10 Extinct Issues We Miss That Disney World Ought to Carry Again

Each Walt Disney World fan has extinct sights that they miss, and would give something to see one final time. This publish takes a have a look at a few of our favourite long-gone choices from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, however with a twist: every part on this listing really might return. (Up to date March 17, 2024.)

Whereas we spend numerous time on this weblog waxing nostalgic about EPCOT Middle (our 10 Worst Walt Disney World Attraction Replacements could be very EPCOT-heavy), the truth is that extinct omnimover sights are by no means coming again. Sadly, it’s unlikely that any journey is coming again, irrespective of a lot we’d need it–and the way good of an thought it is perhaps. The very best we are able to hope for on that entrance are sequels (of types), just like the elusive Journey into Creativeness reboot so many followers hope to see coming someday this decade.

Nevertheless, there are some issues gone from Walt Disney World that might come again, and that’s what we wish to give attention to right here. Making this a “prime” 10 listing and easily rehashing the EPCOT rides we miss probably the most would’ve been the simple route. As an alternative, we’ll give attention to 10 issues that we actually miss, however that would conceivably return in some kind, be it direct restorations or ‘religious successors’ that embody the identical traits and high quality.

Not solely that, however it looks as if the time is correct for daydreaming about what Walt Disney World may do to recapture among the magic. For one factor, CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro have been attempting to assuage Forged Members and followers that attempting attempting to proper the ship and undo harm accomplished in the course of the Chapek period. To the chagrin of many followers, that won’t take the type of worth decreases, however efforts have already been made to repair misplaced goodwill. Enjoying the nostalgia card is one other good solution to accomplish that, and lure again disillusioned followers.

A part of that is the present staff wanting to enhance visitor goodwill, however one other is, admittedly, essential to entice again followers following the exhaustion of pent-up demand at Walt Disney World. When “revenge journey” was operating sizzling, administration might get away with no matter and folks have been nonetheless visiting in droves. Even with the bounceback that we’ve dumbly dumbed re-revenge journey in 2024, it’s merely not the identical dynamic. Walt Disney World is simply seeing these numbers on account of elevated discounting and making fan-favorable coverage adjustments. Once more, the nostalgia card is one other “lever” that the corporate can pull to incentivize followers to return to Walt Disney World.

Lastly, there’s the easy actuality that Walt Disney World doesn’t have a lot on the horizon after Tiana’s Bayou Journey in Summer season 2024. There are minor issues like extra new eating places and Disney Trip Membership enlargement–however nothing round which advertising and marketing campaigns might be crafted or that’ll immediate folks to guide holidays. In terms of 2025, it’s wanting growing like no new sights will debut–except Disney proclaims a significant journey reimagining quickly and begins working ASAP. All regardless of Common’s Epic Universe opening then!

Walt Disney World’s turnaround time on new sights is painfully gradual. Even when Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom began tomorrow (and it received’t), it wouldn’t debut till Summer season 2026 on the absolute earliest. Check Monitor 3.0 and different potential journey reimaginings might conceivably debut in 2025, however with every passing month the place nothing occurs, that appears much less and fewer doubtless. Walt Disney World might need no new or redone rides in 2025.

Happily, there are issues that the corporate can do expeditiously to incentivize journeys and win again weary former followers. Right here’s our listing of what Walt Disney World ought to deliver again within the subsequent few years…

10. Yr of a Million Goals – We actually loved this celebration, and a giant a part of that was shock Magical Moments awarded by the Dream Squad. We received a number of occasions throughout that two-year celebration, the spotlight of which was attending to journey in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade in the course of the occasion.

Yr of a Million Goals was a good way to make company really feel particular and valued. It may’ve even satisfied us to take extra journeys, desirous to win larger. (That’s us above in Summer season 2008, sporting child faces and Mickey Mouse ears we received whereas lining up for Journey into Creativeness–certainly one of a number of successes in the course of the Yr of a Million Goals! If I might commerce every part added to Walt Disney World since to revisit then, I’d do it right away.)

I do have some skepticism about Walt Disney World’s means to tug off the Yr of a Million Goals now. The world has modified, social media has exploded, and there are increasingly tales of visitor entitlement. Too many individuals may really feel they’re owed a Magical Second and would complain once they didn’t obtain one. Or, somebody on TikTok would publish a solution to “hack” the Yr of a Million Goals and win day-after-day.

No matter what it’s known as or the shape it takes, a worldwide occasion paying tribute to Walt Disney World and celebrating the legacy of the theme parks can be cool. Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary was an entire bust, so this may very well be a pleasant mulligan for that. The Happiest Celebration on Earth was actually the primary time we heard a lot concerning the worldwide parks, and it’d be enjoyable for every of the parks to pay tribute to at least one one other with a give attention to Walt Disney World’s historical past and legacy.

9. Lights of Winter and Dreamlights – Truthful Warning: there’s a lot of Christmas on this listing. A part of that’s as a result of it’s contemporary in our minds. This previous vacation season, Walt Disney World did simply not really feel almost as festive because it was once. There are a bunch of little issues which are nonetheless lacking, even because the parks are largely again to regular.

Then there’s the one very massive factor: the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights, which we worry could by no means return. Walt Disney World bringing that show again for Christmas 2024 is the naked minimal. That’s doubly true after slicing out just about each different main wow-inducing gentle show within the years previous to that.

To that time, the opposite “best” vacation gentle show to revive is in EPCOT, and will coincide with the brand new entrance of the park (hopefully) being completed by subsequent Christmas. We miss the Lights of Winter a lot that we made the trek to Kobe, Japan to see its Luminarie lighting, which bears an extremely sturdy resemblance to the Lights of Winter.

The Lights of Winter was not a huge-scale providing, however completely set the temper for Christmas in Epcot. These archways ran between Future World and World Showcase, and have been abruptly “retired” (to place it charitably) one yr because of technical points. For the subsequent few years, many followers hoped their infrastructure can be up to date and so they’d return, however I believe that hope has largely dissipated. With that stated, these might nonetheless be rebuilt and restored on quick discover, and would give Epcot a shot within the arm in the course of the Christmas season. Maybe not a nasty thought because the park is a veritable unfinished development web site.

8. Extinct Meals – My official vote right here is for Figaro Fries, the loaded fries that was once supplied in Fantasyland. There are additionally a number of desserts and a sandwich I miss at Sunshine Seasons, and a pair vacation cupcakes I actually miss. Bringing any of those again can be straightforward–if there was one factor Walt Disney World did properly in the course of the fiftieth, it was this. Menus like these can be the proper accompaniment to a 90s nostalgia (or one thing like that) summer-time celebration at Walt Disney World in 2025.

Unofficially, I’m all for BeaverTails returning to Canada. That is an unofficial one as a result of I don’t recall ever having them within the Canada pavilion at Epcot, however I’ve had BeaverTails in Canada (the actual nation) a couple of occasions, and they’re spectacular. After a fake-out final yr for the Meals & Wine Competition, it’s time to deliver these again for actual.

7. Timekeeper or Alien Encounter – These are the one two sights on the listing, each as a result of Tomorrowland ’94 was an enormous hit for me as a child and they might be pretty straightforward to deliver again with retrofits to present venues that may very well be achieved in below 6 months (lower than the time it took to create Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!)

Let’s begin with Alien Encounter. First, Sew’s Nice Escape reused numerous the identical infrastructure, props, and results…simply with a far worse execution. Restoring Alien Encounter can be far simpler than creating one thing new from a clean slate. Second, Walt Disney World demographics skew extra grownup yearly, and Tomorrowland particularly will quickly be a land that caters in the direction of an older (or at the very least taller) viewers. Lastly, Alien Encounter was simply flat-out good.

As for Timekeeper, I beloved the time journey elements, historic figures, and the animated character Robin Williams (in all probability some of the recognizable actors to any baby of the 90s) gave to Timekeeper. What went over my head on the time–that I believe I’d admire immediately–was the vary of filming places past the Eiffel Tower. Bringing again this CircleVision 360 movie wouldn’t be that powerful.

6. Adventurers Membership – One other one which’s by no means coming again–at the very least, not in its former dwelling or authentic kind. Nonetheless, I believe an idea just like the Adventurers Membership can be well-received and in style amongst Walt Disney World’s rising grownup viewers. It was quirky and distinctive–a greater and extra polished incarnation of an leisure type that’s very talked-about proper now.

The potential for Adventurers Membership to return is aided by the truth that its authentic Forged Members nonetheless reunite for personal occasions frequently–we’ve attended a number of (one held exterior at Seaside Membership is pictured above). With loads of unused venues at Walt Disney World, it’d be straightforward sufficient to deliver Adventurers Membership again on a “restricted time magic” foundation.

The truth is, we expect this may be probably the greatest makes use of of the now-empty restaurant venue at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and even the additionally vacant DisneyQuest area at Disney Springs. Adventurers Membership can be an enormous hit in both location.

5. Pirate & Princess Social gathering – Trendy Walt Disney World could also be reluctant to supply free particular occasions when a hard-ticket occasion is a chance. Within the case of the Pirate & Princess Social gathering, we’d be keen to pay. We’re guessing 99% of you studying this publish by no means skilled the Pirate & Princess Social gathering; the occasion occurred at numerous occasions for a few summers across the Nice Recession, however was so sparsely attended that it was canceled.

We attended solely as soon as, and beloved the Enchanted Adventures Parade, fireworks, and moody environment of the occasion. If Magic Kingdom would run this parade throughout Disney After Hours, that will be the nudge we have to purchase tickets to that occasion. The truth is, “Disney Adventures After Hours” has a sure ring to it, and is a sufficiently open-ended idea that it might incorporate parts from Pirate & Princess Social gathering and characters from the 90s, when Disney Adventures journal was an enormous hit with youngsters.

4. IllumiNations – It’s onerous to consider that is really a practical suggestion, and but, it’s. Only some years in the past, we have been watching because the Harmonious infrastructure was put in in World Showcase Lagoon. Given the size and value of that (rumored) $100 million manufacturing, it appeared like Harmonious can be round for the lengthy haul.

Quick-forward to 2024 and there’s one other new nighttime spectacular: Luminous The Symphony of Us. This can be a large improve over Harmonious, regardless of being arguably much less ambition. Most notably, Luminous has extra versatile infrastructure that, itself, seems like a versatile canvas for future new nighttime spectaculars. It additionally provides quite a few nods to IllumiNations. Collectively, these two issues make us ponder whether a modified model of IllumiNations might headline an EPCOT summertime occasion.

A seasonal reprisal of IllumiNations after a protracted hiatus would undoubtedly draw locals and long-time followers again. To make certain, it might not be the unique present nor would it not be everlasting, however it’s one thing that in all probability may very well be pulled off with the Luminous infrastructure and not using a ton of bodily work. Frankly, that’s a compromise I’ll fortunately take if it means attending to see IllumiNations once more for a couple of months!

3. Nation Bear Christmas – Assuming the costumes and props are nonetheless backstage someplace (a daring assumption, to make sure), Nation Bear Christmas might run once more subsequent yr with solely a brief refurbishment to perform the changeover. Except for the previous few years (because of scaled again operations), Tokyo Disneyland usually does Jingle Bell Jamboree, and it’s superb. Some may say jovial bears singing Christmas carols captures the true spirit of the season.

We’ve advised this up to now, however suppose it’s really extra believable now with the reimagining of the present into Nation Bear Musical Jamboree. With just a little little bit of foresight, Disney Stay Leisure and Imagineering might additionally make the Nation Bears extra of a versatile providing that may accommodate seasonal exhibits.

Crucially, additionally they might’ve recorded a Christmas model concurrently the brand new present–or shortly head again to the studio if Nation Bear Musical Jamboree seems to be an enormous hit. Christmas music has common enchantment–identical to Disney tunes. With November and December attendance at Magic Kingdom surging because the present final ran within the mid-aughts, Nation Bear Christmas can be a good way to absorb a few of these crowds.

2. SpectroMagic or Paint the Evening – I’ve come to phrases with the truth that SpectroMagic is rarely coming again. What I worry is that nighttime parade won’t ever return to Walt Disney World, interval. With annually that passes and not using a evening parade, the potential for no long-term substitute grows.

I actually hope there’s a nighttime parade within the playing cards for Magic Kingdom, and I actually hope it’s within the spirit of SpectroMagic. There was one thing particular about that parade, from SpectroMickey’s lavish costume to the attractive soundtrack. A technically-advanced substitute that borrows notes from the parade–a lot in the identical method Tokyo’s Dreamlights is an homage to Predominant Road Electrical Parade–can be an enormous hit, and one thing we’d watch on a near-nightly foundation.

Failing that, Paint the Evening has been sitting in a California warehouse, unused, for a number of years now. Disneyland appears happy bringing again Predominant Road Electrical Parade each couple of years, so maybe it’s time to unload their unused evening parade and ship it to Florida.

1. Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is superb. Rise of the Resistance is mind-blowing–the #1 attraction at Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, in our Star Wars Land vs. Osborne Lights publish, there was no place at Walt Disney World we beloved being in greater than the Osborne Lights. It introduced smiles and awe to the faces of different company was actually a sight to behold—it was the embodiment of “vacation cheer.”

There have been nights we went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for no different motive than the Osborne Lights, and we’d spend hours simply standing again on the Streets of America. Even when it was wall-to-wall folks, the Osborne Lights simply oozed happiness. Clearly, because of the closures Star Wars land necessitated, the Osborne Lights can by no means return of their earlier kind…however a big scale Christmas gentle show may very well be added elsewhere at Walt Disney World. There are a ton of Osborne Lights followers on the market like us. Bringing it again someplace even in a extra restricted kind would give a giant increase to attendance in November and December.

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Your Ideas

What issues–insignificant or main–do you miss at Walt Disney World? Are there seasonal occasions, leisure, or sights you’d wish to see resurrected? Do you agree or disagree with our listing? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!