Dinoland, USA: My Review and Why I love it

Hi there readers and welcome back to Muting and The Mouse. This post will be short and to the point. Disney does a wonderful job of theming but there was one land that I never really understood or even enjoyed. But ultimately, there is some good old fashioned fun for all to be found in this area of Animal Kingdom. The land for me is where you can ultimately become a kid while entering some thrill as an adult. This is my all time favorite thing about Disney and you have heard me say that before. Dinoland, USA has just that and I will tell you why coming up soon! This past trip we did something we had never done before and it added to the fun. There is something in the land to do for all and there are some food options for the whole family which makes this land the ultimate fun! Let’s dive into the land of the dinosaurs and explore what the land has to offer for all!

When you first get into the land, you are greeted by the sign that signifies you are in the land. As you walk through and into Dinoland, you see a giant dinosaur bone. The bones tour high over you and you know you are getting close to the fun inside. You get into the land and you see some food carts. The first cart has some ice cream and snacks to enjoy. Here, we have gotten the buffalo chips and they are yummy. The kettle cooked chips are covered in buffalo chicken, lettuce, blue cheese, and celery. The chips are good and satisfy that spicy craving if you dare to enjoy them. I think this cart is a good find and is one reason that I like the land. The other restaurants in the land are all good and have options for kids. Some of the other karts have popcorn, pretzels, and hot dogs. They provide options for the whole family, even those picky eaters. From there, they do have a quick service restaurant called Restaurantasourus. This quick service restaurant has burgers, chicken, and some desserts. The condiment bar is always a favorite as well for extra sides. Now, enough about the good food options, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the land. 

The land is set in the 40’s and is a fortified boneyard when you get in for the kids to play in. As you continue to get into the land, you see it is set up like a carnival. The carnival was set up by two of the local dino’s Chester and Hester. You can see them on the triceratops spin which is basically like the Dumbo ride. These local dino’s want to make a quick buck in the land and set up gift shops, carnival games, and carnival rides around for all to enjoy. This is where the fun can be had by all. The rides are all fun but something Abby and I never did before this past trip was play the carnival games. We decided we wanted to try out the carnival this trip and let me tell you, it was fun. You are never too old for carnival games and here we were trying to beat the games as adults. Tickets are 5 dollars a piece and to me, that seemed a little bit high, but looking at the prizes, I guess if you win, it does come out ahead. We bought a total of 4 tickets and played some games. The first game we played was basketball and we were able to win one prize! We won a triceratops that is from the Dinoland signs and pictures. I played this a couple times and only won once. Next, Abby took her turn on the game of chance. You throw a wiffle ball onto a board and if it lands in a whole with a color, that is the kind of prize you win. Abby was able to win it and chose Mickey with a Dino Institute T Shirt on. This was the most fun and we had an estimated $30 of souvenirs for $20 in tickets so it was worth it! This was surprisingly fun and I would try again to get the rest of the fun prizes to complete the set.

From there, I guess we should go into the Dino Institute. The Dino Institute tucked away in Dinoland was founded by some scientist and paleontologists of the land and has displays of the dinosaurs. The exhibits are so fun and take you back to a kids field trip. Bill Nye is narrating the old exhibit and before long you get on the Dinosaur ride. Here is where you get the thrill of the lifetime coming face to face with the dinosaurs as you travel back into time. This is one of my favorite rides, so this just confirms why I love this land. 

Finally, make sure you stick around for Donald’s Dino Bash! You can meet Donald and the gang as they meet for autographs, pictures, and dancing around the land. They are all dressed to fit the theme of the carnival and the meet and greets are fun for the whole family. It is fun to see them in the theme of the carnival and not in their normal clothes. Chip and Dale are funny as they dress up as dinos to meet the crowds. 

That concludes it for the carnival land of Dinoland, USA. The restaurants are all fun to try, the rides are an A plus, and the carnival games are fun for kids and adults alike. Now, I will admit, at times the ride seems random and it could be easy to retheme, but I like it as a whole. This could be a Disney hot take of mine, but I stand firm in the love for Dinoland, USA. The characters add so much to the land and the kids will be dancing around with the music that blasts through the land. It really is a fun time for all. Do you like Dinoland, USA? What is your favorite part? Have you played the carnival games? Let us know in the comments below and let’s share in being a kid together. I think my favorites are Dinosaur the ride and the carnival games. Those carnival games really were worth our time and we will be doing it again on our next trips. We will be back soon, but until next time, escape into the magic, no matter how far!