Primeval Whirl

Description

Primeval Whirl is a "wild mouse" roller coaster with the added twist of a spinning car over the second half of the ride. It is themed as a countdown to the asteroid impact that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, making it similar in story to the Dinosaur ride that was once called Countdown to Extinction. Primeval Whirl is the main attraction at Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama themed area. It consists of two identical mirror-image tracks, only one of which operates during times of light attendance. Primeval Whirl is set up to be a FASTPASS attraction, but on slow days the machines are frequently disabled.

History

Primeval Whirl officially debuted at the Animal Kingdom on April 18, 2002, nearly four years after the park opened. The ride structure and vehicle were purchased directly from the French ride manufacturer Reverchon and installed on the site, with Walt Disney Imagineering providing the theming.

At the original park opening, this section of Dinoland U.S.A. was home to the 1998 Dinosaur Jubilee (later renamed the 2000 Dinosaur Jubilee, and then Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Jubilee), a static exhibit of actual fossils, casts, and reconstructed dinosaur skeletons.

In November 2007, a cast member working the load zone was struck by a ride vehicle and fell from the loading platform. She later died of injuries sustained in the fall. Disney was cited by OSHA for five worker safety violations and assessed a fine. During the OSHA investigation, Disney added floor sensors around the load area to disable the ride should a cast member enter the restricted access area.

Review

Primeval Whirl is a fun ride for those without a delicate constitution. Like most wild mouse coasters, the primary thrill is not from speed (which tops out at 20 mph) but from the unbanked hairpin turns, which can generate almost 3 G of force. Add in the fact that the ride vehicles are wider than the track, obscuring the view of the track right in front of you, and you get a fear factor that enhances the thrill. The dips are tame by comparison. The spinning is effectively random, providing a different experience with each visit. Sometimes you will spin a lot and go through the dips backwards, other times you'll barely notice the turns.

The theming, indeed the entire attraction, is consistent with the Dino-Rama backstory; this is the kind of tacky ride you expect to find at a roadside tourist trap. In fact, if you're driving to Walt Disney World from North Carolina or parts north, you probably saw one at South of the Border, although it appears to be inoperable.

As with the rest of Dino-Rama, the key to enjoying this ride is to recognize that Disney is not joining the ranks of roadside amusement parks, but is including a little slice of American consumerism within their theme park.

Photos

Touring Tips

• Ride Primeval Whirl early in the morning (along with Dinosaur and Triceratop Spin) or catch it during evening Extra Magic Hours, when Dinoland U.S.A. is practically deserted.
• If the line is long and only one track is operating, kill some time at the other attractions or shops, watching for the second track to open. That should cut the waiting time in half for a short window.
• After the first dip, the spinning will start on the next turn. Lean to the right around the turn to gain extra momentum, then lean in to speed up the turn rate. That is, if you're like our kids and want to be dizzy for the next half an hour.

Hidden Treasures

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Walkthrough

Hidden Mickeys

• On the meteor under the 'Head for the Hills!' sign, craters form a Classic Mickey (show picture).
• On the highest meteor, craters form a Classic Mickey (show picture).