| Fossil
Fever! Celebrity T. rex, Summer Festival
And Film-Inspired Attraction Greet Guests
At Disney's Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World Resort guests can celebrate the dawn of the dinosaurs
at Disney's Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur Jubilee, a fun-filled festival
of prehistoric proportions May 19-July 8 in the theme park's DinoLand
U.S.A., presented by McDonald's.
Opening at the same time as Walt Disney Pictures' new animated feature
film, Dinosaur, Dinosaur Jubilee features interactive games, live entertainment
throughout DinoLand U.S.A. and the park's unveiling of Sue, an exact
replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed.
Some highlights:
T-rex invades DinoLand U.S.A.
DinoLand U.S.A. welcomes Sue as Disney's newest -- and oldest -- 'cast'
member. Named after fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson, the 65-million-year-old
skeleton was found in 1990 near the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The Field Museum in Chicago purchased it at auction with financial support
from McDonald's Corporation, Walt Disney World Resort, the California
State University system and private individuals.
Following its discovery, paleontologists from The Field Museum began
work on preparing the bones for eventual exhibit in Chicago.
A large part of the bonework was actually done 'on-stage' and in front
of guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom by a three-member team from the
museum.
Scientists estimate the T. rex was about 45 feet long, stood nearly
14 feet tall and weighed between five and seven tons.
An exact cast replica of Sue was unveiled May 17 in DinoLand U.S.A.
That same day, the original Sue was unveiled at The Field Museum in
Chicago.
The 'Countdown' is over it's DINOSAUR!
Countdown to Extinction, the heart-pounding, high-speed adventure that
careens guests through primeval forests as they try to elude a hungry
carnotaurus, now has a new name DINOSAUR.
Featuring scenes similar to those in the new Disney animated feature
film,Dinosaur, the attraction sends guests hurtling back 65 million
years. Along the way, they are introduced to prehistoric giants and
creatures, several which bear a striking resemblance to the characters
in the motion picture.
Welcoming guests to the newly named attraction is the towering cast
replica of Dinosaur Sue. The giant T. rex is on display at the entrance
gates to The Dino Institute, the mythical research facility where guests
board Time Rover vehicles for their trip back to the Cretaceous period.
In addition to being one of the Walt Disney World Resort attractions
to offer FASTPASS -- Disney's revolutionary time-saving option to standing
in line -- DINOSAUR also recently changed its minimum height requirement
from 46 inches to 40 inches, allowing smaller dino-fans the chance to
enjoy the fun.
Fun for the Family
DinoLand U.S.A.'s Dinosaur Jubilee also offers plenty of fossil fun
for the whole family, with new characters, games, live entertainment
and music.
Carnival games, caricaturists, face painters and plenty of children's
activities highlight the Dinosaur Jubilee, which also features a tent-full
of one-of-a-kind dinosaur skeletons and artifacts on display -- and
new interactive prehistoric creatures: a woolly mammoth and a saber-toothed
tiger. |
