3. 1987 Epcot Center Daredevil Spectacular

Image: Disney

Park: Epcot

Ran from: November 1987 – March 1988

Replaced by: n/a

Back in 1955, during the early days of Disneyland, Walt Disney produced the Mickey Mouse Club Circus at Disneyland. However, after only 9 months, this show closed because Disney quickly realized that guests did not come to Disneyland to see a circus. They were looking for a higher class of entertainment. 

Unfortunately, those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. In 1987, hot on the heels of a sucessful "Circus Fantasy" limited time promotion at Disneyland, it was decided that Epcot needed its own "space themed" circus. A 100-foot-long, 18-foot-high oval stage was constructed on the CommuniCore Fountain which was ambitiously named the "Spacearena".

When the Daredevil Circus Spectacular debuted in 1987, the 30 minute show included elephants, acrobats, motorcyclists, the Wheel of Destiny, a tightrope walker and a nine-member trapeze troupe. Though several changes were made when the show wasn't an instant hit (including the addition of an emcee known as Commander StarCirc), this show ultimately failed due to poor attendance and a lack of interest. It closed after just five months. You can catch a clip of this short-lived show above.

4. The Astuter Computer Revue

Image: Disney

Park: Epcot

Ran from: October 1982 – January 1984

Replaced by: Backstage Magic

An interesting use of the Pepper's Ghost special effect, continuous showtimes, and a new song by the Sherman brothers? On paper, the Astuter Computer Revue sounds like a fun attraction. However, in practice this attraction was anything but. In fact, the Astuter Computer Revue has the dubious designation of being the first attraction to close at EPCOT, ever, lasting just over a year from the park's opening day to January 1984. So what went wrong?

One of the big problems is that the personal computer was just starting to enter the national conversation in 1982. Though there weren't a lot of computer experts out there, most guests had a passing familiarity with what computers were. So the illusion of a foot-high Ken Jennings with a Cockney accent, explaining what computers are via a song with lyrics that could be seen as condescending didn't exactly go over well. 

Fortunately, Epcot was able to use the same idea behind the Astuter Computer Review to develop the much-better received Backstage Magic, which explained how computers worked in a more technical way with less singing and dancing. Though no recording of the Astuter Computer Revue exists, you can listen to the Sherman Brothers' Computer Song here.