Credit: Inside The MagicOn April 22, 1998, Walt Disney World Resort opened its fourth — and possibly its most beautiful theme park — Animal Kingdom. The new theme park allowed guests to get closer to some of Africa’s most stunning animals. Kilimanjaro Safari took guests onto the African savanna, letting them admire creatures like rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, lions, and even Nile crocodiles.
Guests could also head into Asia and ride a train high into the Himalayas, where they encounter the legendary Yeti. The new theme park’s focus was conservation, and guests can learn more about how to save the planet and live alongside animal populations that are slowly being wiped out.
Related: A Rare Birth Takes Place Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Then, in 2017, Pandora: The World of Avatar opened, and the theme park seemed complete.
But that all changed in 2023 when Disney announced that it was planning on closing DinoLand U.S.A. and replacing it with an area dedicated to the Indiana Jones franchise and the hit film Encanto (2021). While some were shocked, a lot of people were excited to see a change come to the area, which never seemed to be as popular as the rest of the theme park.
Since then, Disney has slowly been dismantling the area. And, on January 12, a large part of the area welcomed guests for the last time.
Related: As DinoLand U.S.A. Heads Into Extinction, Universal Orlando Sends a Parting Shot
January 12 was the last time guests could visit Hester & Chester’s Dino-Rama, which included TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games midway activities, and Hester & Chester’s Dinosaur Treasures store.
After the theme park closed to regular guests, it remained open so cast members could enjoy the opening day land one final time. And during that time, two characters who had not been seen in decades made an appearance.
We are, of course, talking about Hester and Chester themselves!
YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHO PULLED UP AT THE CAST FUCTION (Chester and Hester!!!!)
YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHO PULLED UP AT THE CAST FUCTION (Chester and Hester!!!!) pic.twitter.com/ThhuPsS49S
— montana (@femsteverogers) January 13, 2025
Related: Disney’s DINOSAUR Gets Surprise Update As Total Extinction Looms Over Animal Kingdom
Disney fans were shocked, excited, and also really jealous. Hester and Chester might be some of Animal Kingdom’s rarest characters, and fans wondered why Disney didn’t bring them out for guests in DinoLand’s final weeks.
Guests love seeing rare characters, sometimes even lining up for hours for a chance at a photo op. And bringing out this hilarious duo would have been a perfect sendoff for the area.
NO FREAKING WAY! After almost 25 years they bring Chester and Hester out after closing hours and only for cast?!?! 😫😫😫 Insanely cool but let us character hunters have a chance. They should have wandered the land for the last couple months at least. 🥲
NO FREAKING WAY! After almost 25 years they bring Chester and Hester out after closing hours and only for cast?!?! 😫😫😫 Insanely cool but let us character hunters have a chance. They should have wandered the land for the last couple months at least. 🥲 https://t.co/ac6gxtgBkc
— Dr. Grant Seeker (@Dr_GrantSeeker) January 13, 2025
Related: Disney World Files Official Termination Notice for Entire Park Area
According to Disney legend, Chester and Hester lived in a small roadside town and owned a gas station. However, their town exploded in popularity when the bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex were discovered.
Chester and Hester did not want to miss out on the town’s dinosaur boom, so they began selling dinosaur-themed souvenirs out of their gas station. But soon, they turned their gas station into Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures. They also built a small amusement park and called it Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama!.
DinoLand U.S.A.’s remaining ride, DINOSAUR will remain open through 2025 as Disney begins construction on its Tropical Americas retheme.
The new land is slated to open in 2027.
Would you love to have seen Chester and Hester before Dino-Rama! closed? Should Disney have brought them out for regular guests? Are you excited about the Tropical Americas area? Share your thoughts in the comments!