Abandoned Attractions

[W.E.D.]

I was completely blown away by Epcot when it opened! The World of Motion and old Imagination rides were both excellent. And Horizons was just incredible and always a special favorite of mine. They all had great music and audioanimatronics and the themes seemed to really fit the later Epcot theming to me. I miss them all and don't think that any of the replacements do them justice.

I second that opinion.

 

[declansdad]

Robo (and anyone else who wants to specultate ...) is that an abandoned submarine from the 20,000 Leagues ride in the top left corner of view #6 ?!?!?!

I believe you will find the answer to your question on this site.

Here is a video for you as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSc1fG0ETeY

 

[Robo]

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?

Yes.
The movie "theatre" inside the Expo Hall is already closed and its entire area has been walled-off.

 

[philliplc]

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

Wonders of life was last open (seasonally for the christmas season) in Dec 2006, so it has been about 3 1/2 years. i was there then, caught the swan song apparently

 

[doconeill]

Wonders of life was last open (seasonally for the christmas season) in Dec 2006, so it has been about 3 1/2 years. i was there then, caught the swan song apparently

Oops, yes, bad math on my part...I knew Dec 2006...

 

[ColetteScam]

I was just at Disney (got back yesterday) was walking over to Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studios and the theater was shutdown. They're closing it down the because they are redoing that whole section of Hollywood Studios.
You want abandoned or soon to be abandoned look no further than that portion of HS. Sad. I miss the Roger Rabbit days of that part of the park.
I'm going back there next week for work so I'm going to get more info.

 

[Robo]

I was just at Disney (got back yesterday) was walking over to Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studios and the theater was shutdown. They're closing it down the because they are redoing that whole section of Hollywood Studios.
You want abandoned or soon to be abandoned look no further than that portion of HS. Sad. I miss the Roger Rabbit days of that part of the park.
I'm going back there next week for work so I'm going to get more info.

This is a scheduled refurb.
It has been posted for months.

Muppets 3D closed on April 24, 2010 and will re-open on May 15, 2010.

It will upgrade the older film projection system in the theater to high-tech digital playback.

 

[doconeill]

I was just at Disney (got back yesterday) was walking over to Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studios and the theater was shutdown. They're closing it down the because they are redoing that whole section of Hollywood Studios.
You want abandoned or soon to be abandoned look no further than that portion of HS. Sad. I miss the Roger Rabbit days of that part of the park.
I'm going back there next week for work so I'm going to get more info.

Ummm...Muppetvision is getting an extensive rehab with digital projectors, etc...THAT'S why it is closed.

They are not redoing the whole section - yet - although that has been rumored for a couple years...

 

[ColetteScam]

This is a scheduled refurb.
It has been posted for months.

Muppets 3D closed on April 24, 2010 and will re-open on May 15, 2010.

It will upgrade the older film projection system in the theater to high-tech digital playback.

I was told they're redoing that whole section surrounding the theater "in another direction". Which goes along with why I travel out there for work so much.

 

[kcormier]

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)

LOVE your photos!! Where do I see more?!

 

[Jenn4615]

Oh I miss that magic shop! One of my favorites! I can't walk onto main street without remembering that store and thinking how much my daughter would love that store now! I had my invisible dog FOREVER from there!

 

[Figment&Piglet]

What I don't get is why they build new rides and hotels but then abandon others and leave them to rot--for example, why build a new DVC while the unfinished Pop rots? Why build new rides while Sounds Dangerous and Wonders of Life sit empty and unused? I would think they'd improve and revamp what's there before breaking new ground? Swiss Family Robinson, and others are so outdated, yet they don't overhaul them for years past their prime? Don't get it?

 

[doconeill]

What I don't get is why they build new rides and hotels but then abandon others and leave them to rot--for example, why build a new DVC while the unfinished Pop rots? Why build new rides while Sounds Dangerous and Wonders of Life sit empty and unused? I would think they'd improve and revamp what's there before breaking new ground? Swiss Family Robinson, and others are so outdated, yet they don't overhaul them for years past their prime? Don't get it?

Because building a DVC at Pop would not have filled any of the desires they needed to fill - a monorail resort, etc.

Why build a new attraction at a different location instead of re-using an existing location? Because the location does not fit the needs of what they want to do.

And a refurb of an existing attraction does not necessarily increase visitors unless its a popular attraction and/or you are making a significant change. Few people would make an extra trip to WDW to because they cleaned up the treehouse, but plenty of people would make special trips for a new coaster, or a Space Mountain rebuild...

 

[Markstudy]

Oh I miss that magic shop! One of my favorites! I can't walk onto main street without remembering that store and thinking how much my daughter would love that store now! I had my invisible dog FOREVER from there!

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Loved the invisible dog when it first came out.

Do you remember the orange drinks that came in a plastic orange with the green plastic leafs on top and a straw? Another of my favorites from Disney when it first opened.

 

[Jenn4615]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Loved the invisible dog when it first came out.

Do you remember the orange drinks that came in a plastic orange with the green plastic leafs on top and a straw? Another of my favorites from Disney when it first opened.

OH my goodness YES YES YES!!! We had so many of those things!! I loved those too! I miss living in Miami and visiting as much as we did!

 

[Markstudy]

LOVE your photos!! Where do I see more?!

Thanks ....

If You Had Wings. We loved it, but also went for the great AC on a hot day

The sub ride created a great water front in the park. It was so pretty just to see the waterfalls and hear the music. We use to eat lunch or snacks in front of the ride and look at the pretty lagoon.

Rusting in the junk yard...

 

[triplejen]

Do you remember the orange drinks that came in a plastic orange with the green plastic leafs on top and a straw? Another of my favorites from Disney when it first opened.

I remember those! They were sold in carts full of ice, and I think there were lemons too. I also remember these plastic drinking spouts sold alongside oranges. You would take the orange, roll & smoosh it around for a minute, then poke the spout into the orange and drink the juice! I remember having them in WDW as a child (back in the '70s), but wonder if they were something we bought AT the park, or on the way in.

 

[Kaewin]

Thanks ....

If You Had Wings. We loved it, but also went for the great AC on a hot day

The sub ride created a great water front in the park. It was so pretty just to see the waterfalls and hear the music. We use to eat lunch or snacks in front of the ride and look at the pretty lagoon.

Rusting in the junk yard...

Seeing all of those subs is just sad. I loved that ride.

 

[Jenn4615]

I can't believe there were that many SUBS! I never would of guessed!

 

[Planogirl]

Because building a DVC at Pop would not have filled any of the desires they needed to fill - a monorail resort, etc.

Why build a new attraction at a different location instead of re-using an existing location? Because the location does not fit the needs of what they want to do.

And a refurb of an existing attraction does not necessarily increase visitors unless its a popular attraction and/or you are making a significant change. Few people would make an extra trip to WDW to because they cleaned up the treehouse, but plenty of people would make special trips for a new coaster, or a Space Mountain rebuild...

Leaving things to run down does not exactly evoke the Disney perfection that they are so capable of though. At least not for me. But people come anyway, me included.