The Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride floats you down a river through mysterious jungles infested with dinosaurs. The ride uses robotics technology to deliver dinosaur scenes.
On the outside, the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride looks impressive. Themed lettering graces the stone entrance, while the sides of the multi-story building are painted in a green jungle theme. It reminds you of Jurassic Park, which is the point of the endeavor. Parents will get a hint of nostalgia looking at the lettering, and kids who are fans of the most recent movie installment will enjoy the tie-in.
When you walk in, you’ll see a scene involving two dinosaur figurines that look pretty realistic, and two mannequins that are a bit challenged on the realism front. The teeth on the bigger dinosaur are long enough and plentiful enough to clue you in that the ride might be a little scary. The dinosaurs, even at the front, roar and make noises. It’s a little bit like the kind of attraction you see in old-school Disney World rides.
The funny mannequins seem to be everywhere, including standing near where you hop into your boat. Your vessel cruises toward a set of wooden doors, creating a bit of mystique around what could be inside.
Unfortunately, the dinosaurs within are less than impressive. The ride is a really cool idea: a boat floating down a river with lifelike dinosaurs popping out and roaring. It could be scary, or at least interesting. However, though many dinosaur robots try to look like the scientific images we’ve grown up seeing, others don’t resemble any dinosaurs you’ve ever heard of. In fact, a few look more like totem poles than anything.
But, given the plethora of quality boat rides at places like Universal Studios and the slightly ridiculous look of many of the dinosaur mannequins, this ride falls short. The robotics tend to squeak sometimes too, as though they need some oil or maintenance. This robs the experience of even more realism. The ride tries for a few surprise scares to make you jump, especially at the end. Watch out for the T-Rex and the gigantic snake head.
Insider Tips:
-Though a ride featuring dinosaurs sounds like something little kids would like, it can be kind of scary. Though adults will recognize the dinosaurs for the robots they are, kids younger than 6 might not like the dark environment or the growling sound effects. At the same time, kids past middle school probably won’t find this exciting, mostly due to the quality of the ride.
-Some adults visit the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride because it has a reputation for its less-than-stellar quality. Visiting for a few laughs and for some great pictures is as valid a reason as any to go. The cheesy factor is pretty high, and some people enjoy that kind of thing. If you think you’ll get a few laughs or some quality time with your kids, then this ride is for you.