Disney World’s Scariest Ride Explained - One Last Ride Before “Dinosaur” Closes Forever

Strap in and hang on as we dive deep into Disney World’s scariest ride before it closes forever.

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The Walt Disney World Resort offers guests an almost limitless selection of rides and attractions. These attractions range from thrilling coasters like Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to classic dark rides such as Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan’s Flight.

The primary goal of these attractions is to provide wholesome, family-friendly fun to guests of all ages. However, one attraction at Walt Disney World is quite different, with its design philosophy leaning towards providing terror rather than joy. Found in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this ferocious four-wheeling adventure through time puts guests face to face with intense terrain and terrifying dinosaurs.

DINOSAUR is an intense, exciting, and prehistoric trip through time, letting guests witness the moments just before dinosaurs were wiped out of existence. As the ride’s slogan states, “It’s fast, it’s a blast, it’s in the past!”

But before we examine the actual ride at the Disney Park, let’s take a trip back in time ourselves.

The History of DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom

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DINOSAUR opened alongside Animal Kingdom park in April of 1998, although under a different name and offering a slightly different experience. When DINOSAUR opened, it was actually called “Countdown to Extinction,” but this name was changed just a few years later in 2000 to help promote Disney’s animated film Dinosaur (2000).

Although the track layout, ride vehicle, and story are all almost entirely the same, the ride was a bit different before becoming the DINOSAUR we know and love.

DINOSAUR is located in DinoLand U.S.A., a prehistoric-themed land at Animal Kingdom, and is found at the very back of this land. The entire area is themed around dinosaurs and, more specifically, their discovery.

The biggest differences between DINOSAUR and “Countdown to Extinction” are the voice lines that played during the original version of the ride. Dr. Seeker, the scientist in charge of guests’ trips back in time, sounded a lot more laid back in the first version of the ride, which was at odds with the ride originally being louder, darker, and more intense than it is currently.

The dinosaurs roared more ferociously, the jungle seemed even more pitch black, and the time rover, your ride vehicle that teleports you back in history, created a much more intense and rough ride experience. Along with script changes, the ending was also different.

In the modern-day version of DINOSAUR, the ride ends with a chilling close-up encounter with the vicious Carnotaurus. But in the original version of the ride, as guests head down the final ramp, they are almost taken out by the actual asteroid, which causes the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Another interesting aspect to note when looking at Animal Kingdom’s DINOSAUR is that it is actually a nearly identical copy of the Indiana Jones Adventure, which can be found at both Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. While the theming is completely different, with Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea featuring characters and scenes from the Indiana Jones series, the track layout and ride vehicle are practically the same.

Over the years, DINOSAUR has undergone a few changes with its lighting, sound, and overall upkeep. The ride’s biggest upgrade came in 2016 when DINOSAUR received several refurbishments to its sound system, lighting, screens, and most importantly, the dinosaur animatronics themselves. This refurbishment breathed new life into the attraction, adding high-tech screens and improving the quality of life for the attraction in general.

The ride’s story begins as soon as guests enter the queue for DINOSAUR. Guests walk through the Dino Institute, which is one part research center and one part museum, letting guests learn all about various prehistoric species and time periods. Guests can see multiple small exhibits, including a display of fossils, animals that can be traced back to the dinosaur ages, and theories and evidence regarding the reason all of these animals went extinct.

Once inside the main room, guests can hear the voice of Bill Nye (The Science Guy) narrating the events of how the dinosaurs all went extinct. Nye shares some facts and theories about the age of dinosaurs, using a giant globe hung on the ceiling.

If the ride is not very busy, guests will most likely miss this part of the attraction (but it is still entertaining!). Next, guests will funnel into one of two rooms where a video will be played explaining the story and the role of the guests in this attraction.

Once in this miniature standing theater, guests can watch a video that explains the story of the ride, presented by Dr. Helen Marsh (played by Phylicia Rashad) and Dr. Grant Seeker (played by Wallace Langham). Dr. Seeker explains to the guests that the iguanodon is needed for further research and that the plan is to travel back in time, find the iguanodon, and bring it back to the present.

After Dr. Marsh disapproves of this “unauthorized field trip,” Dr. Seeker secretly switches the coordinates, sending guests right to the end of the Cretaceous period.

Once the video ends, guests walk down into the depths of the Dino Institute, a cold and industrial facility. After guests sit down in their Time Rover, strap in and pull on that yellow strap, they’re off for an “interdimensional joyride.”

How Scary Is it?

The main reason DINOSAUR has garnered the reputation it has comes down to how scary and intense it is, not just for younger guests but riders of all ages. DINOSAUR features loud sounds, dark environments, and terrifying dinosaur encounters, all with that level of realism and detail only Disney Imagineering can offer.

This ride can be horrifying and often leaves many younger guests crying by the end. For adults who really let themselves get invested in the story and theming, DINOSAUR can still prove to be a thrilling experience.

Walt Disney World has a unique relationship with scary attractions. Very few rides can really be considered “scary” by Disney guests. Sure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is pretty creepy, though not many consider it “scary.” The Haunted Mansion, while spooky, is more of a comedic ride through an eccentric ghost-filled mansion.

The one attraction that really gives DINOSAUR a run for its money would be the defunct ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which could be found in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom from 1995 to 2003.

While other rides like Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain exist, none of these come close to the fear factor that DINOSAUR brings. None of the other attractions at Disney World are able to make guests feel like they’re about to be eaten by giant dinosaurs or get blasted by an imminent asteroid impact.