Abandoned Attractions

[MYD714]

Circled in Yellow.

My husband popped the question at the swan boat landing in 2001 right after the fourth of July fireworks. It was really romantic. I hope they never remove it--ever!

Thanks for the pic! It brought back a wonderful memory.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

Not really abandonded, just vanished really, but I didn't know where to ask. Can anyone tell me more about the Villains restaurant there used to be? Maybe post some pics?

 

[edk35]

I think so, and as I recall before that it was called Mickey's Birthdayland. I seem to remember that it was oriiginally just supposed to be a temporary attraction built in honor of Mickey's 60th birthday.

YES YES I remember that too.

 

[*Meagan*]

Wow this thread is eerie and fun all in one! I just read through the entire thread!

The beginning of the post with the pics of discovery island and river country are crazy! The blog posts and pictures are crazy! And sooo interesting!!

Couple posts back I saw talking of alien encounter aka ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter Magic Kingdom
The disney institute.. wow!
20,000 leagues under the sea
body wars.. I hated every minute of this ride. but weird they r gone! along with some other attractions in epcot.
totes remember the flamingos!!
and the skyway.

what else???

I miss the penny arcade on main street and at one point the icecream shoppe on the corner got new "owners" per say.

 

[Belle2009]

Not really abandonded, just vanished really, but I didn't know where to ask. Can anyone tell me more about the Villains restaurant there used to be? Maybe post some pics?

Are you referring to the character meal at the Brown Derby at DHS???? Or was there an actual restaurant??

 

[*Meagan*]

I literally continue to read through this thread, its just sooo crazy!

fascinating.. is the perfect word!!!!!

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

Are you referring to the character meal at the Brown Derby at DHS???? Or was there an actual restaurant??

I'm not sure. It was a character dinner, but I think it was at 1900 Park Fare.

 

[Planogirl]

There was a character meal that included villains at the Soundstage restaurant in DHS. It was where Playhouse Disney is now. It wasn't only villains though but an assortment from the run of successful animated movies Disney had starting with the Little Mermaid.

 

[coreymd]

Didn't get through all of the thread, but didn't see anyone mention IF YOU HAD WINGS - Delta Dreamflight?? That was always one of my favorites. I can still hear the song in my head.

My memories for most of these gone-but-not-forgotten attractions are from 3rd grade ('83) and 8th grade ('88). So some are vivid and some are just disjointed impressions. Fun to think back on those family vacations, though!

If You Had Wings / If You Could Fly (trips: '83 & '88):
For that one, I could only remember the "traffic cop" and "bon voyage" video segments and the wind tunnel at the end. But I clearly remember my dad pointing out the fans on the sides of the track inside the tunnel and seeing that we were still going about 2mph!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (trips: '83 & '88)
Figured out that the Nautilus vehicles never really submerged on my second trip, which made it even more curious as to why the seats and floor were wet (?). Must have happened to have rained that day... For the life of me, I don't remember anything specific about the underwater scenes.

Mission to Mars (trips: only '83, that I remember)
Large circular chamber with a video screen on the floor in the center, right? Signature effect: your seat cushion would shake and sink down during the 'high G' take-off.

I remember much less about the Epcot attractions. IIRC, we skipped Epcot on the first trip and rushed through it on the second. Wish I had access to those pictures right now...

Thanks for the memories!

 

[BarbieGal457]

What I liked best about the old Toontown was that it was a real "town" with scaled down store fronts and buildings and a sign that read "Welcome to Duckburg".

Oh my gosh I so remember that! I must've been about 6 or 7 but I remember taking pictures on all the stoops. I was always a very tall child and sort of felt awkward, but there it turned into a joke! I remember lots of little kids around me too and I felt like a giant. I remember the next time I went back they were gone and I was devistated. This thread really makes me feel older than my 22 years. I guess lots of change has gone on without me realizing the real enormity of it all!

 

[MajorThomasina]

I thought I would share some of my pictures back from '97 and '98. I have a lot more featuring other things that are gone, but I decided to only scan the ones that were mentioned in this thread. Enjoy!

And my most favorite and treasured out of them all:

 

[Scott M]

This had been briefly mentioned earlier in this thread:

Fort Wilderness at one time had it's own railroad that would transport campers between their campsites, the campground entrance and the Settlement.

Here's a link to it's map:

http://www.title-3.com/PDF/1978GuideMap.pdf

Here's a link to it's history with some pics:

http://www.startedbyamouse.com/features/FWRR.shtml

Here's a link to a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n633qZJJgJc

I believe that evidence still exists of the railroad today in Fort Wilderness such as a trestle and some old roadbed. I had thought that I had seen photos somewhere of this evidence but I can not seem to come across it. I'll keep looking though.

 

[bella77]

I don't think I've seen anyone else mention it, and I guess it's not so much "abandoned" as just reconstituted, but I miss the Empress Lilly River Boat Character Breakfast. It's one of the few things I remember about my first trip to Disney in 1981.
I had totally forgotten about the fruit-shaped drinks and the Epcot flamingoes! It makes me feel nostalgic!

 

[Robo]

I don't think I've seen anyone else mention it, and I guess it's not so much "abandoned" as just reconstituted, but I miss the Empress Lilly River Boat Character Breakfast.

And, the Empress Lilly DINNERS!

 

[mindync]

I have a vague memory of River Country being used as the "pool" for one of the resorts for a time. Am I making this up??

 

[disneyfan55]

I have a vague memory of River Country being used as the "pool" for one of the resorts for a time. Am I making this up??

It was a water park near Fort Wilderness Campground (and actually still is in rubbles)

 

[Planogirl]

This had been briefly mentioned earlier in this thread:

Fort Wilderness at one time had it's own railroad that would transport campers between their campsites, the campground entrance and the Settlement.

Here's a link to it's map:

http://www.title-3.com/PDF/1978GuideMap.pdf

Here's a link to it's history with some pics:

http://www.startedbyamouse.com/features/FWRR.shtml

Here's a link to a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n633qZJJgJc

I believe that evidence still exists of the railroad today in Fort Wilderness such as a trestle and some old roadbed. I had thought that I had seen photos somewhere of this evidence but I can not seem to come across it. I'll keep looking though.

Thanks for posting this. I love trains and had heard about this but never saw any detail. What a shame that it's gone.

 

[mindync]

It was a water park near Fort Wilderness Campground (and actually still is in rubbles)

I remember that but I was thinking that after it closed as a water park, it was still used as a resort pool for awhile??

 

[PopArtGal]

River Country looks so disgusting now.

 

[Robo]

I remember that but I was thinking that after it closed as a water park, it was still used as a resort pool for awhile??

Don't think so.

Ft. Wilderness already had a pool.
The rest of the resorts (there were only a relative few) also had their own.