DINOSAUR is a dark ride attraction in Dinoland USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. At first, the ride was named Countdown to Extinction, but it was later changed to DINOSAUR to promote the 2000 Disney movie, Dinosaur. The attraction’s only connection to the movie is that they both have Aladar the Iguanodon and a Carnotaurus.
Guests enter the Dino Institute, which shows real dinosaur fossils and a background narration by Bill Nye the Science Guy. They watch a pre-show video, where Dr. Seeker tells the guests that he will send them back in time to the Cretaceous period so that they can bring Aladar back to the present.
The guests exit the pre-show area and go down a staircase to the underground loading area, where they board a Time Rover and are sent back into a prehistoric jungle.
As The Time Rover drives through the jungle looking for the iguanodon, it passes different kinds of dinosaurs. The computer gives a warming of how many seconds before the asteroid will hit. After the vehicle comes across a Carnotaurus, Seeker decides to abort the mission. The Time Rover finds Aladar, who’s holding up a fallen tree so that the guests can pass under. The computer announces that there the meteor is about to hit. The Time Rover arrives back into the present followed by Aladar, who then goes wandering through the institute. Seeker thanks the guests for their help and tries to find the Iguanodon.
Out of all the attractions in Animal Kingdom, Dinosaur is my favorite. Every time I go to the park, I have to ride it, and I never get tired of it. Even though the ride is fast, dark, and kinda choppy and has sharp turns, sudden drops, and things that jump out, it doesn’t bother me, or stop me from enjoying the ride.
Amber Montes de Oca is a huge Disney fan. She’s an annual pass holder and loves to visit the Disney parks often. Her hobbies are singing, acting, and drawing. She has a BA from the University of Central Florida.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage ~ By Amber Montes de Oca
As a musical, Beauty and the Beast is considered to be a big hit. It’s won Grammy Awards and Academy Awards for its music.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is a live Broadway-style musical based on the 1991 Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. The show is located in the Theater of the Stars, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Walt Disney World.
The story begins when an old beggar woman offers a spoiled and selfish prince a single rose in exchange for shelter from the cold; but because of her ugly appearance, the prince turns her away. He’s then transformed into a Beast as punishment. Only learning to love another and earning their love in return can break the spell.
The song “Belle” begins and the curtain opens, revealing Belle strolling through the village, reading a book. The other villagers comment that Belle is especially beautiful, yet also strange and isn’t like the rest of them. Gaston arrives onstage and, along with the villagers, sing and brag about him. After all the villagers leave, Gaston takes Belle’s book from her and asks her to marry him; but she refuses. Gaston takes her book away again, saying that she will marry him, and leaves. Belle sings about her wanting a life outside of the provincial town. Shortly after, Belle finds herself in the Beast’s castle where she meets the enchanted objects, who are the servants also under the spell. Along with the dancers, they invite her to “Be Our Guest” for dinner, where they bring out food carts and giant spoons. Afterward, the Beast enters onstage saying he’s afraid that Belle will only see him as a monster. Belle then wanders into the West Wing and finds the rose. The Beast finds her and says that he’s told her never to go there, which causes them to argue. The objects gently tell the Beast be kind to her, if they’re ever going to break the spell. Over time, the two start to bond and eventually fall in love.
Back in the village, Gaston convinces the villagers that the Beast is a dangerous monster and declares that they have to go after him and kill him. Belle comes out during a fight between Gaston and the Beast, and afterwards tells the injured Beast that she loves him. The spell breaks, and the Beast is magically transformed back into the Prince. Along with all the dancers, Belle and the Prince dance happily to the “Beauty and the Beast” song.
The show has combined a few different tones. The enchanted objects give a comical tone, while the mob song, the fight scene and the transformation provide serious tones.
The major conflict in this play is the Beast’s struggle to become kind and to love and earn the love of another, in order break the spell. The major theme of Beauty and the Beast is to not judge someone by their appearance, because beauty comes from within.
The idea of the show is to recreate the classic Disney movie. The same characters, similar dialogue, and all the same songs from the movie appear in the show. To anyone who has seen the movie, the characters and songs are easy to recognize. All of the scenes happen in the order that they appear in the movie. However, since the show is slimmed down to twenty-five minutes, some scenes and characters from the movie don’t appear, including Belle’s father Maurice, their horse Phillipe, Belle coming to the castle and taking her father’s place as the Beast’s prisoner, the wolves, Belle and the Beast’s ballroom dance, and the Beast allowing Belle to return home. It’s my favorite show at Disney World and I could definitely see it more than once a day. The show is fantastic and it’s a performance that I encourage people of all ages to see.
Beauty and the Beast has daily performances at 11:45am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:15pm, and 5:30pm.
About the Author: Amber Montes de Oca is a huge Disney fan. She’s an annual pass holder and loves to visit the Disney parks often. Her hobbies are singing, acting, and drawing. She has a BA from the University of Central Florida.
The Animation Gallery in the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was recently updated with artwork from Disney’s “Frozen” The movie will be released in theaters on Thanksgiving, November 27th, 2013. The display features lots of drawings and sketches of the characters from the movie. (There is a hug for you at the bottom of this post so be sure to scroll all the way down to find it!)
While John and I were touring New Fantasyland, he got this awesome video of the progress on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Check it out in all it’s hi-def glory. There is some beautiful footage here – and I love how John explains what you are seeing.
Hayden from Disney World on a Budget is our newest guest blogger here at Disneyways and we are so thrilled to have her with us!
Have you ever been at Walt Disney World with a baby or toddler and wondered which rides they would enjoy the most?
Hayden has some great suggestions to share!
Here is her complete list of top 10 rides at Magic Kingdom for babies and toddlers:
10. Walt Disney World Railroad–this is a great ride to save for the end of the day when you’re tired of walking. I recommend riding therailroad from Fantasyland station to Main Street Station. This twenty minute scenic ride is a great way to see the park. Also a great to spot to nurse a baby.
9. It’s A Small World—this is such a fun ride for children of all ages. Hop in a boat for a leisure ride throughout the different countries, the music entertains my kids and they are left singing the song for days afterwards.
8. Jungle Cruise–this is such a classic Disney ride, I remember riding this back in 1988 when I was just a child. The Jungle boat takes you on a fun ride throughout the jungle where you will see elephants, tribal natives, giraffes and even a waterfall.
7. Tom Sawyer Island–A great place to explore, get away from the crowds and let your little ones run! Tom Sawyer Island is also a great spot to have a picnic, there are picnic tables on the island and a small playground. There are also bathrooms and water fountains. *It is hard to push a stroller on the island as there are many caves, steps, etc. so I recommend using a baby carrier.
6. Prince Charming Regal Carousel–This is a great photo op and a must do for children of all ages. Parents can stand and hold their children (there are buckles) and parents can even ride too.
5. Peter Pan’s Flight–The wait is usually long for this ride so I suggest getting a fast pass. Peter Pan’s flight is a quick ride so don’t blink or you will miss it! It is worth the wait in my opinion, kids will feel like they are flying while riding this cute little iconic ride that tells the story of Peter Pan.
3. Magic Carpets of Aladdin–The carpets will seat 2 to 3 children per row, there are 2 rows per carpet. Our family takes up 1 whole carpet and I recommend having a parent sit in the front carpet so you can turn around and take your children’s picture on the carpet 🙂 You can control the carpet and make it go up high or down low. The children get a kick out of this. You might even get a spray of water from the camels!
2. Dumbo–The ride has been much improved with the new Fantasyland expansion and now the wait time has been cut in half. There is no height restriction on this ride and even my littlest one was able to ride at only 11 months old (of course a parent must hold little ones). Each Dumbo flies high in the sky for just a few minutes but this is such a classic Disney ride that children of all ages love it.
1. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin–This ride can be a little scary if your child is afraid of the dark, however, it is so much fun. Children really love the bright lights (neon) and the ability to shoot a lazer gun is the highlight of the ride for my children. You can control whether or not your spaceship spin’s around too which is neat. The wait times can be rather long for this ride, try to grab a fast pass and while waiting go and meet Buzz himself– he is usually right outside of the ride area.
This week’s theme is Disney Parks Wild Side. Deb from FocusedonTheMagic.com mentioned wild rides are included – so my thoughts immediately went to this photo.
Yep – that’s me – backseat left.
Glamour shot right? I can’t look at this photo without cracking up laughing. I hope you have the same reaction!
I hadn’t been on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith in quite some time. Perhaps it was the promise of my friend Ramon to sit next to me since I was afraid – or the sheer joy and anticipation in this little girl’s face while we were in line – but something inside me said I needed to take this thing on again – and quit being such a wimp.
This photo was taken at the very beginning of the ride, during the high-speed launch that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. After that – it was actually VERY fun for me!!
I love the music of Aerosmith so hearing the tunes while enjoying the ride was an added bonus! In fact, I can’t wait to go on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith again!
Do YOU have any photos of yourself and your family enjoying the “wild” rides at Disney? Please send them to me at Disneyways@Disneyways.com and we will post them here on the blog!
Anyone who enjoys reading about Disney through social media knows that opinions vary WIDELY about the newly designed Test Track – unofficially called Test Track 2.0. Having experienced the ride more then 10 times now, today I thought I would provide some further insight on what the ride is really like, and hopefully give you some reasons to love it (the way I do!)
It’s not easy to describe the entire new Test Track experience without the risk of leaving people confused about all the stuff that happens before you even get in, and then again once you exit your Sim-car (the actual vehicle you ride in). I have to admit – I didn’t really get it at first. Now that I’ve got it figured out, I think it’s really cool.
Right off the bat, I apologize for using the description of a “pretend” car instead of a “virtual” car. My reasoning is that the Sim car (simulated car ride vehicle) to me, is also like a virtual car, and this is where it all got confusing for me in the descriptions I read before this thing opened.
Any way, if the thought of designing a “pretend” car doesn’t excite you – you can probably skip reading the next few paragraphs. When you are at Test Track in real life, you can skip designing your pretend car all together – simply by going through the single rider line, or using a fastpass, or just not doing anything when you get to your kiosk. It’s all up to you.
Starting fresh from the beginning however, Test Track 2.0 stand-by line starts with your entering the brand new queue area, where you will see Chevy concept vehicles, and some video about the GM design process. If the line is really long, this is where you will be spending the most time. Next, when you move to the design studio pre-show area, guests are split into groups and assigned a number that will determine which design kiosk you will use. A party of 3 can work at one kiosk, but only one car can be designed per kiosk. If you want to design your own car, without any collaboration with members of your party, you just need to let the cast member know you want your own kiosk. Following a brief instructional video, the doors to the design studio open, and the fun begins.
To get started, you then touch your RFID equipped card (that they give you at the ride) to the kiosk. Then you can start designing your pretend car if you choose to do so. Here is a one minute video clip of my son, Scott, doing a demonstration for you.
Leaving the design studio, you now head towards the actual ride portion of Test Track. This is the original Test Track ride system,where the pretend vehicle you just designed will be put through its paces. The loading area has been completely re-built, and looks fresh and new. From here, you now use the RFID card to touch a reader next to your boarding spot. This is to associate your custom designed pretend vehicle with the ride. You’ll understand why later. A small screen next to you then confirms the vehicle you created has been uploaded to the actual Sim-car vehicle you are about to ride in. After boarding, you progress towards the seat belt check, just like in Test Track 1.0. Inside the ride building, however, you see a completely different atmosphere then before. Described by many as a “Tron” like environment, taking place mostly in the dark, with vivid lighting effects, your sim-car (actual ride vehicle) will go through the exact same physical track as before, just in a completely new atmosphere. I’m not a BIG fan of Tron, but the experience of this environment is really amazing. After your first or second ride, you are able to look around and really appreciate the work that’s been done here. It is nothing short of incredible if you ask me.
The four key elements from the pretend car you made will now be measured against the Sim Car (the vehicle you are riding in.) This is why you touched the card to the reader right before you got in your Sim-car. You will get to see the pretend vehicle you designed on various screens throughout the ride! I think this is pretty awesome. When you look at the various screens, they will also show how the pretend car you designed is stacking up against the one you are actually riding in. The two will be compared by energy efficiency, power, etc.
To get a feel of what it’s like to ride the new Test Track, here is a video form JeffLangeDVD.com.
Upon exiting the ride, you now move into the post show area, where you will have the opportunity to take part in several interactive experiences. You can scan your RFID card again here, and see on a huge video screen how your pretend car stacked up against other guests pretend cars. This allows for you to brag if you want, as long as your scores are better then others. Next is the opportunity to create a Chevy commercial, featuring the pretend car you created. Pretty cool huh? Your commercial might look something like this:
Finally, there are several different chances to create green-screen photo opportunities with different Chevy concept vehicles. We didn’t have this in Test Track 1.0 either! Similar to before however, you will also the chance to see a range of current Chevy vehicles in the Chevrolet Showroom, and have full access to sit in them, touch the buttons, and take pictures of your friends and family sitting inside.
Concluding it all, after that, you will walk through a common ending to most rides in Walt Disney World, the gift shop.
Hopefully now that you know more about what to expect – I hope you will give the new Test Track a try!
Near the area of Future World Epcot, where one can now find Test Track, there was once a pavilion that included the World of Motion presented by General Motors. World of Motion opened in October 1982 with the rest of EPCOT Center. Enjoying this attraction meant taking a road trip through the evolution of transportation. Almost everyone has some interest in transportation. Whether it’s cars, trains, airplanes, buses, boats or just by simply walking, everyone has used some form of it. We have always relied on our ability to travel, and we have always searched for ways to improve that ability. This was the basis and idea behind World of Motion, to entertain and educate us about how it’s “fun to be free.” Click here for a photo tour. Check out this “totally tubular” 18 minute video to be transported back to 1982 and it what it must have been like to enjoy The World of Motion.
World of Motion closed in January 1996 to make way for Test Track. This change broke the heart of hundreds of thousands of nostalgic World of Motion enthusiasts, many of whom still believe the attraction was one of Epcot’s greatest achievements.
Test Track presented by General Motors (GM) represented the cutting edge of Walt Disney Imagineering created ride-systems. As Epcot’s first thrill ride, it took guests through a series of vehicle tests and outside onto a 50 degree banked track at highway speeds. Even though it seems strange for a car company to advertise by emphasizing car crashes – the message here was that GM designs cars for safety and performance – and puts them through rigorous tests. A high-speed performance run on a proving ground track was thrown in, to the delight of thrill seekers from all over the world. The complexity of the ride system took years to perfect, but to many, it was worth we wait. Officially opening in March 1999, Test Track became a firm favorite and must do for hundreds of thousands of Walt Disney World visitors. This 24 minute video takes you for a closer look at the original Test Track.
Just over 10 years later, General Motors began looking to make more use of one of its most visited marketing locations. Plans began to come about for a complete Test Track makeover. After a collaborative design effort between GM and Walt Disney Imagineering, the original Test Track closed on April 16th 2012 to begin the transformation. Just like it’s predecessor World of Motion, once again, many are feeling nostalgic for what’s now affectionately known as Test Track 1.0
Despite having only 8 months to complete the refurbishment, the new Test Track is definitely much different in some ways. Nearly every set piece has been removed from the original attraction. The new Test Track takes a step towards the more traditional Epcot Center pavilion approach, with the idea that there is now more to the pavilion than just the ride. Having enjoyed the new Test Track 2.0 attraction 10 or more times now, I can tell you first-hand that the actual ride track – is the same – despite rumors that it is different. This video from AttractionsMagazine.com gives even further proof in a really cool way. Take at look at this 4 minute, amazing, side-by-side comparison.
World of Motion (1982-1996), presented by General Motors, was a road trip through the evolution of transportation. It opened in October 1982 with the rest of EPCOT Center and closed in January 1996 to make way for Test Track. All photo credits belong to LostEpcot.com
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Transcenter was the post ride area with many exhibits. It was Located on the lower level of the pavilion – the second hemisphere. Photos from LostEpcot.com
Amber Montes de Oca is a huge Disney fan. She’s an annual pass holder and loves to visit the Disney parks often. Her hobbies are singing, acting, and drawing. She has a BA from the University of Central Florida.
Disneyways 