Each and every Walt Disney Global fan has extinct points of interest that they leave out, and would give anything else to look one closing time. This submit takes a take a look at a few of our favourite long-gone choices from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, however with a twist: the whole thing in this listing if truth be told may go back.
Whilst we spend a large number of time in this weblog waxing nostalgic about EPCOT Middle (our 10 Worst Walt Disney Global Appeal Replacements is EPCOT-heavy), the truth is that extinct omnimover points of interest are by no means coming again. Unfortunately, it’s not likely that any journey is coming again, regardless of a lot we would possibly need it–and the way excellent of an concept it could be. The most productive we will be able to hope for on that entrance are sequels (of types), just like the elusive Adventure into Creativeness reboot such a lot of enthusiasts hope to look coming someday this decade.
Alternatively, there are a few things long gone from Walt Disney Global that may come again, and that’s what we need to center of attention on right here. Making this a “most sensible” 10 listing and easily rehashing the EPCOT rides we leave out probably the most would’ve been the straightforward direction. As a substitute, we’ll center of attention on 10 issues that we truly leave out, however that might conceivably go back in some shape, be it direct restorations or ‘religious successors’ that embrace the similar traits and high quality.
Now not most effective that, however it sort of feels just like the time is correct for having a pipe dream about what Walt Disney Global would possibly do to recapture one of the magic. For something, Walt Disney Global has needed to make strikes to undo harm completed all through the Chapek technology. Efforts have already been made to handle misplaced goodwill, together with restoring perks, providing extra competitive reductions, and including little issues squarely aimed toward diehard WDW enthusiasts.
We noticed that this yr, with the debut of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away, which is Magic Kingdom’s first evening parade in a decade and primary new one for the reason that Nineties! Starlight isn’t easiest, however this is a refreshing addition that provides power to evenings in Magic Kingdom, and sufficient to push SpectroMagic and Primary Side road Electric Parade off this listing.
It’s transparent that 2026 goes to convey with it an added center of attention on little issues, a lot of which can enchantment disproportionately to Disney enthusiasts. Examples come with Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets (extra on that during a minute), upgraded Audio Animatronics in Frozen Ever After, new Carousel of Growth opening act, and the go back of Magic of Disney Animation. Too dangerous we didn’t have that closing one in this listing–but it surely proves that extinct points of interest returning is inside the realm of risk!
Enjoying the nostalgia card and catering to disenchanted enthusiasts is a savvy technique within the subsequent couple of years. As mentioned in Must You Skip Disney Global in 2026 & Look forward to 2027?, there’s no longer a lot at the horizon for the following two years. At this level, the one upcoming venture with a gap yr is Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom in 2027. Judging by way of growth, that’s no longer opening till Past due 2027.
The whole thing else is additional down the street, however right here’s more or less what we’re anticipating:
- Monstropolis & Monsters Inc Door Coaster: 2028
- Piston Height Vehicles Land: 2029
- Villains Land: 2030
There are minor such things as extra new eating places and Disney Holiday Membership enlargement, however not anything round which advertising and marketing campaigns will also be crafted that’ll lure first-timers to e book holidays. Common visitors want blockbuster points of interest, and the ones are nonetheless a few years (or extra) away.
Thankfully, there are issues that the corporate can do expeditiously to incentivize journeys and win again weary former enthusiasts. Right here’s our listing of what Walt Disney Global will have to convey again in the following couple of years…
10. Yr of a Million Goals
We truly loved this birthday celebration, and a large a part of that used to be marvel Magical Moments awarded by way of the Dream Squad. We received a number of instances all through that two-year birthday celebration, the spotlight of which used to be attending to journey in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade all through the development.
Yr of a Million Goals used to be a good way to make visitors really feel particular and valued. It would possibly’ve even satisfied us to take extra journeys, short of to win larger. That’s us above in Summer time 2008, carrying child faces and Mickey Mouse ears we received whilst lining up for Adventure into Creativeness–one among a number of successes all through the Yr of a Million Goals! The ones a laugh surprises all through the development had been one of these pride–and surely led to copy bookings and sure phrase of mouth!
Without reference to what it’s referred to as or the shape it takes, a global tournament paying tribute to Walt Disney Global and celebrating the legacy of the theme parks can be cool. Walt Disney Global’s fiftieth Anniversary used to be a whole bust, so this generally is a great mulligan for that. The Happiest Birthday party on Earth used to be truly the primary time we heard a lot in regards to the world parks, and it’d be a laugh for each and every of the parks to pay tribute to each other with a focal point on Walt Disney Global’s historical past and legacy.
9. Lighting fixtures of Wintry weather and Dreamlights
Honest Caution: there’s a lot of Christmas in this listing. A part of this is as it’s contemporary in our minds. This vacation season, Walt Disney Global does no longer really feel just about as festive because it was once. There are a number of little issues which might be nonetheless lacking, even because the parks are again to standard.
Then there’s the only very giant factor: the Cinderella Fort Dream Lighting fixtures, which we worry would possibly by no means go back. Walt Disney Global bringing that show again for Christmas 2026 is the naked minimal. That’s doubly true after slicing out nearly each and every different main wow-inducing mild show within the years previous to that.
The excellent news is that Walt Disney Global has introduced that Cinderella Fort is being repainted beginning in early 2026, which has us hopeful (possibly foolishly so) that the groundwork is being laid for the go back of the Dream Lighting fixtures.
To that time, the opposite “absolute best” vacation mild show to revive is in EPCOT, and may coincide with the brand new entrance of the park (optimistically) being completed by way of subsequent Christmas. We leave out the Lighting fixtures of Wintry weather such a lot that we made the trek to Kobe, Japan to look its Luminarie lighting fixtures, which bears a surprisingly sturdy resemblance to the Lighting fixtures of Wintry weather.
The Lighting fixtures of Wintry weather used to be no longer a huge-scale providing, however completely set the temper for Christmas in Epcot. Those archways ran between Long run Global and Global Show off, and had been unexpectedly “retired” (to position it charitably) twelve months because of technical problems.
For the following couple of years, many enthusiasts was hoping their infrastructure can be up to date and so they’d go back, however I feel that hope has most commonly dissipated. With that stated, those may nonetheless be rebuilt and restored on quick understand, and would give Epcot a shot within the arm all through the Christmas season. In all probability no longer a foul thought because the park is a veritable unfinished building website.
8. Extinct Meals
My respectable vote this is for Figaro Fries, the loaded fries that was once introduced in Fantasyland. There also are a number of truffles and a sandwich I leave out at Sunshine Seasons, and a pair vacation cupcakes I truly leave out.
Bringing any of those again can be simple–if there used to be something Walt Disney Global did nicely all through the fiftieth, it used to be this. Menus like the ones will be the easiest accompaniment to a 90s nostalgia (or one thing like that) summer-time birthday celebration at Walt Disney Global.
Unofficially, I’m taken with 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 true nation) a couple of instances, and they’re impressive. After a fake-out for the Meals & Wine Competition, it’s time to convey those again for actual.
7. Timekeeper or Alien Come across
Tomorrowland ’94 used to be a gigantic hit for me as a child and they might be quite simple to convey again with retrofits to present venues which may be completed in below 6 months (lower than the time it took to create Guardians of the Galaxy: Venture Breakout!)
Walt Disney Global is already bringing again one Robin Williams appeal within the Magic of Disney Animation, so let’s double the rely with Timekeeper! I liked the time trip elements, ancient figures, and the animated character Williams gave to Timekeeper. What went over my head on the time–that I feel I’d recognize lately–used to be the variety of filming places past the Eiffel Tower. Bringing again this CircleVision 360 movie wouldn’t be that onerous.
Then there’s Alien Come across. Sew’s Nice Break out reused a large number of the similar infrastructure, props, and results…simply with a a long way worse execution. Restoring Alien Come across can be a long way more uncomplicated than growing one thing new from a clean slate. It will be possible as a result of Walt Disney Global demographics skew extra grownup yearly, and Tomorrowland particularly will quickly be a land that caters in opposition to an older (or a minimum of taller) target audience. In any case, Alien Come across used to be simply flat-out excellent.
Despite the fact that it’s no longer on my non-public want listing, some other life like risk this is bringing again Sew’s Nice Break out with a brand new script and a few different updates. With the are living motion Lilo & Sew being a gigantic hit on the summer time field administrative center and a sequel already greenlit, it will take advantage of sense to easily capitalize at the newfound acclaim for Sew.
6. Adventurers Membership
Any other person who’s by no means coming again–a minimum of, no longer in its former house or unique shape. However, I feel an idea very similar to the Adventurers Membership can be well-received and in style amongst Walt Disney Global’s rising grownup target audience. It used to be quirky and distinctive–a greater and extra polished incarnation of an leisure taste that’s very talked-about at this time.
The potential of Adventurers Membership to go back is aided by way of the truth that its unique Forged Contributors nonetheless reunite for personal occasions regularly–we’ve attended a couple of (one held out of doors at Seashore Membership is pictured above). With a number of unused venues at Walt Disney Global, it’d be simple sufficient to convey Adventurers Membership again on a “restricted time magic” foundation.
This may be one of the vital best possible makes use of of the now-empty eating place venues (plural) at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Adventurers Membership can be a gigantic hit there, and can be a much-needed shot within the arm to the BoardWalk. Walt Disney Global’s secondary leisure district has a number of vacancies, and one complete facet now has lifeless mall vibes. A membership devoted to journey would spice issues up!
5. Pirate & Princess Birthday celebration
We’re guessing 99% of you studying this submit by no means skilled the Pirate & Princess Birthday celebration; the development befell at quite a lot of instances for a few summers across the Nice Recession, however used to be so moderately attended that it used to be canceled.
Some parts of the birthday celebration had been introduced again later as Summer time Nightastic, a distinct tournament we’d additionally love to look go back. Trendy Walt Disney Global is also reluctant to supply unfastened particular occasions when a hard-ticket tournament is an opportunity. On the subject of the Pirate & Princess Birthday celebration, we’d be keen to pay.
We attended most effective as soon as, and liked the Enchanted Adventures Parade, fireworks, and moody setting of the development. If Magic Kingdom would run this parade all through Disney After Hours, that will be the nudge we want to purchase tickets to that tournament.
“Disney Adventures After Hours” has a definite ring to it, and is a sufficiently open-ended idea that it would incorporate parts from Pirate & Princess Birthday celebration and characters from the 90s, when Disney Adventures mag used to be a gigantic hit with youngsters.
4. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
It’s tough to imagine that is if truth be told a practical recommendation, and but, it’s. Only some years in the past, we had been looking at because the Harmonious infrastructure used to be put in in Global Show off Lagoon. Given the dimensions and price of that (rumored) $100 million manufacturing, it gave the look of Harmonious can be round for the lengthy haul.
Rapid-forward to lately, and there’s some other new midnight impressive: Luminous The Symphony of Us. It is a extensive improve over Harmonious, in spite of being arguably much less ambition. Luminous has extra versatile infrastructure that, itself, appears like a canvas for long run midnight spectaculars. It additionally provides various nods to IllumiNations. In combination, the ones two issues make us wonder if a changed model of IllumiNations may headline an EPCOT tournament.
A seasonal reprisal of IllumiNations after an extended hiatus would undoubtedly draw locals and long-time enthusiasts again. To make sure, it might no longer be the unique display nor wouldn’t it be everlasting, but it surely’s one thing that almost certainly may well be pulled off with the Luminous infrastructure with no ton of bodily paintings. That’s a compromise I’ll thankfully take if it approach getting to look IllumiNations once more for a couple of months!
3. MuppetVision three-D
Bear in mind all of the ones new lands and points of interest opening between 2027 and 2030 that we mentioned above? Neatly, with a view to pave the best way (actually) for the ones additions, a couple of fan-favorite points of interest have closed. The 2 maximum notable (thus far) are the Rivers of The usa and MuppetVision three-D, the previous of which is rarely coming again.
It’s doubtlessly an overly other tale with MuppetVision three-D. Each Disney and the Jim Henson Corporate have introduced statements suggesting that MuppetVision will, in truth, live to tell the tale in some capability. This has led us to surprise The place Will MuppetVision Be Relocated at Walt Disney Global? The obvious resolution isn’t at WDW in any respect, however relatively, on Disney+ or elsewhere completely.
Alternatively, MuppetVision three-D is (or used to be) a degree display and there are a number of appropriate venues at Walt Disney Global, together with ones which might be these days vacant or underutilized. It might cross into the Creativeness pavilion at EPCOT, the place it’d have compatibility properly along Figment, and even around the park at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Essentially the most intriguing (and logical) state of affairs comes to growing a brand new Muppet Courtyard miniland to head at the side of the impending Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets. There’s a believable state of affairs the place MuppetVision three-D is revived and replaces Villains Unfairly Ever After as soon as Villains Land opens in Magic Kingdom. It’s not likely, however we’re foolishly constructive. It will make this nook of the park thematically coherent for the primary time ever.
3. Nation Undergo Christmas
Assuming the costumes and props are nonetheless behind the scenes someplace (a daring assumption, to make sure), Nation Undergo Christmas may run once more subsequent yr with just a quick refurbishment to perform the changeover. Excluding the previous few years (because of scaled again operations), Tokyo Disneyland in most cases does Jingle Bell Jamboree, and it’s wonderful. Some would possibly say jovial bears making a song Christmas carols captures the actual spirit of the season.
We’ve steered this prior to now, however assume it’s if truth be told extra believable now with the reimagining of the display into Nation Undergo Musical Jamboree. Throughout that procedure, Disney Reside Leisure and Imagineering made the appeal extra versatile for long run updates, which additionally approach it would accommodate seasonal presentations.
Christmas track has common enchantment–similar to Disney tunes. With November and December attendance at Magic Kingdom surging for the reason that display closing ran within the mid-aughts, Nation Undergo Christmas can be a good way to absorb a few of the ones crowds.
1. Osborne Circle of relatives Spectacle of Dancing Lighting fixtures
Famous person Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is astounding. Upward thrust of the Resistance is mind-blowing–the #1 appeal at Walt Disney Global. Alternatively, in our Famous person Wars Land vs. Osborne Lighting fixtures submit, there used to be no position at Walt Disney Global we liked being in greater than the Osborne Lighting fixtures. It introduced smiles and awe to the faces of alternative visitors used to be truly a sight to behold—it used to be the embodiment of “vacation cheer.”
There have been nights we went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for no different explanation why than the Osborne Lighting fixtures, and we’d spend hours simply status again at the Streets of The usa. Even if it used to be wall-to-wall other folks, the Osborne Lighting fixtures simply oozed happiness. There are a ton of Osborne Lighting fixtures enthusiasts in the market like us. Bringing it again someplace would give a large spice up to attendance in November and December.
Clearly, because of the closures Famous person Wars land necessitated, the Osborne Lighting fixtures can by no means go back of their earlier shape…however a big scale Christmas mild show may well be added somewhere else at Walt Disney Global. As for the “the place” of the Osborne Lighting fixtures, what about Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom? That’s precisely the place Walt Disney Global has selected to position Bluey in 2026, which is almost certainly a strategic transfer. A gentle show at Christmas 2026 can be in a similar fashion savvy, and lend a hand give DAK a mandatory shot within the arm till Tropical Americas debuts the next yr.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global travel? Know about motels on our Walt Disney Global Motels Opinions web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular take a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Experience Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Commute Making plans Information for the whole thing you wish to have to understand!
Your Ideas
What issues–insignificant or main–do you leave out at Walt Disney Global? Are there seasonal occasions, leisure, or points of interest you’d like to look resurrected? Do you compromise or disagree with our listing? Any questions we will be able to let you resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
