. We’re all big fans of Walt Disney World and can’t help but do some armchair Imagineering during and after our visits. Costs rarely come into play, though I do try to keep my ideas from getting too outlandish. I’m certain that everything requires more money and effort than I realize here at home. I’d also love to hear your ideas for improving this land. What would you do to improve DinoLand, U.S.A.?

The logo for the Dino Insitute at Disney's Animal Kingdom in DinoLand USA.
Photo by Dan Heaton

Show Notes: DinoLand, U.S.A.

Listen to my ideas for improving EPCOT in Part 1 and Part 2 from July 2020.

Check out these awesome Disney podcasts: Very Amusing with Carlye Wisel, Marty Called, Notably Disney, and Book of the Mouse Club!

Catch up with all the episodes of the Theme Park Trivia Show from Ryan Ritchey.

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Categories // Tomorrow Society Podcast Tags // DinoLand USA, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Podcasts, Walt Disney World

About Dan Heaton

Dan’s first theme-park memory was a vacation at the Polynesian Resort in 1980 as a four-year-old. He’s a lifelong fan who has written and podcasted regularly about the industry. Dan loves both massive Disney and Universal theme parks plus regional attractions near his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His favorite all-time attraction is Horizons at EPCOT Center.

Comments

  1. Dan says

    January 23, 2022 at 12:46 am

    Dino Land is my child’s favorite. The kid is a dinosaur fanatic right now and just loves Dino Land right now. If anything I would love for them to lean into the concept even more.

    Reply
    • Dan Heaton says

      January 23, 2022 at 11:19 am

      That makes sense. I did hear a few comments from people that liked the concept and just wished that Disney would better explain it. It definitely makes sense that your kid would enjoy it as a dinosaur fan.

      Reply

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