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Snow White's Scary Adventures

Disney's Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, rapidly establishing Walt Disney World as the world's number one theme park resort. Since then, it has welcomed hundreds of millions of guests, and remains the most popular theme park on the planet. Of course, the park's attraction line-up has evolved significantly since its opening day. Rides and shows have come and gone, sometimes being rethemed to become something new, and other times being torn out altogether. Let's take a look back at 22 long-lost Magic Kingdom attractions!

22. Plaza Swan Boats

Swan Boats.jpg

Image © Disney via Jim Hill Media

Opened in: 1973 Closed in:1983 When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it was desperately short of ride capacity. To address this, Disney installed a Swan Boat ride on the canal in the plaza surrounding Cinderella Castle. The ride operated seasonally from 1973 to 1983, circling around the hub and carrying guests into Adventureland. You can still view the loading dock (and the canal itself) at the park today.

21. Flight to the Moon / Mission to Mars

MarsOpened in: 1971 Closed in: 1993 Replaced by:ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter Flight to the Moon - a clone of a Disneyland attraction - was an opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom. It tooks guests on a simulated flight to the moon, but was instantly outdated as NASA had already landed men on the moon by the time it opened. The ride was replaced by the updated Mission to Mars in 1975. In the pre-show area, known as Mission Control, the audio-animatronic flight director explained the background to the mission. Guests then boarded a "spacecraft", which contained a circular theater with stadium-style seating, for a journey into space, onwards to Mars, and then back to Earth.

20.The Walt Disney Story

Walt Disney and EPCOTOpened in: 1973 Closed in: 1992 Replaced by: Exposition Hall The Walt Disney Story, hosted in what is now the Town Square Theater, celebrated the achievements of the man who conceived Walt Disney World. It closed in 1992, but a larger attraction - Walt Disney: One Man's Dream- now operates at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

19. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

Image © Disney

Opened in: 1994 Closed in: 2003 Replaced by:Stitch's Great Escape! Championed by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the infamous ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was designed to be one of the scariest Disney attractions ever built. It opened for previews in 1994, but was retooled after Eisner claimed it wasn't intense enough. The official opening came in June 1995. The highlight of the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was an encounter with the titular alien in a circular chamber. "4-D" effects such as spraying water added to the experience. Though it built up something of a cult following, the attraction was replaced by the more family-friendly Stitch's Great Escape! after less than a decade in operation.

18. Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats

Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats

Image: Loren Javier, Flickr

Closed in: 2012 Located next to the Jungle Cruise, this coin-operated, radio-controlled boat attraction was torn out in 2012.

17. Diamond Horseshoe Revue

Diamond Horseshoe Revue

Image: Tom Simpson, Flickr

Opened in: 1971 Closed in: 2004 Replaced by: Diamond Horseshoe Saloon The saloon-style Diamond Horseshoe Revue was the headline show at the Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971. The western-style show featured up-tempo song-and-dance numbers, and survived for more than three decades (albeit with a name changed to the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree in 1986). In 1995, it was renamed once again to the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue, nefore being replaced by the similar Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree. The attraction closed for good in 2004, with the location becoming a sandwich shop.

16. Mike Fink Keel Boats

Mike Fink Keel Boats

Opened in: 1971 Closed in: 2001 The Mike Fink Keel Boats navigated the Rivers of America in Frontierland for three decades, and were inspired by Davy Crockett's Keel Boat Race. Guests seated inside the boats could watch episodes of Walt Disney's Davy Crockett. One of the boats is still visible on the banks of Tom Sawyer Island.

15. Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

Opened in: 1971 Closed in:1994 The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes were an opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom, ferrying guests around Tom Sawyer Island. A C-Ticket was required to ride in the 35-foot-long canoes.

14. Main Street Cinema

Main Street Cinema

Image: IceNineJon, Flickr

Opened in: 1971 Closed in: 1998 Replaced by:The Art of Disney store The Main Street Cinema is still a functional attraction at Disneyland, but became retail space in 1998 at the Magic Kingdom. It showed classic Disney animations on a loop.

13. Mickey Mouse Revue

Mickey Mouse Revue
Image © Disney

Opened in: 1971 Closed in: 1989 Replaced by: Fantasyland Theater The Mickey Mouse Revue was an audio-animatronic show hosted by Mickey Mouse, who conducted an orchestra made up of famous Disney characters. It was torn out of the Magic Kingdom in 1980 to be shipped to Tokyo Disneyland, as there was deemed to be too little time to build a clone at the Japanese resort.

12. If You Had Wings / Delta Dreamflight / Take Flight

Delta Dreamflight

Image: Dave Hahner

Opened in: 1972 Closed in: 1998 Replaced by: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Three versions of this attraction taught guests about the wonders of flight, starting with If You Had Wings in 1972. This was replaced by Delta Dreamflight (sponsored by Delta Airlines), which offered a simplistic overview of the history of flight, employing audio-animatronic characters and projection effects. Highlights included scenes from 1930s Tokyo and Paris, as well as a trip through a jet engine. The ride continued to operate until 1998 (being renamed as Take Flight when Delta's sponsorship ended). It was replaced by Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

11. Magic Journeys

Magic Journeys

Opened in: 1987 Closed in: 1993 Replaced by: Magic Journeys was an opening day attraction at EPCOT Center, and was situated in the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion. It also ran at Disneyland for two years from 1984, before being removed from both parks to make room for Michael Jackson's Captain EO. That wasn't the end, though - it made a comeback in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland Theater in December 1987, where it continued to play until December 1993. The film offered a look at the world through the eyes of a child, following children as they flew a kite, rode on a carousel and visited the circus. The catchy pre-show song, Makin' Memories, is probably still stuck in the heads of many 1980s Disney guests.

 
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Comments

Of all the comments, I agree with that the destruction of Main Street is the most disappointing. Mom would want to go shopping, my Dad would go to the Magic Shop, and we kids would go to the penny arcade and the old movie shorts. If it wasn't for the magic shop keeping my Dad entertained, he'd want to get out of there rather than let Mom shop. And same with us kids. There was something for everyone. Now Main Street is nothing but clothes (and a couple other things). It's one of the same things that is killing shopping malls: A lack of diversity.

I was sad when Mr. Toad closed, but at least the Pooh ride was an excellent replacement. It's just too bad they didn't come up with a way to have both, since on peak attendance days they really need some additional ride capacity.

And maybe the slower boat type rides are not popular any more, but I confess I prefer a few things with a slower pace. Especially if I can get off my feet for a little bit.

That having been said, they have added some real gems over the years, especially in Frontierland. Thunder Mountain Railroad is great as is Splash Mountain. Neither of those were there when I first began going there.

It's been a while since I've been. The last time I went the park was so crowded and the lines so long that it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be.

I really lament what has happened here. Although i loved the extra terrestrial encounter, what i really do not like is how it has become character central. I loved the Diamond Horseshoe review, the keel boats and canoes, how main street had more appropriate shops and remember when Liberty Square had fife and drum bands and they sold antiques? I miss old school Disney

In reply to by DLH (not verified)

Me too. This is why disney no longer means much more to me than other theme attractions. It was the unique edutainment that made it soecial. The toonfestation and shop expansions selling the same stuff that can be foundnin so many other shops? No thanks

Y'all forgot one important attraction: the SpectroMagic parade!

I cant believe that so much has changed since I was going as a baby its just so sad it makes me want to cry :-( disney was a magical place that brought kids to smile and be happy. What ever there dream was it came true....... now a days that is fading away more and more each day well I hope they at least bring back the country bears and

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