Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Despite an extensive “Save the Toad” campaign, Disney’s Magic Kingdom replaced Mr. Toad with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1998.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. One of the original attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, 20,000 Leagues closed in 1994 and has been partially replaced by a Winnie the Pooh playground and Disney character meet & greet area.
If You Had Wings. Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, If You Had Wings was one of the few rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that rarely drew a line. It was replaced by If You Could Fly in 1987 and now Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin stands on the site.
Captain EO. A big-budget 3-D movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Captain EO starred Michael Jackson and Anjelica Huston. It closed down in 1994 and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience now stands on the site in Epcot’s Future World.
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. This thrilling attraction opened at the site of the former Mission to Mars in Tomorrowland in 1995. ExtraTERRORestrial gained a cult following but has since been replaced by Stitch’s Great Escape.
World of Motion. Sponsored by General Motors, World of Motion was one of Epcot’s original attractions. The ride offered a humorous look at the history of transportation and closed in 1996 to make way for Test Track.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It! Based on the hit ABC TV show, this Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) attraction closed in 2006 along Mickey Avenue.
Plaza Swan Boats. Opened in 1973, the D-ticket Plaza Swan Boats embarked from two Magic Kingdom loading docks: one near the entrance to Tomorrowland and the other near the Plaza Restaurant. The Plaza Swan Boats stopped running in 1983.
Mickey Mouse Revue. One of the Magic Kingdom’s original attractions, Mickey Mouse Revue opened in Fantasyland in 1971 and featured an audio-animatronic orchestra of popular Disney characters singing such classics as “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee.” The Mickey Mouse Revue closed in 1980 and was shipped to Tokyo Disneyland. Mickey’s PhilharMagic now occupies the site.
Flight to the Moon. Hosted by Mr. Tom Morrow, this “state-of-the-art” Tomorrowland attraction opened on Christmas Eve, 1971 and became hopelessly outdated by 1975 when it was replaced by Mission to Mars. Stitch’s Great Escape now occupies the site.
HONORABLE MENTION:Horizons. This Epcot ride made its debut in 1983 and closed in 1999 to make way for Mission: SPACE. It has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years, although I remember it as a mediocre Future World attraction that dated very quickly.
International Drive Attractions Aquatica Fun Spot Action Park I-Ride Trolley Magical Midway Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! SkyVenture Orlando Titanic – The Experience WonderWorksPlanning a trip to Orlando for a fall vacation getaway? Look no farther than Westgate Palace, which lies just off world-famous International Drive and within a 15-minute drive of Walt Disney World [...]
Disney Marathon Weekend Features Magical Miles Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA (Jan. 6-9, 2011), part of Disney’s Endurance Series, culminates with a magical 26.2-mile journey through all four Walt Disney World theme parks and several resort hotel areas that is regarded as one of the top marathons for “first-timers” (and veterans alike). The gala, sports-filled weekend features a [...]
Universal to Host Halloween Horror Nights XX All new experiences mark the 20th year of the nation’s best, most intense Halloween event – Halloween Horror Nights XX at Universal Orlando Resort! For 24 nights beginning September 24 and running through October 31, Halloween Horror Nights will reveal Fear as he has never been seen or experienced before. Fear and what he has [...]
Mark Your Calendar for Central Florida Halloween Events Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Magic Kingdom Park September 14, 18, 21, 23, 28 & 30, 2010 Halloween Horror Nights XX (“Twenty Years of Fear”) Universal Orlando Resort September 24, 25 & 30; October 1-3, 7-10, 14, 17-20-21, 24, 27-28 & 31, 2010 Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens Tampa Bay September 24-25, 2010 (Freaky Preview) September 30; October [...]
Vero Beach Magazine Features Westgate River Ranch An authentic dude ranch that lies just 50 miles from downtown Vero Beach, Westgate River Ranch was featured in the Summer 2010 issue of Vero Beach Magazine: “Instead of mechanical park rides and automated animals, this old world – so near yet so far from the madding crowd – was populated by livestock and [...]
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Highlights Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park presents a delightful mix of new thrill rides with classic attractions that appeal to longtime visitors while attracting new generations of enthusiasts. Some of the must-see attractions at the Magic Kingdom include Splash Mountain, an incredible flume ride that features audio-animatronic characters from Disney’s classic film, Song of the South; Space [...]
