UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Restaurantosaurus.
And yeah, I had no use for the carnival either, which is one of the reasons I don't think it was a good choice of theme. But they absolutely nailed the look/feel of a roadside attraction.
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- Thread starter wdwmagic
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Restaurantosaurus.
And yeah, I had no use for the carnival either, which is one of the reasons I don't think it was a good choice of theme. But they absolutely nailed the look/feel of a roadside attraction.
crazy4disney
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Its not the theming that was bad to me its the fact the 2 rides are just awful…
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Primeval Whirl and the spinner? Agreed, but I think that ties into the theme. Since it was supposed to be a roadside tourist attraction, they really couldn't have anything more than traveling carnival style attractions.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
It’s Disney. Of course they could have done better. Incredicoaster is a much better coaster and not off-the-shelf. A ride like Toy Story Mania is a Disney-caliber carny ride.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
A ride like Toy Story Mania wouldn't fit the theme at all -- no roadside tourist attraction could afford to build remotely like that. Incredicoaster is much too large for the theme too.
It's why the theme itself just isn't a good fit.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
Sure. They definitely didn’t need to go with cheap and rundown as a theme. Although that’s really the whole park…it’s just charming elsewhere, I guess.
crazy4disney
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Carnival rides they could have used which are way better. A free fall type ride, the swings, carnivals have roller coasters granted in line w barnstormer, ferris wheels. Just to name a few & they could have easily stretched the “theme” with better rides. Noone is going to sit there and complain that the area is not good because the rides are too good. Come on…
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I don't think I'd use cheap to describe the theme for the Asia/Africa areas, although rundown may apply.
Incomudro
Well-Known Member
I agree 100%.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Sure, I'm not saying a spinner and Primeval Whirl were the only options they had. Just that they couldn't really build a more elaborate attraction there and have it make sense with the theme.
The other, more important reason is that that whole area was built on a limited budget. They weren't going to spend the money to build an elaborate attraction there.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
I liked the theme just fine, and as I mentioned- it fit the park’s approach of highlighting cultural relationships to animals/nature.
If they had done rides that looked like typical traveling carnival rides but were actually Disney-quality, plussed modern versions, (in the vein of DCA’s Incredicoaster or Fun Wheel/Pal-A-Round), I think the land would have been more successful.
If they had done rides that looked like typical traveling carnival rides but were actually Disney-quality, plussed modern versions, (in the vein of DCA’s Incredicoaster or Fun Wheel/Pal-A-Round), I think the land would have been more successful.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
I appreciate your justification for why Dinoland exists, because as any good American, I take pleasure in trashing on America (it's what brings us all together at the end of the day), and your analysis assaults the nation.
That being said, it's still a terrible theme and land, and I will thoroughly enjoy seeing its demise as a result. Your explanation for the theme gives a little chuckle, but not a true justification for its continued existence.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
I think the reason why Dinoland was a bit of a swing and miss is that it didn’t go all-in on the nostalgia element that was the “hook”. I think for most people that’s the idea of the old fashioned American road trip. Route 66. Antique cars. Norman Rockwell-esque scenes of family fun and wackiness. Etc.
I think a land that was centered entirely around those elements might have worked (although it could be that the nostalgia train has left the station and people want innovation more than anything at this point.) And alternately, a land that was all about dinosaurs in a way that was more in line with the Jurassic era might have worked. But I think the mashup just ended up watering down both elements. Look at similar (but not watered down) execution of the 1950s in HS, for example. Sci Fi Restaurant seems to do well. To me this points to the idea that going more strongly one way or the other would have been better.
Also, I think carnival rides almost never work because we still have carnival rides in the US, so it’s not something to get nostalgic about. They’re the nausea inducing parking lot based experiences you have to endure for the sake of your kids at every town festival, fundraiser, or trip to the boardwalk. If they were extinct they might be charming, but they most definitely are not.
I think a land that was centered entirely around those elements might have worked (although it could be that the nostalgia train has left the station and people want innovation more than anything at this point.) And alternately, a land that was all about dinosaurs in a way that was more in line with the Jurassic era might have worked. But I think the mashup just ended up watering down both elements. Look at similar (but not watered down) execution of the 1950s in HS, for example. Sci Fi Restaurant seems to do well. To me this points to the idea that going more strongly one way or the other would have been better.
Also, I think carnival rides almost never work because we still have carnival rides in the US, so it’s not something to get nostalgic about. They’re the nausea inducing parking lot based experiences you have to endure for the sake of your kids at every town festival, fundraiser, or trip to the boardwalk. If they were extinct they might be charming, but they most definitely are not.
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DisneyDodo
Well-Known Member
This.
The whole point of a theme park is to transport guests to a place they wish they could go (e.g. Neverland, an idealized Hollywood, Hogwarts, etc.). Dinorama successfully transports guests to a place they don’t want to be. They literally spent thousands of dollars and likely travelled hundreds of miles to go to an upscale theme park resort instead of hopping in the car and driving to their local rundown cheap amusement park.
Of course, Disney didn’t pick this theme because they thought it’s what guests craved. They chose it because it allowed them to throw up a few attractions on the cheap. Which is fine as a temporary measure to increase capacity, but an upgrade is long past due.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
“Assaults the nation?” What does that mean?
Where was I wrong?
ETA: Oh, I think I get what you mean. I wasn’t trying to be negative-sorry it came across that way.
Also, Dinoland isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and that’s totally fine with me. Hopefully they build something awesome in its place!
_caleb
Well-Known Member
I mean, wasn’t it an “idealized” version of a parking-lot carnival (if such a thing were possible)?
No argument from me here. But I do think it was a creative way to accurately show a true cultural phenomenon.
At this point, it sounds like I’m defending Dinoland so nevermind!
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
The best execution of a bad idea (or an idea that doesn't lend itself to a themed environment) can only be so good. Dino-Rama is just that. Other examples would be Storybook Circus and Toy Story Land.
Comparatively, Diagon Alley, Pandora, New Orleans Square, Africa, Cars Land are all examples of good execution of a good idea (or at least an idea that lends itself to a themed environment).
It's a small scale, but the Secret Life of Pets attraction may be the best execution of a bad idea (a ride through an apartment building doesn't scream themed entertainment to me).
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I think Dino-Rama succeeds in execution more than Storybook Circus and Toy Story Land. Even people that really like Toy Story Land often have no idea of the intended theme/that it's supposed to be Andy's backyard. I also think the underlying TSL idea is probably better than Dino-Rama or Storybook Circus, although it's still not a great one.
Regardless, I agree with your overall point.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
The difference with TSL, Storybook, and Dino-rama to me, isn't theme.
Toy Story Land's theme may be a playset in Andy's backyard, but that doesn't communicate well.
Storybook land theme may be unimpresive.
But it doesn't matter that Dino-rama is themed to a cheap carnival. It is a cheap carnival. It's not theming issue.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
BIG SCOOP: the name of the new land will be Moanarama. You heard it here first!