Through the years, many sights have come and gone at Walt Disney World. Some higher than their predecessors, some worse. This put up is 1 of two in a sequence, with this checklist specializing in the very best alternative sights added to the park, plus the follow-up Worst Attraction Replacements at Walt Disney World. (Up to date December 24, 2024.)
This checklist specializing in enhancements wasn’t straightforward. Many of the greatest additions at Walt Disney World have been new developments or authentic sights, so it’s not likely attainable to dub them as replacements. Usually, alternative sights are additionally confronted with the problem of being shoehorned into an present area, which appears to make it tough for them to surpass their predecessors.
Moreover, as somebody who has been visiting Walt Disney World my total life, I’ll admit that I’m most likely nostalgic for what I grew up with. Although I attempt to view all the pieces with an open thoughts and clear slate, typically the replacements have already got a strike in opposition to them in my head.
For the needs of this checklist, we’re evaluating present sights with their instant predecessors. This prevents the sins of the daddy from being laid upon the son, and retains issues cleaner. (So no evaluating Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin to If You Had Wings.)
Our newest updates to this checklist for Late 2024 are much less substantial than up to now. The one new attraction that might’ve made certainly one of these lists is Tiana’s Bayou Journey. It misses the lower on each, being neither a considerable improve nor downgrade. (See Splash Mountain vs. Tiana’s Bayou Journey for a head-to-head.) Count on main modifications to this checklist between 2025 and 2030, as Walt Disney World is embarking on an period of great land and journey replacements.
Anyway, right here’s the checklist of what’s new…and the outdated that’s new once more…that’s an improve as in comparison with what it changed at Walt Disney World…
Ellen’s Vitality Journey -> Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – I liked Universe of Vitality. Its closure hit me actually onerous, between each my recollections of it and feeling like the tip of an period for the outdated EPCOT. It additionally didn’t assist that the very best thematic clarification Disney might should for Guardians of the Galaxy coming to Future World was that Peter Quill visited EPCOT Heart as a child. Then the huge present constructing went up, including additional insult to harm.
With all of that stated, I’ve no delusions about all of this. Ellen’s Vitality Journey was a few decade previous its prime, feeling woefully outdated and extremely unpopular with friends. Whereas the Vitality pavilion’s retirement–together with different simultaneous shutdowns–did shut one chapter of EPCOT’s historical past, it was already a foregone conclusion. The park I liked as a child had been lifeless for over a decade, and its alternative had a lifeless mall vibe. If something, the closure introduced closure for followers.
Greatest and most significantly of all, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is incredible. It’s an extremely satisfying attraction from begin to end, with a queue and pre-shows that present depth and someway handle to offer sufficient of an ‘edutainment’ basis to weave this into EPCOT, a few wow-moment results, hilarity & hijinks, and a compelling story set-up. The curler coaster itself is satisfying in length and has incredible circulate and fluidity–higher the music and the movement, it feels a bit like dancing.
Above all else, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is simply flat-out enjoyable. It’s certainly one of probably the most enjoyable sights in all of Walt Disney World. It hits all the proper notes, and is only a continuous hoot from begin to end because of its characters, humor, and use of music. It’s precisely the blockbuster attraction that EPCOT wanted, and is one other nice fashionable hybrid of story and enjoyable from Imagineering. It is likely to be referred to as Cosmic Rewind, however the journey fast-forwards to a brand new chapter of EPCOT.
Disney Enchantment -> Fortunately Ever After – All Magic Kingdom fireworks exhibits have the identical core qualities, with pyro exploding over Cinderella Fort to conclude an extended, memory-filled day at Walt Disney World. The music is pulled from sentimental moments in memorable Disney motion pictures and the visuals are dazzling. The entire manufacturing tugs on the heartstrings, overwhelming the senses and feelings in the easiest way attainable. Due to all that, there’s a excessive flooring for any Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular, and even a “unhealthy” one remains to be “good” relative to most different sights.
Suffice to say, Disney Enchantment discovered that flooring and was as near “unhealthy” as fireworks over Cinderella Fort might conceivably be. It was about pretty much as good as a Magic Kingdom fireworks present set to the “Meow Combine” jingle with cat projections on the fort. That may’ve truly been higher–no less than it will’ve been humorous. Fortunately, Walt Disney World had the great sense of undoing this error, even after declaring that Fortunately Ever After had been “completely” retired.
Fortunately Ever After excels largely because of a incredible association paired with track and film decisions. There’s a thematic development to the present that is sensible–it goes from journey to friendship to romance to overcoming adversity to attaining a ‘fortunately ever after.’ The track decisions are incredible, pyro pairings are actually very good, and projections add much more to the nighttime spectacular. In a way, Fortunately Ever After is the Disney animated movie archetype, however in montage fireworks present kind. It’s good, and the nighttime spectacular that Magic Kingdom deserves.
Primeval Whirl -> Seating Space or Building Partitions – The elimination of Primeval Whirl was addition by subtraction. The present seating space has a variety of strengths: no line, not bodily painful, protected, and never hideous. All of that will even be true of the approaching development partitions in early 2025 as soon as Dino-Rama closes. Certain, you received’t have the ability to sit down anymore, and development does introduce a little bit of blight…however not as a lot as Primeval Whirl!
Many Walt Disney World followers are already lamenting the lack of Dino-Rama, which is unlucky. Not as a result of it’s truly good, however as a result of Dino-Rama has change into well-liked with followers who reward its backstory or like its cheese issue. To the extent that it’s attainable for an opinion to be mistaken…they’re mistaken. Dino-Rama’s backstory is lipstick on a pig, tricking followers into pondering cheesy carnival rides are someway good.
On the finish of the day, a dumpster filled with rubbish that has an attention-grabbing story remains to be a dumpster filled with rubbish. Regular friends don’t care about backstory, and it couldn’t save this crappy carnival journey. A couple of years from now, we’ll have the ability to make a correct comparability right here, and I don’t suppose there’s any attainable manner that the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Experience isn’t an enormous enchancment over Primeval Whirl (or the seating space).
Talking of which, I absolutely count on “DINOSAUR -> Indiana Jones Journey” to ultimately make this checklist. I don’t need to get forward of myself, however the two present variations of Indiana Jones Journey are amongst Sarah & Tom’s High 15 Disney Points of interest within the World. In contrast, DINOSAUR wouldn’t crack the highest 50.
Pooh’s Playful Spot -> Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice – This isn’t completely honest. Some followers will most likely keep in mind that the attraction earlier than Pooh’s Playful Spot was 20,000 Leagues Below the Sea, a real Walt Disney World basic. Evaluating Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice to that may not go as nicely.
Pooh’s Playful Spot, then again, was nothing particular. Whereas its predecessor was epic in length and scale and its successor is thrilling and endearing for households, Pooh’s Playful Spot was kind of simply “there,” a stop-gap to throw in place whereas they found out what to do with the plot of land.
El Rio del Tempio -> Gran Fiesta Tour – Since El Rio del Tiempo was changed by Gran Fiesta Tour, it has been met with a combined response by followers, a lot of whom have been upset over the introduction of characters to the attraction. I’ve all the time been tremendous with Gran Fiesta Tour (though I actually miss the music from El Rio del Tiempo) and that’s as a result of it makes use of characters who’re from an obscure movie that closely focuses on the tradition and surroundings of Mexico.
This wasn’t merely a matter of Disney eager to capitalize on the recognition of Three Caballeros as has occurred elsewhere in Epcot. Because the Audio Animatronics have been added, the attraction has an acceptable finale a real “wow” scene that offers it an actual climax. That is one thing it has by no means had, and in my e book, makes the present Gran Fiesta Tour higher than El Rio del Tempio.
Tarzan Rocks -> Discovering Nemo: The Musical – This one is clear-cut, and with out caveats. Tarzan Rocks was a high-energy live performance type present with some neat visuals, however the “excessive sports activities” vibe made it really feel misplaced in Animal Kingdom. It additionally wasn’t almost as elaborate or well-produced as Discovering Nemo: The Musical.
Though the Nemo present is a CliffNotes model of the film, it really works extremely nicely, and options wonderful manufacturing worth. The best way it makes use of performers versus puppets is the spotlight for me, and I believe the present is among the greatest ones Disney has performed within the parks.
Donald’s Boat -> Dueling Dumbos – I nonetheless keep in mind the drive all the way down to Walt Disney World within the early 90s, and listening to Disney Radio, “Florida’s in-car welcoming station.” One 12 months, the radio touted a brand new momentary land, Mickey’s Starland, with a Disney Afternoon Present. As a younger youngster, nothing was fairly as cool as this. Twenty years later, this “momentary” land was nonetheless chugging alongside as Mickey’s Toontown.
New Fantasyland’s “Dueling Dumbos” aren’t completely new within the sense that there was a Dumbo spinner in Magic Kingdom earlier than, however the presentation is considerably higher, as is the general expertise. The wait can be now so much shorter, there’s an indoor interactive play space, and the Storybook Circus space across the Dumbos is high notch.
Have fun A Dream Come True -> Pageant of Fantasy Parade – What number of Disney followers have uttered the phrase “I’m not a parade individual” as results of a decade-plus of the varied incarnations of the Have fun A Dream Come True Parade? It’s not that it was unhealthy…in 2001 or 2002 when it first debuted, however a decade later I used to be extra than over it.
It wasn’t till seeing a number of the parades at different fort parks that I noticed perhaps it’s not me, it’s the parade. Pageant of Fantasy is imaginative, elaborate, colourful, and options a couple of jaw-dropping floats that culminate in a daytime parade worthy of Magic Kingdom.
Below New Administration -> Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – Typically, all it takes is a small hearth to essentially set issues proper! I don’t know whether or not Disney determined to revert to the unique Tiki Room as a result of it was the precise factor to do, or the cheaper factor to do, after a hearth broken features of the Tiki Room.
No matter motivation, the unique Tiki Room is again, undoing the Nineteen Nineties harm inflicted upon the attraction.
Meals Rocks -> Soarin’ – Epcot sights will function prominently on the sequel to this checklist–the ten worst attraction modifications, however it additionally earns a excessive place for top-of-the-line modifications. A part of the explanation Soarin’ ranks so extremely is partly attributable to the truth that Meals Rocks was an inferior alternative for the EPCOT Heart-era Kitchen Kabaret, a enjoyable and extra memorable present.
In bigger half, Soarin’ is right here as a result of it manages to seize the spirit and ambition of EPCOT Heart, whereas additionally including pleasure to the combination. The up to date Soarin’ Across the World is inferior to its instant predecessor, however for the sake of this entry, we’re contemplating Soarin’ as an entire attraction, not the movie enjoying in it.
Talking of which, Soarin’ Over California (which was initially simply “Soarin” at Epcot) nonetheless holds up. We all know this as a result of it performs at DCA yearly and in addition had a restricted run at EPCOT just lately. The benefit of OG Soarin’ is that it’s precise filmed footage, not CGI. For an additional, it showcases the pure world as an alternative of structure, decreasing distortion.
I’m not averse to Soarin’ Across the World, however the CGI, tacky animals, and distortion has worn on me over time. (To Imagineering’s credit score, they did simply replace the EPCOT ending whereas addressing distortion within the Eiffel Tower scene.) Soarin’ Over California shouldn’t be displaying its age in any respect and advantages from its footage being actual, whereas the intensive CGI of the brand new model will inevitably date itself a lot sooner. Each variations are good, must-do sights–however Soarin’ Over California has a slight edge.
Who Desires to Be a Millionaire: Play it -> Toy Story Mania – Since its debut over a decade in the past, Toy Story Mania has been one of the crucial well-liked sights in Walt Disney World. I’ve to confess that I believe it’s overrated, with recognition coming from a dearth of different family-friendly choices in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Nonetheless, I believe it’s higher than Who Desires to Be a Millionaire: Play it and the kind of attraction the park wanted. The following Toy Story Land additions (Slinky Canine Sprint and Alien Swirling Saucers) have been constructed on unused land, so that they don’t actually matter right here. With that stated, Slinky Canine Sprint is our favourite of the trio.
Camp Minnie-Mickey Trails -> Avatar Flight of Passage – Speculating is a harmful sport, and we initially anticipated Na’vi River Journey, the slow-moving boat journey by a bioluminescent rainforest with enjoyable music alongside the best way, to be our favourite attraction in Pandora – World of Avatar. Even then, it was apparent that Flight of Passage could be the headliner, however we’re suckers for boat rides.
In actuality, the marquee draw and our favourite alternative for the Camp Minnie-Mickey Trails has been Avatar Flight of Passage. Whereas this may very well be described as Soarin’ on steroids, it’s actually a lot extra. Earlier than riders climb aboard the again of a banshee and fly by Pandora for a simulator expertise, there’s a ton of build-up and funky queue. Plus, the journey itself is a multi-sensory expertise that’s enjoyable and exhilarating all of sudden.
Phrases don’t do Flight of Passage justice–it’s so good that it ranks as #6 on our Itemizing Rating All 91 Points of interest at Walt Disney World! That’s ok to make it the #2 attraction alternative within the historical past of Walt Disney World, however it could possibly’t compete with #1…
Lights Motors Motion -> Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – This isn’t simply the #1 attraction alternative within the historical past of Walt Disney World, it’s tied for the very best journey in all of Walt Disney World, interval. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is that nice, a real triumph of creativity and a contemporary masterpiece of Imagineering.
It’s been nicely over a decade for the reason that Disney-MGM Studios actually shined as a working studio, and since then the Streets of America portion of the park trudged alongside with none memorable attracts (save for the Osborne Lights at Christmas). As such, it was fairly straightforward for the billion-dollar Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to surpass it.
As an entire, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is incredible however arguably doesn’t fairly stay as much as its full potential. It was a giant swing for Imagineering to create an authentic setting and persist with a storyline, however that has ended up being a legal responsibility slightly than an asset (see It’s Time for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Break the Guidelines).
Of the journey replacements again on this nook of the park, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is much superior to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. That may come as a little bit of a shock to first-timers, in any case, what child hasn’t dreamed of piloting the Quickest Hunk of Junk within the Galaxy?! Because it turned out, Smugglers Run is enjoyable however a bit like a UPS-in-space simulator, whereas Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is revolutionary. It’s proper up there with the very best Walt Disney World–or any theme park wherever–has to supply.
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Your Ideas
Which attraction replacements at Walt Disney World do you suppose are upgrades? Something on this checklist that’s truly a downgrade for you? Did we miss any rides or exhibits that ought to’ve made the lower? Do you agree or disagree with my checklist? Do you just like the alternative sights on this checklist, or would you favor their predecessors? Which of the new-generation sights are your favorites? Share any questions or extra ideas you might have within the feedback!
