One of my favorite pastimes with theme parks is thinking of “what if” scenarios for various attractions and lands. Few will ever come to pass or even be considered by Disney, but weirder things have happened. None of us would have expected that Captain EO would return for an extended run long after it originally closed. Even so, we’re definitely in fan-fiction territory here. That example is a rare exception to a mostly definite rule — when attractions leave, they typically stay gone. There’s rarely an accidental fire around to remove an unfortunate replacement.

Regardless, it’s fun to think about the possibilities for extinct attractions. With this article, I’m avoiding the most obvious ways to bring back a past ride or show. It would be amazing to experience Horizons or the original Journey Into Imagination again in Epcot, but that’s too easy. This time, I’m relocating former treasures into a different park. The goal is to look for a new way to present the glorious attractions of Disney’s past. Let’s take a look at five ideas of ways to breathe new life into Walt Disney World.

1. The Skyway to Future World in Epcot

There was such a sense of movement and excitement over Tomorrowland (and The Magic Kingdom in general) in the ‘80s. A key factor in creating that atmosphere was the vehicles traveling overhead no matter where you walked. Between the Skyway and the People Mover, you had so much energy in the park, especially at night. I visited regularly as a kid, and our family always took the time to ride the Skyway. It offered so many cool views of The Magic Kingdom that you couldn’t see from the ground.

I recognize that maintenance costs and safety are a concern with the Skyway, so we might need a few updates to prep them for today. They could still work in The Magic Kingdom, but why not try something different? Epcot requires a lot of walking, so taking a leisurely ride from one side of Future World to the other would be amazing. Relocating the Skyway would also re-energize that area, which could use more life. This change would support the idea of an optimistic and exciting future on the move. It would also space out the crowds even more throughout the park.

Disney could build stations near the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction and directly across the way at The Land pavilion. There is space between The Seas and The Land that could house a Skyway station. It would need infrastructure changes to make this happen, and Disney could make these updates during the Future World redesign. The beautiful space hinted at in the D23 Expo concept art would only look better when the Skyway flying over it. These vehicles could also connect thematically with the gondolas arriving outside of World Showcase.

2. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Here’s a great way to alleviate the crowds at Disney World; let’s re-insert a low-capacity attraction with high operating costs! I’ve definitely veered way into fictional territory with this choice. Even so, the idea of getting an up-close view of marine life through an underwater vehicle is hard to dismiss. The big difference at the Animal Kingdom would be what we see through our windows beneath the surface. In keeping with the park’s theme, actual fish would swim near our submarines while we floated through a beautiful setting.

There would be a few exceptions to using real marine life, however. The climax will bring us into contact with a giant squid, and you can’t put anything real in that spot. The mix of fantasy and reality is where Disney truly shines, and it would be no different here. The subs would move leisurely through the water, so this wouldn’t be a thrill ride. The focus would shift more to appreciating sea life and connect to the overall conservation themes of the Animal Kingdom.

One issue that we’d have to address with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is its low capacity and challenging boarding process. This queue will take guests down so you’re boarding the sub horizontally. We need to accommodate more guests in these subs but can’t lose the intimate feeling of the original attraction. The other trick is finding a large spot in the park to house this attraction. I’d vote for taking out Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, but that won’t offer enough space. We may need the large expansion pad behind Asia. This won’t be a cheap undertaking, but it could yield major dividends if Disney makes a serious investment.

3. Dreamflight to The Land Pavilion in Epcot

I could easily substitute If You Had Wings into this choice and make a similar case. The point is to connect more of The Land pavilion to Soarin’ and offer guests even more to do. What I loved about EPCOT Center originally was the chance to enjoy multiple attractions within a single space. This set-up remains at The Land, and I want to push it even further. Why not incorporate a small dark ride into the upstairs space that formerly held The Circle of Life?

I haven’t measured the dimensions to determine if Dreamflight could really fit inside that theater. However, its original space in Tomorrowland was deceptively small. If you gutted the original space and effectively maneuvered the track, it might work. This wouldn’t draw a huge line, so I’m looking at a queue that’s even smaller than Living with the Land. The Omnimover system would allow for continuous loading, and not doing FastPass Plus would help our cause. Disney needs to remember that it’s okay to have attractions that guests can enjoy right away. That’s an important reason for why If You Had Wings was so popular.

This attraction would not be a straight repeat of the original ride. It could incorporate new technologies and even mix in a few scenes from If You Had Wings. Technology has come a long way since the ’70s and ’80s, so you could mimic the original while using modern approaches. The sense of whimsy from Dreamflight would be the key factor. The idea that it’s fun to be free is universal and never goes out of style. One concession to the space might be the speed rooms, but I’m not giving up that easily. I’d suggest that we use technology similar to Horizons’ finale and give each guest a chance to experience their own personal journey. We’ll even let the car vote as another nod to that attraction! The goal is to enhance what worked and make it even better.

4. The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This is the most obvious choice in the group, especially with Disney likely gaining the rights to the Alien franchise through the Fox acquisition. I’d be okay if they did not connect the attraction to an intellectual property, but I recognize that Disney focuses on IP with every move now. If connecting this past Tomorrowland attraction into the movies would help, I’d be okay with it. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will need more capacity, even after Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge open in the next few years. It could also use the edge from a scary attraction.

I experienced the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter during its early days and then after Disney cranked up the intensity. It was stunning to hear a monster killing people at The Magic Kingdom. It was an odd fit in that park but could work in the Studios. The 4D effects worked even better in the dark, and the binaural audio sold the experience well. Improved technology would only make for a more convincing attraction today.

You could argue that the easiest move is just putting the Alien Encounter back in The Magic Kingdom. Stitch’s Great Escape is dead in the water (good riddance), and it would be easy to reconfigure the set-up in the circular theater. I’d rather see that area reverted to a space attraction with nods to the original Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars (pictured above). I didn’t choose that in this list because it would be in the same park, but it could work. That choice would begin the process to better align Tomorrowland to a real theme instead of just Disney and Pixar characters.

5. Vintage Circle-vision and 3D Films to Tomorrowland at The Magic Kingdom

My final pick varies because it uses a space that already held Circle-Vision films in the past. It also connects to my goal of streamlining the overall Tomorrowland theme. Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor can be fun, but it doesn’t fit inside this area. The Circle-Vision screens are still in place in the building, so why not use them once again? Disney would need to add better technology and switch to digital, and they could expand the different ways to use the space.

I love the idea of creating a place that rotates its presentations throughout the day. You could incorporate vintage Circle-Vision films like America the Beautiful and Magic Carpet ‘Round the World along with the original Canada and China movies from Epcot. It would take more investments to set up varying screens, but why not mix those films with 3D presentations? Magic Journeys deserves a chance to shine once again, and it’s still a very odd experience.

This relocating idea could also work in the Imagination pavilion in Epcot, but that space doesn’t offer the Circle-Vision technology. The Magic Kingdom also could really use a place that can hold a lot of people and wouldn’t have lines. By mixing up the films, Disney could provide something different for annual passholders and locals that visit regularly. This move would also honor the parks’ history, which deserve more attention from management. You could even bring in The Timekeeper as a tribute to Robin Williams, though the animatronic might be tough to locate. It’s another way to customize the experience with technology that can still be awe-inspiring.

Novel Ideas

Disney has ambitious plans to bring massive E-ticket attractions to its parks, and that’s not a bad thing. I would like to see them vary up the format, however. They can use Star Wars and Marvel to draw the crowds, but why not fill in the gaps with complementary attractions? More connections to the past are still important, and Disney can still make them stand out from the originals. The mix of classic and new experiences is what makes Disney World great. These relocating ideas are mostly just a fun exercise and extremely unlikely, but the general concept of expanding on past ideas in new ways deserves attention. Come on Disney! Let’s take some chances!

Related Articles: Relocating Attractions

Tomorrow Society Podcast Episode 24: Top 5 Extinct Attractions at Disney World

Ten Extinct Disney World Attractions I’m Thankful For

I Miss Nerdy Walt Disney World

EPCOT Center’s Horizons: Why It Worked

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