Spinning "time-machines" transport Walt Disney World guests on a thrillosaurus journey to the late Cretaceous period in Primeval Whirl, a whimsical new coaster attraction in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Primeval Whirl is an expansion of the recently opened Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama! area of DinoLand U.S.A. presented by McDonald's.
Capturing the essence of a colorful roadside fair, Dino-Rama! celebrates the long-gone age of the dinosaur with spinning and whirling rides, giant concrete dinosaurs and old-fashioned amusement games -- a crazy kaleidoscope of family fun.
Primeval Whirl features 13 colorful cars that whirl past flying asteroids and corny depictions of dinosaur cut-outs that spin and pop up along the track. The spinning coaster takes guests on a wacky time warp back to the prehistoric era on a twisting track of tight loops and short drops . . . with a final descent into the gaping jaws of a giant dino fossil.
Primeval Whirl enhances the homespun, fun-fair feel of Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama!, said Joe Rohde, executive designer and vice president/creative for Walt Disney Imagineering.
"There is a charming joy about this," said Rohde. "It evokes a kind of playfulness that Walt sought to create in his theme parks."
It all started with Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, a gaudy gift shop stuffed to the rafters with every kind of dinosaur toy, trinket and T-shirt imaginable to meet the demand of souvenir hunters passing by along U.S. Route 498. Sporting an opportunity for more excitement, the eccentric entrepreneurs of DinoLand U.S.A. -- the fictional Chester and Hester -- added the old-fashioned carnival of bright string lights, amusing attractions, classic pop tunes and wide smiles.
The "Emporium of Extinction" recently opened TriceraTop Spin, an open-air, spinning toy-top attraction with playful, chubby dinosaurs. Up to four guests ride in triceratops vehicles that rise and tilt as they spin around a giant top while cartoon comets whiz past and playful dinosaurs pop up.
An array of dino-themed games adds fun and nostalgia to the area. Games include Dino-Whamma, a classic mallet strength game; Mammoth Marathon, a racing derby; Comet Crasher, a goblet toss game; Fossil Fueler, a water-squirt game themed to a prehistoric gas station; and Bronto-Score, a basketball game.
Primeval Whirl is the 24th Disney's FASTPASS attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. The FASTPASS system allows guests to bypass the actual line and better plan their day in the four theme parks. Disney's FASTPASS is free and available to all guests with a valid theme park pass.
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