As of today, Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama has closed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to make room for Tropical Americas. Tropical Americas was announced at D23 in August and will feature attractions inspired by Encanto, Indiana Jones, Coco, and Up. With the closing of this area at Animal Kingdom, I thought it would be a good time to talk a little about the history of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama.
Disney Imagineers are renowned for weaving intricate stories into every attraction, and Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama is no exception. According to the lore, Chester and Hester were local entrepreneurs who owned a gas station near a fossil dig site. When scientists unearthed dinosaur bones in the area, it drew a wave of tourists and palaeontology enthusiasts. Chester and Hester saw an opportunity and transformed their property into a roadside attraction, complete with carnival games, rides, and dinosaur-themed decorations. The whole area is built in the parking lot of the gas station.
This narrative explains the deliberately “low-budget” aesthetic of Dino-Rama, with its gaudy signage, mismatched decor, and bright colors. It’s designed to mimic the feel of a roadside carnival that sprang up to capitalize on the dino craze, creating a sense of authenticity and humor.
The little area of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama has packed a lot into its small corner of Animal Kingdom. There were 2 attractions in the area. The first was TriceraTop Spin, which opened in 2001, it was a very similar style ride to Dumbo The Flying Elephant attraction from the Magic Kingdom. The other ride in the area, which closed in 2020, was Primeval Whirl, which opened in 2002. Primeval Whirl was a spinning roller coaster themed to time travel and to the meteor which was believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Near the rides, you could find Fossil Fun Games. This area had carnival games scattered throughout for a delightful throwback to boardwalks and county fairs. From basketball challenges to ring tosses, these games offer the chance to win dinosaur-themed prizes, adding an extra layer of fun to your visit to the area.
One of my favorite sections was Chester and Hester’s Gas Station. This building served as the area’s gift shop (Chester and Hesters Dinosaur Treasures), and the theming and decor were amazing. The gift shop originally opened in 1998. Upon entering this building, I would always look up at the ceiling as there was always so much to see. At one time, the store used to have some unique items you could only find back there, but eventually gave way to the merchandise you could find throughout any of the Walt Disney World parks.
While Chester and Hesters Dino-Rama will be missed, I’m very excited about the future of Tropical Americas. I know so many fans hate to see something they love go away, but since Primeval Whirl closed, the area never seemed to feel the same. It became more of an area just to cut across between Dinosaur and Expedition Everest. Regardless, I will miss this classic area of Animal Kingdom.
Added: You May Also Enjoy: Indiana Jones and ‘Encanto’ Confirmed for Animal Kingdom
As co-owner and co-creator of The Main Street Mouse.Working in a technical support position for 18 years, it was time for a change.As the Webmaster and Project Planner, I spend most of my time researching everything from the latest Disney News, technology advances and of course keeping up on all the Marvel news that comes out.I never considered myself a writer but I’ve come to like blogging and sharing news with all.I feel blessed everyday that I get to spend my days working with my best friend and love of my life while we continue to grow and expand what started as a hobby all those years ago.
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