4. Earning your monorail license

Until 2009, Walt Disney World visitors could ride in the front of any monorail, with the driver, simply by asking to do so. As more and more guests learned this trick, it often meant waiting in a short line, as the passenger seat in the front cab was relatively small. Still, if you weren’t in a hurry, this was a fun way to see the tracks while having a chat with the driver. Many times, the driver would pass out honorary monorail pilot licenses at the end of the trip.

Unfortunately, a tragic accident brought the tradition to a halt, and there have been no indications that guests will ever again be allowed to ride with the driver. While the safety concerns are certainly justified, for many visitors, this was a top must-do that nothing else will ever quite match.

5. Paying it forward with FastPasses

The relative merits of the FastPass+ system have been endlessly debated, and the new process has both strong defenders and passionate naysayers. What has been largely missed in the conversation, however, is the fact that under the new FastPass+ technology, there is simply no way to pay it forward.

How many times has this happened to you? Knowing all the best ways to maximize FastPass and minimize Standby waits, you entered the evening hours with a handful of FastPasses. But after consuming an overly large dinner, you realized that Space Mountain might not be the most prudent choice. So you approached a nice-looking family, or a couple wearing wedding ears, and gifted them with the ability to skip the hour-long wait. They were ecstatic, and you felt good about being able to create some Disney magic of your own.

Sadly, FastPass+ is linked to individual MagicBands. Sure, you can cancel a FastPass you no longer want, thereby opening it up for someone else. But is opening a window somewhere in cyberspace really the same as making that human connection?

Of course, we have merely scratched the surface of lost smaller experiences. What were some of your favorites? Do you think the newest enhancements are worth the loss of these individualized interactions? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!