At this week’s shareholder’s meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors that the company was focused on expanding its current parks rather than opening a new gate. This seems to have been the way for a while at Disney’s domestic parks, as the projects that we currently know about involve expanding the existing parks.
This announcement was a bit of a double-edged sword for Disney fans. They want new items in the parks, but it appears that in order to get those new attractions, they have to sacrifice beloved rides.
At Disney World, fans have already seen the disappearance of the Great Movie Ride and Splash Mountain to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad. Within the next year, Disney World will be removing Muppet Vision 3D, Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and DINOSAUR to clear the path for Cars Land, an Encanto-themed land, and Monsters, Inc. Land.
After sacrificing so much for unknown lands and attractions, Disney fans are rightfully nervous about what rides and attractions could be next on the chopping block. And it’s this moment that Disney fans have chosen to draw their line in the sand. If these rides are removed from Disney World, the fans have spoken and will no longer go to the parks.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom has so much that fans love it, and it has so many attractions that are directly tied to Walt Disney. However, that didn’t stop Disney from removing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
Fans mentioned three main rides: Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean. These are three staples of Disney World, and each has spawned its own movie or movie series.
There is also the Carousel of Progress. Walt worked on this attraction for the 1964 World’s Fair and later brought it to Disneyland and Disney World. Without the Carousel of Progress, is there really even a Disney World?
EPCOT
It’s hard to make an argument for EPCOT rides as so many have been replaced over the years. However, there were two that stuck out to fans: Spaceship Earth and Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Spaceship Earth was set for an update prior to the pandemic, but that seems to have gone away. Both rides could use some updating, but fans agree that they should remain as permanent fixtures in EPCOT.
Hollywood Studios
Another park with very few opening day or beloved attractions remaining. However, the one ride fans want to remain as it is is Tower of Terror.
While it is relatively new compared to the park, it has become the iconic symbol of Hollywood Studios. The attraction at Disneyland has already received a refurb, so fans want the one in Central Florida to remain unchanged.
Animal Kingdom
Once Disney shuts down DINOSAUR, what’s really left at Animal Kingdom? The answer is the defining attraction of the park since it opened: Kilimanjaro Safaris.
If there is no safari at Animal Kingdom, what is the park really? Fans don’t ever want to find out.
So, Disney, if you’re listening, the line in the sand has been drawn. Just know that if any of these rides go away, so will thousands of your biggest fans.
What is the line-in-the-sand ride for you at Disney World?
The post Line in the Sand: If These Rides Go, so Do the Fans appeared first on Inside the Magic.
