The Disney theme parks are always evolving. Throughout history, Disney fans have seen the parks they love continue to grow and expand, welcoming new attractions to their portfolios. Currently, Disney is actively working on numerous projects around the globe as part of the “supercharge” effort by new CEO Josh D’Amaro.
At Walt Disney World, some of the projects that are currently being built include the first-ever land inspired by the Disney Villains at the Magic Kingdom, a Monstropolis-themed area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Over at the Disneyland Resort in California, much of the attention has gone to its second gate, Disney California Adventure, which is set to welcome two new attractions in Avengers Campus, the second Avatar-themed experience in the world, and a Coco-themed boat ride inspired by the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
Overseas, there is a massive overhaul at Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain, and the Shanghai Disneyland Resort is welcoming a Spider-Man-themed roller coaster, among others.
Many of the projects I noted above were announced during the 2024 D23 Expo. At this expo, the chairman of Parks and Resorts (at the time, D’Amaro) came on stage to announce all the projects in active development and shared exciting details about what’s to come. During the upcoming D23 Expo later in 2026 (August 14-16), guests should expect not only more details on the vast number of projects in development, but also plenty of surprises on the way.
However, not everything announced on stage makes it to the park. Whether this is due to a change in plans, a re-imaging, or simply a loss of budget, as in all forms of business, an idea will look different from the starting point to the finish line.
The most prominent recent example of this was the many projects promised during the massive EPCOT overhaul of the late 2010s. In this project, guests were promised nearly an entirely new park as the Future World section would be redesigned into three distinct neighborhoods that would welcome new attractions, such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. While all three of these attractions would reach the finish line, some would face challenges and undergo budget cuts along the way (especially Cosmic Rewind), and some announced projects wouldn’t even make it past the D23 stage.
Then-Chairman of Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Bob Chapek, announced a Mary Poppins attraction at the United Kingdom pavilion, a PLAY! Pavilion is going to the former Wonders of Life Pavilion space, and a new Circle-Vision film is going to the China Pavilion. However, not one of these three attractions would get off the drawing board. The main reason was the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a major damper on many EPCOT plans.
With many projects currently in development and potentially even more by the end of the summer after the expo, let’s take a look back at some of the most infamous proposals that were in development and even teased in promotions, but, unfortunately, were canceled for various reasons.
Western River Exhibition
Likely the most well-known project on our list, the Western River Exhibition was supposed to be the first major addition to the Magic Kingdom. This was viewed as a successor to the legendary Pirates of the Caribbean attraction out in California, designed by Marc Davis.
Like Pirates, this would be a slow-moving boat ride featuring elaborate sets and animatronics, but instead of telling a pirate story, it would be set in the Wild West. In fact, plans for this attraction were in serious development, as this was teased in the old “Walt Disney Story” preview center, which even featured an animatronic owl from the attraction.
This massive e-ticket attraction would have been in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom, taking up the space where Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are located today.
Unfortunately, this attraction would not reach the finish line due to various reasons. First, during the opening years of the Magic Kingdom, guests would leave complaints asking where the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was. Remember, during this time in the company’s history, Disney fans saw Walt Disney himself promote the Pirates attraction in California on live television before his passing.
While several attractions from Disneyland made it to the Magic Kingdom, the Imagineers opted to hold off on Pirates, as they felt guests would not be as interested in that topic, given its proximity to the Caribbean.
The other reason this attraction was not completed was due to budget cuts. At the time, executives opted to construct Tony Baxter’s “cheaper” project (Big Thunder Mountain) instead of this massive e-ticket, which allowed them to build a shorter version of Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland.
This is one of the biggest “what ifs” in the history of Disney theme parks. Disney fans missed the opportunity to experience the potential magnum opus of Davis’ career, which would have been the culmination of all of the attractions he worked on for Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom does not have many attractions it can truly call its own. This would not only have fit that bill but could also have been one of the greatest attractions built by Imagineering.
While this attraction never came to fruition, guests can still see some remnants of it today. On Living with the Land, the animatronic buffalo were built for this attraction but were later moved to the EPCOT Center project when plans changed.
The Great Muppet Movie Ride and Muppet Studios
The then-Disney MGM Studios park is one of the most infamous locations for unbuilt attractions. During the peak of the Disney Decade, CEO Michael Eisner proudly announced a major plan for their newest park that included Dick Tracy’s Crime Stoppers, Roger Rabbit’s Hollywood, and the most famous of them all, a Muppet Studios land.
This land would be built in the same location that Muppet*Vision 3-D once stood, but would contain far more Muppet-themed elements than what once was there. In this proposed area, the Muppets would also receive a dark ride, The Great Muppet Movie Ride, and host several proposed eateries, including The Great Gonzo’s Pizza Pandemonium Parlor and the Swedish Chef’s Cooking School. However, the most infamous project in this land would be the Great Muppet Movie Ride.
In the proposed concept art, the Muppets would take center stage in this dark ride, reenacting famous movie scenes, including Frankenstein and Peter Pan. While the Great Movie Ride at the center of the park was a love letter to classic filmmaking, this attraction would add humor to this art form in a way that only the Muppets could provide.
With massive plans in production, the Walt Disney Company and the Jim Henson Company were set to become business partners for decades to come. However, Henson’s sudden passing on May 16, 1990, nearly canceled all of these plans. At the time, neither side reached a formal agreement, and the Henson family even filed lawsuits against Disney over the use of these characters.
Fortunately, at this time, Muppet*Vision 3-D was nearly complete, and both sides agreed to open the attraction as Henson intended.
However, the other plans for this area never came to fruition, and Muppet*Vision 3-D remained the only “experience” there. This added to the historic significance of Muppet*Vision 3-D as it was the final project Henson himself worked on and directed.
This Muppet Studios area, and especially the Great Muppet Movie Ride, had the potential to become a mainstay at this park, as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has.
While this 3D attraction shut its doors in 2025, the Muppets will still have a presence in Hollywood Studios, but will move to the other side of the park and play the host of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, which opened on May 26. If this attraction sees a surge in popularity, this back corner of Sunset Boulevard could one day develop into the Muppet Studios area that was once intended.
Mary Poppins Dark Ride (But Not the One You Remember)
As noted earlier, a Mary Poppins attraction was designed for the United Kingdom pavilion at EPCOT during the massive overhaul that began in the late 2010s. However, there was another attraction dedicated to this classic Walt Disney film that never made it off the drawing board.
According to The Huff Post, the previously mentioned Tony Baxter drew up major plans to create a Fantasyland-style dark ride based on this classic film, titled Jolly Holliday, named after the film’s iconic musical number.
Per Baxter, he began drawing the plans for this attraction while he was a student in college and stated, “And I thought, it’s just a natural thing to do a ride at Disneyland. Maybe if I do a concept idea, I could get hired.” While he would eventually be hired and become one of the most well-regarded Imagineers in the company’s history, this attraction would not come to fruition.
Based on his reports, this attraction would begin as a carousel before the horse would “jump” onto an overhead track similar to how Peter Pan’s Flight begins. Given this film’s iconic Sherman Brothers soundtrack, this attraction could have become a beloved dark ride like Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, or even Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride today.
Unlike the first two items on our list, this proposal could come to light one day. Given that Disney announced a Mary Poppins expansion to the UK Pavilion at EPCOT (albeit with a far different attraction), plans for a Mary Poppins attraction could still be circling the building.
Original “New” Fantasyland Plans
Unlike the proposed attractions above, the plans sometimes change during the creative process. When “New” Fantasyland was announced at the Magic Kingdom, the plans on the drawing board looked far different than what resides today.
While Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Be Our Guest Restaurant all reached the finish line, the rest of the project looked far different. Instead of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Storybook Circus, guests would have been able to visit Pixie Hollow and take part in several highly interactive meet-and-greets featuring Cinderella and Princess Aurora.
According to these plans, guests would have been able to take part in immersive experiences like Enchanted Tales with Belle, but instead with Cinderella and Aurora. With Cinderella, guests would learn how to dance or protect their kingdom like a knight. With Aurora, guests would be celebrating her 16th birthday, because she was asleep on this day in the film. However, these plans were eventually shifted to make way for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which would add more variety to this new expansion. The Pixie Hollow section would eventually evolve into what Storybook Circus is today.
In hindsight, the modifications to this project created a more balanced experience, but guests missed out on several interactive experiences that likely would still be beloved today. Currently, Enchanted Tales with Belle provides visitors with so much more than a typical “meet and greet experience.” Once these plans changed, Disney instead pivoted to Princess Fairytale Hall (which replaced Snow White Scary Adventures) and offered a traditional meet-and-greet space with rotating characters.
However, meet-and-greet experiences are what separate a Disney theme park from any other. Being able to interact with these characters in unique experiences can create a lifelong memory.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, Imagineers appeared to have drawn inspiration from this proposed expansion. In the Playhouse in the Woods at the World of Frozen, guests can take part in an interactive show experience similar to Enchanted Tales with Belle, allowing them to interact directly with Anna, Elsa, and Olaf in a more impactful way than just posing for a simple photo.
While Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been a smash hit since its debut in Fantasyland, providing guests with more ways to interact with favorite characters would be a welcome addition in the parks, rather than just a simple meet and greet. With the upcoming Villains land, Disney should look to these original plans for inspiration to give guests a memorable experience with their favorite characters, similar to the Dr. Facilier Parlor activity on the Disney Destiny.
Conclusion
Although these four projects were never completed, their remnants remain in the parks today. On Living With The Land, guests can see animatronics specifically designed for the Western River Expedition, and over in Fantasyland, after experiencing Enchanted Tales with Belle, you can imagine the level of detail that would have been put into the other experiences. At Hollywood Studios, the Muppets are finally receiving their own true ride, which could be the foundation for major plans to come, directly inspired by these shelved ideas.
As seen throughout Disney Parks’ history, a good idea never dies at Imagineering. Do not be surprised if these canceled projects help inspire the future of the parks.
