In the grand scheme of things I haven't really been a Walt Disney World fanatic for all that long. While the resort and I are only separated by a few years—I'm 46 and Walt Disney World is 43—I've only been going there for about 14 years. I wasn't there when it opened and I've only known a World where there are four parks. However, I've certainly packed a lot of magic into those years while simultaneously absorbing a lot of knowledge about the resort's history. Like many of you out there, Walt Disney World has a special place in my collective consciousness. Apologetically adopting a line from Jerry Maguire, the place had me at hello.
Once you become attached to a place and once you spend as much time as I have visiting, thinking, reading, writing, and generally obsessing about it, you realize that you are passing through that place's history. Walt Disney World is constantly changing. That notion is based, of course, on Walt's credo to keep his original park, Disneyland, evolving. Things come and things go. Some are lamented when they are lost and some are celebrated. I think it's fair to say that every piece of that history is significant and important to people in different ways.
A perfect current example is the now defunct, “big hat” from Disney's Hollywood Studios. I know many of you out there can't wait to make a pilgrimage as soon as you can to finally see it vacated from its intrusive position at the end of Hollywood Boulevard. Deride me if you will but I'll actually miss it. My kids will too. As far as they're concerned it's always been there and it's always been something cool to gaze up at.
In my respective tenure as a Disney World fanatic, many things have been added and many things have been taken away. Granted, I wasn't there to experience classic attractions like Horizons or the Submarine Voyage so I don't miss them and I can't say that I lament the loss of the Dreamfinder, because I never actually saw him. There are things that I've lost in my time however, and what I can say is that these are my Top 5 Recent Walt Disney World Losses.
5 – Snow White's Scary Adventures
Snow White's Scary Adventures at Wat Disney World's Magic Kingdom is now closed forever. Photo by Chris Barry.
There was something about the simplicity of this Fantasyland dark ride that I really miss. It was a true Disney classic. It didn't need to be high tech. It didn't need to be interactive. Snow White's Scary Adventures took you on a journey through the original Disney animated feature. It was short. It was simple. It scared the pants off of each of my kids in the beginning, but ultimately it became a family favorite. I so wish that it was still there instead of a Princess meet and greet. Some say it obviously made no sense to keep it with the building of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but as impractical as it may seem, I'd prefer both.
4 – Mickey and Minnie's Houses
This bulletin board was found in Minnie's house. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
I can't say that I miss all of Toontown. Donald's boat wasn't all that much. That little playground nestled in the middle was pretty typical and Goofy's Barnstormer is still actually there. What I do miss from this corner of the Magic Kingdom is walking through Mickey and Minnie's houses with my kids. They were chock-full of details and there was always something to look at.
More importantly, my young kids truly believed that this was where Mickey and Minnie truly lived. They believed that when the parades and shows were over and they were done meeting guests in the park, that they would return to these homes, put their pajamas on and turn in for the night. The old DVD that toured around the Magic Kingdom only reinforced this when it showed Mickey and Minnie walking out their respective doors to start another day in the most magical place on Earth. I realize, of course, that they grew out of that quickly, but I always liked to walk back to that corner of the park and reminisce about my kids and how being at Disney World made them believers in the magic.
3 – E-Ride Night
An E-Ride Night map shows what was open and available to guests. © Disney Enterprises.
For my money, E-Ride Night was completely worth it. E-Ride Night was a way to give the Walt Disney World guests staying on property extra time to experience the Magic Kingdom's biggest attractions. That, obviously, sounds like the current Extra Magic Hours. The difference between E-Ride Night and Extra Magic Hours were that E-Ride Night tickets cost extra and only a limited number of these tickets were sold. Typically nine attractions were open, tickets were only $12 and most importantly, only 5,000 tickets were sold. You can't imagine how a park like the Magic Kingdom can literally swallow 5,000 guests. It might as well have been a private party for the night.
I'll never forget crisscrossing the hub from Liberty Square over to Tomorrowland and actually being alone with my wife and daughter in front of Cinderella Castle. It wasn't closing time either. Experiencing that solitary moment in front of one of the most visited spots on Earth was worth the price of admission right there. I like Extra Magic Hours a lot but I loved E-Ride Night.
2 – SpectroMagic
The main SpectroMagic float is apparently lost forever. Photo by Brian Bennett.
The first Disney nighttime parade we ever experienced will always be the best Disney parade that we ever experienced. I enjoy the Main Street Electrical Parade quite a bit, but SpectroMagic, to me, was truly dazzling. I can't fathom that they apparently let these floats rot to the point that destroying them was the only option. I've been known to find the parade online and just let the music play in the background while I work. It makes me happy and knowing I'll never see it again in person makes me kind of sad. Thank goodness for YouTube, but it's not quite the same as sitting in front of the castle with my wife and kids as the lights go down, that wonderful music kicked in, and we prepared to be overwhelmed and swept up in SpectroMagic.
1 – The Magic Kingdom Plaza Rose Garden
The path to the former Plaza Rose Garden in the Magic Kingdom is lined with flowers. Photo by Chris Barry.
If you've read my articles here on MousePlanet for any length of time, and thank you very much if you have, you'll know that my wife and I were re-married in the Magic Kingdom's rose garden basking in the nighttime glow of Cinderella Castle. Our little ceremony concluded right as Wishes began and Tinker Bell soared over our heads. It was an amazing moment that I've recounted here before. While the photos that have recently been posted here of the newly re-opened hub area certainly look wonderful, I'm still heartbroken that they had to rip out one of my all-time favorite spots to make this change. The next time we experience Wishes together, we'll try and find the same spot, but I suppose it'll never be quite the same now will it?
As I compiled this list, I realized that all of my top choices were relegated to the Magic Kingdom. That wasn't intentional. I have a process when I write. I start out with a list in no particular order, numbering anywhere between seven and ten choices. Then I re-arrange and start putting things into my final order. This time, I came out with all Magic Kingdom on top. There are other things that I miss throughout the parks and resorts, but these are the ones that hit me the most.
The good thing is that despite these losses, there's a whole other list of things that have been added that I really am thrilled with. For instance, Soarin', Expedition Everest and Toy Story Midway Mania weren't there the first time we visited. Can you possibly imagine a Walt Disney World trip without them? So, I suppose it kind of balances out.
That, however, is a topic for another Top 5. In the meantime, as always, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Click on the link below, let me hear your thoughts about things you might miss that were taken away from Walt Disney World in the last 10 to 15 years, and I'll see you next time with another Disney Top 5.
