Have you been visiting Disney World since childhood or your teen years? Think back to the rides that you loved or were most afraid of. Are there rides you went on as a kid or maybe even an adult that you forgot about that on more recent trips to Walt Disney World were not there? Maybe you didn’t even notice! Some left with great fanfare and some left quietly but all of these rides were given the heave-ho. Here are my Top 10 Rides We Miss Most- see if yours is on the list.
1. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter- Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland
This ride undoubtedly caused uproars in the 1990s but I was to enthralled to notice! You are lead into an auditorium where a huge alien is presented in a tube in the middle of the seating. Naturally, the glass breaks, sending this alien into the audience and he is ANGRY. The lights go out and the interactive seats you are in bounce and rumble as the alien comes up right behind you and you feel his breath on your neck. I still get chills thinking about it. This was replaced but a much tamer version- Stitch’s Great Escape in 2006.
2. Body Wars- Epcot, Wonders of Life Pavilion
This simulator ride boards the Bravo 229 and the audience is “shrunk”- small enough to fit inside the human body. You’re riding along on a mission to remove a splinter from the subject’s skin and witness white blood cells attacking the foreign object. Everyone panics as the ship loses power but the scientist running the mission powers up on a neuron in the brain and everyone is returned safely. This ride which would have seemed very antiquated in 2015 was eliminated in 2007.
3. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea- Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland
Introduced in 1971 in the original park lineup, this submersion ride navigating underwater territory was a fan favorite. The problem was the cost to maintain the ride was great and there were only a few submarines leaving the wait times at an excruciating level. Closed in 1994 without notice for “repairs”, it was never reopened. The official shut down occurred in 1996.
4. Mr. Toads Wild Ride- Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland
As a kid, this ride was really fun. It was counted as a dark ride, slow-moving in a dark indoor setting and not too many thrills. Based off of Wind in the Willows, the ride featured wooden characters and obstacles that would jump out-of-the-way of your car as you moved forward through the story. One of my favorite fun facts about this rides closure in 1998 is that there is a statue for Mr. Toad found at the Haunted Mansion cemetery. You can also spot a painting of Mr. Toad handing Owl (from Winnie the Pooh) the deed to the ride space when Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh took over. Keep your eyes peeled for it in Owl’s house!
5. The Skyway- Magic Kingdom
This gondola ride connected Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. Not exactly a thrill ride, this was a nice low-key way to take in some spectacular views and a load off your feet for a few minutes. This original 1971 ride was closed down in 1999, just 5 years after the Disneyland version closed down. Now you’ll just have to walk from Fantasyland to Space Mountain!
6. The Maelstrom- Epcot, Norway Pavilion
One of the more recent heartbreakers for us Disney Addicts! While the Maelstrom was no Splash Mountain or Pirates of the Caribbean, it was a nice break in the middle of the World Showcase to sit and relax out of the sun and get a little thrill in. This flume ride detailed the folklore behind traditional Norwegian Vikings. If you rode as a child, you’ll never forget the trolls! This attraction closed in October of 2014 to make way for a new Frozen attraction.
7. The Studio Backlot Tour- Hollywood Studios, Streets of America
Part walking tour and part tram, you got up close and personal with special effects like water and fire and see real props from some of your favorite films. Bone cages from Pirates of the Caribbean, the steamroller from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and at one point, house facades from The Golden Girls and Empty Nest. This attraction was once the main sight to see at Hollywood Studios (then MGM) and was shut down in fall of 2014 to make way for new adventures.
8. World of Motion- Epcot, Transportation Pavilion
Occupying the pavilion from 1982 to 1996 this ride featured animatronic characters taking us through the history of how we get around starting with walking to the wheel. Meant to be humorous, the ride was largely enjoyed but lacked the crowds after a decade. The finale of the ride was CentreCore, the futuristic imagined metropolis with flying cars and a hologram effect similar to the Hitchhiking Ghosts. The GM sponsored ride was replaced by the ever popular Test Track.
9. Double Decker Buses- Epcot
Did you ever hop a ride from the World Showcase to Future World on a tall blue double-decker bus? The 1.3 mile walk around the “world” was long, especially if you were in a hurry to see the “future”. They stopped giving guests rides back in the mid-1990s. They can still be seen housing characters for certain parades, so all is not lost.
10. Snow White’s Scary Adventure- Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland
Aptly named, this attraction was another dark ride. You were indoors and traveling through the story as the main character, Snow White herself. In 1994 it got a facelift and some of the terror was toned down for younger guests. I think we can all agree the Evil Queen is a little intense. And so is the idea of being chased through the woods by a hunter trying to kill you…but I digress. The ride was permanently shut down in 2012 during the creation of New Fantasyland. If you have the urge to see those adorable dwarves just head on over to their Mine Train!
I hope you have enjoyed this walk down memory lane as much as I have! What was your favorite past ride? What rides do you think will be next to go?
Hi, I’m Autumn! When I’m not writing for Chip & Co I’m planning magical vacations as a Travel Magician with World of Magic Travel. Contact me today to chat about your trip and get your free quote! Email or find me on Facebook!
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If You Had Wings!!!! How is it not the top of the list? And it was free (when you had to have tickets).
I still miss the original version of Journey Into Imagination, with both Figment and Dreamfinder. I remember when my late brother and I got to go to WDW, right after EPCOT (then known as EPCOT Center) opened in October 1982, as an early Christmas present from our mom, who has also passed now. My brother and I both fell in LOVE with Journey Into Imagination and I was able to actually work the attraction during my time I worked at WDW in the late 90’s. I was there on the last train on the last night, after the attraction closed for the last time that evening. I will ALWAYS cherish that attraction and hope the rumors I hear are true….Dreamfinder AND Figment may be returning.
Body Wars!!! And I really remember the Horizons ride in Epcot where Mission: Space is now…When I was little, I thought it was the COOLEST thing…And I think my kids would have liked Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, as outdated as it became!
We were upset when the Snow White ride shut down. We went for the first time in 2011 and it was my then 3-year-old’s favorite ride. He must have gone a dozen times, and didn’t even care about Dumbo nearby. By the time we got back in 2013, ready to show our second child (I was pregnant with him the first time), it was gone. The mine train wasn’t open yet, and we haven’t been back yet, so I can’t comment on it. Our boys just aren’t into the princess things they’re using to replace the old rides.