7 Former Disney World Attractions Fans Still Want Back

Walt Disney World has retired attractions and themed areas over its more than five decades of operation, often making way for new rides, updated technology and park expansions. Some of those former experiences remain frequent subjects of nostalgia among longtime fans.

Among the best-known losses is Horizons, the EPCOT attraction that opened in 1983 and presented optimistic visions of life in space, underwater communities and future cities. It closed permanently in January 1999, and its building was later demolished for Mission: SPACE, which opened in 2003.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios also lost The Great Movie Ride, which opened with the park in 1989. The attraction used sets, Audio-Animatronics and live Cast Member performances to take visitors through scenes inspired by films including Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca. It closed in August 2017; Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened in the Chinese Theatre in March 2020.

At Magic Kingdom, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was an opening-day Fantasyland attraction in 1971. Its two ride tracks gave guests different versions of its fast-moving, offbeat journey. Disney closed it in September 1998, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened in its place in 1999. Disneyland in California continues to operate its version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

Another EPCOT favorite, the original Journey Into Imagination, opened in 1983 with Dreamfinder and Figment. It closed in 1998 and was replaced by Journey Into YOUR Imagination in 1999. Figment returned in Journey Into Imagination With Figment in 2002, though the current experience differs substantially from the original.

According to the source, Disney announced during D23 in August 2026 that Dreamfinder will return alongside Figment in a new Journey Into Imagination adventure at EPCOT. Disney had not released full details, including the degree to which the new experience will draw from the original attraction.