Abandoned Attractions

[Doc CW]

I am curious how the youtube guy got those videos without getting caught or something becasue those were clearly areas Disney would not want to be seen.

Anyway, this is a sad thread some of those shots from inside the legendary years and all that look like it could be in a horror movie.

Is it just me or does it look like something is growing at the bottom of the main pool in the River country photos?

This is a sad thread indeed.

 

[buzz5985]

Cheer up - nobody thought the Treehouse Villas would be up and running again.

Never say Never.

 

[HMJ15]

As for River Country, I remember going there when we were younger. We had such a blast! Now that I'm older and realize there are snakes in the water... lol. I can't say I would go swimming in the lake water anyhow! I was a HUGE fan of the drop-off slides that went into the pool, though! And Discovery Island was ok, but it definitely wasn't my favorite place. Again, somewhere we went when I was younger. And Buzz -- my husband told me about staying at the Treehouse Villas when he was little, and I was SOOO bummed they weren't open anymore. That was just a couple years ago. Now we're going to be staying there next week!!! I am SOOOO excited! =)

 

[Amber Leigh]

Does the Animation Studio count? The Backlot tour? (I haven't been in a while, but I understand it's a shadow of it's former self. What about the Drew Carey Sounds Dangerous? Is Narnia still open?

Not sure what's being done with the Pocohontas and Friends stage.

This is stuff from way back on page one, but I don't think they were ever addressed....

Animation studio was totally ripped out and the interactive area and Animation Academy is there now. And Sounds Dangerious is suppose to operate seasonally, but the last time I as there during a holiday, when it is usually open, it was not. I don't think it may ever re-open. There was another topic on the board about a rumor it might be getting turned into a Phinus and Ferb attaction. Rumor, key word.

There is still a peice of the ORIGINAL Backlot Tour that stands abandoned and waiting to be used. It was a part of the original super long tour. It was then was split up into two tours, Backlot Tour which still opperates, and Backstage Pass which spanned from right next to the Backlot Tour to where Journey into Narnia now is. It was made up of three soundstages and while stages 2 and 3 are now Toy Story Mania, soundstage 1 is still empty. You can see the outside of it right past Pixar Place. It has a large sign out front that says "HOT SET."

There is another area from Backstage Pass. It wasn't a soundstage, but a warehouse similar to the prop house on the Backlot that was the start of the walking tour. I remember that area myself. It held additional props and they had a section where they picked someone from the tour to ride on the bumble bee from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids." A friend of mine worked in that area and told me the room is still there, exactly the way it was when it was open. She could have been blowing smoke though. I have not seen it myself and it's in an area closed off. Even if the stuff isn't there, the building is there. That I am sure about.

As for Pocohantas and her Forest Friends... the area is open seasonally as a dance party location. They call it "Good Times Gathering Spot" but it's usually only open during major holidays. Many characters relocate there, Pocohantas hosts a story time, there is a DJ, and Gi-tar Dan moves there as well.

 

[Tinks1984]

It's sad to see the Pop buildings, here's hoping that one day something will be done with the area. Maybe once the economy picks back up they'll begin to work on them again?

I was lucky enough to visit both Discovery Island and River Country as a child, which I'm happy about, but these days, you wouldn't get me anywhere near the River Country park at all. I understand that they'd clean the place up, but IMO it was never 'clean' when I went there last time As a PP mentioned though, I loved the slides which dropped off into the pool, they were fantastic!

I don't have many memories of DI, but a strange one that does stick with me, is that myself and my brother both got a rubbery plastic (if that makes sense!) lizzard as a toy I still have mine today, I can't part with him

 

[AllyGirlie]

Robo's shots reminded me of Aunt Polly's. It too would be abandoned I guess.

Aunt Polly's! I miss that place. It was always a nice spot to get away. I remember when I was little we would either get one of those big dill pickles or an ice cream. Now it's all boarded up with soda machines parked in front of it..

 

[bellazachmom]

Not an "attraction" per se, but "abandoned and rotting" nonetheless.

Pop Century -Legendary Years UNFINISHED - 3 Bird'sEye - Only Unfinished area

Pop Century -Legendary Years UNFINISHED - 4 Bird'sEye Both Room Bldgs -North

Pop Century -Legendary Years UNFINISHED - 5 Bird'sEye Both Room Bldgs -East

Pop Century -Legendary Years UNFINISHED - 6 Bird'sEye Clubhouse/Lobby Bldgs

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 ?!?!?!

 

[doconeill]

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 ?!?!?!

No speculation - it isn't. It's far too small. Someone at one point managed to get close up pictures of it.

It is more like a Flash Gordon-esque spaceship, probably meant to be part of the theming of the Legendary Years.

P.S. The last place I knew the subs were located was the land to the northeast of the MK where the Persian Resort was originally planned for, but they are not there any more. I heard a rumor that they were buried on property over to the west of the MK, beyond the fireworks bunkers. There is a landfill area where it looks like they have at least partially buried some containers.

 

[brerdawg]

Wonders of Life Pavilion.

Someone told me that the WOLP was sometimes open. Is this true?

 

[brerdawg]

As I recall, we stayed at the Tree House Villas in 1997. We toured Discovery Island and swam at River Country. WE never knew what happened to them until now. When were these places closed down?

 

[doconeill]

Someone told me that the WOLP was sometimes open. Is this true?

Wonders Of Life as not been open as an attraction pavilion since December 2006, and before that it was only occasionally.

Since then, it has been used strictly for special events. None of the attractions inside have been open, and most if not all have been removed.

 

[tractortippin]

We also went in 97 and river country was open, I still have the map! We didnt go though. I dont swim in any natural water and certainly not water where there is even a chance of snakes (yes I know some are not dangerous, I dont want to see one let alone swim w/ one).

That said, and like others have posted....those drop off slides look like so much fun!!! There is a small part of me that wishes I had at least tried them once!

And yes i'm "one of those" that would love to see them bring it back. W/out using lake water though! Probably not possible but it would be awesome.

 

[tinkerbell_xo]

Aahh these pictures make me so sad!!!
They're like something out of a Disney nightmare.
I have so many good memories from River Country and Discovery Island.
It's just so sad to see them in that state.

I hate how POP left the Legendary Years like that too! Yuck. It looks like a Disney nightmare too haha..

 

[brerdawg]

Wonders Of Life as not been open as an attraction pavilion since December 2006, and before that it was only occasionally.

Since then, it has been used strictly for special events. None of the attractions inside have been open, and most if not all have been removed.

Thanks!

 

[peekinglemer]

I may be in the minority here but I think these photos are fascinating! (And a tad bit creepy.)

There use to be a show on t.v. called "The Scariest Places on Earth". Some of these places look like they could qualify. I wonder if they are haunted by the ghosts of Disney Charecters Past?

 

[tinacaplan]

Those were some seriously creepy pictures....why doesn't Disney just tear that stuff down? If a building has been unfinished for 8 years it seems highly unlikely they could just go back and finish it. Weird!

 

[Planogirl]

Speaking of closed attractions, has anyone who has taken a Disney cruise seen the Nautilus sub? There are supposedly two of them submerged for divers or snorkelers to find. I found this picture which is supposed to be of the two just before they were sunk.

 

[mmtska]

This is stuff from way back on page one, but I don't think they were ever addressed....

Animation studio was totally ripped out and the interactive area and Animation Academy is there now. And Sounds Dangerious is suppose to operate seasonally, but the last time I as there during a holiday, when it is usually open, it was not. I don't think it may ever re-open. There was another topic on the board about a rumor it might be getting turned into a Phinus and Ferb attaction. Rumor, key word.

There is still a peice of the ORIGINAL Backlot Tour that stands abandoned and waiting to be used. It was a part of the original super long tour. It was then was split up into two tours, Backlot Tour which still opperates, and Backstage Pass which spanned from right next to the Backlot Tour to where Journey into Narnia now is. It was made up of three soundstages and while stages 2 and 3 are now Toy Story Mania, soundstage 1 is still empty. You can see the outside of it right past Pixar Place. It has a large sign out front that says "HOT SET."

There is another area from Backstage Pass. It wasn't a soundstage, but a warehouse similar to the prop house on the Backlot that was the start of the walking tour. I remember that area myself. It held additional props and they had a section where they picked someone from the tour to ride on the bumble bee from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids." A friend of mine worked in that area and told me the room is still there, exactly the way it was when it was open. She could have been blowing smoke though. I have not seen it myself and it's in an area closed off. Even if the stuff isn't there, the building is there. That I am sure about.

As for Pocohantas and her Forest Friends... the area is open seasonally as a dance party location. They call it "Good Times Gathering Spot" but it's usually only open during major holidays. Many characters relocate there, Pocohantas hosts a story time, there is a DJ, and Gi-tar Dan moves there as well.

I miss the bee part of the backstage tour In 1996 my HS band went, and my best friend and I got to 'ride' on the bee!! Still one of the coolest memories of WDW ever

 

[thinking a lot]

beautiful

 

[knieriem]

Te swan boat photos I've seen of the MK boats and the Lake Eola boats are different.

Thanks for the pictures. I never got to see either.

Didn't WDW also have two person swan boats? I seem to remember those... It could have been at the Swan and Dolphin instead?

I'm just quoting Southern Living. Maybe they were the boats at a hotel. If I can find the article I'll see if they gave better specifics. I stuck it somewhere now if I can just find it!