Is 2024 the 12 months of goodbyes or good riddances for Walt Disney World followers? Each WDW diehard has extinct issues they miss, this 12 months has been a fairly large one for adjustments at Walt Disney World. (Though not almost as large as 2025–that’s when so much, together with beloved lands and rides, might be misplaced).
This submit takes a have a look at a few of what has gone to the defunct Disney park within the sky this 12 months, with a rundown of the misplaced choices from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and the resorts. With this, we’ll decide whether or not every extinction occasion was actually a goodbye or extra like a “good riddance.”
As nostalgic as Walt Disney World followers might be, there’s a wholesome combine of fine and dangerous adjustments on this checklist. Every little thing that’s been round various years has its diehard followers (even building partitions!), however there ought to be consensus on a few of these issues misplaced endlessly at Walt Disney World in 2024…
BONUS: Dino-Rama
At the same time as president of the Worldwide Dino-Rama Haters Membership, it brings me no pleasure in seeing dinosaurs go extinct at Walt Disney World. They’re probably the most superior animal of all-time, and deserved higher. With that mentioned, Dino-Rama was an abomination, and I’ll fortunately dance on this specific space’s grave. That does give me a little bit pleasure.
I do know the upper street could be to supply a respectful tribute, or give area to these mourning the lack of a land the place they made recollections or no matter. Maybe put together a eulogy to Dino-Rama’s good backstory. Nah, I’ll take the decrease street. The land was simply flat-out terrible, with all of the allure of a Walmart car parking zone. Something good about it was lipstick on a pig.
Dino-Rama will stay open via the primary week of 2025, so take into account this a bonus entry as a result of I’ve already mentioned my ultimate “good riddance” to the realm. It’s been lifeless to me for years…would possibly as properly begin getting enthusiastic about Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, that includes the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Trip and Indiana Jones Journey!
Large EPCOT Filth Pit
I’ve made no secret of how a lot the unambitious plans for CommuniCore Corridor bothered me (see RIP Large EPCOT Filth Pit, or just about any of our EPCOT building updates from the final a number of years). Ditto the prolonged building timeline that left the park in a maze of building partitions and that notorious Large EPCOT Filth Pit.
I’m positive that giant EPCOT crater (dang, that may’ve been an excellent nickname for it) has some followers who want it by no means went away. In my view, I might’ve been capable of tolerate one other 12 months or extra of the filth and “progress partitions” if it meant getting one thing that was…precise progress over the previous Future World.
I nonetheless can’t imagine how dangerous CommuniCore Corridor and World Celebration are. Or how lengthy they took to construct. However on the identical time, I can’t say that I’d slightly have the filth and partitions. So congratulations, Disney, you wore me down and bought me to “settle” for the least imaginative factor ever as a result of it additionally means having a traditional, walkable central backbone of the park. Good riddance to the Large EPCOT Filth Pit.
Check Monitor 2.0
I beloved Check Monitor 2.0 when it debuted, and thought it was a big replace and enchancment to the unique Check Monitor. However time did it no favors. Not solely did it age poorly, nevertheless it additionally began drawing unfavorable comparisons to TRON Lightcycle Run as soon as that debuted. On prime of that, there’s completely nothing memorable concerning the attraction. Even I’ve to confess that the unique Check Monitor had rather more nostalgic enchantment by way of quotable dialogue within the pre-show and attention-grabbing visuals.
From that perspective, the Check Monitor 3.0 reimagining has a excessive ceiling and low flooring. Just about all the pieces that anybody loves about Check Monitor (the thrills) might be staying, so there’s little or no threat of this reimagining “messing up” what individuals like concerning the present journey. Seen work on the outside has additionally been promising, eliminating the hideous cover and changing it with one thing extra applicable.
Not solely that, however Check Monitor will get an replace impressed by World of Movement! That’s thrilling information that’s, as soon as once more, aimed squarely at longtime Walt Disney World followers. Whereas it stays to be seen precisely what which means, it’s trigger for optimism. Check Monitor 3.0 has great potential and Check Monitor 2.0 had worn out its welcome. Plus, this reimagining is being paid for by another person, so it’s not even coming on the expense of one other (larger precedence) Walt Disney World challenge! Win-win! Good riddance to Check Monitor 2.0.
One Digital Queue
With the debut of Tiana’s Bayou Journey over the summer time, Walt Disney World had a file three simultaneous digital queues. It didn’t assist that two of these had been in Magic Kingdom, and Tiana’s Bayou Journey was (is) extremely unreliable. This made it unattainable to know whether or not you’d be capable of expertise each by way of digital queue. In flip, that pushed individuals in the direction of paying for Lightning Lanes.
Every time a digital queue is launched, some followers declare it’s to promote extra Lightning Lanes. Every time one is retired, some followers declare it’s to promote extra Lightning Lanes. Hopefully not the identical followers in each cases, however who actually is aware of. I’m not usually somebody who believes that Disney makes queueing selections on the idea of Lightning Lane gross sales. Line-skipping sells itself, and there’s no proof that adjustments actually transfer the needle a method or one other. (Inflated wait instances, however…)
Nevertheless, I completely imagine company had been shopping for Lightning Lane entry in Magic Kingdom as a result of unpredictability with TBA and TRON Lightcycle Run each utilizing digital queues. Heck, I’m “superb” at digital queues, and there have been days after I bought shut out of each resulting from TBA downtime.
Even with out these points, I’d be saying good riddance to any and all digital queues at Walt Disney World. Though they often profit us (extra educated and skilled guests), they’re convoluted, complicated and visitor unfriendly consequently. Right here’s hoping that 2025 is the 12 months of zero VQs at Walt Disney World. It’s past time to retire Cosmic Rewind’s!
Massive River Grille & Brewing Works
There’s been a ton of tumult and turnover alongside the BoardWalk, and after years of struggles, Massive River Grille & Brewing Works lastly closed final winter. The restaurant that opened in 1996 ended its almost three-decade run with a whimper, unable to make it work whilst BoardWalk was devoid of eating choices.
There was a time when Massive River was one thing particular. It was the one solely working brewpub at Walt Disney World, and one of many few locations inside strolling distance of the parks to observe “the massive sport.” In our view, what’s actually unlucky is that Massive River didn’t shut sooner. There’s part of me that wonders whether or not Cake Bake Store would’ve changed it and ESPN Membership would nonetheless be working had Massive River gone below again through the closure when Ample Hills did.
I’ve fond recollections of Massive River Grille & Brewing Works…from the Nineteen Nineties. It was superior after I was a child. Forward of its time, for a time. Since then, time has handed it by. Massive River did not evolve and keep contemporary. Which is exactly why quite a lot of you studying this–even Walt Disney World followers–most likely by no means even heard of Massive River, a lot much less dined there.
Nonetheless, it’s one other restaurant emptiness alongside the BoardWalk with alternative prospects, a lot much less a timetable for when a brand new restaurant will open. We’d like to be saying “good riddance” to Massive River by way of an announcement of one thing new and thrilling taking its place, however alas, nearly a full 12 months later, it’s nonetheless sitting empty. So goodbye it’s.
Corn Canine & Cake Bake Development
The comically-long building for desserts and corn canines is lastly over. After a 12 months of labor on an out of doors kiosk, Blue Ribbon Corn Canines debuted this fall. One other couple of months later, Cake Bake Store adopted suited after being delayed by round a full 12 months.
It’s most likely honest to say operational eating places are higher than building partitions. All of us can agree on that a lot, proper? Whether or not these eating venues are higher than the eating places they changed is one other story totally, and I’m guessing reactions could be blended.
We’ve now dined at each new areas, and every brings one thing distinctive to the desk. A kind of issues they bring about is hefty payments. Suffice to say, we received’t be common patrons of Blue Ribbon Corn Canines or Cake Bake Store. However there’s no scarcity of building partitions going up round Walt Disney World in 2025, together with some doubtless on the different facet of the BoardWalk. So it’s not like we’ll miss these, both.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade has been on borrowed time for some time. I don’t assume that’s actually a provocative or contestable assertion. Walt Disney World eliminated nearly all ‘authentically-presenting’ weapons from the parks again in December 2015. This included all the pieces from the gun utilized by the Jungle Cruise skippers to toy weapons being offered within the present retailers.
Nonetheless, the capturing gallery attraction held on and even “improved” a couple of years in the past with the swap to free play. It most likely has hung round partly as a result of it’s a 1971 authentic opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom, and since not a lot else might be completed with its restricted footprint. Nicely, the corporate lastly found out what else it may very well be–a Disney Trip Membership lounge.
At the same time as a DVC proprietor who will get far more use out of the McKim’s Mile Home Member Lounge (there’s solely so many instances I can “impress” Sarah with my sharp shootin’ expertise earlier than she loses curiosity), this one nonetheless doesn’t sit proper with me. Increasingly of Walt Disney World is changing into paywalled or topic to upcharges, and even after I’m a part of the in-group that advantages, I nonetheless don’t like the overall development. The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade itself will not be a giant loss, however what’s changing it and what it represents does nonetheless go away a bitter style. Goodbye, Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade.
Nation Bear Jamboree
Talking of sights on borrowed time, this was the 12 months that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree–already truncated a decade in the past–was lastly put out of its distress. A number of Nation Bear Jamboree followers had been very mad about this, and I can empathize to a level.
On the identical time, my view is that we already misplaced the “actual” Nation Bear Jamboree. Furthermore, updating the attraction was the very best final result of the doable plans for CBJ that had been truly into account by the corporate…and by a large margin. That’s to not say what we bought was in your or my want checklist, however significantly better than the options.
It’s greater than a small miracle that the Nation Bears have caught round in any respect, and the brand new Nation Bear Musical Jamboree–full with upgraded Audio Animatronics and theater–offers the attraction a brand new lease on life. It just about ensures the Bear Band will stick round for no less than one other decade. That will not be a win for everybody, however as somebody with a Nation Bears-loving toddler, it is a big victory for me, personally. I nonetheless can’t convey myself to say “good riddance” to Nation Bears below any circumstances (not even that bizarre film), so this one turns into a impartial transfer.
Unhealthy Menu at Pecos Invoice
Do you imagine in miracles?! After years of stagnation, Magic Kingdom’s most mediocre meal spot has a brand-new menu! As we wrote roughly one 12 months in the past, Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe was lifeless to us. The menu had gotten so dangerous, the components had been extremely low high quality, and there was no toppings bar to redeem it (or masks mentioned subpar entrees and components).
Someway, Pecos Invoice was not the worst counter service restaurant within the park, which was actually saying one thing (and never an excellent factor) about simply how dangerous Magic Kingdom’s counter service scene has grow to be. Moderately, it was the one with probably the most squandered potential. A spot that might’ve been good and, at one time, was.
And now, is sweet once more. A number of months in the past, Walt Disney World overhauled the menu but once more, tremendously bettering the meals at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe. It now has extra vary, is larger high quality, and customizable–a bit like Chipotle (however not fully). I’ve eaten 5 full meals at Pecos Invoice (for analysis!) since then and am as soon as once more a giant fan. Good riddance to that previous menu, with meals barely match for canines!
Waffle Sandwiches at Sleepy Hole
Because the universe have to be in stability, each constructive Magic Kingdom menu motion has an equal and reverse destructive response. That’s simply science. On this case, the counterpart to Pecos Invoice’s huge improve was the Scandal at Sleepy Hole over the summer time. In case you missed it, some brainiac at Walt Disney World determined to mess with the one (and possibly solely!) Magic Kingdom menu that didn’t want any adjustments, and made main errors.
Out went the waffle sandwiches, in got here Mickey Mouse formed waffles. However that wasn’t all. The Recent Fruit Waffle Sandwich got here with bananas, berries, and chocolate-hazelnut unfold, whereas it was changed by two separate Mickey Mouse waffles: one with the berries, and one with the don’t-call-it-Nutella and bananas. It was either-or, not each. And that was an actual downside, as a result of what’s even the purpose of consuming fruit if it’s not slathered in Nutella?!
Fortunately, Walt Disney World ultimately mixed the choices by standard demand (extra like vital complaints). The ensuing Mickey Waffle with Chocolate-Hazelnut Unfold, Bananas, Berries, and Whipped Cream is ok. Good however not nice. The previous waffle sandwich was a ten/10 masterpiece, and there’s one thing totally different concerning the new possibility. Right here’s hoping that in 2025, Walt Disney World rolls again this modification and we are saying good riddance to the Mickey waffles and hey once more to the previous, dependable waffle sandwiches.
Genie+
Maybe greater than anything, Genie+ represents a darkish chapter at Walt Disney World. It changed free FastPass+ amidst a flurry of different poorly-received selections, from the tip of Disney’s Magical Specific to changing night Further Magic Hours with one thing just for Deluxe Resort company.
The botched launch and scattershot adjustments over the next 18 months poisoned the properly. Although Genie+ was truly fairly good–no less than for energy customers who learn blogs like this one–by mid-2024, it was too little, too late. The Genie “model” that was as soon as related to the beloved Robin Williams had someway grow to be as poisonous because the identify Bob Chapek. It wanted an entire and whole overhaul.
There isn’t a consensus as as to whether Genie+ or Lightning Lane Multi-Move is healthier. Line-skipping is at all times going to create winners and losers in equal measure. That’s the character of the beast as a result of queueing is a zero-sum sport. Attraction capability is mounted and finite, and didn’t change between the 2 techniques. There isn’t a magical system the place everybody will get to attend in shorter traces.
Nevertheless, our perspective is that the transfer from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Move, which was additionally made amidst different queueing adjustments, is healthier on stability. Which is to say that the insurance policies and techniques really feel fairer to nearly all of company and don’t benefit or drawback anybody an excessive amount of. Standby traces are flowing quicker and it doesn’t really feel such as you’re continually stopping and being skipped by everybody and their brother. We might’ve mentioned good riddance to Genie+ regardless, however that basically seals the deal for us on G+ vs. LLMP.
Serenity at Fort Wilderness
One other relic of the Chapek Period that some Walt Disney World followers most likely want would’ve stayed previously is Reflections Lakeshore Lodge. Can I let you know a secret? I’m truly wanting ahead to Disney Lakeshore Lodge. Which may sound prefer it’s popping out of left discipline contemplating I used to be an outspoken critic of the unique announcement and Reflections. However earlier than you seize the pitchforks, let me clarify.
Disney already did site-prep, began work years in the past and invested thousands and thousands of {dollars} in creating this parcel–it’s inevitable that they’d construct on this land sooner or later down the street. Walt Disney World solely has a lot prime parcels for resorts, and that is certainly one of them. Not solely that, however they’ve already bulldozed River Nation and a ton of timber to clear the land. My perspective is that the harm is completed, and a resort goes to occur right here eventually regardless.
During which case, I’ll take sooner. We love each Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, and now have a daughter who would be the good age for Walt Disney World–and having fun with these resorts–by the point Disney Lakeshore Lodge opens in 2027. I’m additionally actually wanting ahead to getting the strolling path connecting the resorts again. Who is aware of, perhaps Lakeshore Lodge may have eating places and facilities that we love (like Riviera!), even when the constructing is ugly and out-of-place amidst the frontier. A pool with a lazy river would definitely assist promote me–and different skeptics–on it!
Within the close to time period, there’s going to be ache. Clearly, I’m not going to say “good riddance” to serenity and seclusion at Fort Wilderness. That’s loopy. I’ll mourn what’s being misplaced there, however actually, I already did that between 2018 and early 2020. At this level, I’ll take a lodge with value-added options over an unsightly, deserted building web site–I might say “good riddance” to that. So I suppose it’s actually a matter of phrasing on this one.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you’ll want to know!
Your Ideas
What could be in your checklist of issues misplaced endlessly at Walt Disney World this 12 months? To which of those now extinct experiences or defunct choices would you say goodbye, and which might earn good riddance from you? Do you agree or disagree with our decisions? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
