5 Retired Walt Disney World Attractions We Miss The Most
Walt Disney World is constantly evolving, replacing old technology with new experiences. But sometimes we get just a little bit attached. Here are 5 attractions we wish were still at Walt Disney World. How do they compare to your list?
1. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
This was a classic dark ride that existed on opening day at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It was appropriate for all ages, but was not a slow and relaxing ride, either. Cars traveled on one of two tracks so no two rides were the same, often making sudden turns or going full title toward obstacles. And of course, you had the adorable Mr. Toad throughout.
See a ride walk-through here:
Why we miss it: It was truly a family friendly attraction, gentle enough for the kids, but fun for the adults.
What replaced it: While this attraction still exists at Disneyland, the version at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was replaced by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
2. Flights of Wonder
Flights of wonder was a free-flying bird show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, near Asia. It showcased live birds and animal trainers who talked about each bird and showcased the bird's talents. This is a show where a hawk might flight silently over you close enough to feel the beat of the wind from its wings. But our favorite star in the show was Sluggo, a bird that killed prey by slugging it against a rock. Somehow, this was hilarious.
Why we miss it: It was underrated, so never crowded, but offered a chance to understand and even get close to magnificent birds.
What replaced it: UP! A Great Bird Adventure is now in the same space with a very similar show. But we miss the times when a Disney attraction didn't have to be tied in with a movie.
3. Horizons
Horizons was a ride similar to Spaceship Earth, except not in the geosphere, in EPCOT's Future World. It was an omnimover that took you through Disney's best guess of what the future would look like. The end was especially wonderful where you could choose whether to explore the future of space, the sea, or the desert, similar to what you now do at the end of Spaceship Earth, except this had a large wrap around screen that totally immersed you.
Why we miss it: This was one of the first rides where you could choose your own adventure at the end. It also incorporated smell-o-vision at times, such as a scene of orange grove harvesters that pumped in an orange smell.
What replaced it: Mission:Space now is in the pavilion slot that once belonged to Horizons.
4. The Adventurer's Club
The Adventurer's Club was a unique nightclub on Disney's Pleasure Island. Yes, it was a bar. But also, it was themed with many rooms where eccentric explorers would take groups to regale them with, well, eccentric stories or little mini-shows. You could go in here, have a drink, pledge yourself into the Fancy Rat and Mouse club, and create an intrepid identity for yourself while you played along.
Why we miss it: Kungaloosh! (Which was both a drink and a toast)
What replaced it: The entirety of Pleasure Island has been replaced with Disney Springs which a more family friendly area. If looking for throwbacks to the Adventurer's Club, I would suggest Jungle Skipper's Canteen in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom, which displays some of the old artifacts seen at the Adventurer's Club and features a version of the Kungaloosh drink.
5. Tapestry of Nations
This was a unique parade that wound around World Showcase in EPCOT during the Millennium Celebration. If you can picture how large a route this is, you can understand why that alone was impressive. Unlike other parades, this featured no Disney characters or brightly colored floats. Instead, each character was unique to the parade with costuming done by the same folks who designed the costumes for Broadway Lion King. The parade was opened by a Sage of Time who gave a speech about peace on earth and a global community. Performers either carried tall puppets or walked on stilts. The few floats that kept time were large drum clocks.
Why we miss it: It was hand's down the best parade on
Disney property. It had a long uncrowded route, a long duration, and was beautiful.
What replaced it: Nothing! Tapestry of Nations ran from October 1999 through September 2001. I was then replaced for a short time by a similar parade called Tapestry of Dreams, which ended in 2003 with no replacement. The parade apparently resulted in a higher amount of injuries to cast in the parade, which contributed to the decision to end the run.
Wow! That was hard to narrow down. I didn't even end up mentioning Catastrophe Canyon or "Don't You Ever Smile at a Crocodile" or the Tiki Room before Zazu and Iago took over! So, tell us... what didn't make the cut of attractions you miss the most? Share in the comments or on our Facebook page, and don't forget to share our blog with your friends.
