Spinning “time-machines” transport Walt Disney World guests on a thrillosaurus journey to the late Cretaceous period in Primeval Whirl, a whimsical coaster attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Primeval Whirl adds zany fun to Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama! area of DinoLand U.S.A. presented by McDonald’s.
Capturing the essence of a colorful roadside fair, Chester & Hester’s 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 on two identical tracks that whirl past flying asteroids and corny depictions of dinosaurs 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. A meteor shower sends guests spinning out of control along the track with a final descent into the gaping jaws of a giant dino fossil. Guests must be 48 inches tall to ride Primeval Whirl.
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 toy, trinket and T-shirt imaginable to meet the demand of souvenir hunters passing by along U.S. Route 498. Seizing 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 also 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 features Disney’s FASTPASS, the system which allows guests, at no additional charge, to avoid lengthy line waits.