Disney theme parks are renowned for their magical experiences, captivating attractions, and immersive storytelling. Over the years, these parks have seen the introduction of numerous beloved rides and experiences that have left a lasting impact on visitors. However, as the parks evolve, some attractions are inevitably retired to make way for new adventures. In this blog post, we’ll take a nostalgic journey back in time and explore eight closed Disney attractions that hold a special place in the hearts of fans, leaving us wishing they still existed today.
1. Horizons (Epcot – Walt Disney World)
“Horizons” at Epcot’s Future World was a beloved attraction that offered a visionary glimpse into the possibilities of the future, and often considered a sequel to the Carousel of Progress. It took guests on a journey through various scenes depicting life in space, underwater cities, and more. The attraction fostered a sense of optimism and curiosity about the future, making it a cherished memory for many Disney enthusiasts. The ride closed in 1999 and was demolished, and replaced by Mission: Space.
2. The Great Movie Ride (Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Walt Disney World)
“The Great Movie Ride” allowed guests to step into iconic scenes from classic films, making them feel like part of the magic of Hollywood’s golden age. As the ride traveled through scenes from movies like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Casablanca,” it celebrated the rich history of cinema and the art of storytelling through film. The Great Movie Ride also had two different ride experiences for one of the scenes…with the secondary one used to increase capacity, by having the first set of vehicles experience a western shootout and the second experience at gangster shootout in two different parts of the ride. During times of lower capacity, only the gangster scene was present. The ride closed in 2017, replaced by Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
3. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Magic Kingdom – Walt Disney World)
“Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” was a whimsical, dark ride that took visitors on a chaotic adventure inspired by Disney’s “The Wind in the Willows.” The attraction’s unexpected twists and turns made it a cherished memory for generations of Disney fans. The ride still exists at Disneyland, but the Walt Disney World version had two separate tracks that followed different paths, giving you two different ride experiences, making it unique. The Disney World version closed in 1998, replaced by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
4. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage (Magic Kingdom)
“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” allowed guests to embark on a submarine voyage inspired by Jules Verne’s classic novel. The attraction took visitors on an underwater adventure filled with sea creatures and fantastical discoveries. A version of the Disneyland ride, rethemed to Finding Nemo, still exists at Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom version closed in 1994, was completely demolished and the area is now the Seven Dwarves Mine Train ride.
5. Adventure Thru Inner Space (Disneyland)
“Adventure Thru Inner Space” was a groundbreaking attraction that shrank guests down to microscopic size for an exploration of the human body’s inner workings. The ride’s unique concept and memorable experience made it a fan favorite. It was the first ride with an omnimover system. And the classic theme song, Miracles from Molecules, is a classic Disney song from the Sherman Brothers. It closed in 1985 and was replaced by Star Tours.
6. Country Bear Jamboree (Disneyland)
The “Country Bear Jamboree” is a knee-slappin’ good time featuring a cast of animatronic bears performing classic country tunes. This charming show celebrated American folklore and entertained guests with its toe-tapping music. The Disneyland version closed in 2001 to make way for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The Disneyland version, due anticipated capacity due the popularity of the show, which was an opening day attraction at Walt Disney World, had two theaters. The still open version of the ride at Tokyo Disney also has two theaters. In January of 2024, the Walt Disney World version of the ride closed for a retheme. It will reopen as the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, which will be a new show with classic country versions of Disney songs, but using the same characters. The Jamboree had two overlays, a summer overlay known as the Vacation Hoedown and a winter overlay known as the Christmas Special. Tokyo Disney last had the overlay in 2019. Neither overlay has been seen at Walt Disney World in twenty years.
7. The PeopleMover (Disneyland)
The “PeopleMover” was a futuristic transportation system that provided a leisurely tour of Tomorrowland. Guests enjoyed a peaceful ride above the bustling park while catching glimpses of Tomorrowland’s attractions and innovations. The People Mover was closed in 1995, and replaced by the brief Rocket Rods. Rocket Rods turned the slower ride into a drag race, and the unmodified People Mover track was not up to the task. It eventually closed. The elevated track infrastructure continues to be maintained by Disney, and fans continue to hope for its return.
8. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (Magic Kingdom)
“ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter” was a thrilling and immersive attraction that pushed the boundaries of Disney’s usual family-friendly fare that opened in 1994. It provided an intense, suspenseful experience, though it may have been a bit too intense for some visitors, which led to it being rethemed as Stitch’s Great Escape in 2004, making it more family friendly, but less popular. In 2016, it switched to seasonal operation, it last operated in 2018, in 2020 Disney finally declared it permanently closed. There is no replacement to this day, and the building remains unused except for meet and greets and special events.
9. World of Motion (Epcot)
The World of Motion was an omnimover ride filled with animatronics showing the history of transportation, and featuring a catchy tune by X Atencio and Buddy Baker. It closed in 1996, replaced by Test Track. In 2023, Disney announced Test Track’s 3rd reimagining since opening in 1999, noting they will be taking inspiration from World of Motion. The last major reimagining of the ride was in 2012.
10. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom, Disneyland)
Splash Mountain opened in 1989 at Disneyland, in 1992 at Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disney. The Tokyo Disney version is the only one still open. In 2020, Disney announced that the two American Splash Mountains would be rethemed to Princess and the Frog and reopen in 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Splash Mountain was themed to the animated portions of the controversial Disney movie, Song of the South. The animated portions were based on the Uncle Remus stories. The soundtrack of the rides were styled differently, with the Disneyland version was a more big band style due its proximity to New Orleans Square, the Magic Kingdom version a more country feel as it was in Frontierland. The ride vehicles differed as well, with Disneyland’s single file boats providing a very different feel from Magic Kingdom’s multiple passengers per row.
Disney theme parks have a rich history of creating unforgettable experiences, and while these eight attractions have closed their doors, their legacy lives on in the hearts of Disney fans worldwide. Nostalgia for these classic rides reminds us of the enduring magic that Disney has brought to generations of visitors. While the parks continue to evolve and innovate, there will always be a special place in our hearts for these closed Disney attractions that we wish still existed.