Walt Disney World is no stranger to change. Over the years, beloved attractions have been retired, revamped, or replaced to make way for new experiences. But as recent history shows, every closure -no matter how niche- seems to cause a wave of backlash. The retirement of Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the removal of the Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom have shown that secondary experiences (or non E-ticket attractions) even have their passionate defenders.
So it begs the question: Is there any attraction at Walt Disney World that could close without igniting fan outrage?
The Splash Mountain & Great Movie Ride Debates
Perhaps no recent change has divided fans quite like the transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. For some, the reimagining was a long-overdue update distancing the park from the problematic source material of Song of the South. For others, it meant the loss of a classic Disney attraction, one tied to beloved childhood memories… one they thought would always be there.
Despite Disney’s clear intent to refresh the ride for a new generation and expand representation in the parks, the backlash proved just how emotionally attached fans can be.
A similar situation played out with the closure of The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Positioned in the center of the park’s iconic Chinese Theatre, it was the heart of the park and a love letter to cinema, the very foundation the park was built upon. Its removal to make way for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway sparked deep frustration among many who believed the new ride could have been built elsewhere without displacing a park-defining experience.
In both cases, Disney introduced replacements with modern technology, and appeal to wider audiences given their primary source material — The Princess & the Frog and Mickey Mouse. But what these transitions revealed is that when an attraction is tied to a park’s soul, or to guests’ memories… it doesn’t go quietly.
The Untouchables
Certain attractions are widely seen as foundational and nearly immune to removal without serious outcry. Classics like the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Spaceship Earth, and even the newer Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance fall into this category. These rides anchor the parks emotionally and historically; any hint of a replacement or change would set the internet ablaze. (I’ll just leave my rant on the Hatbox Ghost’s incorrect placement in Florida here.)
But not everything in the parks garners that level of affection.
So… What Could Disappear Quietly?
Believe it or not, a few attractions seem to fly under the radar. Here are some that could likely vanish with little outcry or mourning:
Mission: SPACE – Despite its ambitious concept and original intentions to simulate real space travel, EPCOT‘s Mission: SPACE has long struggled to capture the hearts of guests. Some find it overly intense, or too claustrophobic, while others think it’s just plain underwhelming. Even with two adventures to choose from, being less or more intense, it rarely tops anyone’s must-do list.
Journey Into Imagination with Figment – Though Figment himself has become a cult icon (and a merchandising success), the current iteration of Journey Into Imagination has been widely criticized for years. A revival or complete overhaul would be welcomed by just about anybody.
Tomorrowland Speedway – The gas-powered karts feel more out of place every year in a land meant to represent the future. This Magic Kingdom attraction eats up a massive footprint between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland with minimal excitement, and could potentially make way for something fresher.
Alien Swirling Saucers – Often compared to a lower-tier version of Disney California Adventure’s Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, this Toy Story Land spinner is fun for a quick ride, sure, but rarely anyone’s favorite at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Ultimately, us Disney fans will always have strong opinions about what stays and what goes, but that’s part of what makes the parks feel alive.
