MISTAKE??????? Alien Encounter? That was one of the best rides WDW ever had. I'm sickened that they turned it into a Stitch ride - and one that, after having been on it once on each of my last trips, plan to never go on again, just because I hate the stupid "chili dog burp" so much. (Other than that, it's almost tolerable, and the tracking lasers are pretty cool.)
I can only assume that it was a combination of being too frightening, and not having a marketable character, that led to its demise. But it was gone far too soon. It also had some really pretty amazing special effects for its time.
I would assume that if the alien is lying around somewhere, it's at least in a covered area... it wasn't big enough and I don't think they generally leave that kind of thing lying around. Google Earth will show you the pile of old Nautilus submarines, though...
I've seen the action figures of the alien pop up on eBay once in a while... and the original seats from it are being sold by Mouse Surplus, I'd buy one and turn it into some kind of chair but I don't want to pay the big shipping cost. If they still have any next time we drive down instead of fly, I'll probably pick one up.