10 Attractions That Aged Poorly at Disney World
Many masterpieces of Imagineering age like fine wines, getting better and becoming even more iconic over time. However, there are rides at Walt Disney World that have become increasingly outdated or even obsolete. This list covers the attractions–big and small–that are in need of overhauls or outright replacements.
There are a range of reasons that some attractions at Walt Disney World age better than others. A trio of Magic Kingdom classics–Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jungle Cruise–all exemplify rides improving with each passing year, becoming beloved by a whole new generation of fans.
It would be easy to attribute that to one commonality, that all have received movie adaptations to keep interest high. While that’s certainly true of the Johnny Depp and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson helmed franchises, it’s not fair to say the same applies to Haunted Mansion (the first one…but also probably the second one). It didn’t enter the cultural zeitgeist thanks to a movie adaptation no one saw that scored 14% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Aging poorly is not necessarily indicative of an attraction’s quality. To the contrary, many rides on this list once were great, and still are in spite of that datedness. The commonality isn’t that they’re bad, but rather, that time has passed them by. This usually means technology has made them obsolete. There are plenty of examples of older attractions receiving redos that inject then-current technology, and incongruity appears between the original and updated components over time.
In other cases, attractions take a very contemporary approach to technology that simply does not hold up years later. We might call this “The Mummy Returns Effect.” That 2001 film leaned very much into bleeding edge (at the time) CGI, and the result is Dwayne Johnson’s Scorpion King now looking like it was rendered by a Sega Dreamcast. Meanwhile, older films like Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and other old films still hold up because they didn’t get carried away.
The good news is that Walt Disney World and Imagineering are listening to fans. When we originally published this list, it included DINOSAUR, Soarin’ Over the World, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. All of those have now been retired, replaced, or recharged. And in looking over the list, there are several other entries that very obviously aren’t long for this world, based on both the last slate of D23 Expo announcements, and what’s rumored for 2026.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, we’ll dig into the list of 10 attractions at Walt Disney World that have aged poorly and are urgently overdue for an overhaul or at least some updates…
Mission: Space — Mission: Space is actually a lot like Dinosaur in the sense that we want to love both. They’re based on undeniably cool concepts that are universally beloved by children…and the adult writing this. The idea of an outer space pavilion at EPCOT that offers excitement and education sounds like the perfect marriage of the park’s original mission.
Unfortunately, the execution leaves so much to be desired. The story isn’t compelling, the interactivity is phoned in and fails to engage, and the visuals are outdated and underwhelming. Misson: Space is basically what you get if you took a Sega arcade game from the early 2000s, put it in demo mode, and placed it on the back of a flatbed truck driven on I-4 by a typical Central Florida tourist. And somehow this was Walt Disney World’s most expensive attraction ever when it opened?!
Mission: Space is a generally unpleasant attraction that’s lacking in payoff. The thrill ride is discomforting instead of exhilarating, a difference that’s into stark relief by Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a ride that does just about everything better than Mission: Space. Every time we ride the two attractions back-to-back, Mission: Space feels more antiquated, due not just for a band-aid update, but outright replacement. Not to be one of those crazy, unrealistic EPCOT Center fans, but…bring back (a modernized) Horizons!
Spaceship Earth — This slow-moving dark ride through Audio Animatronics-heavy scenes showcasing the advancement of communication feels like it’s stuck in the past. Spaceship Earth was scheduled for a reimagining roughly 5 years ago, which was desperately needed. The track is in rough shape and the descent gives off abandoned mall vibes, with random black light triangles (rad!) and a sea of curtains cordoning off unused areas.
For an attraction highlighting how human communications have evolved, the way in which the ride communicates to guests–especially in the finale–likewise feels antiquated. One might argue that aspects of the attraction, ironically enough, fail to connect with guests with storytelling that’s clunky and a conclusion that fails to inspire. Humanity’s shared story is a compelling one and the ride’s location inside EPCOT’s iconic geodesic sphere is really cool, but Spaceship Earth squanders so much of its potential.
Purists might cringe at these criticisms, themselves (understandably) not wanting to rock the boat and lose the last of EPCOT’s Audio Animatronics-heavy attractions. However, the current state of the second-half of the attraction is embarrassing, the script is tired, and the cheesy screen-based ending is atrocious.
Spaceship Earth deserves better, and diehard fans shouldn’t have to fear a refurbishment because the end result might, somehow, be even worse. Imagineers did a fantastic job with Test Track 3.0 and other recent refreshes, which should reassure fans whenever they finally get around to Spaceship Earth.
CommuniCore Hall – This festival space that opened only two years ago has already aged poorly. There is, realistically, no chance of it being replaced in the next decade. That’s part of the idea in adding it here; it’s one of the few future-proofed entries on the list.
What’s amazing to me is that CommuniCore Hall is objectively worse than any festival space used at EPCOT in the last decade. That’s right, the new purpose-built festival venue that took 5 years and untold hundreds of millions of dollars to bring to life, is inferior to past makeshift spaces even from a festival perspective. CommuniCore Hall is almost impressively bad; the worst of all worlds.
All of the things it promised have been squandered. There’s the “state-of-the-art show kitchen” that Disney teased “may even attract a few special culinary guests.” There’s the “dynamic space to anchor” EPCOT Festivals and event space “limited only by the boundaries of imagination.” Those are all actual things that Disney stated about CommuniCore Hall.
Fast-forward two years, and CommuniCore Hall is barely used for festivals. It didn’t house anything except seating for last year’s flagship EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, and with the GoofyCore Hall takeover scheduled to overlap with the start of the 2026 festival, it probably won’t once again. That actually makes sense, as GoofyCore is the best utilization of CommuniCore, which should be an indictment of it as a festival space. Even though CommuniCore Hall isn’t technically an attraction and is new, it’s still deserving of a spot on this list.
If you want to disqualify CommuniCore Hall for whatever reason, there are a half-dozen films at EPCOT that are probably worthy of inclusion on this list. We cover those separately in We Only Skip One Ride at EPCOT, But We Avoid Several Shows. Pick one to replace CommuniCore Hall on this list if you so desire.
Tomorrowland Speedway – Plenty of Walt Disney World fans will argue that Tomorrowland Speedway should be demolished and replaced, as it takes up too much prime real estate in Magic Kingdom. That perspective contends that the concept is outdated, and that the ride is noisy, stinky, and simplistic.
They’re right and wrong. Like Dumbo and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tomorrowland Speedway is a rite of passage attraction that is deserving of its place in Magic Kingdom. For kids, sitting in the driver’s seat and steering through a car course is really cool. However, children do not author blogs like this one (despite what the writing quality, or lack thereof, might suggest) so that perspective isn’t often voiced.
Nevertheless, if Tomorrowland Speedway is deemed ‘culturally significant’ (or whatever) and worthy of so much space in Magic Kingdom, it needs to be differentiate itself from dime-a-dozen go-cart rides. Replacing the fleet with modern vehicles having striking design styles and show scenes with personality would be a start. Make the cars fun for all ages, and the scenery worthy of a Sunday drive.
We’re curious as to how much overlap there will be with the upcoming Cars E-Ticket Replacing Rivers of America. That might make Tomorrowland Speedway redundant and ripe for replacement or redevelopment…along with over half of Tomorrowland. Hmmm.
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – We probably could save a decent amount of time and keystrokes with one entry for all of Tomorrowland. I personally really like Laugh Floor. The interactivity is fun, and Walt Disney World could use more attractions of this nature. However, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is a tech-heavy attraction that’s now showing its age.
With Monstropolis coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland becomes redundant. The secondary attraction in that land is a new show in Monstro Theater, which is taking over the space that formerly housed MuppetVision 3D.
That makes Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor redundant. Walt Disney World doesn’t need two separate Monsters, Inc. shows in two separate parks. Monstropolis is another move that frees up space on the board in an overhaul of Tomorrowland. This one could happen much sooner than Tomorrowland Speedway, and it wouldn’t surprise us if it’s a 2026 D23 Expo announcement.
Another theater show is probably what replaces Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor given space constraints. The bigger questions concern characters featured. Potential options include Wall-E, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero Six, Lilo & Stitch, or the Incredibles. Really, though, it could be anything. It’s not like Monsters, Inc. is particularly futuristic!
Journey into Imagination with Figment — If you’re visiting EPCOT for the first time today, it’s impossible to understand how what appears to be a Spyro knock-off (he’s not) and his underwhelming attraction have such a fan following. You might just chalk it up to Disney Adult idiosyncrasies, much like I assume people are obsessed with Dunkin’ Donuts because they’ve never had any other doughnuts or coffee. In both cases, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Figment is popular not for the existing attraction in its current sorry state, but for the original Journey into Imagination. If anything, the fact that the ride and its star character still have a powerful hold on adults of a certain age decades after they disappeared speaks volumes about the indelible impression they left on the youth of the 1980s and 1990s.
The original Journey into Imagination was mesmerizing. Above all else, it was imaginative, as cliche as that might sound. As a young child, I was spellbound by the original, its characters, and the evocative scenes they inhabited. I remember it in vivid detail not because my family rode it over and over (although we did!), but because it was a timeless attraction that captivated guests, sparked their imaginations, and forged lifelong Walt Disney World fans.
The replacement, Journey into Imagination with Figment, seems like it strives to annoy rather than inspire. Ironically enough, it showcases the power of imagination…with the least imaginative and obnoxious attraction possible. What was once an okay band-aid between the Figment-less Journey into Your Imagination and a new attraction has now outlived the original, and is looking really worse for wear.
Everything about it is outdated, the the first three-quarters of the ride-through feels like something is missing. What’s missing is imagination. It’s time to reimagine Journey into Imagination.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — I’m going to say what everyone is thinking: Winnie the Pooh is a baller. No, you weren’t thinking that? Well, only because the Walt Disney Company has absolutely squandered the potential of Winnie the Pooh, sidelining he and his posse’s potential for pranks and tomfoolery.
In a just world, it would be Winnie the Pooh and not Paddington who is beloved by generations. Think about it, what does Paddington possess that Winnie the Pooh does not? Preserved jam sandwiches? Give me a break. Winnie the Pooh is a straight-up honey fiend, risking life and limb for a taste of the sweet stuff. Pooh is just as laid back, chill, generous, and deferential as Paddington. On top of that, Pooh rolls deep, with a crew more pure of heart than AFC Richmond.
But I digress. The point is not to disparage Paddington, himself an international treasure, but to question why Winnie the Pooh does not receive more love among Americans? This ride, that is why. It is rudimentary and dated (despite not being that old), failing to showcase the heart and charm of these beloved characters.
An attraction based on Winnie the Pooh should be timeless, filled with childlike wonder, and more popular than Peter Pan’s Flight. We know a Pooh-centric attraction can reach these heights because there is an older one that is exactly all of these things…but it’s at Tokyo Disneyland.
Peter Pan’s Flight – Speaking of which, this is bound to be a controversial pick. That’s especially true given the enduring popularity of Peter Pan’s Flight and the fact that it commands some of the longest wait times in all of Walt Disney World. Rather, Peter Pan’s Flight makes the list despite its popularity.
As good as the attraction premise is and as special as it is to fly over the streets of London and Neverland, it still has unrealized potential. Plussing the ride to integrate projection mapping or other lighting effects–as has been done in Anaheim, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo–could be a gamechanger. Overhauling the ride system so the flight is less jerky and more smooth would help with suspension of disbelief.
Imagineering got it right with Peter Pan’s Flight decades ago, and it is a truly timeless attraction that will be enjoyed by generations of guests to come. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t little ways to enhance the attraction to keep the icon fresh. Imagineering has done exactly that with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean over the last several years. They’ve also done this with other versions of Peter Pan’s Flight around the world.
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage — This stage show retelling Beauty and the Beast in condensed form is literally as old as the animated movie itself. It’s enjoyable, doing an adequate job with choreography, performances, and dramatic styling. Not every theatrical production needs to be edgy or envelope-pushing to grab guests’ attention. Sometimes simple-but-good is more than enough.
Those are fair points, but this just feels old. I can’t quite articulate why or how, but pretty much everything about it just gives off 1990s vibes. In isolation, it’s difficult to point to any specific element that gives the show away as being dated.
It’s the totality of it all, and how it contrasts with newer adaptations of animated movies that gives it away. So many more modern productions have come and gone at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line that could be plugged into DHS and would be a breath of fresh air, comparatively speaking.
Space Mountain — I’ve long defended Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain, which remains my favorite even compared to the newer versions at Disneyland and beyond. Although it lacks audio…and a smooth ride…it makes up for that with more personality in the queue, post-show, and the ride itself. However, I’m very cognizant of the fact that this is the nostalgic in me speaking.
The datedness of this dark roller coaster has been thrown into even starker relief now that TRON Lightcycle Run is open directly next door to it. This actually isn’t as pronounced as I expected given that they’re very different, but TRON certainly feels more modern and larger scale, from its swooping canopy to its queue and loading area, ride vehicles, and obviously the coaster itself.
I don’t know what the solution is, and I’d hate to lose Space Mountain and all of its history and iconic qualities, but having two in-the-dark roller coasters right next to one another was always going to result in side-by-side guest comparisons, and the circa-1975 Space Mountain is woefully outdated as compared to the circa-2016 TRON Lightcycle Run. Tokyo Disneyland is rebuilding its Space Mountain, with the new version set to open in 2027; perhaps that’s the solution, but we doubt there’s space for that Space in Magic Kingdom.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do any attractions at Walt Disney World strike you as particularly outdated or obsolete? Think there are any newer rides that have aged poorly by virtue of leaning too heavily into evolving technologies? Anything you think our list “snubbed” that belongs among WDW’s outdated rides? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
During his first and only visit to WDW, and aside from Tron, my 7 year old favorite rides were not necessarily the most popular ones :
– Tiki Room
– Carousel of Progress
– Under the Sea
– Living with the Land
– Mission Space
– Expedition Everest
He actually didn’t enjoy Speedway as our Autopia in Paris is much better executed with a « ride in countryside » feel rather than the actual speedway.
He liked most of the rides of course but his favorites were not the ones expected. On top of that his favorite activity « overall » was to stamp his passport in Epcot !
Your 7 year old has some great taste, for the most part!
Agree about DLP’s Autopia being vastly superior. I still prefer Disneyland’s, but DLP isn’t far behind.
I’m glad you don’t have the Tiki Room on here. I was so glad when that was restored after the tragic Under New Management version, so I’d hate for it to be changed up yet again. Yet to some it would be dated & they just wouldn’t get the appeal now that audio-animatronics are commonplace. I can imagine taking some teen only interested in thrill rides to that show & seeing her roll her eyes & say, “This is bo-ring!” Then I would have to punish her. Thankfully I don’t have kids so I don’t have anyone to take out such frustrations on. Along those lines, Tom, if you care to answer, have there been incidents where Kid Megatron (since she’s no longer a baby) dislikes some Disney attraction you love & you wonder, “Where did I go wrong?”
Under New Management would’ve been on the list were it to still exist. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, though? Not a chance.
One great example of the original aging far more gracefully than the very 1990s version that replaced it.
Megatron pretty much loves everything, or doesn’t like it because she is scared of it. Even in the latter cases, she wants to like whatever the thing is, and comments as to its positive attributes. There have been plenty of instances of her really liking things that I hate, though.
The Enchanted Tiki Room is pure “Original Disney” and my family love and appreciate it. I still enjoy watching the sky turn red and stormy. At night, the fountain and building are beautifully lit. Amazing atmosphere that comes alive at night. The casual guest needs to slow down and soak it in.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but I’d put It’s a Small World in the same bucket as speedway. Might be too much of a classic to replace, but it should be updated.
I would have agreed with you a year ago, but when I took my two-year-old grandbaby to the parks for the first time, she loved it (as did all of the other children in our boat). We ended up riding it three times in a row, along with Prince Charming’s Carousel (x4) and Dumbo (x3). It’s the perfect attraction for families with young children.
I didn’t have any problems at all with the current Spaceship Earth….until I decided to go and listen to previous versions of the attractions. And yeah, hearing the 1990s Jeremy Irons script that still mesmerizes and inspires today puts into stark relief how much the current version is missing. I was firmly against a refurbishment before, but now–I think it’s definitely time. Keep a woman narrator, imo, but restore show scenes to the descent of the ride and return the script to some of its former glory.
I’m surprised that you don’t mention the “Carousel of Progress”, at least the last scene. It has grown very old. As it is supposed to be the equivalent of “today”, it has mostly 80s/90s technology.
I don’t know if it’s even possible, but I would try to add another “stage/theater”, to include the 60’s/70’s. It would mean that each theater needs to be narrowed, but there is currently some “dead space” in each scene, which could provide room for another theater. Having a 60’s/70’s scene would also mean that there is not a jump directly from the 40’s to “today” (currently the 80’s/90’s).
I think trying to keep on top of history with Carousel is doomed to failure unless they want to keep updating it every five years. If they do decide the expense of a Carousel refurbishment is worth it, I think the best course of action is to go back and embrace the retro, either return to the original script/score or a new one based on that with edits (which is basically what we have now excepting the final scene).
The only way you could make a final scene that *doesn’t* age poorly is to not tie any of it to tech or inventions but more grander ideas of progress and innovation–which doesn’t sound like a bad idea now that I think of it.
Space Mountain is “dated” in the same way that Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland, Dodger Stadium, and the Rose Bowl are “dated” — that is, in the sense that their longstanding appeal makes them iconic and historical, and hence even more appealing than they already were. And Space Mountain has a timeless and alluring theme, unlike Tron. That (along with the fact that it lasts more than a minute) is why it blows Tron out of the water.
100% agree on Mission Space. “Come get nauseous as you watch a 20 year old video and click buttons that don’t do anything.”
But my controversial pick: Jungle Cruise. A slow moving boat, corny jokes, and basically static aged animal scenes. That’s not timeless. It’s a boring version of Universal’s Jurassic Park ride.
Oh man, I wish I had a line that good in my Mission Space session.
I do not personally agree about Jungle Cruise, but I get what you’re saying. Almost every ride, I look around and see a family that clearly does not “get” it. IMO the attraction is too skipper-dependent, and should have more scenery that’s enjoyable even if you get a bad skipper or don’t care for corny jokes.
Mission Space:Orange is the only ride I’d absolutely refuse to do again. I did it once against my better judgement. But at least it kind of makes sense.
Mission Space: Green I’ve done much more often and the thing I can’t stop thinking about when riding, since they changed it to Earth, is how that’s not how space vehicles or orbits work. its really the stupidest orbit. Orbits don’t have turns!
Agreed re the Autopia. Since I worked at Disneyland back in the mid 60s during the Walt era, I could technically play a nostalgia card. But I’ve thought it was outmoded many years ago. How about bringing back a great past IP and create something new with Mr. Toad. I’m guessing it could be done and still save a lot of the now used Autopia space for other things. A wild ride dashing about outdoors/indoors through the mansion, through hedges, etc. I leave better ideas up to the creative ones of you out there. (And retiring the devils that are used in the current Disneyland dark ride that have never had any particular relevance would be good). Could maybe be something that has moderate thrill potentials, something akin to the current Mine Train ride perhaps. Just a thought…
Disagree with Mission Space-to a point. Yes the video needs an upgrade but my 4 kids and I love the centrifuge Effects combined with the story. It’s a great idea overall. Just needs an update
Tom our daughters must be around your and Sarah’s ages. Our youngest was barely three the first time she saw figment and after leaving the attraction she was singing the song that the dream finder sings about creating figment in her stroller all three verses word for word.Her dad said you must have that song on a cassette and I said no that’s the first time she ever heard that song. Tunsout she has a photographic memory when it’s something that catches her attention. Today she is a successful physician who still loves figment and the dream finder and wishes they would just bring back the old ride with updated effects
agree with all these rides. boy there is a lot of outdated rides.
I would add the people mover and pirates.
TRON is open. If you’re going to dust off an old article, then please fully remove all the obvious dust.
Thought I got everything impacted by the D23 Expo news and recent reimaginings, but guessed I glossed over that one too quickly. Thanks for the heads up.
The last time I did Rise of the Resistance, I immediately noticed three broken/turned off effects…and Kylo Ren wasn’t even in B mode. It isn’t “outdated” or “obsolete” by any stretch, but it had definitely aged poorly.
Progress at Magic Kingdom
go back to old film at Soarin -perm – the new one is just not as good – agree CGI animals are awful
Regarding the Beauty and the Beast show, I’m surprised that one has hung on while some of the other attractions from the films from that period are all gone. I remember stage shows (I think where Galaxy’s Edge is now?) for Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Even Voyage of the Little Mermaid is finally (thankfully – talk about dated attractions) gone. Then again, back in the day, I remember so many performance-based experiences at MGM/HS. B&tB and Indiana Jones and the occasional one-off show here and there (and arguable Muppet Vision 3D) are about all that’s left like that, really.
This is spot on. I don’t have much to add except that Mission Space needs to be redone also. Over the years, I swear that they have increased the speed of both Pooh and Peter Pan. Another thing that should be done is with the People Mover. During the portions when you are in the dark, they could add some cool scenes or lighting effects.
figment needs to be redone in the fashion of runaway railway, trackless ride that follows an animated figment through the story, maybe even a new topic about imagination running wild.
speedway just needs to become electric go karts.
I’d love to see a Peter pan animated ride that is similar to fight of passage, where you’re flying with Peter and Tinkerbell on an adventure, and cut the old story out of it entirely.
I agree with your list, and I always wanted Soarin’ to be re-imagined like Star Tours — different scenes from around the US or world, and we won’t know which ones we will be getting, making it a different experience each time. The same ol’ scenes are boooring.
100%!
They should keep the Tomorrowland Speedway IMO. My Friend’s son rode it 3 times when we were there so despite the adult in me not liking the fumes, the kids enjoy it. However, they should update to electric cars. Perhaps they should ask Tesla if they’re willing to sponsor it,
Spaceship Earth does need updated badly. Hopefully Disney Gets around to that. I don’t think they need to demolish it, as the sphere itself is somewhat iconic.
Journey into Imagination also needs updated as well with Figment.
Back in the 80’s when I went, there were a ton of hands on activities post ride for kids to interact with. The pipes, noisemakers, the needle pins that make you handprint, etc etc. All that stuff went away for lame Science center big exhibits. Perhaps the cleaning issue of those hands on exhibits made it tedious for cast members. IDK.