Favorite Attraction(s) From the Past

[1971]

Hello, sorry if I am beating a dead horse. I am new on this discussion board, but have loved the site for years and have been visiting WDW for almost 40 years. I thought a good way to break the ice at my first ever WDW forum might be to mention my favorite attractions from the past and see what others might be. I really look forward to reading your answers.

There are so many attractions that I miss, but I would have to say that the ride I have missed the most is Skyway, and a close second would be World of Motion.

honorable mentions:
If You Had Wings
Horizons
The Plaza Swan Boats

And a thumbs up if you remember the small steam train in Fort Wilderness Campground.

[TinkRocks]

to Intercot!

I miss Horizons, World of Motion, Kitchen Kabaret, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, original version of JII, the previous narration (Jeremy Irons) of SSE (I liked the scenes as you were 'returning to Earth'), and also miss the previous narration of TTA.

Change is good, but I miss the 're-rideability' of some of the classic attractions. Some of the newer attractions are cool, but I'm just not that interested in experiencing them over and over again. I like attention to detail in some of the attractions - you usually see or hear something new on each experience.

[Cara121078]

I would say Mr. Toad's Wild ride and Horizons.

[syndrome]

Hands down it is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for me....that was my favorite ride.

[Melanie]

to INTERCOT!

Hmmm, well thinking back to Epcot of old, I'd definitely say World of Motion.

Wonder if anyone will say the Mickey Mouse Revue?

[1971]

I have a movie of my wife and me walking through the international Gateway where we heard a cast member telling someone that "Yesterday was the final day for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride." We were so depressed that we didnt hit it again the previous day. We had no idea that it was being closed, and in fact wondered why there was such an unusually long line the previous day.

We did however find out just in time before the original Journey into Imagination shut down and was able to get a final journey on it.

I cant believe I forgot to mention the original Main Street Electrical Parade. I remember we use to watch it on the curb, way before the days of having to camp out on the curb hours before the parade came by. Although it has changed, I am so excited to have my daughters finally see the parade that matches the music they have been listening to for 9 years.

[1971]

to INTERCOT!

Hmmm, well thinking back to Epcot of old, I'd definitely say World of Motion.

Wonder if anyone will say the Mickey Mouse Revue?

First I thank you all for the warm welcomes. Next, yes, what a great show, although the explosion with Donald Duck use to scare me to death.

[Melanie]

First I thank you all for the warm welcomes. Next, yes, what a great show, although the explosion with Donald Duck use to scare me to death.

LOL! I had never seen it in Florida, but saw it in Tokyo a few years back, as it moved there after closing here. Maybe if I'd seen it earlier in my life I'd have a better appreciation and some nostalgia attached, but boy is the technology crazy outdated. It was almost painful to watch. It's now closed there as well to make way for Philharmagic.

[SandmanGStefani24]

gotta vote for my faves...

1.Body Wars-Some people complained that it was too rough, but I say the human body isn't always pleasant.

2.World of Motion-It's not that Test Track isn't great. On the contrary, it's one of my faves. Still there's nothing better than a great dark ride with a good story.

3.El Rio Del Tiempo-I always liked this ride. It was a nice sitdown in a great pavilion, it told a decent story, had some really good animatronics, and was in my favorite park. Then for some reason they felt the need to dumb it down to below elementary school mindset and zap the culture and history out of it. Oh the humanity...

4.The OLD Backlot Tour-I was lucky enough to see this one in '95 and it was such a neat thing for a teenager to see. Fast forward to today and I'm not really sure why it's still there if half the attraction is gone. I say revamp or move on.

Geez, that sounded harsh lol. With all that said there is nothing better than WDW, and there is so little I would change about it. I just like to reminisce a little...

[wdwfansince75]

My memories of missing attractions are precious because of the people with whom I shared the attractions...including some of the ones going with me this week. Horizons was a great ride, but sharing it with our kids made it even better....
If You Had Wings brings back special memories of our first trip, and the many rides DD#2 shared with her DGM...
And World of Motion was a personal favorite..at the time, I ranked it with POTC as a favorite.
I enjoyed the DL version of 20,000 Leagues more (perhaps because I was studying Oceanography at Post Grad School at the time), but the MK version was cool, too. Lines were too long, and often in the sun, and it wasn't a big hit with most of the family.

[1971]

Sandman,

I do miss World of Motion. I loved how the ride spiraled outside, and I personally think it is sad to slowly see all the taste of 80s architecture and design disappear. For a good taste of that same design, I like the bathroom area in the Electric umbrella, it still has that same wall to wall and ceiling to floor carpeting that reminds me of my grandmother, rest her soul.

Yes, the technology for the Mickey Mouse Review is certainly outdated to today's standards but as a kid, I couldn't believe that I was able to see all the Disney characters like that together. I remember wanting to see it but holding my hands over my ears because it was too noisy for me. To think of all that has been housed there since its departure.

Talk about outdated technology, I remember thinking how comical the attraction Mission to Mars was. I couldn't believe how corny the attraction was and to think it remained there for close to 20 years. I actually have faint memories of when it was to the "moon."

What I think is interesting is how the basic layout of the Alien Encounter and now Stitch's Great Escape still can remind me of the Mission to Mars theater.

[1971]

My memories of missing attractions are precious because of the people with whom I shared the attractions...including some of the ones going with me this week. Horizons was a great ride, but sharing it with our kids made it even better....
If You Had Wings brings back special memories of our first trip, and the many rides DD#2 shared with her DGM...
And World of Motion was a personal favorite..at the time, I ranked it with POTC as a favorite.
I enjoyed the DL version of 20,000 Leagues more (perhaps because I was studying Oceanography at Post Grad School at the time), but the MK version was cool, too. Lines were too long, and often in the sun, and it wasn't a big hit with most of the family.

You hit the nail on the head. I too miss these extinct attractions not so much because they were thrilling or amazing in anyway, but because they remind me of the people I rode them with. Earlier I mentioned about a hallway in the Electric Umbrella that reminded me of my grandmother, and that was because I can remember her often watching us in that hall while my mother was changing one of my younger siblings in that bathroom.

[1971]

Anyone else miss the Penny Arcade or Magic Shop? I use to buy a magic trick every year. Later it moved to Fanatasyland from Main Street.

[Pop Centurion]

Alien Encounter

[kemps@wdw]

Oh my...where to start? I liked the Skyway as long as I was in it and not under it! Liked 20,000 Leagues as long as I could get on 1st thing in the AM But my fave lost attraction is not really an attraction. I loved the old River Country. The new water parks are great! Love Summitt PLummett and SharK Reef. But there was just something more relaxing about the "old fashioned swimmming hole" atmosphere that I really enjoyed! Was sorry to see it go.

[MrPeetrie]

Welcome and nice topic.

I didn't start going to WDW until many of the classic attractions mentioned earlier (World of Motion, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, etc.) were already replaced.

However, the attraction I miss most is Alien Encounter. I remember being blown away the first time I rode it.

Another ride I miss is Cranium Command. My DD8 would love that ride on this upcoming trip.

On another note: I miss Donald's Breakfast Restaurasaurus at AK.

[MKFD43]

to Intercot!

I miss Horizons, World of Motion, Kitchen Kabaret, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, original version of JII, the previous narration (Jeremy Irons) of SSE (I liked the scenes as you were 'returning to Earth'), and also miss the previous narration of TTA.

Change is good, but I miss the 're-rideability' of some of the classic attractions. Some of the newer attractions are cool, but I'm just not that interested in experiencing them over and over again. I like attention to detail in some of the attractions - you usually see or hear something new on each experience.

DITTO plus the Swan boats, 2000 leagues under, skyway

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Well, I only started going to the parks in 2003 but here are my couple....

1. The ride in Mexico Epcot-can't remember the name but I am not a fan of the replacement

2. Alien Encounter-although I don't seem to hate Stitch as much as some on here, I admit that Alien Encounter was somewhat better.

3. Toontown-I will miss this quite a bit

[FutureCorpsFan]

I miss seeing Future Corps in Epcot. Being a Drum Corps fan (hence the name), there was something appealing about playing in a drum corps that got paid, instead of having to pay!

[steamboat willy]

And a thumbs up if you remember the small steam train in Fort Wilderness Campground.

1971 - I was right behind you in 1972 at Fort Wilderness Campground!

I was also lucky enough to ride the Ft. Wilderness Steam Train with our Dad who was also a Southern Railroad Man!

I miss several things from the past....MOSTLY the "Ports O Call "and the "Southern Seas"!
They were the two actual Steam Driven sidewheel Paddle Boats that traveled the waters of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. During the day one took guest departing from out front of the Magic Kingdom on the WORLD CRUISE and later took guest to DISCOVEY ISLAND located between the Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness Campground. An actual island filled with birds, different animals, plants and flowers with a winding pathway around the island.
Disney's FIRST Animal Kingdom!

At night, one of the two Steam Boats carried guest around the quiet DISNEY waters on the MOONLIGHT CRUISE. Picking up guest from the Contemporary, Fort Wilderness and the Polynesian Resort docks, they were taken on a night time excursion with the perfect view of the Electrical Water Pageant and the Magic Kingdom Fireworks. Hot and Cold Drinks, Snacks and Adult Beverages were served from bar aboard the Ports O Call/Southern Seas.
I can still hear the sound of the paddle wheels pushing the 100 foot Steam Boat through the water without another sound to be heard!

• The Skyway at night!
• Nick Russo and Gabriel's Brass - Fantasy Land behind Dumbo
• Wedway People Mover
• The Original "Now is the time, Now is the Best time" from GE Carrousel
• AND YES....The Penny Arcade crank movies!

Another thumbs up to those that remember the Chinese Junk that used to port at the Polynesian Village and was available for private charters. You'll never guess who Disney bought it from???