There’s no scarcity of deserted constructions throughout Walt Disney International. Eating places, rides, presentations, retail outlets, and different areas at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and the hotel accommodations that the corporate is mainly hoping fanatics have forgotten about.
In Disney’s protection, there are fewer vacancies now than even 5 years in the past. Fanatics have given executives numerous grief about their “underutilized capability” feedback with regards to killing off fan favorites just like the Rivers of The usa and MuppetVision 3-d, however this similar mentality helps change really deserted spaces of the parks, too.
If we had been making this listing a few years in the past, there are a number of different spots that might’ve made the lower. The outdated Voyage of the Little Mermaid construction (now house to a brand new exhibit), Famous person Wars Release Bay and many of the remainder of Animation Courtyard (recently being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot), for that topic.
That’s only one nook of 1 park–listed here are a handful of alternative as soon as lifeless places which might be getting a brand new rent on lifestyles or outright replacements:
- 1900 Park Fare
- Grand View Tea Room
- Pirates League
- Aunt Polly’s Eating place
- Famous person Wars Galactic Starcruiser
- River Nation/Reflections
- NBA Enjoy/DisneyQuest
- Degree 1 Corporate Retailer
- Bonfamille’s Cafe/Scat Cat’s Membership Living room
All of those have now been reimagined or are within the means of being changed. In some circumstances, that’s a bit of bittersweet, because the replacements aren’t precisely what we’d like to look, however it’s however have those areas put to new use.
With that during thoughts, listed here are different places at Walt Disney International that might stand to obtain the substitute, revitalization or reimagining remedy…
Tomorrowland Terrace & Tortuga Tavern
Magic Kingdom’s eating scene is bizarre. Now not best is it unhealthy, however some eating places are infamous for overcrowding whilst different places sit down dormant regardless of having completely functioning kitchens.
I’m now not even positive that general eating capability at Magic Kingdom has higher since 1971, regardless of the park increasing right through that point and attendance exploding. And issues are in truth higher than they had been a few decade in the past, when much more venues sat dormant.
For some time, Tomorrowland Terrace and Tortuga Tavern had revolving door ideas that modified once a year or so. The prime issues had been more than likely the ‘Noodle Station’ and ‘Taco Bar,’ respectively, however every have had plenty of low issues (greater than highs), as effectively. With our expectation that Pecos Invoice gets a reimagining one day prior to Piston Top opens, it could make sense for Tortuga Tavern to make a comeback.
International ShowPlace
For many who are unfamiliar with the International ShowPlace, it was once the Millennium Village, the principle house of Walt Disney International’s Millennium Birthday celebration from 1999 to 2001. The venue housed over 50 international locations that didn’t have an enduring presence in International Show off, together with Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Switzerland.
International ShowPlace provides over 40,000 sq. toes of versatile serve as area and has capability for about 2,000 visitors. That’s upper than the hourly throughput of maximum rides in EPCOT! International ShowPlace is the arena’s greatest indoor staff facility positioned inside a theme park consistent with Walt Disney International. We consider that. It’s large.
For the reason that CommuniCore Corridor has flopped as a pageant heart, possibly it’s time to revisit placing International ShowPlace to its complete use. For the reason that this was once in the past the Millennium Village, it’s secure to mention that this area may space an whole pageant if correctly staged. It may well be house to a half-dozen or extra meals cubicles plus tables plus leisure.
Which may be treasured right through the summer season months, which can be recently Nutrition EPCOT. It’s our working out that one of the crucial large impediments to Walt Disney International right through a fully-fledged summer season pageant at EPCOT is the prime warmth and dealing prerequisites within the person outside cubicles. Reimagining International ShowPlace as an enduring International Show off Village may remedy that! It will additionally upload new international locations to International Show off for the primary time because the Millennium Birthday celebration. Win-win!
Discovery Island
Discovery Island is positioned in Bay Lake at Walt Disney International, and completely closed in 1999, in a while after the outlet of Animal Kingdom. It was once initially referred to as Treasure Island and was once a lush tropical paradise with unique animals–one of the “Holiday Kingdom” choices discovered at Walt Disney International that introduced counter-programming to the hustle and bustle of the parks.
Discovery Island has grow to be a well-liked spot with city explorers and different hooligans over time. From what I’ve watched…it’s no “tropical paradise” anymore. Even again within the day when it was once running, I don’t recall being precisely enamored with Discovery Island. My reminiscence of it’s Tom Sawyer Island however with parrots and with out forts and amusing play spaces. (Granted, I used to be younger.)
Reality be informed, I don’t have the slightest inkling what “new lifestyles” may come to Discovery Island. In all probability a dinner exhibit? In truth, possibly letting nature reclaim this lush island is the most suitable choice. It’s simply probably the most outstanding examples (a complete island!) of an deserted house at Walt Disney International, and we’d be remiss not to point out it on that foundation on my own.
Tangaroa Terrace
Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge was once house to Tangaroa Terrace, which is a stout construction over by means of the monorail tracks and near-ish the bus stops. Even if Tangaroa Terrace closed long ago in 1996, the construction was once nonetheless used after that for staff occasions and, extra significantly, the Neverland Membership and Lilo’s Playhouse till 2018. To the most productive of my wisdom, it now serves as an area for Forged Individuals, together with garage and places of work for house responsibilities.
With the outlet of Island Tower, the Poly badly wishes extra eating capability. Restoring Tangaroa Terrace as any other counter provider eating place, front room, dinner exhibit, or Moana persona eating revel in could be an enormous win. Island Tower must’ve been constructed with a rooftop eating place, however since that send has sailed, that is the most productive comfort prize.
Given the recognition of actually each and every eating possibility on the Polynesian and the way Nice Ceremonial Home is bursting on the seams with call for and crowds, having Tangaroa Terrace as a liberate valve at the different facet of the hotel simply is sensible. The hotel has way more eating call for as of late than it did again in 1996.
Discovery River Boats
Animal Kingdom’s maximum notorious opening day enchantment is the Discovery River Boats. Those had been a regular transportation enchantment, providing a leisurely cruise across the waterways of Animal Kingdom. Suppose one thing very similar to the FriendShips in International Show off, Walt Disney International Railroad, or another scenic enchantment.
This isn’t to mention the Discovery River Boats had been with out anything else to look. On the contrary, Imagineers created geysers and scorching springs close to Africa, craggly caverns and rockwork together with a hearth respiring dragon, different water options, and (allegedly) a unicorn determine.
The issue with the Discovery River Boats was once visitor expectancies. Strains had been constantly lengthy when Animal Kingdom opened, which become a self-fulfilling prophecy that even stepped forward messaging and a renamed enchantment may now not remedy. Visitor pleasure was once low and proceedings had been prime for a ship trip to nowhere, without a thrills and minimum leisure. (It’s a small miracle the Natural world Specific Educate and Rafiki’s Planet Watch have survived for equivalent causes.)
In the end, the Discovery River Boats is an extinct enchantment that makes this listing of deserted spaces for the reason that docks and all of the surroundings are nonetheless there. The previous are snack seating or meet & greet spots, while the latter are overgrown however nonetheless visual. Oh, and the boats nonetheless will also be noticed round Walt Disney International, incessantly within the Seven Seas Lagoon right through top season.
With Animal Kingdom mild on sights and visitor messaging more uncomplicated than ever due to the web, it’s time to restore those deserted spaces and this extinct enchantment for its unique function. I would like a leisurely transportation trip and boat trip to nowhere–it could in an instant grow to be our #1 enchantment at Animal Kingdom!
Sew’s SuperSonic Birthday celebration Degree
You would possibly not acknowledge the title, however you’ve indisputably noticed the level. Sew’s SuperSonic Birthday celebration was once mainly CommuniCore Plaza, however 15 years previous. This Tomorrowland level exhibit opened again in 2009, as an oblique substitute for the Galaxy Palace Theater that closed that very same 12 months.
Sew’s SuperSonic Birthday celebration was once reasonably forgettable, that includes Elvis Sew together with a couple of dancers and screen-based interactivity. We best noticed it as soon as. What was once maximum memorable about Sew’s SuperSonic Birthday celebration was once sizzling within the solar. Like all Walt Disney International tasks since, its designers didn’t account for Florida climate and constructed no colour buildings. That resulted within the exhibit lasting lower than 2 months, with the level best getting used intermittently since.
The longest-running manufacturing at the Sew’s SuperSonic Birthday celebration level was once in truth “A Utterly Tomorrowland Christmas Display” right through Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday celebration. We’d pass so far as dubbing {that a} cult vintage, however it has additionally since been retired. Now the level is solely used for dance events right through laborious price ticket occasions and, now and again, persona encounters.
This in large part defunct venue doesn’t occupy sufficient actual property for a significant substitute. We’d be glad with an interactive fountain or splash pad right here, somewhat in truth. What’s truly wanted is (nonetheless) an oblique substitute for the Galaxy Palace Theater. On that word: It’s Time to Revive Magic Kingdom’s Deserted Major Boulevard Theater Undertaking.
Jellyrolls & Large River Grille
The 2020s were tough for the BoardWalk. Even if there were a couple of new additions, there have additionally been a number of losses and the larger image technique has been missing. Closing 12 months, Large River Grille & Brewing Works completely closed. Walt Disney International was once reputedly stuck off-guard by means of this abrupt closure, and scrambled to fill the void with meals vans.
Just a little over 365 days later, Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar closed in April 2025 after just about 30 years at the BoardWalk. In line with Jellyrolls control, the verdict was once made to transport to a brand new location in Orlando. This didn’t come as an enormous marvel, as Jellyrolls have been suffering for some time and Walt Disney International hire is pricey.
Maximum just lately, the Prom Effective Artwork Gallery closed completely in October. This store is positioned between the foyer and Display screen Door Basic Retailer. No phrase but on a substitute for that, both, however it’s very telling that Walt Disney International has had 3 companies pass bust at BoardWalk within the closing 2 years, and a number of other extra prior to that.
That facet of BoardWalk is beginning to have lifeless mall vibes, and Walt Disney International could be well-advised to fill a minimum of a type of voids. We’ve got some concepts: Most sensible 10 Eating place Alternative Ideas for Disney International’s BoardWalk.
Wonders of Lifestyles
Have in mind the Play Pavilion? The interactive EPCOT addition was once in the past introduced as coming “in time for Walt Disney International’s fiftieth Anniversary” in 2021. Rapid ahead to as of late, and the Play Pavilion has been paused for a number of years. All Walt Disney International has mentioned is they’re reevaluating the idea that, however there’s rising reason why to consider the entire pavilion is doomed.
Play Pavilion was once deliberate for the outdated Wonders of Lifestyles pavilion, which was once due to this fact a pageant heart. Walt Disney International already did numerous paintings solving the roof and different infrastructure problems with the pavilion and it is a high piece of actual property now that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is drawing folks to this nook of the park.
For our phase, we’d love for this to be an interactive kid-friendly providing. My dream is for a revival of the ‘Well being Pavilion’ thought that includes Baymax and an collection of alternative characters (a Large Hero 6 simulator trip may well be superior), this type of thought is more than likely fraught with controversy.
An alternative choice could be to leverage Disney’s new partnership with Epic Video games and deliberate partnership for Fortnite Universe for Disney IP. But any other could be some form of Wonder pavilion; there have been rumors of a Wakanda Tech Expo even prior to Play Pavilion, and that may be just right.
There were rumors of a leaky roof and different problems with the construction’s integrity for years. Given the ones, it wouldn’t marvel us if the eventual substitute for the Wonders of Lifestyles is a brand-new construct. In all probability that’s the most suitable choice at this level, particularly if it’s going to be extra bold and now not only a low-dough interactive revel in.
Eating place Marrakesh
Walt Disney International took over operations of the Morocco pavilion from Marrakesh Moroccan Eating place LLC. That 3rd celebration running player that in the past ran all the eating places and retail within the pavilion was once not financially viable, with the closure and occasional crowds post-reopening being the closing straw. Therefore all the adjustments to the pavilion in the previous couple of years.
Sadly, Eating place Marrakesh stays closed and reopens best right through more than a few gala’s as a loose front room for Florida Blue contributors and visitors. It’s an excellent providing, and one we use often. Nonetheless, it’s now not the best and highest use of the distance. A cafe is. The issue is the tucked away location and delicacies that was once in the past too adventurous for moderate visitors. I don’t see how Walt Disney International can build up the positioning’s recognition with out turning it into a personality meal.
At the same time as a (improving) EPCOT purist and person who beloved the outdated Eating place Marrakesh, this doesn’t trouble me the least bit. Simply consider a hijinks-centric “side road rat” persona meal right through which Aladdin and Abu run across the eating place playfully pickpocket from visitors or take from their plates. Households would more than likely pay large greenbacks for that have, and control is most probably salivating on the thought of charging visitors extra to scouse borrow from them.
Empty International Show off Areas
Walt Disney International has an extended and wealthy historical past of unbuilt International Show off pavilions that got here so shut to going down. Maximum notable are Equatorial Africa, Spain, and Israel, all of that have been in truth introduced by means of Disney. In case you’re now not conversant in those ideas, there’s a lot about them in Walt Disney’s Epcot Middle: Developing the New International of The next day. On the time this e-book was once written, it was once nonetheless believed that those pavilions had been coming to EPCOT Middle, so the e-book spends time discussing them.
Extra just lately, the buzzed-about pavilion was once Brazil. Rumors of that pavilion’s drawing close announcement flew furiously from 2017 to 2019, to the purpose that a press release right through the latter 12 months’s D23 Expo was once believed to be a executed deal. Whilst we’ll by no means know what took place needless to say, much more rumors afterwards prompt it was once a timing factor and Disney now not in need of to announce right through the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires. Then, after all, 2020 took place.
Those aren’t deserted areas within the conventional sense of the time period, even though the growth pads for all of the ones pavilions do nonetheless exist round International Show off and are in large part unused. But when unused growth pads counted as deserted, there could be a ton extra overlooked corners of Walt Disney International in this listing.
As for one thing that in truth is deserted, there are the unused exhibit construction areas in Japan and Germany. Again when there have been bold growth plans for extra International Show off pavilions, so too had been there objectives for extra sights. The Rhine River Cruise was once slated for Germany, with an front in the back of a wall close to Biergarten (see All About Germany in EPCOT’s International Show off for extra).
On the subject of Japan, there have been numerous concepts tossed round, from a Shinkansen simulator to a Mount Fuji coaster, or even only a “easy” travelogue within the White Egret Fortress exhibit construction that was once constructed for Meet the International. (You’ll be able to get a take a look at the blueprints right here—the second one symbol is the theater.)
Sew’s Nice Get away
Sew’s Nice Get away completely closed as the recognition of its titular persona waned. Sew was once not the cultural phenomenon is within the early aughts and the enchantment was once a web unfavorable for visitor pleasure. It made extra sense to shutter the enchantment with out substitute than proceed subjecting visitors to it.
Then got here alongside Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Sew” remake, which is the 12 months’s top-earning film and primary $1 billion liberate. The movie has been massively well liked by audiences. Sew has a multi-generational fanbase, seeing a resurgence with more youthful generations and endurance with millennials. It’s been this type of break luck {that a} sequel has already been greenlit.
It’s time for any other sequel: Sew’s Nice Get away 2.0. My unpopular opinion is that Sew’s Nice Get away had the bones of a just right enchantment. It had a cast pre-show set-up and an excellent Audio Animatronics determine. The issue was once the writing, and Sew’s Nice Get away being a fabricated from its time. With some rewrites and TLC, Imagineering may inject contemporary lifestyles into this enchantment a l. a. Nation Undergo Musical Jamboree and the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.
Sew’s Nice Get away 2.0 wouldn’t be a world-class enchantment, however it could be but any other win for Tomorrowland along the improvements to Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin and Carousel of Development. It’s indisputably higher than the established order of the usage of this area as a garage and wreck room. A brand new exhibit right here would breathe new lifestyles into this area and repair misplaced capability to Magic Kingdom.
Making plans a Walt Disney International commute? Know about accommodations on our Walt Disney International Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Critiques. To economize on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to begin is our Walt Disney International Travel Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do any deserted spaces or sights at Walt Disney International strike you as being ripe for substitute? The rest you assume our listing “snubbed” that are meant to be given a 2d rent on lifestyles or higher applied? Do you compromise or disagree with our possible choices? Any questions we will will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
