Splash Mountain Closing at Disneyland: Disappearing Disney Rides and Attractions

Splash Mountain closing is making headlines as Disneyland prepares to end its legendary ride at the end of next month. Travel-Intel looks at attractions and ride closures through the decades to remember what Disney is and was. The Disney corporation has create an enormous legacy of theme park attractions since Disneyland originally debuted in 1955. Some of these attractions, including It’s a Small World, the Haunt Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean, have achieve iconic status around the world. But Disney will never finish, as Walt Disney famously remark. As long as there is still imagination in the world, it will there and continue to expand. However, as the colorful World of Disney expands and imagines, there are some Disney attractions have disappear, failing to withstand the tales as old as time.

Splash Mountain closing is the latest in Disney’s disappearing rides and attractions. Here is a list of popular Disney attractions gone by, now wedge into the memories of a time that was.

Disneyland:

Splash Mountain (1989-2023): 

Splash Mountain closing May 31, 2023 at Disneyland officially debute in the newly rename Critter Country in 1989. Mickey Mouse, Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner, actor Jim Varney (better known as Ernest), and twelve famous kids all turn on the water pump to make a large splash. It cost around $75 million and uses leftover audio-animatronic animal parts from America Sings. Splash Mountain closing will not affect Tokyo Disneyland, where it opens in 1992. Splash Mountain will replace by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, an attraction following the adventures of Princess Tiana, the first Black princess in Disney history, from “The Princess and the Frog.”

Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland (1956-1977): 

one of Disneyland’s first big successes, the scenic train ride is known for its stunning tunnel sequence. Late in the 1970s, the attraction was demolish to make way for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Submarine Voyage (1959–1998): Splash Mountain closing

The Submarine Voyage was the centerpiece of the 1959 “second grand opening” of Disneyland and was one of the park’s initial E-Tickets. The partially underwater attraction dazzle visitors for almost 40 years before it was reportedly shut down for financial concerns. The attraction was renovate and relaunch as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007 after having been empty for years.

America Sings (1974–1988): Splash Mountain closing

This animatronic-fill production, which debute in time for the American Bicentennial, took audiences on a journey through the development of American music. Many of the animatronics were transferr to Splash Mountain, which was still being built, when the ride close.

Videopolis: Splash Mountain closing

Making the Walt Disney Company’s theme parks more appealing to teens was one of the first things Michael Eisner and Frank Wells set out to do when they took over the company’s leadership in the middle of the 1980s. While later leading to Captain EO and Star Tours, Videopolis was the first effort to result from this strategy. Located in a remote region of Fantasyland at Disneyland, this teen-focus nightclub-like setting offers visitors the chance to dance to current pop songs while watching their music videos on massive screens. Videopolis was one of the park’s most popular attractions during the brief period it was open.

Disney Skyway (1956–1994): Splash Mountain closing

The Skyway was one of Disneyland’s most recognizable attractions for almost 40 years, in large part because of the way its gondolas traverse the Matterhorn peak.

Flight to the Moon (1971–1975): 

This Magic Kingdom attraction that debute on the first day was out of date before it opens, which probably contribute to its hasty closure and transformation into Mission to Mars. The final year it operate was 1993, when it permanently shut down.

Disney California Adventure

Superstar Limo (2001-2002): This dark ride through the celebrity-fills Hollywood hills holds the dubious distinction of being one of the quickest closures in Disney history, and is calls by many the worst ride the company ever build. The show building and ride system was eventually reworke into Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!

Walt Disney World

MAGIC KINGDOM

If You Had Wings (1971-1987): Sponsor by Eastern Airlines – the then-official airline of Walt Disney World – this Tomorrowland dark ride attraction was essentially nothing but a commercial for Eastern, though it was well-known for its titular theme song. After Eastern’s sponsorship ends in 1987, it was briefly refurbish into the similar If You Could Fly, which removes the Eastern branding.

Dreamflight (1989-1998): Eventually the ride was rework into Delta Dreamflight and later Disney’s Take Flight, both of which were thematically similar. In 1998, the attraction would be retimed entirely into Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995-2003): Among the most legendary of closed Disney attractions, Alien Encounter’s terrifying close encounter with a violent extraterrestrial still gives nightmares to those who experienced it today.

The Timekeeper (1994-2006): This animatronic/film hybrid show was a staple of Tomorrowland for well over a decade, and features a tremendous vocal performance from the late/great Robin Williams.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1971-1994): The Magic Kingdom’s equivalent to Disneyland’s Submarine Voyage, this heavily-themed attraction wow’d guests for over 20 years before closing in 1994, again allegedly due to budget reasons. However, unlike its west coast equivalent, these subs never reopens, and its lagoon was eventually fill in.

The Skyway (1971-1999): Much like Disneyland’s edition, this version – sans awesome trip through the Matterhorn – staid for nearly 30 years before closing, allegedly due to legal fears.

Flight to the Moon (1971-1975): This opening day Magic Kingdom attraction was outdate before it opens, likely leading to its quick closure and conversion to Mission to Mars. That attraction last until 1993, when it closes for good.

Splash Mountain closing made headlines January 30 when Walt Disney World shut down the ride for good to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 2024.

EPCOT: Splash Mountain closing

World of Motion (1982–1996): For over 15 years, EPCOT Center’s opening day tradition was this whimsical, animatronic-filled tour through the history of transportation. After sponsor General Motors demands a brand-new, exhilarating attraction as a requirement for renewing, TestTrack had to close.

Journey into Imagination (1983–1998): It’s hard to think that the replacement for the well-known dark ride that follows the Dreamfinder and Figment on their explorations.

Universe of Energy (1982–2017): The Universe of Energy was a contentious attraction among EPCOT visitors in both its original theme and the Ellen-infuse 1990s retheme. While some considers it to be too drawn out and boring, others love it, especially because of the animatronic dinosaur segment. The attraction was shut down in 2017 to make room for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, nonetheless.

Horizons (1983–1999): Consider by many to the best ride in EPCOT history, Horizons combines all the components of the park’s initial goal statement into a fantastic ride that continues to be a favorite among many visitors today.

Maelstrom (1988–2014): This popular boat ride in the Norway pavilion of EPCOT continues to evoke bittersweet nostalgia in those who have fond memories of its trolls, vikings, and nearly backwards plunge. In 2014, it was shut down to make room for Frozen Ever After.

Body Wars (1989–2007): Over the course of its existence, this simulator tour of the human body earn mixes reviews, but those who enjoys it really enjoy it. Unfortunately, the ride and the building that houses the performance have been abandon for almost 20 years.

Sum of All Thrills (2009–2016): This roller coaster simulator ride, which is locate in Innoventions, made use of the same KUKA Arm technology as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: Splash Mountain closing

The Great Movie Ride (1989–2017): This enormous attraction, which serve as the old focal point of Hollywood Studios, immerse visitors in their favorite movies using screens, scale sets, real actors, and hundreds of animatronics. Even though we adore Mickey and Minnie’s Runway Railway, it’s unfortunate that the Great Movie Ride had to be destroys in order for it to exist.

Studio Backlot Tour (1989-2014): When the former Disney/MGM Studios was construct, this attraction was intend to be more of a film studio than a theme park, with the classic Backlot Tour serving as its main draw. However, as soon as the studio work stops, the Tour was continuously scale back to the point where the version that ends in 2014 was essentially unrecognizable from its initial form.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Primeval Whirl (2002–2020): Another contentious attraction on our list is Primeval Whirl. While many who love it fervently defend it as one of Walt Disney World’s most entertaining attractions, those who didn’t like it merely perceived it as a “off-the-shelf” carnival ride.

Disney Springs: Splash Mountain closing

Adventurers Club (1989–2008: No club from the sadly defunct Pleasure Island has the same lasting power in the hearts of fans as the Adventurers Club. A comeback of some sort hasn’t happen yet, but die-hard fans are still begging for it thanks to the combination of lore, live theater, and impeccable theming.

While Splash Mountain closes next month, the theme park corporation is replete with new openings throughout its portfolio of Happiest Places on Earth. Stay tune!