Nope, we’re STILL not over these changes!
It goes without saying that we love Disney’s theme parks. However that doesn’t mean we love everything they do. In fact, some changes over the years have left us downright infuriated TO THIS DAY!
Closing Horizons
We could probably write a whole list on just EPCOT changes we wish had never happened and rides from the park we wish had never closed, but there’s none bigger than Horizons.
This dark ride attraction — which was under construction with the park and opened on October 1, 1983 — served as a “thesis statement” for the park, combining elements of all of Future World’s original pavilions into one dark ride that celebrated the promise of humanity’s future. After looking back on the history of how visionaries of the past had imagined the future, the ride showed guests how a family of the future might live, before ending on a revolutionary “multiple endings” sequence where riders could choose how their experience ended.
At one point in development, the ride was going to be called Century III in celebration of the third century of the United States’ existence (1976-2076). However, in the end the attraction didn’t even survive the 1990s.
After sponsor General Electric didn’t renew their contract in 1993, the ride first closed in December of 1994. However, it reopened at the end of 1995 due to closures of other EPCOT attractions. Horizons closed for good in 1999, being replaced by Mission: Space in 2003.
The legend of Horizons has only grown since its closure, with the ride being iconic to many Disney and EPCOT fans, and being one we still miss in the park today.
Changing the Original Journey into Imagination
Remaining in EPCOT, we have an attraction that is technically still open, but as a shell of its former self.
Journey Into Imagination opened in March of 1983 — it was supposed to be an opening day attraction the previous October, but technical delays pushed back is debut — and immediately became one of EPCOT’s most beloved attractions thanks to star characters The Dreamfinder and his purple dragon sidekick Figment. The technologically advanced dark ride was a popular part of EPCOT until it was closed for refurbishment in 1998.
When it reopened as Journey Into Your Imagination in 1999, fans were aghast. The new version of the ride had cut a significant portion of its track, and eliminated all references to Figment and Dreamfinder, instead tying the attraction into the continuity of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, which was operating in the same pavilion at the time. The new version was so badly received that Disney closed it in 2001.
The following year, Disney once again reopened the attraction as Journey Into Imagination with Figment. The new version — as expressed by the name — re-integrated the popular Figment back into the attraction, and was generally seen as an upgrade over the dire 2000 version, but still pales in comparison to the original. With the seemingly evergreen popularity of Figment merchandise, we’re still holding on to hope that Disney may bring back something closer to the original’s spirit one day.
Not Finding a New Location for the Osborne Lights
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights first came to the then-Disney MGM Studios theme park in 1995. The display — which was originally built by the very real Osborne family at their home before it was shutdown via court order — was initially built on the Residential Street section of the park, and quickly became a holiday staple. When the Residential Street was closed in the mid-2000s to make room for the Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show, the display was moved to the Streets of America.
For the next decade, the seasonal lights became more and more popular, so when Disney announced in the mid-2010s that the Streets of America would be demolished to make room for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, many assumed Disney would find a new spot for the Osborne Lights, perhaps Sunset Boulevard. However, they didn’t. Instead, 2015 was the last year of the lights, which has left a Holiday-sized hole at Hollywood Studios to this day.
Eliminating the Magical Express
Beginning in 2005, the Magical Express was an integral part of a Walt Disney World vacation for millions.
This free service ferried passengers to-and-from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to their Walt Disney World hotels. However, Disney shut it down in 2022, leaving Disney World vacationers with the more cumbersome options renting a car, booking travel with a third party bus transportation company like Mears, or taking a taxi or rideshare vehicle directly to their resort.
Removing Quick Service from Be Our Guest Restaurant
When the Beauty and the Beast-themed Be Our Guest restaurant first opened at the Magic Kingdom in 2012, the in-demand dining facility offered quick service options during breakfast and lunch before switching to table service for dinner.
This allowed guests who could’t get a dining reservation — or didn’t want to pay for a full table service meal — to see the restaurant’s theming and atmosphere. However, Disney discontinued the quick service option.
Not Reopening the Adventurers Club
When Disney first opened their “adult” nightclub district Pleasure Island in 1989, the area featured several clubs meant to appear to a larger number of demographics. However, the most popular proved to the be the Adventurers Club. This zany establishment, themed to a 1930s gathering of adventure seekers, featured heavy-theming, interactive props, and a beloved cast of character performers.
The club remained popular even as demand of the rest of pleasure Island dwindled. When the complex as a whole closed in 2008, many fans hoped the Adventurers Club could be saved. However, even as Disney has constructed then continued to expand Disney Springs, they haven’t brought back a new version of the iconic club despite continued demand.
No matter how much time goes by, these are some Disney changes we’ll never get over! Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Disney history.
Major UPDATE Coming to a CLOSED Restaurant in EPCOT This Week
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Which Disney change will you never get over? Let us know in the comments below.
Kungaloosh!
The Adventurers Club!
I wish they would bring back the quick service lunch menu at Be Our Guest restaurant. I enjoyed it so much! I also enjoyed the dinner meal before they did the pre-fix menu. But please bring back the quick service lunch menu, I loved the options!
I agree, there are scores of changes made at WDW, some because of outdated themes, some for business reason, and many just plain headscratchers. The one that broke my heart years ago, was when Empress Lily and its three restaurants in what now is now known as Disney Springs, went away. When you have a beautiful boat, honoring Walt’s wife, and replace it with standard chain type restaurants, you have totally disrespected the main man. I know for a while they kept the name of the boat, but I don’t think that’s true anymore. My heart still beckons to visit the Empress, and I wonder how many times Walt has turned in his final resting place over such a heartless, dumb decision.
We wish they would bring back the Adventures Club. It was such fun place to go to end the day at the parks. The comedy was great and inter active with the patrons. Conga Lush to everyone.
I concur wholeheartedly. Horizons & the original Journey into Imagination are dearly missed, as is Disney Studio’s Great Movie Ride. Absolutely iconic! I also regret there being only one Dinner Show remaining at Hoop de Doo. Gone are Top of the World and, especially mourned, the Luau at the Polynesian Resort. That luau, plus the gorgeous tropical landscaping and waterfall inside the lobby, take away a large part of that resort’s unique theming. And the new DVC high-rise taking the place of Luau Cove looks too modern for the traditional Polynesian vibe. At least we still have the Electric Water Pageant on Bay Lake, a delightful and popular throwback to the World’s earliest era.