Disney World guests (coughs) of a certain age can remember a time before Fast Pass or Lightning Lane when there was no other choice but to wait in line. There were no cell phones to entertain you, just the hot lines and the anticipation of eventually getting on the ride.
There weren’t any apps to tell you how long the wait would be, either. Cast members would take their best guess, and you would just wait for your turn.
But, for all Disney World fans who remember that time, there was one signal that you were finally getting closer to the ride: the turnstile. You knew once you passed through that magic gate, your time was near.
Unfortunately, Disney World has made a concerted effort over the last few decades to remove as many turnstiles as possible from its rides. Honestly, they are no longer necessary.
Turnstiles would give Disney World an accurate count of just how many guests rode each ride on a given day. Now, it’s all done digitally, giving Disney an update by the minute.
Last week, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover removed its turnstile, and some of the younger generation celebrated that it made the ride easier and faster. However, those in the older generations knew better. This was a change that removed one of the last dominions of the past in Disney World.
There are 2 attractions with turnstiles remaining at Magic Kingdom, for now.
1. Swiss Family Treehouse (visit now, someone was measuring today)
2. Liberty Square Riverboat…. pic.twitter.com/UHiZGphDbn
— Belle (@FiBelleFi) June 27, 2025
Only two attractions at Disney World are left with turnstiles: Rivers of America and the Swiss Family Treehouse. After July 7, when Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island permanently close, only one turnstile remains in all of Disney World.
While it’s an inconvenience, it’s a part of Disney World history that harkens back to when the park opened, and Disney needed a hand count of how many people entered the park and got on each ride.
It’s a minor loss compared to Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, but it’s a loss nonetheless. So, head over to the Swiss Family Treehouse, and when you pass through, remember that turnstiles have been used since 1971, and that’s the last one left.
Better hurry because if things keep going as they are, Swiss Family Treehouse won’t be there much longer either, and the turnstiles won’t be the only thing missing from Disney World.
What ‘Old School’ thing do you miss most about Disney World? Let us know in the comments.
The post Disney Quietly Removes Pieces of Magic Kingdom History, and They Are Almost Gone Forever appeared first on Inside the Magic.
