Disney4me Posted 9 hours ago Report Share Posted 9 hours ago While Walt Disney World’s four theme parks are often full of guests that make it feel like every inch of them is packed, the truth is that all of them have abandoned spaces right smack dab in the middle of their busiest areas. Galaxy’s Edge From long-abandoned EPCOT pavilions and the husk of a several-times-transformed opening day Magic Kingdom attraction to a quickly abandoned Animal Kingdom amphitheater and a technically still open but might as well not be Hollywood Studios experience, these abandoned areas of Disney World’s parks desperately need a shot in the arm. Wonders of Life Wonders of Life opened to much fanfare at EPCOT in 1989. The pavilion, dedicated to health care, the human body, physical fitness, medicine, and nutrition, was initially a hit thanks to the advanced-for-the-time simulator attraction Body Wars and the popular Cranium Command show. However, as EPCOT evolved with the additions of Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin’ in the late 90s and early 2000s, its popularity sagged. ©Wikipedia The pavilion closed in 2007, and for the next decade was used as a temporary Festival Center during the park’s annual events. In 2019, Disney announced plans to turn the space into the new Play! Pavilion, which would be themed to be an “interactive futuristic city where guests would be able to interact with a variety of Disney characters.” At the time, planned attractions for Play! were announced to include an Animation Academy-like experience where Edna Mode teaches guests to draw, the Hotel Heist interactive game hosted by Zootopia’s Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, an Arcade, a Monorail Mark X, and a water balloon fight video game experience with various Disney characters. ©Disney || Play Pavilion Concept Art As with many projects during this period, work on the Play! Pavilion was paused. However, unlike much of the rest of EPCOT’s “reimagining”, work never resumed. In 2023, Disney confirmed that the space was being “reevaluated” and the former Wonders of Life has remained vacant since. Millennium Village Moving from the (former Future World to World Showcase, our next stop is the former Millennium Village located near the U.K. Pavilion. The centerpiece of the park’s Millennium Celebration, this purpose-built 60,000 square foot area housed exhibits — ranging from small presentations to elaborately themed environments, and even a virtual reality “ride” — showcasing countries that weren’t represented in World Showcase proper, including Brazil, Chile, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and others. ©shopDisney The Millennium Village opened in October of 1999 and became quite popular, so much so that many hoped the concept might become a permanent part of EPCOT after the celebrations ended. However, that wasn’t meant to be, as the village closed when the celebration ended in January of 2021. The structure is currently used during Food & Wine and other EPCOT festivals; however, for most of the year, it sits empty and vacant, taking up a World Showcase expansion pad. Stitch’s Great Escape The show building at the front of Tomorrowland that once held Stitch’s Great Escape has actually been home to three different attractions over the years. Mission to Mars, a clone of the Disneyland original, opened in the Tomorrowland space in December of 1971 and operated until October 1993. It was replaced by the beloved by many (and reviled by others) EtraTERRORestial Alien Encounter from 1995 until 2003. via AllEars.net The attraction was retooled into Stitch’s Great Escape in 2004 and remained in operation for the most part until 2018. The space has remained vacant, short of some limited meet & greets, since. Where Stitch’s Great Escape used to be. (Construction photo from 2020) Discovery River Amphitheater Moving over to Animal Kingdom, our next abandoned space is the amphitheater-style seating that sits in the park’s Asia. The 5,000 set structures were built in the mid-2010s as part of Animal Kingdom’s expansion. The seating was initially built for the Rivers of Light nighttime show, that was scheduled to premiere in 2016. However, once it was delayed, a replacement production — The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic — ran through most of 2016. Rivers of Light Seating Area Rivers of Light finally debuted in 2017 and ran with issues until 2019, when it was retooled into Rivers of Light: We Are One. That show ran until the pandemic closure in 2020, and never reopened. In October of 2021, KiteTails opened in the theater space. The new daytime show featured large balloons themed to Disney characters that functioned like kites pulled along by jet skis, as well as in-theater performers. While the show did develop a cult following, most reactions were negative, exacerbated by a series of viral videos that showed the show’s kites “crashing” into empty sections of the bleachers. While Disney would claim these crashes were how the kites were supposed to land, the visuals definitely did not help the show’s reputation. KiteTails KiteTails was eventually retooled into a walk-by experience in May of 2022, before being axed altogether in September of that year. The theater has sat empty since. Star Wars Launch Bay So, this final space is a bit of a cheat. Star Wars Launch Bay is technically still operational at Hollywood Studios. However, the walkthrough attraction (which takes up the space that had previously been home to the Magic of Disney Animation Tour during the park’s early years) essentially sits abandoned most days despite technically being open, and takes up a huge chunk of real estate in the park. In a park that’s somewhat squeezed for space, this is bothersome to many fans, ESPECIALLY those angry at Muppet*Vision 3D being closed to make way for Monsters, Inc. Launch Bay Each of these Disney park spaces is in desperate need of an infusion of life! Stay tuned to DFB for more on the abandoned areas of Disney World. Why Disney Adults Are Suddenly Booking a Lightning Lane for This Walk-On Hollywood Studios Attraction Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these abandoned Disney World areas do you most want to see revitalized? Let us know in the comments below.The post 5 Abandoned Places in Disney World in Desperate Need of Life first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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