20 Disney Rides That Had to Close (and Why)

Some Disney rides come and go, but their legacy stays with us forever. Today we’re going to take a trip back in time -- back before Lightning Lanes, Rise of Resistance Boarding Passes, and virtual queues -- and talk about why some Disney rides were FORCED to close...and what mysteries there were behind them.

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[sunnyscott]

I grew up 14 miles from Disneyland and was 4 years old when it opened in 1955. I remember so many of these great old rides ! You could actually just walk around the park and enjoy yourself. It was fun. I could see the closing fireworks from my backyard!

[natalierankin]

This makes me miss MGM so much 😢 It really was devoted to that movie magic, old Hollywood vibe, which made it so different from the other parks! I love the new innovations, but the old rides will live forever in my childhood memories 💕

[gracieh]

When moving back to Florida I was DEVASTATED to hear Maelstrom closed and was even more upset about The Great Movie Ride.

[sarahrabin]

The Great Movie Ride was probably the hardest to lose of all of these 😭It closed just 1 week before I started working at WDW and had been one of my favorites. I worked at Rock n' Rollercoaster and a coworker of mine had been transferred from GMR where she had been one of the actors on the ride.

[perplex]

For me the Backlot Studio tour closure was a real loss - entertaining, informative and inspiring for those who are interested in working in different aspects of film and tv production - the fire and flood section was so memorable for me

[JamesonThomas]

“This attraction was constantly broken down, a lot like myself.”
- same AJ same

[sarahdeland]

I’ve been on six of the extinct attractions on this list, and the one I miss the most is Great Movie Ride! If Disney wanted to spruce things up and make it feel new, why not update it with some modern classics instead of getting rid of it entirely? 😭

[danceballet]

In 2000 my family went to Disney, and I distinctly remember learning how babies were made from the making of me short film in the wonders of life pavilion in Epcot…. No one ever seems to remember this “attraction” but I will never forget!!!

[tomc]

Greatly miss Maelstrom and Great Movie Ride. Also, EPCOT went downhill when it strayed from its original concept of being a kind of permanent World's Fair, with a lot of inspiration coming from the 1964 and 1939 New York World's Fairs. Now, sadly, almost everything has to be promoting Disney IP.

[phyllissmith]

I just found this gem and had to comment. First: great video.Second: My hubby and I visited Disney World in 1985 and we rode the people mover. It was a ride that was laid back and showed you a LOT of the park. My Dad had retired from Eastern and they told us about it. Now let me say that we had no children(thank goodness because we got to enjoy the park ourselves, haha)but we were not all that old. But this ride was one we would go to every day we were there and plan what to go do each day. I still remember the ride even tho I am older and lost my hubby recently. Thank you for bringing back a beautiful memory for me.

[oimawesome]

Some of these hit hard. It’s like visiting your childhood home and seeing all the trees cut down and new add-ons. Technically it’s the same place, but some of the Magic is gone.

[pandajones]

AJ told the truth about Horizons. There was no sinkhole, it was just that they lost the sponsorship and didn’t want to pay for such an elaborate ride. I miss it every day of my life.

[poochieg]

My husband and I both enjoyed the Movie Ride every time we went to WDW, which was like every 2-3 yrs. It was fun to experience all the movies, especially The Wizard of OZ. We were very fortunate to experience most of the rides in this video. Every visit always had to include visiting Figment, Carousel of Progress and Thunder Mountain Railroad. Sadly my husband passed away not long ago and I will never visit WDW again. It holds so many Memories for both of us from throughout the many years!!
Remembering those times are so bittersweet...I miss visiting WDW with you sweetheart and only you!
❤❤❤😪😪😪

[jennm]

I had the awesome experience of riding the Alien Encounter on my honeymoon trip to WDW. I have to say it was an incredible experience I will never forget, but I can definitely see how it was too much for little kids. It sent chills down my spine and had me totally captivated. Loved it!

[sbk]

I still miss so many of these. Disneyland’s People Mover, World of Motion, Journey into Imagination, Great Movie Ride, and especially Horizons loss have never stopped hurting.

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

"The coolest Disney ride I've never got to ride"
you technically did if you've been on Luigi's Flying Tires at Cars Land when that was a thing, it was the same ride concept. And just like the Flying Saucers, it too was closed and replaced. It actually lasted for a shorter amount of time than Flying Saucers did...only about three years. History continues to repeat itself

[Lando]

Still miss Journey to Imagination from the 1980s and Mr Toad’s Wild Ride.

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

A defunct attraction that I love that's not on this list is Cranium Command. To me, it's not only an attraction of significance because of the whole stolen Buzzy fiasco but ALSO, it literally helped inspire a PIXAR movie...Inside Out. Pete Docter, the Inside Out director, worked on the Cranium Command preshow. The only Epcot attraction past or present to inspire a movie.

Also, while not a attraction in the way you think of, the defunct music loop made for Wonders of Life is an absolute masterpiece. It's an attraction for your EARS. People rave about the Innoventions loop, but the Wonders of Life loop deserves some love too

[Victor.Alteria]

The grandparents of all extinct rides are 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mister Toad's Wild Ride. I have only been to any Disney park once, in 1978. There was only the Magic Kingdom. These two rides were the best. I also was on If You Had Wings. For such a "simple" ride, it was amazing. To this day I remember how it felt to be on all three.

[hopeworcester]

I went on alien encounters when I was 5 (solid choice by my parents however they didn’t know what the ride was) but I was so terrified that my dad ended up ripping the shoulder harness off and grabbing me. We obviously shut down the ride temporarily after that and I still remember the terror I felt over 20 years later