I just went there recently. It's such a charming old school attraction. Central Florida has a lot of expensive and newer attractions, but few have the charm that Dinosaur World does.
I love how you cover these smaller attraction parks. Most channels I find usually cover the common Disney or universal parks, but your videos offer so much more!
Dinosaur World holds such a special place in my heart. As someone who grew up in central Florida and was constantly driving along I4, I’m very familiar with the sights of all the classic attractions you’ve been covering lately. This one was by far my favorite. W named the dinosaurs along the highway (Steve, Darryl, and Jess, to name a few), and it was a summer tradition to come here with my grandparents and explore the trails and exhibits. I haven’t been back there in years, and I miss it very much
@@PoseidonEntertainmentnot the op, but what about weeki wachee springs state park and it’s mermaids? Also have you ever considered covering anything in the keys? Because there’s some cool stuff there like theater of the sea, dolphin research center, and the ship wreck museum
@@PoseidonEntertainment Lakeland has a small air museum called Sun N Fun. I haven't been there myself, (I plan on going eventually) but I know they host a massive, weeklong expo in March for all things air-related. There's also the smaller Fun Spot USA parks in Orlando and Kissimmee. Kissimmee's is called Old Town and has classic car shows come in frequently. Both parks feel like piers on land, but Old Town definitely has a nicer aesthetic due to its car theme.
I love seeing you cover these classic Central Florida attractions! I used to take students here on field trips all the time. My kids always had a blast and there's something about dinosaurs that always make me feel like a kid again, even if the park is a little dated.
I got to go to Dinosaur World twice during my visits to Florida and I gotta say it's an extremely enjoyable experience, I loved seeing all the giant statues.
As someone who went to Dinosaur World numerous times as a kid, the strange building at 8:01 used to be the original gift shop, and everything that was shown before the trail wasn’t built at the time this was the case. Ever since then, I believe the place is now used for storage space, and why it’s closed off
Ah, I had gone here when I was really young (maybe 2002 or 2003?) but I don't remember much. It makes sense that it would have been the original building.
@@PoseidonEntertainment tbf I was about eight years or younger when I last stepped foot in there before the expansion to the attraction opened, so maybe it was used in the way described in the video before being left abandoned. I also think I heard that the backside of the building is where a dinosaur meet and greet happens, so perhaps the building is to hold the costume for the workers.
as a dino-obsessed central floridian, dinosaur world was a frequent stop for my family. it used to be pretty run down in all honesty but there have been some insane recent renovations that have totally revamped the park. It used to be the gift shop, maybe half the dino figures and the fossil dig from what i can remember. i haven't been able to visit it as an adult, but seeing all the changes they have made i will have to relive that major part of my childhood!
I would go to Dinosaur World as a kid some 20 years ago. It's nice to see it hasn't fallen into disrepair, forlorn and forgotten. It holds a warm place in my heart, this place and Bok Tower.
Yo I've been there multiple times and my friend actually works there! The most interesting stories I've heard about dino world was 1. Some kids I knew got high there and had a good time and 2. All of the dinosaurs were made by one guy in the 70s or 80s and so when they break (like one getting impaled by a tree in a hurricane) they don't have anyone to fix the dinosaurs now.
@@PoseidonEntertainmentThe man , Christer Svensson , built many of them prior to the parks opening. It was originally over a hundred and he made an additional three for the parks every year up to a certain point.
Looks like a passion project . It's nice to see smaller scale projects like this that will expand our imagination. I'll be stopping by next time I'm in the area. Would be interested in seeing a Poseidon deep dive into the theme miniature courses! Another great video with the morning coffee.
I actually have an idea in the back of my mind, visiting every mini golf course in Orlando. I don't know what I could really say, but it might make for an interesting future video. Also, I do believe it is a passion project, owned by a man named Christer Svensson. I can't find any information on its history, but it's definitely a place I want to know more about.
When I was a little kid obsessed with Dinosaurs, my grandparents lived in Central Florida, and they’d take me here just about every time I’d go visit them. Some of my favorite childhood memories. Now that I live in the area myself, it’s probably about time I make a return trip
I live about 20 mins from this attraction, and while it can basically summed up with that tiktok audio of the Jurassic Park theme song being played on a kazoo, we had an absolute ball going through the walking trail and admiring how.. expressive the dinosaur sculpts were.
I've lived in Florida since I was a toddler and I've ridden or driven past Dinosaur World hundreds of times in the past 30-mumble years, but now I'm going to go. In January when being outdoors for more than a few minutes at a time is bearable.
I drove past dino world every week for years when I was a kid, only ever went once but my favorite story is how for about a month somebody had been shooting the roadside T-Rex with arrows and it was always a game my dad and I would play to see whether the arrow bandit had struck again. It was a big highlight of the trip, I always made him wake me up to see it if I had fallen asleep, very good memories were made on those drives
I’ve passed dinosaur world many times and have always been curious about what’s inside. It looks like a really interesting place to explore and walk around in. Will definitely check it out!
You would not believe the look on my face when i opened your channel and seen my job on your channel. I love your work and i hoped you loved the dinosaurs. The fossils and the gems are AUTHENTIC. The fossils are Florida marine fossils dug from Florida. The gems are mined from Brazil. The mini golf course was envisioned for ages toddler through nine. The Peculiar building has been closed off since 2011 and was a gift shop before it expanded from that bridge to the current gift shop, Its used as a painting studio at the moment. While the back half was opened briefly as a trivia show that left with the COVID 19 pandemic and did not return. The exploration cave is NOT under referbishment. Its open weekends 10 to 3 , It's a great tour and is very informative. The dinosaurs were handmade out of polysyrene foam , fiberglass and putty. They are regularly painted. The owner , Christer Svensson , made over a hundred prior to opening starting in 1980 and added three a year to a certain point. If they are inaccurate its because they were handmade around that time frame and the science of paleontology changes very often. The owner , the gentleman who made them , is now retired which is why no updated statues have been made. The small building in the middle of the swamp , your very accurate btw it was a gator world before it was dinosaur world and before that it was a swamp , is a Floridia themed musuem. Not mentioned but also in the back of the park is the train ride and the 7 ducks that hang around the bridge. And yes the Dinosaur World Cave town Kentucky location and the Glenn Rose Texas location are part of the franchise. The Florida part was the first , The Kentucky park was the second and the Texas park was the last to be made.The gas station is actually very well kept btw , very nice employees.
Sorry if that's just a super long tangent. I saw you were trying to find more history on it and I wanted to try to explain as much as possible as someone who also shares a lot of love for the behind the scenes and history of roadside attractions and theme parks
Always love the charm and small scale of these parks. Here in France there are quite a few (also dino or prehistoric themed) as well but less clean and more broken.
I’ve lived here and traveled the I4 corridor practically all of my life and you are right, I’ve always wondered but never stopped so this was an instant click for me!
I live with my mom in Mango, and I sometimes visit my dad in Lakeland. My dad drives me to and back, and on each and every trip I happen to drive on the exact roads that were filmed from in the start of the video. All I could do was give a big thumbs up
As so many others commenting, I'm a Central Florida native, and have brought my kids here a few times. As they have gotten older, the visits have stopped, but I feel like they would start to enjoy it again as they get into their later teens for the strange little off-the-highway roadside attraction that it is. I can confirm that young kids _love_ it despite, or maybe because, of its simplicity in presenting DINOSAURS! along the walkways. This place will always hold a special spot in my heart where I've been able to bring my kids for an enjoyable afternoon. DON'T overlook the gift shop! It's a strange and eclectic little place, with lots of fun toys, and yes, even _actual_ fossils, in addition to the many reproductions. (At least of the last time I visited.) Obviously the real ones are priced accordingly. It might look kitschy, and it is, but it's also endearing and fascinating at the same time. Don't miss it!
I remember going with a partner, my favorite part of the board walk were seeing all the turtles sunbathing near the dinosaur figures. Yeah it’s campy but it’s the Florida charm campy.
Ill be honest, Dinosaur World looks a lot better than I expected. I’ll definitely add the Kentucky one to my to do list when in the mammoth cave region.
I'm a central florida native and resident. I've never been here but went to gator jungle a dozen times as a kid with my dad in the early 90s. I'm glad they have a little section honoring toyo and the old alligator jungle. A lot of great memories there.
Ive been going to Dino World for a few decades, its amazing how much its grown. I frikken love this place, used to come by myself to walk around and blow off steam, now I take my kids and enjoy it all over again. Cant wait to go check out the new splash pads and stuff lol.
Oh my gosh, I SO agree on Dinoland! It's one of the pillars on which Animal Kingdom was built (extinct animals) and should be reimagined, not replaced. I would be hesitant to call Dinosaur World educational, however, as many of the dinosaurs are depicted in ways that would have been dated even when it opened. Many of the exhibits look like they came from the early 90's/late 80's.
I came here a lot as a kid. Still love dinos to this day. It has come a long way since I last saw it, a lot of the models were very dated last I went but at the very least you could count on one thing; that the signs would claim each model was sized accurately. It was fascinating as an older kid to finally be able to grasp the size of the creatures I saw in books when I was younger. I mean I had a rough idea from reading but sometimes only a face to face model will give you a real appreciation. I'd never think stegos and some hadrosaurs were THAT big compared to me.
I never thought I'd see a random video about dinosaur world show up in my feed. I used to have birthday parties there when I was really little and loved it
I'm in Tampa and have somehow never been to Dinosaur World despite passing it so many times. Cool to see it get some love, definitely want to go in the next year!
When I was a kid around the turn of the milennia, my mom used to have to drive down to Tampa to pick up her meds, and I'd always BEG her to stop here. Just getting to see it from the car window was always the highlight of the trip. Finally, she relented and we planned a family trip out there; it's still one of my favorite childhood memories. One thing that's been a nice suprise over the last twenty years is how the place has not only managed to stay afloat, but that it's grown SO much since that trip back then (I remember FREAKING out when they added the indor exhibit). Always brings a nostagiac smile to my face when people bring it up. 😄
The building at 8:00 used to be the original welcome center before Dinosaur World got a massive update sometime in the late 2000s/early 2010s. The entire first portion used to not exist and the original parking lot before the update was just before the gate at 7:25
a few things you missed: 6:20 the fossils at the dig pit are indeed real, they're just very small and cheap stuff like shark teeth and invertebrate fossils 7:32 not a T. rex but a Baryonyx; surprisingly, there isn't a baryonyx mount in the park at all 8:17 that was the original gift shop/admission area before the renovation! my first time going we went through there Anyways. I used to love this place as a typical dinosaur-loving kid back in the early 2000s! Still, in retrospect, I still unfortunately have issues with it. The mounts and information are getting very dated- especially with many of the theropods. the last time i was there i went with my little cousin, and the Acrocanthosaurus display insisted that the animal was cold-blooded. This was part of the renovated new section too, and I thought "why would they be going *backward* in terms of scientific accuracy?" One of the dig pit staff also said that the crinoid fossils there were plants- they're marine animals related to starfish. Apparently despite discussing deep time, there's no mentions of evolution or anything in the park itself. This is allegedly to cater to church youth groups and christian schools, to assure them that they aren't being fed "athiest propaganda" (inb4 debate about religion in the comments). Which sacrifices some of the educational potential, but it's a good business move. So having grown up and pursuing paleontology in college now, it's... an interesting feeling looking back at the place. The inaccurate dinosaur statues do have a bit of nostalgic quirk and cheese to them though, and you know what? Maybe I'll visit with my girlfriend next month since we'll be driving by it. (they should hire me as a scientific consultant and artist, even if just briefly)
I posted your correction in a pinned comment. I also did notice that while this place aims to be educational, I did also get the impression that it was only loosely so. Maybe I shouldn't have been so eager to praise it in that aspect, but at the very least, hopefully it inspires kids to want to learn more.
@@PoseidonEntertainment We went to a park much like this in Kentucky when the kids were little, and while some of the dinosaurs cracked me up because they were clearly painted to resemble John Deere tractors (which my John Deere tractor loving son thought the coolest), the museums were reasonably informative and we found some good educational stuff in the gift shop. And of course the point was made that we often don't know what colors the animals were connected to various fossils. Depending on the subject, even state museums meant to be educational from the git go can be a bit iffy over the years as science progresses, and attractions like this suffer from time passing and changes in scientific assumptions as well. The Kentucky Dinosaur World is also a great break for kids traveling by car cross country, offering both an opportunity to stretch their legs and something interesting and entertaining to do at a reasonable price (well, reasonable depending on how many kids you're paying for!).
1:24 I went to Disney this January with my mom, aunt and cousin. We had a great time at both EPCOT and Disney Animal Kingdom. And on the last day we went to the T.Rex Cafe, and honestly, the food was actually pretty good. I had ribs and chicken, which was really good.
I was worried when I saw this that you might be critical of this silly little park until I remembered how much you like dinosaurs. I’m glad you had a fun time! I used to beg to come here all the time and I usually end up dragging friends here as a rite of passage with me. It’s a great time and it’s a delight to see it on the highway when driving into Tampa for Gasparilla each year. Also I think it would be pretty neat if you did a video on T-Rex/Rainforest cafe
Resident Florian here, the last time I was in there was a field trip in middle school before "Jurassic World" was even announced. I've seen it in passing on my way to the Disney theme parks. Personally I think it is up to one's imagination but I might take another look through it to see how they scale the dinosaurs next to people.
We did several Birthday parties there when the kinds were younger. Good value, and a nice break from the endless Chuck E Cheese, Skate Rink, and Laser tag parties
once again you cover a place near and dear to my heart. at some point, they used to have a row of sauropods facing the highway but after some hurricane season one fell and the rest toppled like dominoes. they left them there for a little bit lol.
I live close to dinosaur world and I even went there with one of my college classes to talk about Susan sontag's notes on Camp. I love how kitschy it is and I'm glad you made a video about it!
My dad would always take me here as a kid, I absolutely loved this place growing up and holds a very special place in my childhood. Now I would love to turn the park more into a theme park!
I remember going to this place when I was maybe 9 or 10 and it was actually really cool and I’d go back even now. I even still have a souvenir from there.
Gosh, i remember going here for a fieldtrip when i was little... i loved this place so much, it never lost its charm. With all the classic original stuff at WDW being replaced with movie IPs, im so happy Dinosaur World has stayed relatively the same. Never change, Dinosaur World. (Well, maybe that dino mini-golf though.)
Thank you so much for covering this topic! I have lived in central Florida my entire life and have memories seared into my mind of seeing Dinosaur World every time my parents drove to my grandparents’ house in Tampa. I always know I’m halfway between my parents house and my Nanna’s house when I see the giant T-Rex. I’ve been a few times as a child and have fond memories of it. I liked the concept of just being outside and walking around, exploring things, joking around with my family, laughing at the dinosaurs. It’s worth the money for how unique it is. I loved Dinosaur World and MOSI. We never had money for Disney but I never regretted it because my parents took us to these amazing and educational places. I still have the plastic dinosaur I bought at the gift shop.
7:58 the strange dinosaur building used to be the gift shop, as the park used to be much larger and that was right next to the enterance about a decade ago.
I needed this video. 30+ year Florida resident. Been passing that exhibit on the i4 for years and always say "we need to check that place out" But never do. I think it's time.
I visited with my autistic son last weekend. He was amazed! The fossil dig was mostly small sharks teeth and such. I am working on editing my video now. I was really impressed with the place, especially walking through the swamp. 🙌
We have a dinosaur would about an hour away from Fort Worth in Glen Rose Texas! Definitely geared towards kids, but still fun! Plus the museums is next to Dinosaur valley state park, they have real dinosaur foot prints there, still in the river!
The building with the dinosaur head and legs sticking out used to be the old gift shop back when I was a kid. I think it may be abandoned now but maybe it does have tours like you said. I’m not sure
Thank you for making this video. Every time I pass this attraction when I leave Walt Disney World, my mind filled with curiosity, but I was never pushed to even buy the admission tickets. I genuinely would’ve loved that place as a kid.
I used to take my daughter there all the time when she was a kid. Along with the dinosaurs, they used to also have live animals, bobcats, bears, alligators, crocodiles. The gift shop sold alligator meat. Lol. $5 admission at the time. Old time Roadside attractions are cheesy but more fun than the big parks.
Wow, this fills me with nostalgia. When I was little, every other year, my parents would take me here. We couldn’t afford Lego land or Disney every year, so we’d go here. Being an idiot kid, I found it an equal experience to legoland or Disney at a time. This really takes me back.
i’ve lived in tampa my whole life, dinosaur world is one of the go to field trip destinations along with MOSI, the tampa aquarium and the zoo, last time i was there they were in the middle of construction, for how often i went as a kid i gave no clue what its like now lol i still get excited every time i see it on a roadtrip tho, not sure if i’ll ever grow out of that 😭
My mom said she took us once when we were little and has never stopped complaining since. Everytime we used to drive to Orlando and she'd see it, we'd hear about it all over again.
(Dinosaur World) was in elementary school when I came here the last time. They repainted the front T-Rex, which I found shocking when I saw it. I still go by it from time to time, seeing the 2 front T-Rexs
I went here in 2018, had a pretty good time (even if I did get stung by a wasp immediately after walking in lol). The paleontology show was open at the time and was great, and there was also a show featuring a person in a dinosaur costume being “trained”. I love the aesthetic of the park and how cheesy it is.
I went during November so there wasn’t as many bugs, I think the only wasp I saw was the one that got me lol, and it was literally RIGHT as I walked out the gift shop door into the park. Saw lots of lizards though, every dinosaur had at least one lizard on it. The staff there also told me that if you stay until after dark, wild armadillos come out and walk on the paths, but I didn’t stay that late so I can’t confirm this.
Correction:
granabam in the comments pointed out that the skeleton at 7:32 is not a T-Rex, but is actually a Baryonyx
Also the accurate dilo in the park isn’t much better with the wrong skull shape and body proportions.
The crests are way too small as well.
@@mlgodzilla4206 They should fix up the “accurate” Dilophosaurus to make it more scientifically accurate!
There’s an interesting dichotomy between newer figures in the park that are more accurate and older kinda ugly ones
@@carminecdinoproductions just implement new models in general
@@mlgodzilla4206I mean, none of the Dinosaurs are accurate to their real life counterparts. This is all relative.
as a central Florida native I cannot overstate my excitement for dinosaur world
Every kid growing up in Florida remembers that giant dinosaur facing I4 lol
We drove past that thing every summer. We named him Steve and he talks like a stoner.
Yep. My buddy and I lived about 25 minutes away from DW several years ago now and visited it
Me too! 50+ years
i went there so much as a kid, love to see the representation
I just went there recently. It's such a charming old school attraction. Central Florida has a lot of expensive and newer attractions, but few have the charm that Dinosaur World does.
I really like older stuff. Old attractions, dark rides, road-side stuff all have a strange allure to them.
Oh, I agree!
I love how you cover these smaller attraction parks. Most channels I find usually cover the common Disney or universal parks, but your videos offer so much more!
I always try to make every video unique. Even if it's Disney or Universal, I try to cover ground that other people haven't before.
Dinosaur World holds such a special place in my heart. As someone who grew up in central Florida and was constantly driving along I4, I’m very familiar with the sights of all the classic attractions you’ve been covering lately. This one was by far my favorite. W named the dinosaurs along the highway (Steve, Darryl, and Jess, to name a few), and it was a summer tradition to come here with my grandparents and explore the trails and exhibits. I haven’t been back there in years, and I miss it very much
Do you have any suggestions for central Florida stuff I should look into?
@@PoseidonEntertainmentnot the op, but what about weeki wachee springs state park and it’s mermaids? Also have you ever considered covering anything in the keys? Because there’s some cool stuff there like theater of the sea, dolphin research center, and the ship wreck museum
Oh wonderworks could be fun to cover too
I remember the gator place, been here forever! Any other attractions? What about bok towers or spook hill
@@PoseidonEntertainment Lakeland has a small air museum called Sun N Fun. I haven't been there myself, (I plan on going eventually) but I know they host a massive, weeklong expo in March for all things air-related. There's also the smaller Fun Spot USA parks in Orlando and Kissimmee. Kissimmee's is called Old Town and has classic car shows come in frequently. Both parks feel like piers on land, but Old Town definitely has a nicer aesthetic due to its car theme.
FINALLY SOME PROPER DINOSAUR WORLD REPRESENTATION
I love seeing you cover these classic Central Florida attractions! I used to take students here on field trips all the time. My kids always had a blast and there's something about dinosaurs that always make me feel like a kid again, even if the park is a little dated.
I couldn't find much information on its history, but isn't it updated with new figures every so often?
I got to go to Dinosaur World twice during my visits to Florida and I gotta say it's an extremely enjoyable experience, I loved seeing all the giant statues.
As someone who went to Dinosaur World numerous times as a kid, the strange building at 8:01 used to be the original gift shop, and everything that was shown before the trail wasn’t built at the time this was the case. Ever since then, I believe the place is now used for storage space, and why it’s closed off
Ah, I had gone here when I was really young (maybe 2002 or 2003?) but I don't remember much. It makes sense that it would have been the original building.
@@PoseidonEntertainment tbf I was about eight years or younger when I last stepped foot in there before the expansion to the attraction opened, so maybe it was used in the way described in the video before being left abandoned. I also think I heard that the backside of the building is where a dinosaur meet and greet happens, so perhaps the building is to hold the costume for the workers.
as a dino-obsessed central floridian, dinosaur world was a frequent stop for my family. it used to be pretty run down in all honesty but there have been some insane recent renovations that have totally revamped the park. It used to be the gift shop, maybe half the dino figures and the fossil dig from what i can remember. i haven't been able to visit it as an adult, but seeing all the changes they have made i will have to relive that major part of my childhood!
I would go to Dinosaur World as a kid some 20 years ago. It's nice to see it hasn't fallen into disrepair, forlorn and forgotten. It holds a warm place in my heart, this place and Bok Tower.
Dinosaur World brought out the inner paleontologist in me, from when I was a kid obsessed with Dinosaurs, fond memories.
I went there years ago as a kid and this brought back so many great memories
I grew up with Dinosaur World because of my obsession with Dinosaurs when I was a kid! I still like Dinosaurs still.
Yo I've been there multiple times and my friend actually works there! The most interesting stories I've heard about dino world was
1. Some kids I knew got high there and had a good time
and 2. All of the dinosaurs were made by one guy in the 70s or 80s and so when they break (like one getting impaled by a tree in a hurricane) they don't have anyone to fix the dinosaurs now.
Where did the dinosaurs come from? The place opened in 1998.
@@PoseidonEntertainmentThe man , Christer Svensson , built many of them prior to the parks opening. It was originally over a hundred and he made an additional three for the parks every year up to a certain point.
Looks like a passion project . It's nice to see smaller scale projects like this that will expand our imagination. I'll be stopping by next time I'm in the area.
Would be interested in seeing a Poseidon deep dive into the theme miniature courses!
Another great video with the morning coffee.
I actually have an idea in the back of my mind, visiting every mini golf course in Orlando. I don't know what I could really say, but it might make for an interesting future video.
Also, I do believe it is a passion project, owned by a man named Christer Svensson. I can't find any information on its history, but it's definitely a place I want to know more about.
such a goofy attraction, but it was really fun to gather my Orlando and Tampa friends to see the silliness together
When I was a little kid obsessed with Dinosaurs, my grandparents lived in Central Florida, and they’d take me here just about every time I’d go visit them. Some of my favorite childhood memories. Now that I live in the area myself, it’s probably about time I make a return trip
I live about 20 mins from this attraction, and while it can basically summed up with that tiktok audio of the Jurassic Park theme song being played on a kazoo, we had an absolute ball going through the walking trail and admiring how.. expressive the dinosaur sculpts were.
I've lived in Florida since I was a toddler and I've ridden or driven past Dinosaur World hundreds of times in the past 30-mumble years, but now I'm going to go. In January when being outdoors for more than a few minutes at a time is bearable.
I love Dinosaur World. I loved the park when I was younger and went there. It always holds a special place in my heart.
I have vivid memories of being here with my parents when I was 6, I remember being so amazed and this place jumpstarting my obsession with dinosaurs.
I drove past dino world every week for years when I was a kid, only ever went once but my favorite story is how for about a month somebody had been shooting the roadside T-Rex with arrows and it was always a game my dad and I would play to see whether the arrow bandit had struck again. It was a big highlight of the trip, I always made him wake me up to see it if I had fallen asleep, very good memories were made on those drives
I’ve passed dinosaur world many times and have always been curious about what’s inside. It looks like a really interesting place to explore and walk around in. Will definitely check it out!
You would not believe the look on my face when i opened your channel and seen my job on your channel. I love your work and i hoped you loved the dinosaurs. The fossils and the gems are AUTHENTIC. The fossils are Florida marine fossils dug from Florida. The gems are mined from Brazil. The mini golf course was envisioned for ages toddler through nine. The Peculiar building has been closed off since 2011 and was a gift shop before it expanded from that bridge to the current gift shop, Its used as a painting studio at the moment. While the back half was opened briefly as a trivia show that left with the COVID 19 pandemic and did not return. The exploration cave is NOT under referbishment. Its open weekends 10 to 3 , It's a great tour and is very informative. The dinosaurs were handmade out of polysyrene foam , fiberglass and putty. They are regularly painted. The owner , Christer Svensson , made over a hundred prior to opening starting in 1980 and added three a year to a certain point. If they are inaccurate its because they were handmade around that time frame and the science of paleontology changes very often. The owner , the gentleman who made them , is now retired which is why no updated statues have been made. The small building in the middle of the swamp , your very accurate btw it was a gator world before it was dinosaur world and before that it was a swamp , is a Floridia themed musuem. Not mentioned but also in the back of the park is the train ride and the 7 ducks that hang around the bridge. And yes the Dinosaur World Cave town Kentucky location and the Glenn Rose Texas location are part of the franchise. The Florida part was the first , The Kentucky park was the second and the Texas park was the last to be made.The gas station is actually very well kept btw , very nice employees.
Sorry if that's just a super long tangent. I saw you were trying to find more history on it and I wanted to try to explain as much as possible as someone who also shares a lot of love for the behind the scenes and history of roadside attractions and theme parks
I appreciate the information. I too was harassed by the ducks back in the trails as well lol
The owner never considered seeking out a successor with a similar passion to keep making new dinos?
Dinosaur world will always have a special place in my heart. I enjoyed it as a kid and hope it sticks around for my son to enjoy as well
I totally forgot about this place but remember having distinctly remembered things from Dinosaur World as a kid
Always love the charm and small scale of these parks. Here in France there are quite a few (also dino or prehistoric themed) as well but less clean and more broken.
I’ve lived here and traveled the I4 corridor practically all of my life and you are right, I’ve always wondered but never stopped so this was an instant click for me!
I live with my mom in Mango, and I sometimes visit my dad in Lakeland. My dad drives me to and back, and on each and every trip I happen to drive on the exact roads that were filmed from in the start of the video.
All I could do was give a big thumbs up
As so many others commenting, I'm a Central Florida native, and have brought my kids here a few times. As they have gotten older, the visits have stopped, but I feel like they would start to enjoy it again as they get into their later teens for the strange little off-the-highway roadside attraction that it is. I can confirm that young kids _love_ it despite, or maybe because, of its simplicity in presenting DINOSAURS! along the walkways. This place will always hold a special spot in my heart where I've been able to bring my kids for an enjoyable afternoon. DON'T overlook the gift shop! It's a strange and eclectic little place, with lots of fun toys, and yes, even _actual_ fossils, in addition to the many reproductions. (At least of the last time I visited.) Obviously the real ones are priced accordingly. It might look kitschy, and it is, but it's also endearing and fascinating at the same time. Don't miss it!
I remember going with a partner, my favorite part of the board walk were seeing all the turtles sunbathing near the dinosaur figures. Yeah it’s campy but it’s the Florida charm campy.
This took me back. I remember going here a few times. Always a fun day out.
Ill be honest, Dinosaur World looks a lot better than I expected.
I’ll definitely add the Kentucky one to my to do list when in the mammoth cave region.
I'm a central florida native and resident. I've never been here but went to gator jungle a dozen times as a kid with my dad in the early 90s. I'm glad they have a little section honoring toyo and the old alligator jungle. A lot of great memories there.
I've been to Dinosaur World a couple of times. The dinosaurs coming out of the water give me the shivers, in a good way.
As a Floridian, I get super excited to see this place while passing by
Ive been going to Dino World for a few decades, its amazing how much its grown. I frikken love this place, used to come by myself to walk around and blow off steam, now I take my kids and enjoy it all over again. Cant wait to go check out the new splash pads and stuff lol.
My god, the nostalgia of thinking abt the time I was a kid living near that area. Man, I miss being a kid
Oh my gosh, I SO agree on Dinoland! It's one of the pillars on which Animal Kingdom was built (extinct animals) and should be reimagined, not replaced.
I would be hesitant to call Dinosaur World educational, however, as many of the dinosaurs are depicted in ways that would have been dated even when it opened. Many of the exhibits look like they came from the early 90's/late 80's.
Passed by it many times and always intrigued by it. Thanks for digging out the mystery dear Paleontologist.
I came here a lot as a kid. Still love dinos to this day. It has come a long way since I last saw it, a lot of the models were very dated last I went but at the very least you could count on one thing; that the signs would claim each model was sized accurately. It was fascinating as an older kid to finally be able to grasp the size of the creatures I saw in books when I was younger. I mean I had a rough idea from reading but sometimes only a face to face model will give you a real appreciation. I'd never think stegos and some hadrosaurs were THAT big compared to me.
I never thought I'd see a random video about dinosaur world show up in my feed. I used to have birthday parties there when I was really little and loved it
I remember going as a kid but I forgot the name and then I found this video this is so nostalgic
I'm in Tampa and have somehow never been to Dinosaur World despite passing it so many times. Cool to see it get some love, definitely want to go in the next year!
When I was a kid around the turn of the milennia, my mom used to have to drive down to Tampa to pick up her meds, and I'd always BEG her to stop here. Just getting to see it from the car window was always the highlight of the trip. Finally, she relented and we planned a family trip out there; it's still one of my favorite childhood memories.
One thing that's been a nice suprise over the last twenty years is how the place has not only managed to stay afloat, but that it's grown SO much since that trip back then (I remember FREAKING out when they added the indor exhibit). Always brings a nostagiac smile to my face when people bring it up. 😄
It's a great place and I think it's perfectly positioned to bring people in.
Wow! I have to say what a fun little adventure! My adult sons and I would love this! We love dinosauras!
The building at 8:00 used to be the original welcome center before Dinosaur World got a massive update sometime in the late 2000s/early 2010s. The entire first portion used to not exist and the original parking lot before the update was just before the gate at 7:25
a few things you missed:
6:20 the fossils at the dig pit are indeed real, they're just very small and cheap stuff like shark teeth and invertebrate fossils
7:32 not a T. rex but a Baryonyx; surprisingly, there isn't a baryonyx mount in the park at all
8:17 that was the original gift shop/admission area before the renovation! my first time going we went through there
Anyways. I used to love this place as a typical dinosaur-loving kid back in the early 2000s! Still, in retrospect, I still unfortunately have issues with it. The mounts and information are getting very dated- especially with many of the theropods. the last time i was there i went with my little cousin, and the Acrocanthosaurus display insisted that the animal was cold-blooded. This was part of the renovated new section too, and I thought "why would they be going *backward* in terms of scientific accuracy?" One of the dig pit staff also said that the crinoid fossils there were plants- they're marine animals related to starfish.
Apparently despite discussing deep time, there's no mentions of evolution or anything in the park itself. This is allegedly to cater to church youth groups and christian schools, to assure them that they aren't being fed "athiest propaganda" (inb4 debate about religion in the comments). Which sacrifices some of the educational potential, but it's a good business move.
So having grown up and pursuing paleontology in college now, it's... an interesting feeling looking back at the place. The inaccurate dinosaur statues do have a bit of nostalgic quirk and cheese to them though, and you know what? Maybe I'll visit with my girlfriend next month since we'll be driving by it. (they should hire me as a scientific consultant and artist, even if just briefly)
I posted your correction in a pinned comment. I also did notice that while this place aims to be educational, I did also get the impression that it was only loosely so. Maybe I shouldn't have been so eager to praise it in that aspect, but at the very least, hopefully it inspires kids to want to learn more.
@@PoseidonEntertainment We went to a park much like this in Kentucky when the kids were little, and while some of the dinosaurs cracked me up because they were clearly painted to resemble John Deere tractors (which my John Deere tractor loving son thought the coolest), the museums were reasonably informative and we found some good educational stuff in the gift shop. And of course the point was made that we often don't know what colors the animals were connected to various fossils. Depending on the subject, even state museums meant to be educational from the git go can be a bit iffy over the years as science progresses, and attractions like this suffer from time passing and changes in scientific assumptions as well.
The Kentucky Dinosaur World is also a great break for kids traveling by car cross country, offering both an opportunity to stretch their legs and something interesting and entertaining to do at a reasonable price (well, reasonable depending on how many kids you're paying for!).
1:24 I went to Disney this January with my mom, aunt and cousin. We had a great time at both EPCOT and Disney Animal Kingdom. And on the last day we went to the T.Rex Cafe, and honestly, the food was actually pretty good. I had ribs and chicken, which was really good.
I was worried when I saw this that you might be critical of this silly little park until I remembered how much you like dinosaurs. I’m glad you had a fun time! I used to beg to come here all the time and I usually end up dragging friends here as a rite of passage with me. It’s a great time and it’s a delight to see it on the highway when driving into Tampa for Gasparilla each year.
Also I think it would be pretty neat if you did a video on T-Rex/Rainforest cafe
I used to go there as a kid.... Good times
I've lived in this area my entire life and grew up going here. Absolutely love it, thanks for sharing in my childhood memories.
Fitting that you’re covering dinos in June (Jurassic June).
A complete accident. Know of any other dinosaur related stuff in central Florida?
Screw shark week! I'm here for dinosaur month!!!
I would love to visit it’s worth the walk get your steps in and see something new
Resident Florian here, the last time I was in there was a field trip in middle school before "Jurassic World" was even announced. I've seen it in passing on my way to the Disney theme parks. Personally I think it is up to one's imagination but I might take another look through it to see how they scale the dinosaurs next to people.
We did several Birthday parties there when the kinds were younger. Good value, and a nice break from the endless Chuck E Cheese, Skate Rink, and Laser tag parties
once again you cover a place near and dear to my heart. at some point, they used to have a row of sauropods facing the highway but after some hurricane season one fell and the rest toppled like dominoes. they left them there for a little bit lol.
That's so quintessentially Florida
I've passed this place dozens of times and never went, but it was interesting to finally get a glimpse at it!
I live close to dinosaur world and I even went there with one of my college classes to talk about Susan sontag's notes on Camp. I love how kitschy it is and I'm glad you made a video about it!
Dinosaur world is ok. Worth a stop for the kids. The gift shop is on another level. They have one of the best gift shops I've ever scene
My dad would always take me here as a kid, I absolutely loved this place growing up and holds a very special place in my childhood. Now I would love to turn the park more into a theme park!
I remember going to this place when I was maybe 9 or 10 and it was actually really cool and I’d go back even now. I even still have a souvenir from there.
Definitely worth the price of admission if you have the time.
As a resident of the area, the description of Dinosaur Land's surroundings genuinely made me laugh out loud. Incredibly accurate.
Gosh, i remember going here for a fieldtrip when i was little... i loved this place so much, it never lost its charm. With all the classic original stuff at WDW being replaced with movie IPs, im so happy Dinosaur World has stayed relatively the same. Never change, Dinosaur World. (Well, maybe that dino mini-golf though.)
Thank you so much for covering this topic! I have lived in central Florida my entire life and have memories seared into my mind of seeing Dinosaur World every time my parents drove to my grandparents’ house in Tampa. I always know I’m halfway between my parents house and my Nanna’s house when I see the giant T-Rex. I’ve been a few times as a child and have fond memories of it. I liked the concept of just being outside and walking around, exploring things, joking around with my family, laughing at the dinosaurs. It’s worth the money for how unique it is. I loved Dinosaur World and MOSI. We never had money for Disney but I never regretted it because my parents took us to these amazing and educational places. I still have the plastic dinosaur I bought at the gift shop.
Ah, I wish MOSI would be restored to how it was. It's such a sad waste of money now.
I loved watching this video about this little hidden gem. This park is very nice and simple a great place to take anyone who loves dinosaurs.
i have been here probably 10 times, but I still love dinosaur world as much as ever
Overgrown fields, abandoned buildings, and a sketchy gas station is accurate. Love dinosaur world and a great video.
7:58 the strange dinosaur building used to be the gift shop, as the park used to be much larger and that was right next to the enterance about a decade ago.
Sorry I meant to say much smaller lmao
I grew up a massive dinosaur fan so I’ve gone to Dinosaur World multiple times as a kid.
Yep. Saw those signs so often driving along.
I needed this video. 30+ year Florida resident. Been passing that exhibit on the i4 for years and always say "we need to check that place out" But never do.
I think it's time.
I visited with my autistic son last weekend. He was amazed! The fossil dig was mostly small sharks teeth and such. I am working on editing my video now. I was really impressed with the place, especially walking through the swamp. 🙌
Nice to see this place getting recognition.
I live really close by in the town its near.
We have a dinosaur would about an hour away from Fort Worth in Glen Rose Texas! Definitely geared towards kids, but still fun! Plus the museums is next to Dinosaur valley state park, they have real dinosaur foot prints there, still in the river!
Went here as a child for a field trip during summer daycare and I don’t remember what was my actual memory and what wasn’t so thank you for this
This place was a big part of my childhood
The building with the dinosaur head and legs sticking out used to be the old gift shop back when I was a kid. I think it may be abandoned now but maybe it does have tours like you said. I’m not sure
I saw them repainting figures behind it, so I figured it was being used as a workshop.
Went here for a birthday as a kid and still one of my favorite memories
I am very happy you we t over this park it mean a lot to me as someone who loves dinosaurs and spends too much time researching / studying them
Just came about your channel because I'm subscribed to some other theme park channels. Love your videos, very relaxing and informative.
Thank you for making this video. Every time I pass this attraction when I leave Walt Disney World, my mind filled with curiosity, but I was never pushed to even buy the admission tickets. I genuinely would’ve loved that place as a kid.
Make the trip!
I used to go here all the time as a kid. I always point it out driving by on the highway. Gonna have to go back again soon!
I used to go there lots when I was a kid, hyped to see it covered!!
I use to go here with my grandma when i was really little super nostalgic
I haven't been since I was little. I've always been meaning to go back one of these days
I used to take my daughter there all the time when she was a kid. Along with the dinosaurs, they used to also have live animals, bobcats, bears, alligators, crocodiles. The gift shop sold alligator meat. Lol. $5 admission at the time. Old time Roadside attractions are cheesy but more fun than the big parks.
Growing Up in tampa the only experiance i have with it is me and my family driving past while heading to orlando and saying "They do Travel in Herds"
I remember going to the Dinosaur World in Kentucky. It was a great time if you like dinosaurs😂
I believe it's the same owner. I didn't realize there were multiple locations until I tried writing the script.
I believe there is one in Texas as well
Wow, this fills me with nostalgia. When I was little, every other year, my parents would take me here. We couldn’t afford Lego land or Disney every year, so we’d go here. Being an idiot kid, I found it an equal experience to legoland or Disney at a time. This really takes me back.
Ah, I mean I do think it's a great attraction for what it is. It's still worth a stop for anyone looking to go someplace interesting.
i’ve lived in tampa my whole life, dinosaur world is one of the go to field trip destinations along with MOSI, the tampa aquarium and the zoo, last time i was there they were in the middle of construction, for how often i went as a kid i gave no clue what its like now lol
i still get excited every time i see it on a roadtrip tho, not sure if i’ll ever grow out of that 😭
That place was three of my birthdays and many more visits, at least when I was younger.
I went to the Texas park a few years ago,so it's interesting to see the layout of the Florida Park!
2:09 It's such a coincidence that when I visited Florida back in 2010 or 2011, me and my family actually saw Dino World on the highway
i declare this Jurassic June!!
seconded
I've been wanting to go here for months but it just worked out this way
My mom said she took us once when we were little and has never stopped complaining since. Everytime we used to drive to Orlando and she'd see it, we'd hear about it all over again.
Complain? About what lol?
@@PoseidonEntertainment She thought it was more animatronic dinosaur level. Lol
(Dinosaur World) was in elementary school when I came here the last time. They repainted the front T-Rex, which I found shocking when I saw it. I still go by it from time to time, seeing the 2 front T-Rexs
I went here in 2018, had a pretty good time (even if I did get stung by a wasp immediately after walking in lol). The paleontology show was open at the time and was great, and there was also a show featuring a person in a dinosaur costume being “trained”. I love the aesthetic of the park and how cheesy it is.
I saw a lot of wasps, but what surprised me was how there was such a large volume of insects there. I was constantly walking through clouds of gnats.
I went during November so there wasn’t as many bugs, I think the only wasp I saw was the one that got me lol, and it was literally RIGHT as I walked out the gift shop door into the park. Saw lots of lizards though, every dinosaur had at least one lizard on it. The staff there also told me that if you stay until after dark, wild armadillos come out and walk on the paths, but I didn’t stay that late so I can’t confirm this.
First you cover gatorland, then dinosaur world. I love you dude