Abandoned Attractions

[If U Had Wings]

I have some of these very same photo's from years past. So different. Remember the days when you didn't even consider going left our right before the castle. You walked straight through, the murals never ceased to amaze me and I always had to touch them. They never had character meet & greets, they were just all over the part wondering around. 20,000 Leagues under the Sea was my favorite. I wish it was still there. As a child I truly believed we were diving . Swimming in the lakes was allowed, swam in it daily when we were camping at FW. Loved taking the skyway, it was so cool. The parade had no outstanding floats. The characters paraded around on foot, stopping along the way to greet a child or adult in awe.

Such memories

My younger brother always believed we were really going under water on 2.000 leagues. I think I have a bunch of picts of the Poly beaches someplace. What I remember most is the characters out with no handlers. You could never get your picture alone with a character. Most of mine are my brother and I surrounded by tons of kids we'd never met before.

 

[Planogirl]

http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

Some might have already seen this....but this is really really cool, albeit...wrong and possibly illegal!

CHECK IT OUT! Its about Discovery Island!

And I found this on that blog....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2344523

about RIVER COUNTRY

Those pictures of Discovery Island are amazing. I bookmarked that site since I like urban explorers (I know, naughty) and this appears to be one. Thanks!

 

[pixiefairy]

Thanks for all the interesting posts and info! I'd heard about the POP section back in '08 while driving past with a friend of mine who was a CM at the time. It's a shame it's sitting there...it would be cool if they made them into family suites like at the All Stars.

I too am one of those people who are simultaneously creeped out and fascinated by abandoned things. Those pictures of Discovery Island were just...wow.

I remember the old Animation building as well....when DH and I were there on our honeymoon, we got to see them working on Tarzan. It was really cool!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

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).

When we lived in VA sometimes we would take the kids down to the bay to pick up sea shells or just relax by the water. A huge water snack came up to the surface a few times and scared the heck out of us. I wouldn't even let the kids near the water when I saw the snakes.

Some of the pictures are so creepy but fascinating at the same time. My husband has gone to disney more times and some of his trips were back in the 90s when many of these things were still around. He has gone to River Country etc. I have some old pictures somewhere, just wish I knew where they were now.

 

[disneydee6]

We had sooooooo much fun back when the backlot tour had the 'Tool Time' segment, my dad was asked to play Al Borland (who happens to look VERY VERY similar to him) It was so hilarious watching him play the part! Although, I think if they had kept that around, I suppose people would wonder why they haven't replaced it with a more relevant show (maybe if there were more shows as FUNNY as Home Improvement )
I also remember 20,000 leagues and MGM 'prehat' lol. And thank goodness they redid the Living Seas. We accidentally took the elevator straight to the gift shop TWICE! That holding room was so useless. I don't know if that happened to anyone else . So that is something I DONT miss!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

ok...i think this was in the Land at EPCOT...does anyone remember the show with the dancing fruits and veggies that talked about eating a healthy lunch and stuff...it was hokey but i always loved it...i really miss it!!!

i also miss the REAL animation studio! i can't remember what movie they were working on when i first to MGM went but it was May the year MGM opened....anyone have any ideas????

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Maybe too many Saturday morning cartoons taught me that abandoned theme parks are the best place for supervillains to hatch their dastardly schemes.

Maybe that's where Dr. Doofenschmirtz will strike next!

 

[Poohbug]

ok...i think this was in the Land at EPCOT...does anyone remember the show with the dancing fruits and veggies that talked about eating a healthy lunch and stuff...it was hokey but i always loved it...i really miss it!!!

i also miss the REAL animation studio! i can't remember what movie they were working on when i first to MGM went but it was May the year MGM opened....anyone have any ideas????

Kitchen Cabaret and then Food Rocks were the food show at the land.

Remember how there was a Huge hidden Mickey in the map of MGM?

 

[jeffdlong]

Not sure if this was mentioned, but I miss 20,000 leagues......

 

[Robo]

Remember how there was a Huge hidden Mickey in the map of MGM?

Here it is.

I flipped the image upside-down so that it can be seen more easily.

That shape is still there, but the giant Sorcerer's Hat obscures it these days.

 

[Stephaniecmc]

Robo....YOU ROCK!!!

I just love all your maps!

 

[desert_starr_57]

I miss Kitchen Cabaret too. I loved that one as a kid. I liked World of Motion too. Of course Figment and Dreamfinder...*sigh*

 

[Otter49]

Might have already been mentioned, but......

Ft Wilderness Railroad
Studio's Residential Street
Lake Buena Vista townhouses - leased by sponsors. Current site of Saratoga Springs.
Diamond Horseshoe
Penny Arcade on Main St

Here's an interesting site with a lot of interesting reading. Mostly about Disneyland, but plenty more as well:

Yesterland

Not to change the subject, but why do you suppose the canoes and keelboats still exist at some other parks but no longer in Florida?

 

[Nermel9]

Kitchen Cabaret and then Food Rocks were the food show at the land.

Remember how there was a Huge hidden Mickey in the map of MGM?

I loved Kitchen Cabaret and Food Rocks! Kitchen Cabaret is one of the few things I remember about my first trip when I was 7.

 

[doconeill]

Lake Buena Vista townhouses - leased by sponsors. Current site of Saratoga Springs.

Since you mention it, most of that became the Disney Institute, which then became Saratoga Springs...

 

[Robo]

Since you mention it, most of that became the Disney Institute, which then became Saratoga Springs...

As I recall, the original townhouses were torn down to construct the buildings of the ill-fated Disney Institute.

There was a "Country Club" Clubhouse in the area that offered a very nice restaurant.
(Had strolling musicians.)

 

[doconeill]

As I recall, the original townhouses were torn down to construct the buildings of the ill-fated Disney Institute.

There was a "Country Club" Clubhouse in the area that offered a very nice restaurant.
(Had strolling musicians.)

I forget much of the original design (I was never over there before the reconstruction), but from what I remember of the pre-reconstruction satellite views, much of the "broadway" area (main building, theater, clubhouse, etc.) and maybe the Springs buildings were built for DI, but the rest of the townhouses survived and were either also used for DI or left empty before being torn down for SSR.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

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.

 

[BLRsemisurf]

I miss the old Living With the Seas. I was only a kid, but I used to get so scared in those elevators!!! I wish they didnt have all that Nemo stuff in the way of where you used to see the aquarium while on the omnimover. Now you barely see any REAL fish while riding!

I also loved learning how the seas formed with that prevideo they used to have in that movie theater before entering the elevators. Does anyone know where i can possibly find that video/??

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I think they used these for College Program dorms for a while.