The Boneyard Review
The young paleontologists out there will surely enjoy one of the best playgrounds in Walt Disney World
No, The Boneyard isn't the future name of Dinoland USA when Disney finally decides to detonate that area, giving space to a brand new land called Tropical Americas. Even with Dinoland USA ending, there is a good chance that The Boneyard will remain in Animal Kingdom, which is good news for everyone. This is an amazing playground for kids, and a really cool spot for parents to just relax for a bit before they face the lines for Avatar Flight of Passage or decide to explore the wildlife in Kilimanjaro Safaris.
The Boneyard reminds me a lot of Camp Jurassic in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Both playgrounds have dinos as their main themes, sure, but they also offer awesome areas for kids to play. There are rope bridges, slides, dig sites, mazes, caves and much more for the young paleontologists out there. This is a great place for kids up to ten years old, and parents can also sit down and chill in the shaded areas to recharge their energies before it’s time to continue their adventures.
The Good
This is one of the best playground areas in Disney World, if not the best. Everything here was made with safety in mind for our little ones. The floor is cushiony and soft, since we know there is a (huge) chance our kids will fall as they run around looking for new dinos. There are several cast members walking around, paying attention to kids and ready to lend a helping hand to parents. Some of them are even ready to teach our kids about dinosaurs and their rich history.
You'll also stumble upon dinosaur bones that make different sounds when touched, which is a great addition for toddlers. Similar to Camp Jurassic in Islands of Adventure, there are also giant dino footprints here that produce various noises when jumped on.
Even the sand got a healthy dose of Disney magic! The sand here isn’t sticky, which means that your kids can just dive in when it’s time to build their own Cinderella’s Castle. It’s also cool that this area provides plastic buckets and shovels for our children to start digging in search of their archeological treasures. My nephew loves this spot, happily playing in the sand without worrying about getting covered in it. Thanks for the Tinker Bell sponsored sand, Disney!
It’s funny that, even with awesome attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest and Festival of the Lion King, kids can just stay here for hours and hours if you let them. Make sure to set a time limit, otherwise you will spend all your theme park time in this place. Also remember that this is a large area with lots of kids, so make sure to not lose sight of your kids or choose a specific spot to meet later on if needed.
The Boneyard is a nice change of pace, but remember that there are animals (and more dinos) waiting for you somewhere else in Animal Kingdom.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Children up to ten years old will absolutely love this spot. It's hands down the best playground area in Walt Disney World, where kids can happily spend hours without realizing how quickly time flies. There are shaded areas for parents to relax, and you can also enter here with strollers, wheelchairs and ECVs, which is convenient.
As we stated before, it’s good to set a time limit so your kids don’t spend all their theme park time playing in a playground. Sure, The Boneyard is great, but you can also find great playgrounds outside Animal Kingdom. Avatar Flight of Passage and Kilimanjaro Safaris, though? You can only find those here.
