Tonight we're saying goodbye mainly to Dinosaur, but I want to take a moment and do a eulogy for the entire land. I won't get a relevant time to bring some of this up again, so I'm going to just say everything that comes to me.
This forum likes to talk like the only reason anyone likes anything old is nostalgia, so I want to start out by saying I have no nostalgia for any part of Dinoland. I actually started out hating it; I used to go and search for it on forums to watch people bashing on it, and I would always roll my eyes at the people trying to explain the story. There's always someone trying to explain it. It's contagious.
What happened was I based that opinion off of pictures and biased takes online, and then I actually went there and it won me over.
There were so many things to see, an incredible amount of detail, so many little jokes, and it all meshed together into a fun and bright atmosphere that God knows I want more of in my life. Dinoland just made me happy to be in. Towards the end, I was there multiple times a week, every week, for months (sometimes rope dropping them not leaving until they kicked me out), and the walk in got real old real quick, but when I got to the Olden Gate Bridge or Cementosaurus, it was always worth it, I always smiled.
Dinoland ruined other lands for me, because I find myself slipping back into the mindset where it’s worthwhile looking everywhere even though that mindset only applies to Dinoland. The only thing I ever find other places is references to things and disappointment. Dinoland was a giant treasure hunt where each o’saurus or note or little detail felt like I really found something. There were jokes, stories, information, everywhere, but you had to take your time and you had to look. That's something I never saw mentioned online before going in, and I loved it, and I loved that every time I thought “this is it, I’ve been everywhere, I’ve finally seen everything”, the next trip proved that wrong. Right up until the last day, I was still seeing new things.
I still value Internet anonymity very much, so I’ll be vague, but I feel I have to say this to get across just how much this whole thing has upset me: I used to be a cast member and you can probably guess where I worked.
The love for it came before the job, it's just a coincidence I ended up there. I had one of the best jobs in all of Disney World! I got to make my own “script” so to speak and make my own jokes. I had so many fun experiences, met so many people, and took part in so many wonderful memories.
People have said to me that when you work somewhere in Disney it becomes like your second home. I don't think that's inherently true, because I worked a bunch of different places, and I don't feel any loyalty to them. I don't want this to turn into “oh you like it because you worked there”, places I worked get bashed on all the time here and I haven't said a word in their defense nor do I want to.
But I absolutely left my heart somewhere in Diggs County. I put it in with all the knickknacks. I was proud of the job I did, and I was proud to work in one of the most unique lands Disney ever built. I still am! What I had in there was special and I miss it more than I can really put into words. I miss working in a giant cartoon. I miss my dinosaurs.
When I was down there I would occasionally meet and talk to people who worked Epcot and Hollywood Studios for a long time, back when those had themes. One day, that's gonna be me. I get to say I worked at Animal Kingdom when it was still truly Animal Kingdom! I worked the shop for that cool ride you wish you got the chance to ride!
Finally, I got to experience the cool ride before it left (I don't really remember Splash due to the fear of the drop); I was terrified the first few times, but that was what made it special! I'm scared to get on anything with a drop, but this delivered all the adrenaline, all the fear, plus a whole load of amazing animatronics, all without any real drops! There was a time I, as a grown adult, was afraid to look at the carnotaurous; that's amazing craftsmanship, atmosphere, animatronic animation, lighting, tension, all coming together to make this thing feel like I really was in danger! It was perfect and totally unique in Disney World! And it had a funny preshow, too!
The test of a truly creative person is how they work under restraints and if they can still thrive and create something wonderful; Joe Rohde and the team heading Dinoland were true creatives and I hope they know there are people out there who really appreciate their effort. I should know, not only am I one of those people, but I met many others!
Today was wonderful. It was filled with things to see and creativity, just like the land people were celebrating.
So here's to the Boneyard, a shining example that just because something is for children doesn't mean it can't be amazing.
Here's to Restaurant O'saurus, the most creative and fun restaurant Disney has ever made.
Here's to Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama and Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, always good for a smile. If I had a theme park I’d hire those two.
Here's to Dinosaur, a terrifying, unique thrill.
Here’s to Dinoland; one of a kind and the most underappreciated land Disney has or ever will make. We were there guys. We got to see it!
I wish I could discover it all over again.
