Originally named Countdown to Extinction, the ride’s name was changed to DINOSAUR to promotethe film of the same name after it’s release on May 19, 2000. The attraction has never contained any explicit references to the film, however, the two dinosaurs most prominently featured in the ride have always been an Iguanadon and Carnotaurus, which were both featured prominently in the film. Scenes from the movie also appear in the pre-show, to help the guests identify the Iguanadon as the film’s protagonist, Aladar.

The attraction would now be marketed as a direct companion to the film, rather than a subtle tie-in. The original statue of theStyracosaurusin front of the building was taken away and replaced with a statue of Aladar. Now that the attraction was marketed as a companion the film, more children would be riding. Because of this, the movement of theEnhanced motion vehicleswas changed to be less intense and the ride was also given a less frightening soundtrack.

(I rode Countdown to Extinction in 1998, shortly after the park opened, and even at 9 years old, it scared the bejesus out of me!)

It’s Tough to be a Bug, the 4-D show based on Disney Pixars A Bug’s Life, opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998, a full seven months before the actual feature film debuted in theaters.

More than likely. The skeleton is called “Dino-Sue”, and according to Wikipedia, it is ”a casting of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil that is the most complete yet found”.

I didn’t know that Disney helped the museum by Sue! That’s really cool! I guess then the least the museum could do is let them make a cast of her! lol

Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was Disney’s first attempt at a river rapids type ride. It has since been joined by Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure Park.

Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the tallest of the artificial mountains at Walt Disney World Resort, joining Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mount Gushmore, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Mount Mayday, and 13 others on the list of Disney-built peaks.

Animal Kingdom was designed and run to be as eco friendly as possible. All the benches in animal kingdom are made from recycled milk jugs, and the park never had straws until 2008, but now hand out paper straws.

             — Thanks disneydays2012. I remember going there for the first time, getting a drink, and looking around for lids and straws for about five minutes before I finally asked and was told that they weren’t provided, as they weren’t environmentally friendly.

Kilimanjaro Safaris typically operates until sundown. However, during the holiday season of 1998, the safaris were continued at night and dubbed Kilimanjaro Night Safaris. Though many animals were asleep, or unable to be seen at night, the attraction had a completely different script and storyline. This “new” attraction featured additional animal sounds, reflectors hidden in the foliage to resemble animals’ eyes, and an actual African dance troup, who performed around a bonfire in the area normally occupied by the attraction’s elephants. Kilimanjaro Night Safaris only ran during that initial holiday season. After this time, it was deemed that the additional costs, plus the fact that animal visibility was poor (eliciting many guest complaints), made Night Safaris unfeasible to continue regularly.

In 2009, the Kilimanjaro Safaris script/story was significantly changed. There is less of a story about “Little Red”, and more about the animals in the Reserve and the need to find a lost elephant at the end. This led to a somewhat confused plot in which guests are searching for a lost “mother elephant” and eventually find her baby which, according to the story, had already been safe the whole time. On February 10, 2012 it was announced that the “Little Red” portion of the ride was to be removed all together, and replaced with a zebra exhibit. It has been confirmed that the ride will remain open during construction, and this exhibit is expected to open Fall of 2012

During Cast Previews of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there was a “Dark Ending” to the Kilimanjaro Safaris, in which the safari vehicle encountered the slaughtered corpse of Big Red (the mother elephant). This scene proved too shocking for families and children, and thus was eventually changed to give the attraction a happier ending.

The Tree of Life is the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The 14-story (145-foot tall), 50-foot wide ”tree” is engineered from a refitted oil platform. Ten artists and three Imagineers worked full-time for 18 months to create the 325 animal carvings on The Tree of Life.