Abandoned Attractions

[doconeill]

Here's the big one in Fantasyland. On the left, you see 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Great ride, closed in 1994. The white roofed building was torn down and filled in, the lagoon was drained, the green roofed area (for boarding the Nautilus submarines) was torn down and replaced with Pooh's Playful Spot. Another corner of the 20k Leagues lagoon became Ariel's Grotto. (See picture on the right, Spring 2010.)

Now all of that is walled off (red line) for the next transformation of that space. You can see that the big Pooh tree, with Piglet and the house that said "Mr. Saunders," has been moved across the way and placed in front of the Pooh ride. Cool info: when the Pooh tree is opened again, go inside and look over the doorway. There is a blemish in the wooden framing. Look closer and you will see that it is a carving of the Nautilus! A tribute from Disney Imagineers to the old beloved ride which once stood where the Pooh tree was placed. Gone but not forgotten.

If you look closely, you'll see that there is a wall near the edge of Toontown. That is the wall from the original 20k building on the left (they didn't completely tear it down), and will be part of the building for the new Ariel attraction. By retaining at least one wall, the permitting process is easier because it can be called a "remodeling" instead of new construction.

 

[rcc866]

try this link
http://www.yesterland.com/

 

[nytimez]

If you look closely, you'll see that there is a wall near the edge of Toontown. That is the wall from the original 20k building on the left (they didn't completely tear it down), and will be part of the building for the new Ariel attraction. By retaining at least one wall, the permitting process is easier because it can be called a "remodeling" instead of new construction.

Talk about the "letter" of the law and not the "spirit," eh?

 

[LeagueCityMouse]

Here's a question that I poise to those I talk to about RC and DI (abandoned attractions) specifically. Do you think Disney allows them to stay in the condition they are in for a reason? IMO, they could easily clean up both places...but somehow a "mystery" remains about them that is propagated across all sorts of disney blogs and forums, almost to the point that there is a subculture that ponders (and sometimes explores) these abandoned attractions. Couldn't that be free and subliminal advertising? I've always said, Disney does everything with a purpose. It just hard for me to believe that there is no funding or resources available to clean RC and DI up...even if it's just on the facade (remove the boat docks, slides, bridges, etc.).

Hmmmm, something to think about....

 

[Blocata]

This thread is a VERY interesting read. I love stuff like this.

 

[nytimez]

Here's a question that I poise to those I talk to about RC and DI (abandoned attractions) specifically. Do you think Disney allows them to stay in the condition they are in for a reason? IMO, they could easily clean up both places...but somehow a "mystery" remains about them that is propagated across all sorts of disney blogs and forums, almost to the point that there is a subculture that ponders (and sometimes explores) these abandoned attractions. Couldn't that be free and subliminal advertising? I've always said, Disney does everything with a purpose. It just hard for me to believe that there is no funding or resources available to clean RC and DI up...even if it's just on the facade (remove the boat docks, slides, bridges, etc.).

Hmmmm, something to think about....

I think it's more a cost issue than anything else. Why spend the time and money to clear land when there's no plan to develop it? It costs nothing to let all that stuff sit there and rot... but would cost tons to tear it all down.

 

[doconeill]

I think it's more a cost issue than anything else. Why spend the time and money to clear land when there's no plan to develop it? It costs nothing to let all that stuff sit there and rot... but would cost tons to tear it all down.

That's what I've always said.

And I think we got another clue as to why with how they are doing the new Ariel attraction in FL. If they retain some minimal amount of the original structure, like one wall, they can get permits for remodeling as opposed to new construction, which is cheaper/easier.

 

[C U AT DISNEY]

I don't know if anyone mentioned Mr Toad Wild Ride.. Didn't the winnie the pooh ride take it's spot?


James

 

[BEANTOWNDR7]

We love Mr. Toad's, we always go on it 4-5 times when we are at DL; I wish they would bring it back to WDW

 

[nytimez]

That's what I've always said.

And I think we got another clue as to why with how they are doing the new Ariel attraction in FL. If they retain some minimal amount of the original structure, like one wall, they can get permits for remodeling as opposed to new construction, which is cheaper/easier.

Letting those structures slowly decay will also help make for a more interesting post-apocalyptic landscape.

 

[doconeill]

Letting those structures slowly decay will also help make for a more interesting post-apocalyptic landscape.

Heh...now I have ideas for the 5th gate...Mad Max Kingdom...

 

[nytimez]

Heh...now I have ideas for the 5th gate...Mad Max Kingdom...

On another thread, I jokingly suggested Mel Gibson as a Candlelight Processional narrator... but maybe it wasn't a joke after all!

 

[LittleFlounder]

I haven't seen much mentioned about the area that housed the 20K ride after it closed. I've read that the ride closed in 1994, but sat derelict until 1996 when Ariel's Grotto was built on the shore of the lagoon. I visited Disney World for the first time in 1998, and, even though I was only six at the time, I was curious as to why there was a giant lagoon there that seemingly served no purpose. I have a photo of a small King Triton fountain that was just off the shore of the lagoon, with his trident pointed into the air and water shooting from the ends of it. Does anyone know if that fountain remained there until the lagoon was drained in 2004? Another photo that I have (most likely taken from the Skyway) shows the lagoon, with what appears to be one of the submarines submerged in the middle of it.

I also took photos with characters (Captain Hook, Smee, Chip, and Dale) in what appears to have been the queue for the 20K ride, with the lagoon in plain sight behind us.

I'm so glad you mentioned this! My first visit to WDW was in 1998... it was a 1-day trip to MK and I don't remember much from it. I have photos of myself with Hook, Prince John(from Robin Hood), and Chip. Until seeing your post, I had no idea where in MK these character photos were taken! Mystery solved! I just dug out the photos and sure enough, there is the 20K lagoon right behind us.

There are things in the water/shore behind us that I cant quite make out...looks to be some sort of wooden crate that says "25th strikers" "Main Street Magic Kingdom WDW Attn: T. Mayor", and maybe some rocks... or could that be a submarine?

 

[cjb71870]

HAve fun!!!!!

 

[rugman1969]

The same person on Youtube who posted the above linked video of the wand in the trash also posted a video of the Legendary Years at Pop Century:

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

So sad.

This is such a waste of time, money, manpower, and space. I guess this is one of the unknown reasons prices go up every year. I wonder how many other things they have like this? Too bad us WDW lovers have to suffer for this. So much for practicing what you preach...going green at Disney? I think not!

 

[doconeill]

This is such a waste of time, money, manpower, and space. I guess this is one of the unknown reasons prices go up every year. I wonder how many other things they have like this? Too bad us WDW lovers have to suffer for this. So much for practicing what you preach...going green at Disney? I think not!

Do you know the history behind it?

It wasn't a "waste of time, money, manpower, and space" when they started it. The problem was 9/11/2001 happened, the economy and the travel industry tanked, and they didn't need the rooms for a long, long time.

Has nothing to do with "going green", or raising prices.

And it is FINALLY going to be completed (work started several months ago), but as completely distinct resort, called the "Art of Animation Resort". (now whether that is a good theme is for another thread).

 

[rugman1969]

Do you know the history behind it?

It wasn't a "waste of time, money, manpower, and space" when they started it. The problem was 9/11/2001 happened, the economy and the travel industry tanked, and they didn't need the rooms for a long, long time.

Has nothing to do with "going green", or raising prices.

And it is FINALLY going to be completed (work started several months ago), but as completely distinct resort, called the "Art of Animation Resort". (now whether that is a good theme is for another thread).

Thanks, good to know its not going to go to waste.

 

[goofyernmost]

If you look closely, you'll see that there is a wall near the edge of Toontown. That is the wall from the original 20k building on the left (they didn't completely tear it down), and will be part of the building for the new Ariel attraction. By retaining at least one wall, the permitting process is easier because it can be called a "remodeling" instead of new construction.

I doubt it is for that reason. Shortly before Walt passed away, he had negotiated with Florida to make WDW an area that was completely autonomous. It controls everything within its own property regulated by the Ready Creek District (which is a fancy way of saying that it is owned by Disney and operated by Disney, free of outside interference).

In other words, it can do any thing it wants within the grounds including building a Nuclear Power Plant if they wanted too. I'm not sure why they left that wall up but I'm pretty sure that the permit process was not one of the reason.

 

[mom2rtk]

I doubt it is for that reason. Shortly before Walt passed away, he had negotiated with Florida to make WDW an area that was completely autonomous. It controls everything within its own property regulated by the Ready Creek District (which is a fancy way of saying that it is owned by Disney and operated by Disney, free of outside interference).

In other words, it can do any thing it wants within the grounds including building a Nuclear Power Plant if they wanted too. I'm not sure why they left that wall up but I'm pretty sure that the permit process was not one of the reason.

I actually had read the same thing somewhere along the line.

And if they autonomous, then why do we hear reports from time to time about them filing for this or that building permit?

 

[nytimez]

I actually had read the same thing somewhere along the line.

And if they autonomous, then why do we hear reports from time to time about them filing for this or that building permit?

I believe the permits still have to be put into the public record, I guess with the county.

Also, Disney is exempt from most state and local regulations... but not federal ones. So they can't just build a nuclear plant without going through a certain process.