Disney World enthusiasts frequently voice longing for discontinued attractions that captured the park’s early spirit of innovation and whimsy. Recent fan polls and discussions highlight a core group of rides that closed amid updates or budget shifts, with the original Journey Into Imagination often cited as the most missed for its creative storytelling.
Here’s the TL;DR…
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Fan favorites like the original Journey Into Imagination lead lists of attractions Disney enthusiasts want revived, based on 2025 surveys and forums.
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Other top requests include Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, and Maelstrom, all phased out for newer themed experiences.
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Closures often stem from maintenance costs, IP integrations, or land repurposing, but fans argue these classics boosted guest satisfaction.
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Recent losses like MuppetVision 3D in 2025 have reignited debates about preserving history versus adding fresh draws.
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While full returns seem unlikely, Disney has hinted at nods to past rides in upcoming projects set for 2026 and beyond.
Online communities keep these memories alive through petitions and social media. Some fans even recreate elements at home or in fan events.
What Is the Most Requested Discontinued Disney Attraction for a Revival?
The original Journey Into Imagination with Figment and Dreamfinder ranks highest in fan wish lists. Opened in 1983 at Epcot, it featured a whimsical tour through human creativity with animatronics and effects that sparked wonder. Fans lament its 1998 overhaul, which stripped key characters, and push for a restoration to honor Epcot‘s educational roots.
This ride’s appeal lies in its blend of fun and inspiration. A 2025 AllEars poll showed 45 percent of respondents naming it their top pick for a comeback.
Why Do Fans Miss Horizons So Much?
Horizons, a former Epcot staple from 1983 to 1999, depicted future living through elaborate scenes of space colonies and underwater cities. Riders boarded omnimover vehicles for a 15-minute journey that embodied optimism. Its closure made way for Mission: Space, but enthusiasts argue no modern ride matches its scope.
Forum discussions on Reddit and Disney blogs cite Horizons as a symbol of the park’s forward-thinking era. One fan noted the ride’s audio-animatronics still influence designs today.
Does The Great Movie Ride Top Any Fan Revival Lists?
The Great Movie Ride, which anchored Hollywood Studios from 1989 to 2017, earns frequent mentions for its live-narrated tour through film history. Guests rode through recreations of classics like Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, with cast members adding interactive flair. It gave way to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Older visitors, especially those in their 50s, skip the replacement due to nostalgia for the original’s cinematic homage. A Disney Food Blog report from November 2025 highlighted this sentiment among longtime guests.
Is Maelstrom Still a Fan Favorite for Revival?
Maelstrom, Epcot‘s Norway pavilion boat ride from 1988 to 2014, transported guests through Viking lore and troll encounters before a drop into the North Sea. Replaced by Frozen Ever After, it drew criticism for shifting from cultural education to franchise tie-ins. Fans want it back for its authentic Scandinavian vibes.
Polls from sites like Inside the Magic place Maelstrom high, with readers praising its mix of thrill and folklore. Disney’s trend toward IP-heavy attractions fuels these calls.
What Makes Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride a Perennial Revival Request?
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, a Magic Kingdom dark ride based on The Wind in the Willows, ran from 1971 to 1998. Its chaotic path through English countryside scenes ended in a hellish twist. Though a version persists at Disneyland, Florida fans miss the dual-track setup now occupied by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
The closure sparked protests at the time. Recent YouTube retrospectives note its unique humor as a draw for revivals.
Why Is ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter on Revival Wish Lists?
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter terrified guests at Magic Kingdom from 1995 to 2003 with in-the-dark sensory effects and a escaped creature plot. Deemed too scary for families, it became Stitch’s Great Escape, which also closed. Fans crave its intensity in a park now softer on thrills.
Disney Tourist Blog‘s 2025 list suggested reusing the space for a similar concept. Enthusiasts see it as a counter to milder modern offerings.
Do Fans Want the Original Splash Mountain Back?
Splash Mountain, inspired by Song of the South, operated from 1989 to 2023 before retheming to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Its log flume drops and animatronic animals charmed generations, but controversy over source material led to the change. A major Change.org petition in 2022 gathered nearly 100,000 signatures urging Disney to preserve the original, with supporters citing its joyful music and family-friendly thrills as reasons to keep it intact.
The petition became a flashpoint in debates about cultural sensitivity and park heritage, drawing media coverage and dividing fans. X discussions from 2025 show divided opinions, with many praising the music and ride layout.
Since its 2024 debut, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has encountered frequent breakdowns, averaging 4.5 hours of daily downtime during previews and continuing with multiple extended closures through 2025. Reports indicate it logged more downtime than any other Magic Kingdom ride last year, with animatronic failures and operational hiccups frustrating guests. Disney’s updates aim to address inclusivity, yet nostalgia for Splash Mountain persists amid these reliability issues.
Is Illuminations: Reflections of Earth a Top Nighttime Show Fans Miss?
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth lit Epcot‘s lagoon from 1999 to 2019 with fireworks, lasers, and a globe centerpiece symbolizing unity. Replaced by Epcot Forever and then Luminous, it holds a spot in fan hearts for its emotional score. Calls for seasonal revivals use existing tech.
A December 2025 Disney Tourist Blog piece listed it as feasible for limited runs. Fans value its message over flashier successors.
What About 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a Revival Candidate?
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a Magic Kingdom submarine voyage from 1971 to 1994, immersed riders in Jules Verne’s underwater world with sea creatures and Atlantis ruins. High maintenance costs sank it, paving way for new Fantasyland. Enthusiasts propose a modern version with updated effects.
Business Insider‘s archival piece from 2019 still resonates, calling it a missed classic. Fan art imagines it in Animal Kingdom.
Why Do Fans Clamor for Universe of Energy’s Return?
Universe of Energy, Epcot‘s 1982 ride with Ellen DeGeneres from 1996, educated on power sources via dinosaurs and comedy. Closed in 2017 for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it blended learning with entertainment. Supporters want similar edutainment restored.
Recent threads tie it to Epcot‘s original mission. Disney’s shift to thrill rides leaves a gap for thoughtful attractions.
Are There Any Recent Closures Fans Already Want Back?
MuppetVision 3D, shuttered in 2025 for Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios, joins the list quickly. The 1991 show featured 3D effects and live puppets in a chaotic theater. Fans petitioned against its removal, citing Jim Henson‘s legacy.
Disney’s 2026 plans include Muppet elements elsewhere, but purists demand the full revival. Social media buzz from January 2026 underscores this fresh loss.
Disney’s evolution balances innovation with heritage, but fan feedback suggests room for callbacks to these beloved attractions. As 2026 brings new experiences like reimagined Big Thunder Mountain, perhaps elements of the past will weave in, offering a bridge between eras. For now, these wish lists remind us why certain rides endure in memory, even if gone from the parks.
Hat Tips
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AllEars.Net / “Is That Even a Question?” 7 Rides Fans Are Begging Disney to Bring Back From the Dead / December 4, 2025
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Disney Tourist Blog / 10 Extinct Things We Miss That Disney World Should Bring Back / December 22, 2025
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Business Insider / 33 photos of old Disney World attractions we wish would come back / March 2019
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Disney Food Blog / Disney Fans in Their 50s Refuse to Ride These 5 Hollywood Studios Rides / November 25, 2025
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Reddit / r/WaltDisneyWorld / What Defunct Walt Disney World Attraction Do You Miss The Most / August 2024
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Inside the Magic / Petition to Save Splash Mountain Reaches Record Support / December 6, 2022
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Orlando Theme Park Zone / Petition to Save Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain Nearing 100,000 Signatures / December 8, 2022
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Disney Tourist Blog / Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Reliability Report: Shockingly Strong September After Awful August / September 23, 2024
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Inside the Magic / Disturbing Malfunction at Magic Kingdom Reveals Disney Maintenance Crisis / January 2026
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Thrill Data / Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Wait Times at Magic Kingdom / January 2026
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