Abandoned Disney Attractions That Have Been Long Forgotten

Discovery Island

Discovery Island was a pirate-themed amusement park that opened in 1974 and was inspired by the classic Disney film “Treasure Island.” According to common opinion, it was the park’s 150 exotic birds from around the world, not the pirate reenactments, that brought in the most visitors. Although the reason for the park’s closure in 1999 is unknown, many people believe it was related to the launch of Animal Kingdom.

Discovery Island

Polynesian Beach Wave Machine

When you have a wave machine, there’s no need to wait for a great surf set. The Polynesian Resort decided to introduce surfing as a recreational sport for their guests in 1971, which led to the creation of the wave machine! Although the attraction was a success, the Seven Seas Lagoon and its beaches suffered as a result.

Rumors circulated about the attraction’s early closure, with theories ranging from equipment failure to the more widely accepted explanation of significant beach erosion. Some of the machine’s remains are said to have been left sitting at the lagoon’s bottom.

Polynesian Beach Wave Machine

Discovery River Boats At Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Discovery River Boats, which were first introduced in 1998, were designed to convey guests around the Beastly Kingdom. The ride was supposed to feature fire-breathing dragons, unicorns, krakens, and other mythical creatures – perhaps a Hippogriff could have made an appearance! The kingdom of beasts, alas, never saw the light of day.

Following a re-brand in 1999 to Radio Disney River Cruise, is it surprising that guests were more interested in wildlife than radio broadcasts? A permanent closure of the ride followed that year.

Discovery River Boats At Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Rainbow Corridor

This futuristic tunnel was part of Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion, specifically Imageworks on the second floor, and was admittedly a little psychedelic and possibly the source of many epileptic episodes. When Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, conducted a photoshoot inside shortly after it opened in 1982, the attraction became even more famous – not a bad way to score some free publicity hey, Disney.

When ImageWorks moved downstairs in 1998, all of the technicolor was dimmed, leaving the tunnel abandoned up until recently. Disney revealed at the 2019 D23 Expo that the Rainbow Tunnel would be reinstalled in the new “Epcot Experience Center” later this year.

Rainbow Corridor

Mike Fink Keel Boats

The Mike Fink Keel Boat ride first debuted at Magic Kingdom in 1971. The keelboat races between Davy Crockett and Mike Fink from the TV-show Davy Crockett and the River Pirates were the inspiration for the vessels. However, what good is a competition if there isn’t a prize? The “King of the River” title was given to the winner of the high-stakes race.

Fink’s Gullywhumper and Crockett’s Bertha Mae were powered free-floating boats that scoured the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. It’s no surprise that the boats stopped running in 1997 after a capsizing incident made the site
consequently less appealing to visitors.

Mike Fink Keel Boats

Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat

The introduction of the riverboat didn’t exactly foreshadow success. The boat was introduced a day late, the day after Disney World’s grand opening in 1971. Guests were rightfully displeased about this.

In 1980, further disaster struck for Admiral Joe Fowler. While being hoisted out of the water for routine servicing, it fell, destroying the hull beyond repair. It was later removed and buried somewhere on Disney property.

Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat

Plaza Swan Boats

To begin with, who wouldn’t like to float around in an over-sized swan? The Swan Boats were regarded as one of the most relaxing activities on the island. Perhaps, it wasn’t quite as exciting as Splash Mountain, but it did provide some spectacular views of Cinderella’s Castle.

Some suggest the maintenance costs were too expensive during the summer months, but the exact cause for the attraction’s closure in 1983 is unknown. A couple of the original Swans were auctioned off were eventually bought by long-time admirers of the trip. Let’s hope the buyer had a pool big enough to accommodate a massive swan boat.

Plaza Swan Boats

World Cruise

Two ships, the Southern Seas and Ports o Call, shuttled passengers around the Seven Seas Lagoon. These ships didn’t stay long however, fitting the trend of boats in this list…

The Southern Seas suffered major hull damage in 1974, and was placed in dry dock before being scrapped in 1977. The Southern Seas II was created from the remains, but the World Cruise ferries had a rough time in the following years. The Ports of Call ceased operations in 1984 due to low guest turnout, with the Southern Seas II joining in 1997.

World Cruise

Wonders Of Life Pavilion

This pavilion, dubbed “the Wonders of Sadness” by some, is technically not abandoned, but rather undergoing a transformation as a venue. More recently, the Flower and Garden Festival, as well as the Food and Wine Festival, are currently held in the area.

Nothing has been operational since the closure in 2007, however that does not mean it has been decommissioned. This one very well could return in the future.

Wonders Of Life Pavilion

Pleasure Island

This island is exactly what it sounds like: bars and clubs for those that stay up late. What seemed like a good idea in 1989 turned out to be a dud by the turn of the century, and refurbs began in 2006. One of these was the infamously enormous Jessica Rabbit being removed from the “Pleasure Island Tonight” sign. The modifications were not well received, and foot traffic did not rise as a result.

Disney chose to close the strip in 2008 to make room for additional family-friendly entertainment. In 2010, the entertainment center was permanently closed.

Pleasure Island

The Adventurers Club

“Kungaloosh!” When it comes to unusual greetings, this one is right up there. The Mask Room, The Treasure Room, The Main Salon, The Library, and The Zebra Mezzanine were all separate rooms of the Adventures Club on Pleasure Island- and certainly the main attractions. Live shows, radio broadcasts, and even new member inductions would be available to guests (this may or may not have been a not so secret society).

Pleasure Island supporters organized an online petition to keep the club open when it stopped for operations in 2008. It worked, briefly, but in 2010, the Adventures Club shut permanently.

The Adventurers Club

Mowgli’s Place

From the start, this abandoned palace was a horror story. Residents of Emerald Isle, North Carolina, were enraged that the park had taken up good real estate. They simply didn’t want tourists surrounding the area. The project managers were unconcerned and proceeded to construct the park anyhow.

Surprisingly, immediately before the grand opening, the park’s gates were mysteriously chained indefinitely. All documents of the park’s design and construction were “lost,” however it is reported that the same three-word statement “ABANDONED BY DISNEY” appears on every surface. Some people believe the palace’s creation never really happened, while others believe in the horror story.

Mowgli’s Place

Skyway

The Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Skyway opened in 1971 as a method to travel speedily between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. The attraction existed until the late 1990s, and the cause for its demise, like many Disney closures, is up for debate. Tomorrowland’s loading station, together with its pylons and cables, was not demolished until years later, despite the fact that it had been shut down.

The station at Fantasyland, on the other hand, lasted a few more years. Despite reports that it might be converted into an eatery, the station closed in 2011.

Skyway

Tropical Serenade

On opening day in 1971, it was one of the principal shows, and was guaranteed to drive parents insane. The show featured over 150 mechanical birds, flowers, and tikis singing songs like “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Roon” and “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing,” which were hosted by two birds, Clyde and Claude. We aren’t so sure if such songs are considered peaceful serenades, but to each his own.

The show ended in 1997, and a new version dubbed “The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)” took its place. Hopefully, Clyde and Claude were not dismissed and were able to get a chorus part.

Tropical Serenade

The Enchanted Tiki Room

Zazu from The Lion King and Iago from Aladdin take over as hosts of The Enchanted Tiki Room. Clyde and Claude, hopefully, found work elsewhere in the park. The reviews weren’t great however, because it was just too similar to the old show.

A tiny attic fire destroyed poor Zazu in January 2011, and a sprinkler system destroyed one of the mechanical goddesses, Uh-Oa. The show was shut down once again, and the board members in charge decided that the redesign would be in the original Tropical Serenade style. “Don’t fix what ain’t broke,” as the saying goes.

The Enchanted Tiki Room

‘Stolport’ for Disney Employees And Guests

This one won’t be missed so much, as it pretty much served little purpose to begin with. The STOLport runway, which stands for “short take-off and landing,” had no hangers and could only accommodate four grounded planes at a time. At the very least, travelers were spared the agony of luggage claim.

In 1972, management determined it was prudent to wind down passenger operations, with the company finally closing fully in the 1980s. The landing strip is still in use, however it has been relegated to storage. The landing strip is still visible from the monorail.

‘Stolport’ For Disney Employees And Guests

Fort Wilderness Railroad

The fully operable steam train first ran over the Fort Wilderness Campground’s large site in 1973. The official cause for its demise, like that of many other Disney attractions, was never revealed. Rumors ranged from a lack of gasoline capacity to a little girl riding her bike when she was hit by a moving train. Ouch. It’s a good thing the tracks were abandoned to nature in the 1980s if the last rumor is true.

Fortunately, Disney was able to repurpose several of the railway cars for use on other Disney locations, including a ticket booth on Please Island.

Fort Wilderness Railroad

Pocahontas And Her Forest Friends

One of the opening day highlights of the Animal Kingdom in 1998 was a 12-minute live performance involving Pocahontas, Meeko, Grandmother Willow, and a bevy of live animals. Let’s be honest: as the princess sung to the woodland critters, her melancholy hummingbird, Flit, probably hid in a tree judging everyone.

Pocahontas and her pals enjoyed one last performance before the show was canceled after a ten-year run. Because of her rootedness, Grandmother Willow was able to keep Camp Minnie and Mickey as a designated smoking location until the park closed in 2014. Let’s hope she didn’t catch on fire.

Pocahontas And Her Forest Friends

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, arguably one of the coolest of the original attractions, included 12 separately powered 38-person submarines exploring a 12 million gallon tank. Animatronic mermaids, enormous squid, and even a model of the Lost City of Atlantis were all part of the aquatic attraction.

The attraction was forced to close in 1994 due to extensive maintenance. According to rumors, a Finding Nemo sequel is in the works. A celebratory draining of the tank and sinking of one submarine in Castaway Cay marked the end of the attraction’s era.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

Horizons

Horizons may be remembered by many who visited Walt Disney World in the early years. It was a building in the heart of EPCOT that allowed people to learn about scientific achievements. Horizons was created as a follow-up to the 1964 World’s Fair’s Carousel of Progress, which was an ode to “utopian futurism.”

Guests might opt to go to the desert settlement of Mesa Verde, the Bravo Centauri space station, or the undersea Sea Castle research base via an Omnirover riding system with two 70 milimeter “OMNIMAX” screens. After a six-year lifespan, the ride was decommissioned in 1989.

Horizons

Extraterrestrial Alien Encounter

When Disney bought the Alien franchise, they began work on a new attraction that would be located in the heart of Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland. The Imagineering team worked with George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, to create a terrifying “theater-in-the-round” attraction about what would happen if aliens took over the world.

When it was finished, Disney CEO Michael Eisner ordered it to be shut down since the lighthearted pre-show didn’t fit the scary and frightening ride. It first opened in 1995 and closed in 2003, when Stitch’s Great Escape! took its place.

Extraterrestrial Alien Encounter

The Great Movie Ride

When The Great Movie Ride announced that it would be closing, many Walt Disney World fans were devastated. It was part of Disney-MGM Studios from 1989 to 2017, but was removed to make way for a new attraction called Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

The rollercoaster took guests on a meandering journey through film history, featuring animatronic figures from films like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and Alien. It was one of the longer rides, lasting around 30 minutes and featuring several different routes.

The Great Movie Ride

Flight To The Moon

Flight to the Moon, a futuristic attraction at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, debuted in 1967. It was a flight simulator experience with vibrating seats and screens that gave the impression that customers were flying toward the moon. The rollercoaster had to be altered after the 1969 moon landing. In 1975, it was renamed Mission to Mars.

Unfortunately, the attraction was demolished in 1992 and replaced with the Toy Story-themed Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port, although the original rocket that was created for the ride can still be seen out front.

Flight To The Moon

Honey, I Shrunk The Audience

A 4D performance called Honey, I Shrunk the Audience was located just next to Space Mountain in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. It was based on the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and guests were required to wear 3-D glasses to appear as if they had shrunk to small size within the cinema.

This show was added to take the place of the Michael Jackson Captain EO show, which had previously been there. After Jackson’s death, the Captain EO show was introduced, but it was removed in 2014. The theater has remained abandoned since then.

Honey, I Shrunk The Audience

Flying Saucers

The Flying Saucers in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, which first opened on August 6, 1961, were similar to bumper cars but were propelled by air gusts. The idea was to collide with as many passengers as possible, but it quickly became problematic when larger guests couldn’t fit.

On September 5, 1966, the ride came to an end after only five years. It was costly to run, required constant maintenance, and could only accommodate a small number of passengers at a time. It was converted into the Tomorrowland Stage after it closed, and it now stages live-action Star Wars presentations.

Flying Saucers

Rainbow Caverns Mine Train

The Rainbow Caverns Mine Train was one of Disneyland’s first attractions, arriving around a year after the park. This train journey took passengers through various natural landscapes, including a desert and a forest, with audio-animatronic animals. A Cascade Peak, a towering mountain range, and roaring waterfalls were among the most stunning sights.

Conestoga Wagons, Stagecoaches, and Pack Mules were among the other surrounding attractions. The ride’s guests adored seeing over 200 different animatronic animals, but it closed in 1977 to make way for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Rainbow Caverns Mine Train

Adventure Thru Inner Space

The ride that replaced Star Tours in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland was called Adventure Thru Inner Space before Star Tours came. It first opened as an Omnimover attraction on August 5, 1967, simulating humans shrinking to the size of an atom. A Monsanto Mighty Microscope with a glass tube was located on one side of the ride. As they proceeded over the course, spectators could see the other riders diminish.

The Omnivmover technology, which can now be used in such like the Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, was initially used in this Disney attraction. In 1985, the attraction was decommissioned to make way for Star Tours.

Adventure Thru Inner Space

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Technically, this ride still exists, but it has undergone significant changes. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror debuted at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on July 22, 1994, and has since been added to a few other Disney parks. Guests would board a haunted Hollywood hotel elevator and instantly drop hundreds of feet.

Following Disney’s acquisition of Marvel in 2017, the ride received a complete makeover. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! is the new title. The updated version retains the same technology as the original, but adds characters from the Marvel film.

The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror

PeopleMover

The PeopleMover was opened on July 2, 1967, at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. Guests boarded miniature trains that moved constantly and rode on high rails. Each car had its own sound system that broadcasted information about where it was in Tomorrowland.

This voyage gave rise to the term “people mover,” which is currently used to characterize public transit. The PeopleMover was retired on August 21, 1995, when Imagineers determined that it had outlived its usefulness. The tracks can still be seen in Tomorrowland, and there are speculations that it will be brought back to the park.

PeopleMover

Ho Thuy Tien In Vietnam Is Sleeping With The Fishes

The Ho Thuy Tien water park in Vietnam, was opened in 2004 for three million dollars, and it’s safe to say it didn’t last long. Instead of demolishing it, the developers decided to leave it standing. It gradually fell apart, and it now resembles the set of a horror film.

Surprisingly, the park has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Why wait until Halloween Horror Nights to go to the park when you can go to the abandoned park? Locals have even began charging curious visitors to explore the grounds that have gone neglected for years, seeing an opportunity to generate money.

Ho Thuy Tien In Vietnam Is Sleeping With The Fishes

Welcome To Your Six Flags Nightmare

Over a decade ago, this amusement park stopped producing the laughs. These are the remains of Six Flags New Orleans, which now bring quite the opposite- screaming. Following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in 2005, the park was abandoned. No one has stepped forward to redevelop the land because it is built on low-lying ground.

The park is now open to anyone daring enough to venture within its grounds and become lost in the “wonders” it has to offer. We’re going to take a pass on this one. If you want to visit frightening amusement parks, though, flying to New Orleans is less expensive than flying to Vietnam.

Welcome To Your Six Flags Nightmare

Chernobyl Left This Park To Die

Since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia in 1986, this amusement park in the city of Pripyat has been closed. It used to be a site where kids would crash bumper cars into each other and enjoy the views from the Ferris wheel, but today it’s a place of death and rot.

This scary place, which isn’t safe enough to be a tourist attraction, isn’t just haunted by spirits. Radiation from the meltdown still blankets the park in an invisible poisonous fog.

Chernobyl Left This Park To Die

Italian Luneur Park

Yes, there is a skeleton of a dinosaur peering down at the decaying grounds below. When the Luna Park Permanente di Roma (LunEur Park) closed in 2008, it did not prove to be an enduring attraction. It was the largest amusement park in Roma and the oldest in Italy when it opened in 1953.

The ancient park closed its doors after a “crisis moment” and was transformed into the scary attraction you see above. In 2015, a deal was reached to renovate and reopen the park. However, no deadline has been set, and no work has been made on restoring it to its former magnificence.

Italian Luneur Park

These Are Not The Swan Boats You’re Looking For

Do you have the courage to board this swan boat on the choppy water? We don’t. The bush that has grown on the boat is rather frightening, and the prospect of something attacking us from below has us trembling. Swan, you gave it your all!

It was first opened in 1969 in Germany as Kulturpark Spreewald, and it was rebuilt in 1989 before being closed in 2002 due to financial difficulties. The park, which is located in East Berlin, has become a popular haunt for locals searching for a scary picnic. Fortunately, no one has dared to swim with the swans.

These Are Not The Swan Boats You’re Looking For

The Real Westworld, Japan

One of the world’s creepiest amusement parks is located in Japan. Western Village Haikyo, which served as the basis for Westworld, shut in 2007, yet still continues to draw tourists in 2018. This is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the Wild West. It also provides you an excuse to visit Japan.

Although the park seems to be off-limits, getting in is simple. If you dare to enter, you’ll be met by weeds and other overgrowths, as well as a Mount Rushmore replica. Remember to stop by the prison and say hello to the robot sheriff.

The Real Westworld, Japan

De-Commissioned Ducks

There’s a reason why these South Korean ducks don’t appear to be pleased. In 1999, tragedy struck when a delighted child riding one died after falling from the ride. The park management vanished shortly after the incident, leaving the facility in ruins.

However, this is one park on our list that you will not be able to visit. The park was dismantled in 2011 and  a hotel was built in its place. Nevertheless, you now have this horrifying image of a “happy duck” permanently seared in your mind. Did you really need to get a decent night’s sleep tonight?

De Commissioned Ducks

The Not So Magical Land of OZ

Better days have passed in the Land of Oz! The park, which is located in the charming town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, first opened its doors in 1970. The 16-acre park, which was dedicated to the Wizard of Oz, was a tremendous hit. The park remained unchanged over the years. Attendance figures plummeted however, as there were no modifications to keep families coming back.

To make matters worse, the park was substantially devastated by fire in 1975. Surprisingly, this seemingly deserted park reopens twice a year for a “Autumn of Oz” festival. Guests are free to tour the scary park and explore the darker side of Oz throughout the event.

The Not So Magical Land Of OZ

Nara Dreamland

If this abandoned theme park appears to have been rejected by Walt Disney, it’s because it was. Kunizu Matsuo, the park’s owner, was in talks with Walt Disney in the late 1950s about opening a theme park in Japan. Disney backed out as their working relationship worsened, leaving Matsuo to design his own characters and open the park on his own.

The park was a tremendous hit when it first opened in 1961. Then, in 1983, when Disney created his own Tokyo Disneyland, things went from bad to worse. Nara Dreamland never had a chance, and attendance began to dwindle. Matsuo ultimately put a stop to the feud in 2006, closing his park for good.

Nara Dreamland