Is 2024 the yr of goodbyes or good riddances for Walt Disney World followers? Each WDW diehard has extinct issues they miss, this yr has been a fairly large one for adjustments at Walt Disney World. (Though not almost as large as 2025–that’s when rather a lot, together with beloved lands and rides, might be misplaced).
This put up takes a take a look at a few of what has gone to the defunct Disney park within the sky this yr, with a rundown of the misplaced choices from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and the resorts. With this, we’ll decide whether or not every extinction occasion was actually a goodbye or extra like a “good riddance.”
As nostalgic as Walt Disney World followers could be, there’s a wholesome combine of fine and dangerous adjustments on this checklist. The whole lot that’s been round various years has its diehard followers (even development partitions!), however there must be consensus on a few of these issues misplaced without end at Walt Disney World in 2024…
BONUS: Dino-Rama
Whilst president of the Worldwide Dino-Rama Haters Membership, it brings me no pleasure in seeing dinosaurs go extinct at Walt Disney World. They’re essentially the most superior animal of all-time, and deserved higher. With that mentioned, Dino-Rama was an abomination, and I’ll fortunately dance on this explicit space’s grave. That does give me just a little pleasure.
I do know the upper highway can be to supply a respectful tribute, or give area to these mourning the lack of a land the place they made reminiscences or no matter. Maybe put together a eulogy to Dino-Rama’s sensible backstory. Nah, I’ll take the decrease highway. The land was simply flat-out terrible, with all of the appeal of a Walmart car parking zone. Something good about it was lipstick on a pig.
Dino-Rama will stay open by means of the primary week of 2025, so take into account this a bonus entry as a result of I’ve already mentioned my last “good riddance” to the realm. It’s been lifeless to me for years…would possibly as nicely begin getting enthusiastic about Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, that includes the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Experience and Indiana Jones Journey!
Large EPCOT Dust Pit
I’ve made no secret of how a lot the unambitious plans for CommuniCore Corridor bothered me (see RIP Large EPCOT Dust Pit, or just about any of our EPCOT development updates from the final a number of years). Ditto the prolonged development timeline that left the park in a maze of development partitions and that notorious Large EPCOT Dust Pit.
I’m positive that giant EPCOT crater (dang, that may’ve been a superb nickname for it) has some followers who want it by no means went away. Personally, I’d’ve been in a position to tolerate one other yr or extra of the dust and “progress partitions” if it meant getting one thing that was…precise progress over the previous Future World.
I nonetheless can not consider how dangerous CommuniCore Corridor and World Celebration are. Or how lengthy they took to construct. However on the identical time, I can’t say that I’d fairly have the dust and partitions. So congratulations, Disney, you wore me down and received me to “settle” for the least imaginative factor ever as a result of it additionally means having a traditional, walkable central backbone of the park. Good riddance to the Large EPCOT Dust Pit.
Check Monitor 2.0
I beloved Check Monitor 2.0 when it debuted, and thought it was a major replace and enchancment to the unique Check Monitor. However time did it no favors. Not solely did it age poorly, however it additionally began drawing unfavorable comparisons to TRON Lightcycle Run as soon as that debuted. On high of that, there’s completely nothing memorable in regards to the attraction. Even I’ve to confess that the unique Check Monitor had way more nostalgic attraction through quotable dialogue within the pre-show and attention-grabbing visuals.
From that perspective, the Check Monitor 3.0 reimagining has a excessive ceiling and low flooring. Just about the whole lot that anybody loves about Check Monitor (the thrills) might be staying, so there’s little or no threat of this reimagining “messing up” what folks like in regards to the present experience. Seen work on the outside has additionally been promising, eliminating the hideous cover and changing it with one thing extra acceptable.
Not solely that, however Check Monitor will get an replace impressed by World of Movement! That’s thrilling information that’s, as soon as once more, aimed squarely at longtime Walt Disney World followers. Whereas it stays to be seen precisely what meaning, it’s trigger for optimism. Check Monitor 3.0 has large potential and Check Monitor 2.0 had worn out its welcome. Plus, this reimagining is being paid for by another person, so it’s not even coming on the expense of one other (increased precedence) Walt Disney World mission! Win-win! Good riddance to Check Monitor 2.0.
One Digital Queue
With the debut of Tiana’s Bayou Journey over the summer season, Walt Disney World had a document three simultaneous digital queues. It didn’t assist that two of these have been in Magic Kingdom, and Tiana’s Bayou Journey was (is) extremely unreliable. This made it unimaginable to know whether or not you’d have the ability to expertise each through digital queue. In flip, that pushed folks in the direction of paying for Lightning Lanes.
At any time when a digital queue is launched, some followers declare it’s to promote extra Lightning Lanes. At any time when one is retired, some followers declare it’s to promote extra Lightning Lanes. Hopefully not the identical followers in each cases, however who actually is aware of. I’m not usually somebody who believes that Disney makes queueing selections on the idea of Lightning Lane gross sales. Line-skipping sells itself, and there’s no proof that adjustments actually transfer the needle a method or one other. (Inflated wait instances, however…)
Nevertheless, I completely consider company have been shopping for Lightning Lane entry in Magic Kingdom because of the unpredictability with TBA and TRON Lightcycle Run each utilizing digital queues. Heck, I’m “superb” at digital queues, and there have been days once I received shut out of each resulting from TBA downtime.
Even with out these points, I’d be saying good riddance to any and all digital queues at Walt Disney World. Though they normally profit us (extra educated and skilled guests), they’re convoluted, complicated and visitor unfriendly consequently. Right here’s hoping that 2025 is the yr of zero VQs at Walt Disney World. It’s past time to retire Cosmic Rewind’s!
Large River Grille & Brewing Works
There’s been a ton of tumult and turnover alongside the BoardWalk, and after years of struggles, Large River Grille & Brewing Works lastly closed final winter. The restaurant that opened in 1996 ended its almost three-decade run with a whimper, unable to make it work whilst BoardWalk was devoid of eating choices.
There was a time when Large River was one thing particular. It was the one solely working brewpub at Walt Disney World, and one of many few locations inside strolling distance of the parks to look at “the massive sport.” In our view, what’s really unlucky is that Large River didn’t shut sooner. There’s part of me that wonders whether or not Cake Bake Store would’ve changed it and ESPN Membership would nonetheless be working had Large River gone below again throughout the closure when Ample Hills did.
I’ve fond reminiscences of Large River Grille & Brewing Works…from the Nineteen Nineties. It was superior once I was a child. Forward of its time, for a time. Since then, time has handed it by. Large River didn’t evolve and keep recent. Which is exactly why numerous you studying this–even Walt Disney World followers–most likely by no means even heard of Large River, a lot much less dined there.
However, it’s one other restaurant emptiness alongside the BoardWalk with alternative prospects, a lot much less a timetable for when a brand new restaurant will open. We’d like to be saying “good riddance” to Large River through an announcement of one thing new and thrilling taking its place, however alas, nearly a full yr later, it’s nonetheless sitting empty. So goodbye it’s.
Corn Canine & Cake Bake Building
The comically-long development for muffins and corn canines is lastly over. After a yr of labor on an outside kiosk, Blue Ribbon Corn Canine debuted this fall. One other couple of months later, Cake Bake Store adopted suited after being delayed by round a full yr.
It’s most likely truthful to say operational eating places are higher than development partitions. All of us can agree on that a lot, proper? Whether or not these eating venues are higher than the eating places they changed is one other story totally, and I’m guessing reactions can be combined.
We’ve now dined at each new places, and every brings one thing distinctive to the desk. A kind of issues they bring about is hefty payments. Suffice to say, we received’t be common patrons of Blue Ribbon Corn Canine or Cake Bake Store. However there’s no scarcity of development partitions going up round Walt Disney World in 2025, together with some possible on the different aspect of the BoardWalk. So it’s not like we’ll miss these, both.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade has been on borrowed time for some time. I don’t suppose that’s actually a provocative or contestable assertion. Walt Disney World eliminated nearly all ‘authentically-presenting’ weapons from the parks again in December 2015. This included the whole lot from the gun utilized by the Jungle Cruise skippers to toy weapons being bought within the present outlets.
Nonetheless, the capturing gallery attraction held on and even “improved” just a few years in the past with the change to free play. It most likely has hung round partially as a result of it’s a 1971 unique opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom, and since not a lot else could be accomplished with its restricted footprint. Properly, the corporate lastly found out what else it could possibly be–a Disney Trip Membership lounge.
Whilst a DVC proprietor who will get far more use out of the McKim’s Mile Home Member Lounge (there’s solely so many instances I can “impress” Sarah with my sharp shootin’ expertise earlier than she loses curiosity), this one nonetheless doesn’t sit proper with me. Increasingly of Walt Disney World is changing into paywalled or topic to upcharges, and even once I’m a part of the in-group that advantages, I nonetheless don’t like the final pattern. The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade itself might not be an enormous loss, however what’s changing it and what it represents does nonetheless go away a bitter style. Goodbye, Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade.
Nation Bear Jamboree
Talking of sights on borrowed time, this was the yr that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree–already truncated a decade in the past–was lastly put out of its distress. Lots of Nation Bear Jamboree followers have been very mad about this, and I can empathize to a level.
On the identical time, my view is that we already misplaced the “actual” Nation Bear Jamboree. Furthermore, updating the attraction was the perfect consequence of the attainable plans for CBJ that have been truly into account by the corporate…and by a large margin. That’s to not say what we received was in your or my want checklist, however significantly better than the options.
It’s greater than a small miracle that the Nation Bears have caught round in any respect, and the brand new Nation Bear Musical Jamboree–full with upgraded Audio Animatronics and theater–provides the attraction a brand new lease on life. It just about ensures the Bear Band will stick round for no less than one other decade. That might not be a win for everybody, however as somebody with a Nation Bears-loving toddler, this can be a big victory for me, personally. I nonetheless can not deliver myself to say “good riddance” to Nation Bears below any circumstances (not even that bizarre film), so this one turns into a impartial transfer.
Dangerous Menu at Pecos Invoice
Do you consider in miracles?! After years of stagnation, Magic Kingdom’s most mediocre meal spot has a brand-new menu! As we wrote roughly one yr in the past, Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe was lifeless to us. The menu had gotten so dangerous, the substances have been extremely low high quality, and there was no toppings bar to redeem it (or masks mentioned subpar entrees and substances).
One way or the other, Pecos Invoice was not the worst counter service restaurant within the park, which was actually saying one thing (and never a superb factor) about simply how dangerous Magic Kingdom’s counter service scene has turn out to be. Slightly, it was the one with essentially the most squandered potential. A spot that would’ve been good and, at one time, was.
And now, is nice once more. A couple of months in the past, Walt Disney World overhauled the menu but once more, tremendously bettering the meals at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe. It now has extra vary, is increased high quality, and customizable–a bit like Chipotle (however not fully). I’ve eaten 5 full meals at Pecos Invoice (for analysis!) since then and am as soon as once more an enormous fan. Good riddance to that outdated menu, with meals barely match for canines!
Waffle Sandwiches at Sleepy Hole
For the reason that universe should be in steadiness, each optimistic Magic Kingdom menu motion has an equal and reverse destructive response. That’s simply science. On this case, the counterpart to Pecos Invoice’s large improve was the Scandal at Sleepy Hole over the summer season. In case you missed it, some brainiac at Walt Disney World determined to mess with the one (and doubtless solely!) Magic Kingdom menu that didn’t want any adjustments, and made main errors.
Out went the waffle sandwiches, in got here Mickey Mouse formed waffles. However that wasn’t all. The Recent Fruit Waffle Sandwich got here with bananas, berries, and chocolate-hazelnut unfold, whereas it was changed by two separate Mickey Mouse waffles: one with the berries, and one with the don’t-call-it-Nutella and bananas. It was either-or, not each. And that was an actual drawback, as a result of what’s even the purpose of consuming fruit if it’s not slathered in Nutella?!
Fortunately, Walt Disney World finally mixed the choices by common demand (extra like crucial complaints). The ensuing Mickey Waffle with Chocolate-Hazelnut Unfold, Bananas, Berries, and Whipped Cream is okay. Good however not nice. The outdated waffle sandwich was a ten/10 masterpiece, and there’s one thing totally different in regards to the new choice. Right here’s hoping that in 2025, Walt Disney World rolls again this alteration and we are saying good riddance to the Mickey waffles and good day once more to the outdated, dependable waffle sandwiches.
Genie+
Maybe greater than the rest, Genie+ represents a darkish chapter at Walt Disney World. It changed free FastPass+ amidst a flurry of different poorly-received selections, from the top of Disney’s Magical Categorical to changing night Additional Magic Hours with one thing just for Deluxe Resort company.
The botched launch and scattershot adjustments over the next 18 months poisoned the nicely. Although Genie+ was truly fairly good–no less than for energy customers who learn blogs like this one–by mid-2024, it was too little, too late. The Genie “model” that was as soon as related to the beloved Robin Williams had by some means turn out to be as poisonous because the identify Bob Chapek. It wanted a whole and whole overhaul.
There isn’t a consensus as as to if Genie+ or Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is best. Line-skipping is at all times going to create winners and losers in equal measure. That’s the character of the beast as a result of queueing is a zero-sum sport. Attraction capability is fastened and finite, and didn’t change between the 2 methods. There isn’t a magical system the place everybody will get to attend in shorter traces.
Nevertheless, our perspective is that the transfer from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Cross, which was additionally made amidst different queueing adjustments, is best on steadiness. Which is to say that the insurance policies and methods really feel fairer to nearly all of company and don’t benefit or drawback anybody an excessive amount of. Standby traces are flowing quicker and it doesn’t really feel such as you’re always stopping and being skipped by everybody and their brother. We’d’ve mentioned good riddance to Genie+ regardless, however that basically seals the deal for us on G+ vs. LLMP.
Serenity at Fort Wilderness
One other relic of the Chapek Period that some Walt Disney World followers most likely want would’ve stayed up to now is Reflections Lakeshore Lodge. Can I let you know a secret? I’m truly wanting ahead to Disney Lakeshore Lodge. That may sound prefer it’s popping out of left subject contemplating I used to be an outspoken critic of the unique announcement and Reflections. However earlier than you seize the pitchforks, let me clarify.
Disney already did site-prep, began work years in the past and invested hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in creating this parcel–it’s inevitable that they’d construct on this land sooner or later down the highway. Walt Disney World solely has a lot prime parcels for resorts, and that is one in every of them. Not solely that, however they’ve already bulldozed River Nation and a ton of bushes to clear the land. My perspective is that the injury is finished, and a resort goes to occur right here ultimately regardless.
Wherein case, I’ll take sooner. We love each Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, and now have a daughter who would be the good age for Walt Disney World–and having fun with these resorts–by the point Disney Lakeshore Lodge opens in 2027. I’m additionally actually wanting ahead to getting the strolling path connecting the resorts again. Who is aware of, perhaps Lakeshore Lodge can have eating places and facilities that we love (like Riviera!), even when the constructing is ugly and out-of-place amidst the frontier. A pool with a lazy river would definitely assist promote me–and different skeptics–on it!
Within the close to time period, there’s going to be ache. Clearly, I’m not going to say “good riddance” to serenity and seclusion at Fort Wilderness. That’s loopy. I’ll mourn what’s being misplaced there, however actually, I already did that between 2018 and early 2020. At this level, I’ll take a resort with value-added options over an unpleasant, deserted development web site–I’d say “good riddance” to that. So I assume it’s actually a matter of phrasing on this one.
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Your Ideas
What can be in your checklist of issues misplaced without end at Walt Disney World this yr? To which of those now extinct experiences or defunct choices would you say goodbye, and which might earn good riddance from you? Do you agree or disagree with our decisions? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!