Does anyone remember CircusWorld?

[kirsangel]

I was wondering what ever happened to Circus World. I have fond memories of a pretty intense looping roller coaster. I was only nine years old so maybe it wasn't that scary. I think I remember Circus World being somewhere in Florida, not necessarily Orlando. Does anyone else remember this place?

 

[jajarino]

I remember Circus World. We took a class field trip there. It was in Haines City. It closed and Boardwalks and Baseball took over. From googling on the net, it looks as though that is gone too though. not sure what is there now.

 

[Jason71]

I remember Circus World fondly from a trip as an 8 or 9 year-old (got to ride an elephant!), but my understanding is that it couldn't draw people from Disney and went downhill. It was Boardwalk & Baseball for a couple years, but now I believe there is nothing there--well, probably condos, but nothing theme park related.

If you search with Google, there's a cool website devoted to all the closed Florida attractions, with a great article on the history of Circus World. "Lost Attractions" or something like that.

 

[spiceycat]

these weren't in Orlando - but further south along us 27 - I definitely remember them both....

we didn't do either.

I was going to take my nephew to the baseball one - but it closed before I remember to do it....

I don't remember the prices being that cheap.....

 

[BonnieA]

I went to Circus World a few times. It was a fun place. It had a magic show, iMax theater, volunteer participation (high wire, trampoline and trapeze) , a few rides and a circus show. That was the first year. It then expanded to more rides and coasters. But at the same time Disney was expanding and squeezing out the competition that couldn't keep up. During those early years of disney, there was still time to see the other attractions in the area and we saw them all.

 

[horseshowmom]

We went when it was Boardwalk and Baseball. We had a year pass that was about $50 each and staggered our vacations for two years, so that we got to use the passes more than once. It was a really good park, and we enjoyed it.

We drove by there back in November, and it's just dirt. I mean everything was gone (the baseball stadium did stay for awhile after the park closed and the rides were sold off). It was strange to see everything gone. It did look like they were probably preparing it to be somehing.

 

[MomBoyd]

We visited Circus World too! My younger brother loved it. I still have a picture of him made up as a clown at Circus World. It was nice for locals and Orlando area visitors when there was only one Disney park. But it could not compare to Disney and could not compete after EPCOT opened.

 

[spiceycat]

here is cw
http://www.lostparks.com/cwld.html

here is baseball

http://www.lostparks.com/bandb.html

boy I certainly didn't think it that long agooo....

my nephew was born in 1988....

 

[horseshowmom]

here is cw
http://www.lostparks.com/cwld.html

here is baseball

http://www.lostparks.com/bandb.html

boy I certainly didn't think it that long agooo....

my nephew was born in 1988....

What an interesting site! It brings back a lot of childhood memories...

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I don't remember Circus World but I do remember Boardwalk and Baseball. I think Splendid China took over that site, which is now closed also.

 

[BonnieA]

I don't remember Circus World but I do remember Boardwalk and Baseball. I think Splendid China took over that site, which is now closed also.

Nope, Boardwalk & Baseball was where Circus World was which was at the intersection of Rt 27 and I 4. Splendid China was off 192 closer to WDW.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Nope, Boardwalk & Baseball was where Circus World was which was at the intersection of Rt 27 and I 4. Splendid China was off 192 closer to WDW.

Thanks for the info. My car only goes to WDW now, so I wasn't entirely sure of the location.

 

[t-and-a]

When my parents took my older sister and I to WDW in 1984, we stayed at a Holiday Inn in Haines City, that was across the street from Circus World. We didn't step foot on the property, but we saw it and I remember what it looked like.

 

[PattiPB]

I visited Circus World at age 12 during my first trip to Florida and WDW! What an awesome place I thought it was!

Thanks for bringing back the memories and thanks for the links!

 

[KerriMc]

I too remember Circus World!! I was four when my parents took me there ... my little brother was just a baby and stayed with our godparents. It was the first time we flew to Florida. I have pictures of me with this cute hat on and my face all painted up like a clown.

I looked at that website and the other one we frequented was Six Gun Territory. My dad really loves westerns so we loved going there. We went one year on my younger brother's 3rd birthday - so I was almost 6yrs old. The train took you into the area and before you got off they took a picture of us that was in that old faded kind of colour that pictures were in the "olden days". We still have it. Then after you got off the train there was a shooter that told us all to halt or he'd shoot. Of course, being 5 it was so real to me and I cried out not to shoot my mom!!! The guy "shooting" was trying to hard not to laugh ... I think he felt bad that I thought this was all so real!! I don't remember that, but my mom and dad still laugh at my seriousness at that moment

Oh ... and not an attraction ... but does anyone know whatever happened to that buffet restaurant Duffs? We used to go to them all the time until they started to kind of go down hill ... I think they took on another name for awhile - Staceys?? Anyone know?

Kerri

 

[Vivianne]

DH and I went to Circus World on our honeymoon to DW in 1986. All I remember were the elephants. Always wondered what happened to it.

 

[BonnieA]

Oh ... and not an attraction ... but does anyone know whatever happened to that buffet restaurant Duffs? We used to go to them all the time until they started to kind of go down hill ... I think they took on another name for awhile - Staceys?? Anyone know?

Kerri

I remember Duff's. My father and I went to it one year, twice in one trip. The one we went to was on 192, I think it was close to where the SuperWalmart is now. We rolled out of that place. Went to look for it the next time and it was gone, I think it did turn into a Stacey's (that sounds familiar) but we didn't try it again. After that we started going to Morrison's cafeteria in the small mall in Kissimmee. That's been gone awhile too I believe.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

We drove by there back in November, and it's just dirt. I mean everything was gone (the baseball stadium did stay for awhile after the park closed and the rides were sold off). It was strange to see everything gone. It did look like they were probably preparing it to be somehing.

I grew up in Clearwater so Circus World was one of our "places to go", we usually did WDW, but every so often you needed a change. When it was replaced by Boardwalk and Baseball I went there on a school trip so I have fond memories of both parks. When Boardwalk and Baseball closed the Kansas City Royals stayed there using the stadium as their Spring Training venue for a few years. Once they left it just sat for what seemed to be forever. It has now been cleared and is being built into a "POSH" housing development. Posner Park is being built in that area which is supposed to be a planned living community (one of those you can live/work/etc all in the same place). http://www.kitsonpartners.com/commercial/posner_center.htm
We now live about 6 minutes from there, so while it has been sad to see the parks come and go, it is nice to see the area being built up...FINALLY.

 

[Jason71]

Oh ... and not an attraction ... but does anyone know whatever happened to that buffet restaurant Duffs? We used to go to them all the time until they started to kind of go down hill ... I think they took on another name for awhile - Staceys?? Anyone know?

Kerri

Yes, the chain was renamed Stacey's a while ago, tho I don't recall any noticable changes inside. Last time I drove by, the one in Orange City was still open (this would be at least a few months ago). I'm not a huge buffet fan, but Duff's/Stacey's always seemed to be an also-ran behind Ponderosa and Goldent Corral down here.

 

[MinnieGi]

I too visited Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball park as a child! Thanks for the links to those sites. I never realized it was not in Orlando. It was always a side visit on some trips to FL. But back then WDW was only MK and Epcot and did not take up an entire week as it does now for my family so we always made side trips to other attractions.