Walt Disney World has changed dramatically over the decades, with new lands and attractions often taking the place of earlier guest experiences. A Disney Fanatic retrospective points to seven former offerings that remain memorable to longtime visitors, even as their replacements have become part of today’s parks.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Great Movie Ride closed in 2017 and was replaced by Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which opened in 2020. The original 1989 attraction used sets, Audio-Animatronics and live performances to take guests through famous movie moments, reflecting the park’s former emphasis on filmmaking.
Hollywood Studios also lost Streets of America in 2016 during redevelopment that led to the 2019 opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The walk-through backlot area was known for its city-street settings and for hosting the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights during the holidays.
At EPCOT, Horizons opened in 1983 with a future-focused journey through imagined underwater communities and space colonies. It closed in 1999, ahead of the opening of Mission: SPACE. Another much-discussed EPCOT change came when the original Journey Into Imagination, featuring Dreamfinder and Figment, was replaced in 1999. Journey Into Imagination With Figment opened in 2002.
Disney announced at D23 in August 2026 that Dreamfinder will return alongside Figment in a new Journey Into Imagination experience, according to Disney Fanatic. The source did not provide an opening date or additional details for the new attraction.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
Magic Kingdom’s changes include the 1998 closure of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, followed by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1999. Mickey’s Toontown Fair, home to Mickey and Minnie’s country houses and character encounters, closed permanently in 2011 for New Fantasyland; Storybook Circus later occupied much of the area and retained The Barnstormer with a new theme.
Stitch’s Great Escape!, a Tomorrowland theater attraction that opened in 2004, stopped regular operation in 2016 and later closed permanently. Unlike some of the other retired experiences, Stitch has not received another dedicated attraction at Walt Disney World.
