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Disney's Imagineers have a deserved reputation for creating some of the greatest theme park rides on the planet. When the Imagineers get it right, nobody else comes close: just look at creations such as the magnificent Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, or classic dark rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean.

Even Disney, though, can't get it right everytime. Whether through budget cuts, management interference or simply a concept that doesn't prove quite as great in reality as it did on paper, Disney has produced a handful of attractions that performed disastrously. Most were short-lived and were soon stripped-out, while others still stand in place, a monument to the bad decisions that led to their creation. Let's take a look at 5 Disney attractions that didn't work out the way they were intended to.

5. The Discovery River Boats (Disney's Animal Kingdom)

Discovery River

The Discovery River is now devoid of "taxis".
Image: IceNineJon, Flickr

The Discovery River Boats was one of just a handful of actual rides to be featured at Disney's Animal Kingdom on its opening day. The boats were intended to provide transportation from the Safari Village to Asia, taking in scenery that included animatronic dragons and other props from the mythical Beastly Kingdom. Unfortunately, Beastly Kingdom was never actually built - leaving guests to look at bland riverbanks. Those expecting an experience similar to the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise were very disappointed. After six months, the boats were renamed as the Discovery River Taxis, emphasising that they were intended to provide transportation and nothing else. By 1999 the attraction was once again renamed, this time as the Radio Disney River Cruises, with the boats being repainted in bright colors and Radio Disney music piped in. It proved to be just as unpopular, and the ride was closed for good.

4. The Mickey Mouse Club Circus (Disneyland)

Not long after Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney experimented with an on-site circus show. Tied into the new Mickey Mouse Clubtelevision show, it saw two huge circus tents being set up on the edge of Fantasyland. Two 75-minute performances took place every day, featuring acrobats, aerialists, wild animals and Mouseketeers from the show. Unfortunately, guests hadn't come to Disneyland to see a circus show, and it proved to be unpopular compared to Disneyland's other attractions. A series of mishaps - including an incident in which a black panther bit the paw off another animal in front of a live audience - led to the circus being removed after just a few months.

3. Superstar Limo (Disney California Adventure)

Superstar Limo

Disney's California Adventure was built on a relatively shoestring budget, and lacked attractions when it debuted in 2001. The park suffered from poor attendance levels and negative guest feedback - and one of its headline rides, Superstar Limo, is a perfect example of its struggles. Located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, it was a dark ride featuring purple "stretch limo" vehicles that carried guests through a cartoon-style recreation of Hollywood. A variety of celebrities appeared in animated form, with the storyline revolving around riders becoming "Hollywood's newest celebrity". Superstar Limo was widely panned by guests and media alike, and was shut after less than a year in operations. It was eventually replaced in 2006 by Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue.

 
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Comments

I loved Toon Town at Walt Disney World. I learned of the greed of Disney when they moved it to Disneyland and replaced it with Circus World. I was told by a park employee that it was Disney's way of making you visit both parks if you wanted to see it. Why couldn't Disney have Toon Town in both parks. Circus World is disgusting.

In reply to by Karen (not verified)

They didn't move it to Disneyland. Mickey's Toontown has been in California since 1993. Mickey's Birthdayland (Which became Mickey's Starland and eventually Mickey's Toontown Fair) opened in 1988. Yes, Disney liked trying to keep things different to coax people to visit the other parks, but mostly the main draws stay the same. They probably had a lot of people confused about the theming (it's Mickey's country house and the idea of the county fair theme was probably lost on a lot of kids), and replaced by Dumbo's Circus.

I agree Disney needs to add new attractions to keep relevant but keep all the classics because they are beloved to people. It`s not the same without a "Little old fashion.

I don't remember the exact name, but the sky buckets across the park. Would love to have those back. Nice and relaxing ride.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Was fantastic fun cheesy goodness. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, booooring.

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