2. The overall aesthetic

There's a coldness and a utilitarianism inherent in Dinosaur's design that is wildly out of place at Walt Disney World. If its your particular cup of tea, you can't help but be fascinated by the aged exterior of the show building, the intricately designed museum exhibits, and even the industrial basement aesthetic. If, however, Dinosaur's architectural design just doesn't speak to you, it can absolutely feel impersonal and distant.

This is in stark contrast not only to the warm, playful architecture of Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland or Adventureland, but also to the other areas of Animal Kingdom. There's a humanity to Harambe Village's buildings that isn't quite as evident at the Dino Institute. Asia and even hub of Discovery Island feel more in concert with the natural world, living with the flora and fauna rather than fighting through it.

This is not true of Dinosaur, and I think that subconsciously makes guests feel at least somewhat in opposition to it. And as they progress through the attraction, they ultimately wind up in the basement dispatch depot, which is as unwelcoming and threatening a space as you'll find on Disney property.

All of this, of course, builds up trepidation leading into the actual attraction experience, which is good storytelling – however, it feeling so technological and manmade serves in direct opposition to the rest of the park, which probably causes guests to feel somewhat off put by it. 

1. The method of storytelling

Image: Disney

Dinosaur is a dark ride, and like all other dark rides, it is at its most effective when its directing your attention to specific animatronics and locations. The most effective way of doing this is with light, and so, Dinosaur also take place almost entirely in the pitch-black darkness. This use of darkness is Dinosaur's primary storytelling method: It disorients you and pushes your focus only to where Imagineers want it to go. It simultaneously gives them control of the beats of the story (we're looking for the dinosaur, we find it, we try to escape the Carnotaurus, etc.) while also increasing the thrill factor of the ride.

But, unfortunately, this way of telling a story is completely different from how Animal Kingdom teaches us to follow stories all day. Yes, all Disney attractions direct your attention – that's why they're Disney attractions – but Animal Kingdom is almost entirely about doing so in a manner that is completely invisible. Kilimanjaro Safaris has, on one level, animal habitats positioned in such a way that your truck is magically pointing in the perfect direction every time, and on another level, it has an actual human being telling you where to look. While it may seem obvious, that intimate human-to-human interaction is very different from riding in the darkness. Additionally, the many trails and off-ride habitats encourage exploration and freedom, empowering guests to create a story for themselves. Dinosaur's rigid dark-ride style doesn't fit in with the rest of the park's individualist ethos, instead doing the work for you and preventing you from exploring the world yourself.

Ultimately, Dinosaur is still well reviewed and is still seen as a must-do attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom. However, I think many factors beyond its control have contributed to it being seen as a step down from the rest of Animal Kingdom's signature offerings. That's not really a bad thing, per se – it really just means Animal Kingdom is truly, truly special and original – but it does mean the ride is quite underrated. And so, the next time you ride it, try to clear your mind and view it with new eyes. You might be amazed at just how magical and unique this thrilling attraction really is.