3. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience

Ah, the theater show that killed the attraction. In 1994, Captain EO closed to make room for this short 4-D film based on the then-popular Honey, I Shrunk the Kids film franchise. The show used some then-groundbreaking in-theater special effects, and it was largely well-received.

In 1998, Disney decided to expand the theme, closing the original Journey Into Imagination ride to rebrand it as Journey Into YOUR Imagination. The new ride, opened in 1999, was a trip through the Imagination Institute featured in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. It was almost universally reviled for its lack of, ironically enough, imagination…as well as the total disappearance of Dreamfinder and near-total lack of Figment.

That ride lasted only two years before closing to make room for Journey Into Imagination with Figment. Although it is something of an improvement over its immediate predecessor, the now 13-year-old attraction continues to draw hatred from many fans who believe that the original never should have closed in the first place.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is now a distant memory, and the ride is a disaster. Yet if Disney just wants to slot something in quickly as an EO replacement, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is a logical choice. It has something of a fan base, and wouldn’t require too much theatrical retrofitting.

4. Magic Journeys

The original 3-D film that opened with the pavilion in 1982, Magic Journeys lasted less than four years at Epcot before being replaced by Captain EO. But it got a new chance at life when it moved to the Magic Kingdom, where it remained until 1993. How would it hold up today?

The film is a bit of a head trip, although it claims to look at the world through the eyes of a child. Vaguely psychedelic music, rapidly changing scenes, bright colors, and the constant metamorphosis of objects are among the recurring themes. It is definitely a Disney classic, and one that I truly enjoy, but would modern audiences be willing to go along for the ride?

5. Nothing at all

In all honesty, this is what I most expect to happen. Sadly, Disney is well-known for closing attractions without any plans at all for what might come next. Besides the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea debacle mentioned earlier, how about Epcot’s Wonders of Life pavilion? Or River Country? Or even Discovery Island? If Disney is not shy about allowing an entire island to languish uncared for, what difference does one show building that is connected to an unpopular ride make?

I’m sure we’ll see something permanent go into that theater eventually. In the short run, it might even be used for festival and event space, like the Wonders of Life building. But if Captain EO doesn’t return, I’d be very surprised to see anything new go in for quite awhile.