Page 57 - CelebrationsSpring2020

Do you like dinosaurs and...time travel? If so, you’ve impending extinction [as you] glimpse a shower
come to the right place. In this issue, we’re taking a ride on Primeval Whirl, the wackiest roller coaster this side of the Cretaceous Period. So join me as I travel back in time in search of thrills, corny jokes, and laughs... which are thankfully a few of the only things that are not extinct in DinoLand!
A Pre-Historic Backstory and Theme
The backstory for Primeval Whirl ties in loosely with the overall story of DinoLand U.S.A., and dates back to the 1940s in a small town off of Highway 498 in fictional “Diggs County.” This rural area was primarily known as a place of quiet relaxation and good fishing. The town was also home to a small gas station run by an elderly couple, Chester and Hester, who sold basic necessities such as gas, snacks, and fishing supplies to visitors.
Notwithstanding its calm beginnings, the town’s history was forever changed when a massive cache of dinosaur fossils was unexpectedly discovered. Not surprisingly, professors specializing in areas such as anthropology, archaeology, and paleontology soon flooded the town, and their young and mischievous graduate students soon followed. Eventually, the prestigious Dino Institute was established:
“The denizens of this bastion of higher learning are deeply devoted to the science of dinosaurs, and don’t have much of a sense of humor about their work. They’re stuffy and self-important, and...institutional.”
With the influx of both people and notoriety to the area, Chester and Hester looked to capitalize on the opportunity to make more money and began selling dinosaur souvenirs out of their gas station. The couple even went so far as to create an amusement park known as Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama. This area stands in stark contrast to the formal and stuffy atmosphere of the Dino Institute, and is reminiscent of a bright, tacky roadside carnival featuring midway- style games, flashing neon lights, and an array of loud colors and billboards. The starring attraction of Dino- Rama is, you guessed it, Primeval Whirl.
The backstory for Primeval Whirl is that you are travelling aboard a time machine that “whiz[es] by cartoon dinosaurs hastily preparing for their
of kooky meteors.” The theming of Primeval Whirl matches that of Dino-Rama as a whole, as the attraction includes loud colors and tacky signage. The marquee sign for Primeval Whirl includes a funny depiction of a comet crashing into a dinosaur that is sitting in one of the attraction’s ride vehicles.
Back in Time
Primeval Whirl is a unique experience compared to other Disney attractions. At its heart, the attraction probably falls into the family-coaster category. Primeval Whirl does include several drops, but does not come close to reaching the speed or intensity of an attraction like Expedition Everest. What makes the attraction truly unique is that you ride in four-seat vehicles that actually spin around much like the Mad Tea Party in the Magic Kingdom. The combination of the coaster movement and the spinning is fun...but somewhat discombobulating!
As the attraction begins, your vehicle climbs an initial lift hill. In the process, you pass underneath a series of overhead signs that encircle the track. All of these signs have clocks, including some with hands that move backwards, supporting the time travel backstory. Keep your eyes open for the following fun messages on those signs:
• “WAY back in Time”
• “Older Than Dirt”
• “Seconds B4 the Meteor Hits”
A large black and white hypnosis wheel spins in front you as you reach the summit of the lift hill. What follows is a fun series of dips, turns and, thanks to the ride vehicles, spins during the approximately three minute journey. Keep your eyes open during the experience and you may see some of the following fun sights:
• Cartoonish depictions of dinosaurs, including one with a sign that says, “Ice Age or Bust.”
• An hourglass that looks like a cardboard cutout moves back and forth.
• A worried dinosaur holding a sign warning that, “THE END IS NEAR!”
• Another dinosaur yelling, “YIKES!”
Photo © Tim Foster
57 · Celebrations