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Credit: DisneyDisney’s Dinosaur (2000) may not have the clout of Universal’s Steven Spielberg-helmed Jurassic Park franchise, but the movie still gave rise to a popular theme park attraction at Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
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The DINOSAUR ride — which was originally called Countdown to Extinction — can be found in the DinoLand U.S.A. area at Animal Kingdom. Although some Guests feel the ride, which opened in 1998, is a bit dated, it remains popular among dino lovers — and often boasts a short wait time in comparison to other rides and attractions.
Related: One of Disney World’s Most Popular Rides Is Having Serious Issues
Now, however, Disney has seemingly pulled all DINOSAUR merchandise from the gift shop attached to the ride, and some Disney World fans are wondering if it potentially signals a retheme in the ride’s near future.
Hatsune Mitski wrote:
in hour [sic: honor] of disney pulling at the dinosaur merchandise i would just like to say i never liked that ride
in hour of disney pulling at the dinosaur merchandise i would just like to say i never liked that ride
— hatsune mitski (@thotenemy) July 26, 2021
Related: Lucas & Spielberg Created a Dinosaur Universe Long Before ‘Jurassic Park’
While Mitski seems hopeful that the ride is being replaced with something new, another Disney Park fan, Rick, is optimistic about new merchandise for the upcoming Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration, which kicks off on October 1:
We all hope and pray that the news Disney has pulled all of the Dinosaur ride themed merchandise from #AnimalKingdom means one thing. There’s something that we need in that park for the 50th, and it needs to go in the Dinosaur show building…that is NEW DINOSAUR MERCH!!!!!
We all hope and pray that the news Disney has pulled all of the Dinosaur ride themed merchandise from #AnimalKingdom means one thing. There's something that we need in that park for the 50th, and it needs to go in the Dinosaur show building…that is NEW DINOSAUR MERCH!!!!! pic.twitter.com/zGEXsb7fmM
— Rick from Ear To There Travel (@rick_ear) July 26, 2021
It is worth noting that Disney has not commented on the removal of all DINOSAUR merchandise from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, and no official statement regarding a retheme of the dark ride has been announced.
There has also been no official word on what IP could replace Dinosaur, if in fact, Disney does move in that direction. There is, of course, always the potential for a newer franchise, such as Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) to come to Animal Kingdom.
At this time, Disney is already retheming Splash Mountain from Song of the South (1946) to The Princess and the Frog (2009) at both Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Resort’s Disneyland Park, so it is unlikely that another major retheme will occur before that project is finished on both coasts.
Disney could be planning to add new DINOSAUR merchandise (or have something else up their sleeve) for the future of this attraction, but for now and the foreseeable future, Guests can continue to enjoy DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom. We will update our website as more information becomes available.
More on the DINOSAUR Ride
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Disney’s official description of DINOSAUR reads:
A paleontologist recruits you for a secret mission to bring a 3.5-ton Iguanadon back to the present. There’s just one problem—the giant meteor that wiped out life on Earth is on the way!
Board a rugged Time Rover vehicle and set off on a thrilling adventure through a primeval forest filled with life-like dinosaurs. Careen through unpredictable hairpin turns. Dart around a fearsome Velociraptor hunting for prey. Avoid the clutches of a Cearadactylus soaring overhead!
As the clock counts down, fiery meteors crash down around you. Will you make your escape before the dinosaurs—and you—become extinct?
More on the Dinosaur Movie
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Disney’s official description of Dinosaur, which is currently streaming on Disney+, reads:
Join the action-packed adventure of a group of dinosaurs overcoming enormous challenges through courage, loyalty and hope in this special-effects phenomenon. Set 65 million years ago, this is the story of Aladar, an iguanodon who is separated from his own kind and raised by a clan of lemurs, including the wisecracking Zini and the compassionate Pilo. When a meteor shower destroys their home, Aladar and his family follow a herd of dinosaurs heading for the safety of the “nesting grounds”.
Along the way, Alastar befriends Baylene, an elderly brachiosaur; Eema, an unstoppable stryacosaur; and Neera, a feisty fellow iguanodon. Together, they must stand amidst food and water shortages, the threat of carnotaur attacks, and Aladar’s run-ins with the herd’s stubborn leader, Kron.
What do you think? Will DINOSAUR be rethemed?
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