Over the years, there have been a number of Walt Disney World attractions that have fallen into the realm of the lost, and are sadly no longer with us. There are so many lost Disney attractions that have disappeared over the years, but here are my top 10 most missed.
Yes, you may have different choices, but these are my personal favorites that have gone away.
10.) Kilimanjaro Safaris – The Poacher Mission
This may have bothered a lot of people, but it made sense and added more to the attraction. It also involved “Little Red” and brought a sense of adventure to the educational and relaxing attraction. It’s not like Disney was advocating poaching…they were speaking out against it.
9.) Monster Sound Show
One of my favorite lost Disney attractions, even though it was silly and overly simple. I loved the short film with Martin Short and Chevy Chase and the crowd interaction it brought. Not to mention that I got to be one of the Foley sound artist one time and it was awesome.
8.) Magic Journeys
For those that didn’t know about this 3D film, I’m not surprised. It started at Epcot and ended up at the Magic Kingdom before being closed forever in late 1993. The theme song is amazing and one of my favorites in Disney history, and for those that remember her…that witch was one freakishly scary sight.
7.) World of Motion
Even though the attraction was a slow-moving dark ride, World of Motion is still one of the best lost Disney attractions ever. “It’s Fun To Be Free” is an iconic song, and there were so many hidden things in World of Motion that it was quite amazing. More on that in a future article.
Honestly, the World of Motion slow U-turn outside with a view of Spaceship Earth will be better than the high-speed ride on Test Track any day.
6.) Tarzan Rocks
This was one of the best stage shows ever at Walt Disney World. There were singers, live actors, characters, rollerbladers, trapeze artists, and so much more. Tarzan Rocks incorporated the entire arena and used the amazing soundtrack of “Tarzan” to make it even that much better.
5.) Kitchen Kabaret
Kitchen Kabaret was way ahead of its time, and it was just incredible. The music was memorable. The characters were fun. It brought forth a great and healthy message while still being silly and fun. Honestly, it was almost as if its replacement – Food Rocks – took steps backward in the music and technology.
Some of my fondest memories as a child were sitting and playing in the faux-street waiting room with the Broadway marquee lighting up the whole area. It was one of my favorite shows as a child and still is as a lost Disney attraction.
4.) Skyway
Maybe you’re scared of heights, but there is no real other reason not to love Skyway. You got a leisurely ride through Fantasyland and Tomorrowland while seeing great views of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (also lost), Space Mountain, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and more.
3.) Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Really, there is not much to be said about this. It will always be missed and honestly, shouldn’t be lost.
There are so many things about Horizons that make me miss it. The smell of oranges. The fantastic theme song. Choosing between sea, space, and desert. It was just a great look at how the future was “going to be,” and it makes sense that the attraction was removed…well, because the future arrived.
Still, it was such a fun and Disney-like ride, if that makes any sense. Those that have been visiting Walt Disney World for decades know what it means for something to just “represent Disney,” and this lost Epcot attraction did just that.
Speaking of representing Disney. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is just one of those attractions that never should have been removed, and hence…that’s why it is still in place in Disneyland. It fit into Fantasyland perfectly, and was so much fun.
Sigh…yes, I’m bitter and yes, there is ill-will toward The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, even though it isn’t really its fault. Still, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is my most missed lost Walt Disney World attraction and always will be.
Although I agree that Toad and Snow White are missed, it’s nice that you can get equivalents at Disneyland still. It gives me a reason to want to visit both parks still… If they were both the same, I would never go to DL again!
I was thinking that Horizons would be #1, but then I remembered the greatness of Mr. Toad. I’d list it as #2, but I really miss it because I rode it so much as a kid.
Here’s my 10 (off the top of my head):
1. Horizons
2. Mr. Toad
3. If You Had Wings
4. Skyway
5. Journey to Imagination (original)
6. World of Motion
7. Kitchen Kabaret (and Food Rocks was great too!
8. Spaceship Earth (when it had a real descent)
9. El Rio del Tiempo (original)
10. Superstar Television
I also really liked The Monster Sound Show, and Magic Journeys freaked me out a little as a kid. I never saw Tarzan Rocks (went to Animal Kingdom in 1998 and then missed the show in 2005). I also did find the safari more exciting with the story line.
Journey into Imagination (original w/Dreamfinder)
Spaceship Earth (original w/Walter Cronkite)
Kitchen Kabaret
Cranium Command
Body Wars
Mr. Toad
20,000 Leagues
Left off If You Had Wings.
I also miss 20,000 Leagues, and the Magic Shop on Main Street.
How could you forget the original Journey Into Imagination?! The one with Dreamfinder and Figment.
Having been a Cast Member and being on the actual last train to go into the original Journey Into Imagination, with Figment AND the always rememberd Dreamfinder, there was not a dry eye on that attraction for the Cast Members. I remember when my late brother and I experienced for the first time in 1982, thanks to our late mother’s early Christmas gift to us. I was galvanized by it and wanted to keep going on it and find more hidden spots that make this attraction such a fond memory. Virtually every Cast Member I worked said the place just needed to be updated technologically, as well as the Image Works that were upstairs. Sad to see it in the state that it is now. I am hoping that the rumors are true and Dreamfinder will be returning in the future.
Here’s my list:
1. Horizons
2. World of Motion
3. Mr. Toads
4. If You Had Wings
5. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
6. Journey Into Imagination (Original)
7. Snow White
8. Maelstrom
9. Home of Future Living (Original Space Mountain end show)
10. Skyway
Honorable Mentions: Mission to Mars, Original Living with the Seas, Communicore, Original track layout of Grand Prix Racers, Marshmellow Marsh
Other attractions or stores I miss:
1. Penny Arcade
2. Main Street Magic Shop
3. Pirates of the Caribbean Arcade
4. Meadows Trading Post Arcade and store
5. Original Star Traders
By the way, I love the wallpaper on here. I had it on my website too but just took it down for a bit
I definitely miss Snow White’s Scary Adventure. I am pretty bitter that it is gone. I have the greatest photo of my then 3-yr old son on that ride staring up in fear at the witch.
Hunchback of Notre Dame stage show at (then) Disney-MGM Studios was possibly the best stage show on property.