DinoLand U.S.A.: Should this blast from the past be a thing of the past?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to six different lands that you can visit inside the park. The newest and most popular of the lands is Pandora - The World of Avatar, where guests are transported to the year 2154 to explore the world of the Na’vi. A land that is often skipped over by many is DinoLand U.S.A., where guests are transported to the past to explore the world’s extinct creatures. With the park’s biggest and most popular attractions putting such a heavy emphasis on the future, does DinoLand U.S.A. deserve its place in Animal Kingdom? Is it worth taking time out of your Animal Kingdom day to see the animals of the past? The answer to both of these questions is a giant YES. Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 with the intention of letting its guests learn about creatures of the present, creatures of the past, and creatures that exist in otherworldly places. While Beastly Kingdom, a land to explore mythical creatures, never came to be, we can immerse ourselves in the otherworldly place that is Pandora. Animals from around the world can be found all across Animal Kingdom, and this is especially present on the Kilimanjaro Safari. Finally, DinoLand U.S.A. is the only land in the park that educates and entertains its guests through bringing them back to a prehistoric time. Of course, DinoLand U.S.A. is not as sophisticated or professional as I am making it sound. The land is themed after a carnival and a majority of the attractions are catered towards a younger audience. There is a land within the land called Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, where families can enjoy carnival games and a ride much like that of Dumbo, TriceraTop Spin. DinoLand U.S.A. also has The Boneyard, which is a play space for kids to dig around and find fossils. While these areas of the land will be most appreciated by children, it offers fun for the entire family to enjoy. The carnival theme is unlike any other part of a Disney park, and the level of detail that goes into its story can only be done justice by visiting the land for yourself. Where the somewhat tacky nature of the design may throw you off, I can assure that it is there for a reason. If none of the kid-friendly attractions sound up your alley, DinoLand U.S.A. is also home to one of the most thrilling rides in all of Walt Disney World, DINOSAUR. Originally known as Countdown to Extinction, DINOSAUR takes you back to the cretaceous period where you can get up close and personal with various types of dinosaurs. It is a race against time as you need to get back to the present before the giant meteor that made all dinosaurs extinct hits. Most of the attractions and rides inside DinoLand U.S.A. may lack a lot of thrill, but DINOSAUR makes up for all that and then some. You may even prefer to ride something lighter after this trip to the past gets your heart pumping! Luckily, DinoLand U.S.A. has plenty to offer and there is truly something for everyone. The kids will have fun with the carnival games, thrillseekers can ride something right up their alley, and coffee lovers can even get a Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee Ice Cream Float over at Dino-Bite Snacks (sorry, I just had to mention this). With the reopening of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond, DinoLand U.S.A. has become even more of an enjoyable stop in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is so different from the rest of the lands not only in Animal Kingdom, but all across Walt Disney World. This uniqueness is what makes it special, and is what makes this blast from the past a blast in the present.