Dinosaur question

[yoda_5729]

Hi, my family isn't much into thrill rides, but I am a fan of Dinosaurs. I've been to Animal Kingdom several times, but never actually gone in the building for the Dinosaur ride. Is there anything else in the building besides the ride, or is it simply the ride. I heard there were some fossils, but I think if I were in line I'd be walking right by them and not get a chance to appreciate them. Any insight on the building would be helpful.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

THere isn't much to see inside if you are not into the ride itself...there are a few replica fossils and a replica cast of a dinosaur...you can only really take a look if you are waiting in line, otherwise you just walk right past it to the ride entrance...if it says "20 minute wait" or longer, you'll probably get a few minutes to look at half of the items (the queau line splits in half inside the building)...but nothing there is genuine, just replicas. In fact, there is less to look at then your local college natural history museum has on display.

Dinosaur is about the ride.

 

[Atomicmickey]

There are a few casts, nothing too earth-shattering, and a reproduction of a full skeleton of a Carnotaur. I think it's all sculpted, no real bones.

I'm pretty sure there are NO authentic fossils in the park at all.

Outside the attraction, though, there is some very cool stuff in the trails out in front of it. There is a bronze replica of "Sue" the T. rex, and a lot of great sculptures out on the trail. A bunch by Mike Trcic, who is a great paleo-artist and one of the lead sculptors on Jurassic park.

There is a great leaping Raptor sculpt by him, and up along the walls of the ride building are some smaller bronzes as well, and a WAY oversized T. rex bust.

There's a play area with, I think, a Parasaurolophus that is well done.

In sum--look around the area, patient ambling and looking will be rewarded for the true dinosaur enthusiast.

It is also fun to look around restaurantosaurus for digging type things, but there's nothing particularily authentic, there, just lots of fun detail, puns, etc. and I believe some good paleo-art on the walls in places.

Dino land is much maligned, even by me--but for depth of theming there is a lot there to see.