Abandoned Attractions

[d1gitman]

Silence! I keel you!

honestly, you and ROBO just keel me

 

[disneyfan19712006]

I to wished they had finished the other half of the resort. They did such an amazing job on the first, its a shame they have wasted away like that. Maybe some day they can start over and complete the project.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Guests were in constant fear of getting keeled!


Visit Tom Sawyer Island-

 

[Kaewin]

Owwww that hurt.

 

[Planogirl]

"Keel" you....

Anyway... I seem to remember canoe rides too. I think...

 

[DisGirl23]

I stayed at the Villas you are talking about in 1999. Here's a pic:

I believe they were "The Villas at Disney Institute" if I remember correctly? Maybe this was another incarnation of what you are talking about.

One of the biggest miscalculations of guest's desires that Disney ever made.

Sitting on the grounds of THE most popular theme parks on the planet, they decided
guests would rather spend their vacation days doing arts and crafts and hands-on classes of the kind
found at Community Colleges in any part of the country.

Wow. Just wow.

Although I agree I wouldn't want to sit around doing arts and crafts in WDW on any other occasion... I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful weekend here in 1999 for the Disney Classics Animated Film Festival. Being able to watch Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and other classics on the big screen in the theatre was amazing!
I loved learning how they created the traditional animated films. Getting to meet and have dinner with Bill Justice and Mary Costa... words escape me!
It was a weekend filled with memories that will stay with me. I still have my autographed VIP pass!
Of course I did add an extra day to my stay just to visit Magic Kingdom!

 

[SueM in MN]

I can only imagine how much money was spent on the Disney Institute-I was lucky enough to be a travel manager at that time and had an all expense paid trip to go to the Institute just prior to it's opening. On the grounds of what is now Saratoga, they had a rock climbing wall, very fancy demonstration kitchens for cooking classes, a greenhouse where your could make topiaries, an animation studio with classes, etc. Some of the facilities around the lobby are still there, although are not being used for what they were designed for. The old villas you stayed in were great-so quiet and spread out over lovely grounds. As said, I can only imagine how much money was spent, and it really didn't last long at all!

It was being marketed to businesses as a team building type activity.
The company I work for had sent some people to WDW for customer service training. I know the company received some promotional material about it. That business dried up with the economy. I think that was the money they were counting on to really fill the programs.
I think the other intended market was adults returning to WDW quite often and might like an experience that was different than parks. But without businesses filling whole classes, it would be hard to ensure there were always enough people signed up to pay the expenses.

Here's one to think about...

When we went to EPCOT for the first time (the year it opened) there were several countries that were on the maps as being planned for the future.

Of these were Morocco and Norway -- both opened later than the park did. But another one was Africa (or maybe specifically South Africa, as it would have had to be a particular nation). It was supposed to be where the outpost is now (between China and Germany).

Does anyone know more about this and why it never came to pass? I've always surmised that it was due to the increasing political resistance to the National Party in the late 80s, but never have heard any explanation.

One big reason is that an actual country actually paid for those Epcot countries. Without a sponsor, the countries would not exist.

 

[Robo]

It was being marketed to businesses as a team building type activity.

Disney offered (don't know if it's still offered, might be) "Disney Institute" training to corporations before they built the special resort.

It is focused (is focused) on teaching management skills for building communication and productivity through positive motivation.

It actually works without all the flower-pot-filling/rock-climbing machinations.

 

[doconeill]

Disney offered (don't know if it's still offered, might be) "Disney Institute" training to corporations before they built the special resort.

It is focused (is focused) on teaching management skills for building communication and productivity through positive motivation.

It actually works without all the flower-pot-filling/rock-climbing machinations.

As of last year they still offered it. The Disney Institute is still an operating division - all the VIP tour guides work for it.

 

[nytimez]

As of last year they still offered it. The Disney Institute is still an operating division - all the VIP tour guides work for it.

Regular tour guides, too. My Backstage Magic tour was run by the Disney Institute.

 

[SueM in MN]

Disney offered (don't know if it's still offered, might be) "Disney Institute" training to corporations before they built the special resort.

It is focused (is focused) on teaching management skills for building communication and productivity through positive motivation.

It actually works without all the flower-pot-filling/rock-climbing machinations.

I know.
People from the company I work for went to one of the pre-Disney Institute programs.
After the Disney Institute began, some companies got promotional materials kind of pointing to the Disney Institute as an extension of that training.
They actually pointed at "rock climbing with the CEO" or cooking with your sales team as a way to built teamwork and get improved customer service by improving team dynamics.

 

[Robo]

They actually pointed at "rock climbing with the CEO" or cooking with your sales team as a way to built teamwork and get improved customer service by improving team dynamics.

Thank goodness the "90's" are over!

 

[ajjollie23]

1- They were in the first couple of phases of construction on those buildings.

2- Yup. All work stopped following the tragic "911" attacks.

3- That's the Wonders of Life, that has been previously mentioned.

Disney won't talk about why they stopped operating the Wonders of Life attractions.

I read somewhere that the wonders of life will be reopening. Does anyone know if that is true?

 

[doconeill]

I read somewhere that the wonders of life will be reopening. Does anyone know if that is true?

Just rumors. They use it for additional space for the festivals, etc. but the attractions have not been open in 4+ years.

 

[Markstudy]

I've only read up to page 10 so far..... but I miss the Magic Shop on Main Street more than anything else.

As kids it was amazing.... Monster mask, magic tricks, gags, practical jokes, and really unique creepy toys that we had never seen before.

I really miss the unique stores that Disney had in the 70's and 80's you never knew what you would find. ( I still remember the little bank I bought with the creepy hand that came out and grabbed the coins)

 

[princessallegra]

Silence! I keel you!

Baaaaaahahahahaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Planogirl]

Great pictures, Markstudy!

I miss the unique shops along Main Street too. I loved spending a little time resting in the cinema too. Now the cinema is in the back part of the Exposition Hall but it just isn't the same.

 

[SnowWhite33]

Great pictures, Markstudy!

I miss the unique shops along Main Street too. I loved spending a little time resting in the cinema too. Now the cinema is in the back part of the Exposition Hall but it just isn't the same.

Isn't that going to be now moved from there or shut down because of the changes in Fantasy Land? It was such a nice quiet place to rest.

 

[Planogirl]

Isn't that going to be now moved from there or shut down because of the changes in Fantasy Land? It was such a nice quiet place to rest.

Good question. Ugh.

 

[shafke]

I do miss the Diamond Horse Shoe Revue Show


I miss the original Top of the World Lounge

You used to have to make reservations for the Diamond Horseshoe Revue. You had to get to the MK at opening and head right over there to make reservations in person. An hour or so after park opening and they were booked up for the day.

You used to be able to take the elevator up to the lounge and go out on the observation deck at any time. It was a great place to take pictures. I don't think you can even get to that floor anymore without a reservation for the restaurant.