Last fall, as I walked through the slowly fossilizing DinoLand USA area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, my mind began to spin thinking of all the things Disney Imagineers could do with the half-dead space. After all, it has remained largely unchanged since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998. And with the recent departure of one of its most popular attractions (more on that below), the area is in dire need of new life.
First, let’s take a look at the backstory and current state of DinoLand USA.
DinoLand USA is one of seven lands at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s located to the right of the park’s main entrance.
The area’s flagship attraction is Dinosaur, a relatively intense dark ride inspired by the 2000 animated Disney film of the same name.
Nestled within DinoLand USA is Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama — think of it as a land-within-a-land. The area’s rides and midway-style games are themed to a slightly run-down traveling carnival.
Until 2019, Dino-Rama was anchored by Primeval Whirl, a pair of Reverchon spinning coasters.
The two side-by-side coasters closed for unexpected maintenance in 2019 but never reopened.
Disney confirmed last summer that the two Primeval Whirl coasters were permanently closed:
Disney confirms Primeval Whirl at Animal Kingdom, Stitch's Great Escape at Magic Kingdom and Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom are permanently closed. pic.twitter.com/dapOGOlbWt
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 16, 2020
As of this posting, both Primeval Whirl coasters are still standing. The carnival-themed area is still home to one ride, a Dumbo-style TriceraTop Spin.
In addition to Dinosaur and the Dino-Rama rides, DinoLand USA is also home to The Boneyard playground (closed as of this posting due to the Covid-19 pandemic), the currently vacant Theater in the Wild, the Restaurantosaurus eatery and a few other small dino-themed food stands, shops and attractions.
I asked our social media followers what ideas they had for the future of the DinoLand USA area. Many of the responses overlapped with some of my own ideas (great minds think alike, right?). So below, I’ve detailed seven possible replacements for DinoLand USA at Animal Kingdom.
1. Zootopia
I read several recommendations for a Zootopia-themed land at Animal Kingdom. The 2016 animated film of the same name is filled with a cast of anthropomorphic animals and was a box-office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. The Zootopia universe seems like the perfect backdrop for a kid-friendly area.
Disney has already announced plans for a “Zootopia+” TV series for its Disney+ streaming platform in 2022. And a sequel film is almost a given.
Needless to say, Zootopia is a franchise that’s just asking to be brought to life. In fact, a Zootopia-themed land is already under construction at Shanghai Disneyland.
While we don’t know specific details about the Zootopia land at Shanghai Disneyland or what will be inside of it, the Disney Parks Blog post announcing the land revealed that “a new major attraction that will seamlessly blend Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life.”
The colorful area will also feature “entertainment, merchandise, and food and beverage offerings” inspired by the film.
Though construction of the Zootopia land was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, work resumed over the summer. However, an official opening date has not yet been announced.
While the Avatar franchise has inspired a more serious tone within Animal Kingdom’s Pandora land, a Zootopia land would make for a kid-friendlier counterpart.
2. The Lion King
Few intellectual properties (IPs) can top the cultural impact The Lion King has made on the world. For spawning a slew of films, TV shows, video games and a wildly successful Broadway musical, Disney’s Lion King franchise is a lasting money-maker. So the fact there isn’t an actual Lion King ride at a Disney park is almost criminal.
Granted, The Lion King would overlap with Animal Kingdom’s existing Africa land, which is home to the Festival of the Lion King stage show. However, there is more than enough Lion King-specific source material to showcase in a land.
In addition to the popular Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom, a few shows and other forms of live entertainment have popped up at various Disney parks around the world. But what Animal Kingdom and other Disney parks need is an actual E-ticket Lion King attraction. Or better yet, an entire land. And though the original film was released in 1994, the Lion King franchise is still very much alive with the live-action remake debuting in 2019.
Over the years, I’ve seen some incredible ideas for Lion King rides and attractions. The possibilities for elaborate dark rides, thrill rides, kid rides, restaurants, shops, etc., are nearly endless. And of course, the opportunity to incorporate some of the film’s animals into the area is just as exciting.
Lion King is a timeless IP, and I cannot fathom why Disney hasn’t taken advantage of that by building an entire land dedicated to it. But at this point, I’d be happy with a Lion King ride.
3. All-In on Dinosaurs
While Universal owns the unstoppable dinosaur franchise known as Jurassic Park/Jurassic World, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Disney can’t double-down on a dinosaur land.
While Disney’s Dinosaur films (Dinosaur in 2000 and Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur in 2015) haven’t been nearly as successful (The Good Dinosaur was Pixar’s first “box-office disaster“) as the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films, I think Disney could still pull off a dinosaur land if it took a different approach, perhaps one that was more educational. The Dino-Rama area could be replaced by a tamer-than-Dinosaur dark ride that was more family-friendly.
Dinosaur could also receive an upgrade, perhaps new effects and a new storyline.
But as Disney in the last 10 years has focused on building new attractions and lands that feature popular IPs, a dinosaur movie-inspired land may be a tough sell.
4. South America
South America presents a plethora of unique ecosystems and species for Disney to gather inspiration from. While there may be some overlap with the existing animals at Animal Kingdom, Disney could focus on a specific area of South America — there are so many to choose from. And the many South American cultures the showcase are just as diverse.
If Disney was set on incorporating an IP into the land, it could feature the 2009 Pixar film, Up, much of which takes place in South America.
As Coaster101 writer Eric Wooley suggested, Disney could also retheme Dinosaur to become an Indiana Jones-inspired ride.
Indiana Jones films have taken place in exotic locales around the world including South America. And Dinosaur uses the same ride system and vehicles as Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. And I think it is a far superior attraction.
If Imagineers didn’t want the new land to be too focused, a South American area would be an optimal replacement to DinoLand USA.
5. Amazon Rainforest
At its core, Animal Kingdom celebrates and promotes wildlife conservation. So dedicating a land to the fragile and endangered ecosystem within the Amazon rainforest seems like a smart move for Disney.
Twitter user “The Main Entrance Cast” pitched some great ideas for the land, including another possible Indiana Jones-inspired Dinosaur retheme:
Retheme the whole area to Amazonia (featuring more bio-diversity than anywhere else on the planet). Retheme Dinosaur to Indy Jones trying to find an animal-themed McGuffin. Also create a rainforest environment with up-close animal encounters and adventure trails.
Disney would have so many educational opportunities at its fingertips — from rides to shows to animal encounter exhibits.
A walk-through attraction could take guests on a self-guided tour of a rainforest recreation.
The colorful Amazonian wildlife could inspire rides, shows, shops and more.
And imagine a zipline-inspired roller coaster taking guests through a densely wooded forest.
An Amazon rainforest-themed area seems like the perfect intersection of educational opportunities and exhilarating ride experiences.
6. Australia
Australia is known for its wide variety of unusual or rare animals, so leveraging the fascination with the cute (and terrifying) creatures from Down Under could be a huge hit for Disney.
Twitter user Paintervision had some great ideas for the area:
Dinorama is one of those “net loss” areas, that may improve the park experience just by being shuttered. My pitch would be to set the land in Australia. Keep Dinosaur but refresh it. Add new native animals and Aboriginal artifacts. Retheme the theater as the Opera House. Etc.
Add kangaroos and koalas. Turn the plain quick service into a themed BBQ place. In place of Dinorama, add a family-friendly desert race motor coaster (with AA animals) through the Outback.
While Disney doesn’t have an Australian-themed franchise in its portfolio, an IP-less land is not out of the question as we’ve discussed. An Australia-inspired area would offer Disney a slew of educational opportunities, and surely an E-Ticket attraction or two.
Since Epcot doesn’t have an Australia pavilion, an Australian area at Animal Kingdom would offer something never before seen at any of the Walt Disney World parks.
7. Under the Sea
While Epcot features The Seas with Nemo & Friends, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of an ocean-inspired land at Animal Kingdom.
Disney would have two successful IPs it could incorporate into the land: The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo. Sure, Finding Nemo has its own ride at Epcot. Why not add another at Animal Kingdom?
And while this would be a cheap (and a little tacky) move, Disney could enclose Primeval Whirl and retheme it to the Finding Nemo character Crush — think Crush’s Coaster at Walt Disney Studios Park (part of Disneyland Paris).
Nearby SeaWorld would be the main competitor to a marine life-themed land at Animal Kingdom. But competition so close hasn’t stopped Disney before.
Probably Not Black Panther
Lastly, a few people suggested the idea of replacing DinoLand USA with a Black Panther-inspired land. At first glance, the sub-Saharan African setting of the fictional Wakanda country seems like it would blend seamlessly within Animal Kingdom. And a “Panther” is rightfully a member of the Animal Kingdom.
However, that’s really where the animal tie-in stops.
When the Theme Park Duo Podcast Twitter account asked the legendary (and recently retired) Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde for his thoughts on a Black Panther-inspired land at Animal Kingdom, his thoughts were similar to mine:
Hm. Essential questions. How does this subject advance conservation advocacy? Is the IP inherently about animals in nature? Will it compromise the photorealistic look of the park? Marvel/BP,Wakanda is mainly about human concerns, so why at the “animal” park? https://t.co/GzGB9w4lAE
— Joe Rohde (@Joe_Rohde) February 16, 2021
While Black Panther might not fit into the fabric of Animal Kingdom, it would make for a great attraction or land at another park. Our very own Shane Joseph helped design an incredible concept for a Black Panther-inspired ride as part of CoasterRadio.com’s Ride Design Contest. Perhaps this is a glimpse into the future of Black Panther’s permanent presence inside another Disney park.
With source material as expansive as the Animal Kingdom (and the mythical offshoots), the possibilities for the future of DinoLand USA are endless.
What ideas do you have for DinoLand USA’s future at Animal Kingdom? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
They could combine two into one… a Nemo with an Australia area. Australia for the more generic, and Nemo themes for the rides.
Crush’s coaster is an amazing coaster one of my favs anywhere so seeing it there would be amazing coupled with some new attractions. Although the current coasters could be ‘lazily’ re-themed to the flight of the pelican (in finding nemo) and the Dinosaur ride could be reworked into something new? maybe even themed towards Finding Dory? and then add crush’s coaster… just because it rocks
I hope they don’t go with Black Panther or Lion King, there are already Africa related areas in AK. And while Zootopia is a simple fit, I think it is boring but most likely what will happen.
I think the Australia idea be good. It can replace the Avatar thing. It’s forge by a different studio. The Finding Nemo thing can fit since it’s set roudn Australia’s coral reefs and Sydney., And kangaroos, koalas, cassowaries, platypi, and big crocs add. And some interactive show with Dory.
If they add a Black Panther thing, it mosl possibly be a show. I want to see tribal shows.
It’d be awesome if Tarzan was add to the Africa part. Tarzan’s treehouse on Africa. Fits coz it’s African. And also Timon and Pumba’s puppets which entertain tourists.
The Dinosaur thing must remain. They can improve the ride to the tourists helping Aladar and co. Always nice when humans help animals. And prehistory and action alogn with horror (from carnivores) and some humour (such as silly Zini, grumpy Yar, the moody Eema, and the funny Url).
Prehistory must remain. The carnival cna be replace. Prehistory. Dinosaurs, but also mammals including Ice Age ones (such as Brother Bear). Also dodos, great auks, Tasmanian tigers, moas, Steller’s sea cows, and more. A grand wya to show many fell and we must preserve. And a must for prehistory enthhusiasts.
Zootopia in my opinion, is a terrible idea. It’s way to metropolitan. Animal Kingdom is not metropolitan. It’s all about the land and conservation, hence why Pandora fit. Zootopia just doesn’t have the feel of what AK embodies.
I agree with you. And the prehistoric theme helps. The carnival part can be remove. The Dinosaur ride can be improve. But also a Brother BEar spirit cave. And learning about extinct fauna. Why? To see the future, we must look to the past. And many species fell to us including Ice Age giants and dods. It can show any who fell to us and inform us to preserve other species.
2 words to what the land should be changed to… 2 words that once spoken EVERY DISNEY ENTHUSIAST would be all on board for this!!!!
what are those 2 words? well……….. Beastly Kingdom.
Uh, uh. Every animal thing needs prehistoric parts. The carnival part can be remove, and replace it with something prehistoric as if we found a lsot world. Extinct animals including dinosaurs, Ice Age giants, dodos, and Tasmanian tigers. People can learn about prehistoric times,a nd learn to coserve more.
Mythical animals can be add. Asian dragons cna be on the Asia theme. Raya and the Last Dragon cna get a ride there, theme on Siso.
Australia with Rescuers Down Under ride please.
If they add Australia, it can replace Avatar.
Sam Cook, Avatar isn’t going anywhere. The two movies are the #1 and #3 $$ grossing movies of all time, and Flight of Passage has the longest wait time at Animal Kingdom. Pandora, The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom is incredible, and it makes sense. Avatar is about conservation, which fits perfectly where it is. If anything, they’ll expand the land.
If Disney take out the Dinosaur ride i will never ever go back to Disney World ever again that is the only ride that’s keep bring me back years after years.
i feel like is missing one more idea for animal kingdom & that is North America, i feel like with Bambi, Pocahontas & Brother Bear as their IPs of the land would fit here really well. Idea Rides & Attractions are an Brother Bear dark ride, an huge lodge themed restaurant similar to the new space restaurant at EPCOT & Be Our Guest at the Magic Kingdom with an show/story that tells 5 native sprites living in this lodge as the lodge comes to life with projected mapping & many others.
Yes. Brother BEar ones must be add. A Brother Bear cave is one; showing images of North American fauna including Ice Age giants.. and the Spirits come to meet you to the Transformadion song.
And a Bambi thing cna be sweet. And Pocahontas.
I say go with Number 3. As a dinosaur lover, I’ll be heartbroken if they take down DinoLand.
Same here. Every animal thing should own a prehistoric thing.
I agree. Keep the dinosaur theme. Only remove the carnival things. I’d do it a prehistoric world. The very Dinosaur ride can be improve to the riders helping Aladar and co to find members of the herd. There can also be a Brother Bear spirit cave with pictures and info about the Ice Age, and a par where you experience the Spirits to the Brother Bear Transformadion song. And also add a dodo thing. And also a Darwin trail. And a prehistoric cafe.
I agree. Keep the dinosaur theme. Only remove the carnival things. I’d do it a prehistoric world. The very Dinosaur ride can be improve to the riders helping Aladar and co to find members of the herd. There can also be a Brother Bear spirit cave with pictures and info about the Ice Age, and a par where you experience the Spirits to the Brother Bear Transformadion song. And also add a dodo thing. And also a Darwin trail. And a prehistoric cafe.
They already own Africa area. They can just add Tarzan’s treehouse to it. And some Timon and Pumbaa comical show with puppets. And more.
They cna add a Jungle Book thing to the Asia area.
South America would be an perfect for the AK.land could educate the public about the Amazon Rain Forest, as well the animals from that region.Have non IP E-attraction.Zootopia on other would look out of place in the AK,along with Moana
Sam Cook you’re way off course,thinking Disney should replace AVATAR with Australia.Just like Universal should replace HARRY POTTER.Anything Disney going to expand on Avatar;especially with the success with the WAY OF WATER
Sam Cook you’re way off thinking Disney should replace Avatar with Australia.That just saying Universal should replace Harry Potter.If anything Disney,going to expand on Avatar,especially the success of the Way of Water
J
Avatar is not Disney.
They must have a prehistoric thing. Zero theme park thing. Extinct animals from the Age of Dinosaurs as well as Cenozoic including the Ice Age and recently gone such as dodos.
Also rock if they add Brother Bear spirit cave. They need a Brother Bear thing. Helps to encourage people to treat animals with reverence. Local Americans revere animals, so it can help us to learn to do so. And learning about extinct animals can spice things up and also encourage us to prevent more from dying out. After all; we cause the Ice Age ones, the dodos, the great auks, the moas, the Tasmanian tigers, the hast eagles, and the quaggas as well as more to die out.