13 Unforgivable Disney World Changes
We’ve seen a lot of things come and go from Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
And with 2024 almost here, there are a TON of things coming to Disney World — new rides, restaurants, and more! And we’re beyond stoked for all that’s new, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are a couple of things that we’re dreading when we think about Disney World in 2024!
With all the new and exciting things that have come to Disney World in the past few years, what could we possibly find to have been unforgivable? Let’s go over it.
Taking away Magical Express
The Magical Express was a shuttle service that provided transportation between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort were able to reserve seats on the free transportation to get them from the Orlando International Airport directly to their Disney World Resort. Guests were even provided with special luggage tags, which meant that they didn’t need to collect their luggage at the airport either; these tags enabled Disney to collect guests’ luggage and deliver it to their resort later in the day.
Inside Magical Express Bus
Due to the health crisis brought on by the Coronavirus, Disney World closed its operations on March 16, 2020, and began a phased reopening on July 11, 2020. During this phased reopening, Disney scaled back many services, experiences, and amenities for the health and safety of the guests and the Cast Members, as well as in response to the labor shortage and supply chain interference. On January 11, 2021, Disney Parks Blog officially announced the plans to discontinue the Magical Express airport transportation service.
But the end of Magical Express is not the end of airport transportation, of course. Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer both emerged with paid services that provide a similar charter bus experience from the airport to your Disney resort — but now with the added benefit of not exclusively serving Disney World resorts. These shuttles have now merged into one — Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine, which also provides service for other select hotel guests.
Sunshine Flyer
For a more expedited trip from the airport to your Disney World Resort hotel, guests can also consider a car service, a rideshare, or even a taxi. These will provide more direct experiences without multiple stops along the route but may be more expensive or even not an option if you’re traveling with small children who require car seats or large groups that exceed the passenger limit.
Maelstrom
Maelstrom used to be in the Norway pavilion in EPCOT at Disney World. You boarded a small boat (that looked like it should belong to Vikings) and then took a nice journey on the water to learn about Norway’s history. There were trolls, and it was awesome.
R.I.P. Maelstrom
This was also a neat ride because you would go backwards in your boat at one point, and then down a little drop. You also got to peek out over a waterfall into the Norway pavilion!
©Disney
As many of you probably know, Maelstrom was closed in 2014 and replaced by Frozen Ever After in 2016. It has the exact same ride track and some very similar boats, but now Elsa sends you backwards with her ice powers instead of a troll. You also no longer get to look outside over the waterfall.
Frozen Ever After
Many guests were not happy with this change, because the history lessons of Norway were replaced by Disney movie content. But, we know a lot of people also love Frozen Ever After, or at least want to ride it, because it consistently has one of the longest wait times in EPCOT. We do miss you though, Maelstrom.
Taking away Fastpass/Fastpass+
And speaking of free perks that Disney did away with — let’s talk about Disney Genie+. The former FastPass+ system wasn’t always popular (some people preferred the older paper FastPasses that you would pick up at kiosks around the park), but since Disney Genie+ was introduced, many fans have begged Disney to bring the old system back.
Genie+
FastPasses were free for all guests and available to be booked through the My Disney Experience app in advance of your vacation. But now, guests are required to pay (per person) for Genie+ and must get up at 7AM if they want the best choice of attraction availability. Many were upset about both the price and the early rising while on vacation.
Disney Genie
Dreamfinder
All right, now to a very anger-inducing decision for some guests — getting rid of the Dreamfinder in the Imagination Pavilion’s attraction. Journey Into Imagination with Figment has had many iterations over the years, but only the first featured the red-haired, singing Dreamfinder, creator of Figment. Prior to its current version, it was called Journey Into Your Imagination and before that, it was called Journey Into Imagination.
©Disney | Let’s be honest, the original was the best!
Fans of the OG attraction seriously miss the Dreamfinder. Seriously. This wacky fella stole the hearts of many during his tenure in the Imagination Pavilion and there are certainly Disney guests who still consider it a crime that he’s missing.
Journey Into Imagination
Still, it’s been many, many years since the Dreamfinder was a part of the imagination attraction. There’s a whole generation of Disney fans who’ve only heard tales of his existence and relate to the current ride’s Dr. Nigel Channing instead. This issue seems to be split with fans with those old enough to remember the original and those who weren’t.
Early Entry replacing Early Morning Magic. 30 minutes is not enough time to do much.
Remember this one? Disney Early Morning Magic was an opportunity for guests to get a head start on their day at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Early Morning at Cinderella Castle
During the 75 minutes of the event, guests attending got unlimited rides on 7 of the most popular attractions at Magic Kingdom:
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Princess Fairytale Hall
- “it’s a small world”
- Mad Tea Party
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Peter Pan’s Flight
In addition to the rides, guests were also treated to a breakfast buffet at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.
Early Morning Magic at Toy Story Land
At Hollywood Studios, guests got to enjoy all that Toy Story Land had to offer. In addition to the rides, guests were also treated to breakfast at a select quick-service dining location outside of Toy Story Land.
Early Morning Magic wasn’t a free offering like Early Entry, but the extra time and added breakfast were sure worth it!
Removal of Package Pickup.
Shipping & Package Pickup Sign
Do you remember Shipping and Package Pickup? When guests made a purchase at the stores throughout Disney World, they were able to request that their in-park purchases be held at the front of the park, delivered to the Disney World hotel, or back home.
Package Pick-Up Sign
Guests needed to allow at least three hours from the time they made their purchase to retrieve their package at the front of the park. It’s been gone for years now, and it’s sorely missed. We’ll have to keep you updated on whether the parks reinstate the feature.
The big sorcerer hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Sorcerer’s Hat is the former icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Mickey Mouse’s glove hand and ears underneath the hat were visible emerging from the ground. It was built in front of the Great Movie Ride and debuted on March 28, 2001, as part of the 100 Years of Magic celebration at the Walt Disney World Resort. The structure was inspired by the Sorcerer’s Apprentice segment in Walt Disney’s 1940 animated film Fantasia.
Sorcerer’s Hat at Hollywood Studios
The hat had been used as a venue for pin trading and sales, as well as the backdrop to many special events and shows. On May 20, 2011, the Sorcerer’s Hat served as the venue for the grand opening ceremony for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
Sorcerer’s Hat deconstruction
For years, the hat was criticized by fans as an eyesore blocking the Chinese Theater and clashing with its old Hollywood surroundings. On October 24, 2014, park management announced that the hat would be removed as part of a makeover for DHS. Deconstruction of the hat began in January 7, 2015 with it disappearing completely from sight on February 25th.
Osborne Lights!
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was a Christmas display in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The installation was a Christmas light spectacular where hundreds of thousands of lights danced to holiday music and created a very lovely section of the park each night. Buildings were practically covered in Christmas lights! The lights were wildly popular with guests each evening and, in total, they ran for 21 years before being canceled.
Unfortunately, the lights were installed on the Streets of America, a land that was removed to make room for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
On one side of the issue, there are the folks who would give anything to have the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights back. After all, they were a beautiful Christmas installation and, for many, an integral part of their holiday traditions at Disney World.
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
On the other side, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is pretty cool. There are certainly Disney fans who would say that the truly immersive land is way cooler than a bunch of Christmas lights. Both sides can certainly be true, but there’s no denying that this is one of the more controversial changes in recent years.
Extended Evening Hours for ALL Disney resorts
Extended Evening Hours are offered on select days of the week — but for those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Villas. Depending on the night, resort guests can spend a few extra hours experiencing the parks and riding attractions with little to no wait.
EPCOT
This is a great perk for those staying at one of the Deluxe Resorts and villas, but we would love to see this change and be a perk for all hotel levels.
Getting rid of Great Movie Ride
The Great Movie Ride was one of the most recent ride closures in Disney World.
The Great Movie Ride
This ride at Hollywood Studios in the Chinese Theater took guests on a tour through classic Hollywood movies like the Wizard of Oz, Alien, Casablanca, and Indiana Jones. It also had LIVE performers, so it was like a ride and a show!
Wizard of Oz scene
The Great Movie Ride shut down for good in 2017 to make way for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Many guests were sad about the change, especially because it was an opening day attraction at Hollywood Studios.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
There are still a few things from the ride incorporated into Runaway Railway, though! The tornado scene from The Great Movie Ride has been transformed into a chaotic sequence that takes place during Runaway Railway.
Minnie’s house in Magic Kingdom
Here’s a blast from the past. How many of you remember Minnie’s house? Minnie Mouse lived in Mickey’s Toontown Fair tucked away between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.
Musical Pots and Pans
Minnie’s Country House was a walk-through attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. The attraction was permanently removed as part of an expansion project. The former location is now a pathway between Storybook Circus and Enchanted Forest in Fantasyland.
Minnie’s Country House was a pink and lavender home with heart-engraved shutters. It offered a self-guided tour through the rooms and backyard. Minnie’s House is still located at Disneyland in the ToonTown section of the park, next door to Mickey’s house.
No more Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom opened in 2012 and brought guests on a magic card game that allowed guests to interact with all kinds of special elements in the park.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards
9 years later, January 24th, 2021 marked the end of the Magic Kingdom game. Initially when we asked about the closure, Cast Members were under the impression that this would be a temporary closure. However, we found it to be a permanent closure. Therefore, it looks like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is gone for good.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Magic Portal
We were sad (and we know many of our readers were, as well) to see this interactive game go and we are curious to see if a new game or experience will replace it. We will be keeping an eye out for any updates on whether a new experience will be coming to Magic Kingdom in the future!
Magic Kingdom
In the meantime, don’t forget to check back to DFB for more Disney updates.
10 Big Changes Will Affect Disney World Ticket Holders in 2024
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What changes at Disney World do you find unforgivable? Let us know in the comments!
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