Disney celebrates Dino Week with events at Disney Parks in advance of ‘The Good Dinosaur’ movie

Dino Week kicked off at The Walt Disney Company on Saturday, and the festivities continue through Nov. 21. It’s all leading up to the release of the new Disney-Pixar animated 3D film, “The Good Dinosaur,” on Nov. 25, of course. (Watch for my review on AllEars.Net on opening day!)

At Disney Store locations nationwide, including Central Florida’s only Disney Store at Florida Mall, kids ages 3 and older were invited to make free dinosaur-themed crafts over the weekend. For those in a shopping mood, the stores already have available a large selection of The Good Dinosaur merchandise. (Or, if you prefer, peruse the goods online at DisneyStore.com)

On Friday (Nov. 21) and Saturday (Nov. 22), Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Downtown Disney District at Disneyland will celebrate the new movie with themed activities. A live DJ will host a Dinosaur Dance Party from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. that will include special décor, photo opportunities and giveaways. As the sun sets, meteor shower lighting effects will light up the night. T-REX and Rainforest Café will also join in the dinosaur-themed fun. (Both restaurants take reservations and accept walk-up guests.)

Meanwhile, Disney Parks guests on both coasts can see a sneak peak of “The Good Dinosaur” through Dec. 4. Visitors at Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World can see this advance look at clips from the film as part of the One Man’s Dream attraction on Mickey Avenue. At Disney California Adventure, “The Good Dinosaur” preview is presented at the Bug’s Life Theater with special in-theater effects.

Dinosaur fans can get in the spirit of Dino Week with Do-It-Yourself projects, such as coloring pages, best friends mugs and critter mud pie. Instructions can be found on the official Dino Week page. While there, readers also can see clips from “The Good Dinosaur,” vote on their favorite type of dinosaur, and learn how they can help feed the less-fortunate with the holiday campaign, Share the Joy.

“The Good Dinosaur” explores the premise that the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct. It stars an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

Directed by Peter Sohn (“Partly Cloudy”) and produced by Denise Ream (“Cars 2”), “The Good Dinosaur” is the second film from Pixar to be released in 2015. (The first was “Inside Out.”) This is the first time the animation studio has released two movies in the same year.

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