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What closed attractions did you have the chance to experience?

Following up on Robert Niles' question of what attractions have you NEVER experienced. How about what attractions that no longer exist did you get a chance to experience?

From TH Creative
Posted May 25, 2011 at 5:41 AM
My List

Mr. Toads Wild Ride (WDW MK)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (WDW MK)
Magic Kingdom Skyway (WDW MK)
If You Had Wings (WDW MK)
Alien Encounter (WDW MK)

Kitchen Kabaret (EPCOT)
Original Living Seas Show (EPCOT)
Horizons (EPCOT)
World of Motion (EPCOT)
Cranium Command (EPCOT)
Original Journey into Imagination (EPCOT)

Earthquake (USF)
Wild West Stunt Show (USF)
Alfred hitchock The Birds 3D (USF)

Innerspace (DL)


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted May 25, 2011 at 6:15 AM
I'm not much of a Disney guy, but I will say that 20000 Leagues was my favorite ride at MK, and I'm glad to have gotten on it several times.

Probably my favorite now-dead-and-gone roller coaster was Drachen Fire at Busch Williamsburg, followed by Hypersonic at Kings Dominion, and Hercules at Dorney.

Since there's a good chance Son Of Beast will never re-open, I'd venture that as my favorite still-standing coaster that I'll probably never ride again.

I realize all of these, with the exception of 20000 Leagues and possibly Drachen Fire, now have bad reputations among the "enthusiast" community. But that doesn't change the rides I had and how I felt about them. I liked them all.

I'm also extremely grateful for my visit to Hard Rock Park in '08. The park's troubles and sad stories have been well documented, here and elsewhere. But I feel very fortunate to have gotten many rides on Led Zeppelin, Life In The Fast Lane, and Nights In White Satin in one glorious day..one of the five single best days I've ever had at a park.

Great topic!

From Kelly Muggleton
Posted May 25, 2011 at 6:45 AM
Kongfrontation in USF is one.
Back. To. The. Future. I still miss it terribly.

One of my favourite 'extinct' rides was Alien Encounter. It was so good to have something different and 'scary' in the Magic Kingdom.

When we first started going to Florida not many Brits went and I was lucky enough to go on 20,000 Leagues and Mister Toad. I think I remember going on Horizons too as I am sure I voted for the ocean ending.

From Kelly Muggleton
Posted May 25, 2011 at 7:50 AM
Just thought of one - Monster Sound Show at Disney MGM (as-was). That was much better than Sounds Dangerous!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted May 25, 2011 at 8:01 AM
Yeah, I should have included BTTF on my list. Thanks, Kelly. Although I'm a huge Simpsons fan, I haven't been on the ride..don't know if/when I will. Heard it's quite well done. But BTTF was among the best of its genre I ever rode.

From Formula 40
Posted May 25, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Back To the Future - Universal Studios Florida
Corkscrew Hill - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Honey I Shrunk the Audience - Epcot
Nickolodeon Studios - Universal Studios Florida (I don't remember exactly where it was, but I was in a show called GUTS).

From Robert Niles
Posted May 25, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Disneyland:
Adventures Through Inner Space
People Mover
Rocket Rods
Skyway
Country Bear Jamboree

California Adventure:
Golden Dreams
Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Play It!

WDW Magic Kingdom:
Keelboats
Swan Boats
Skyway
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
If You Had Wings
CircleVision 360
Timekeeper
Alien Encounter
Mission to Mars
Main Street Cinema

Epcot:
Wonders of Life pavilion (Cranium Command/Body Wars)
Horizons
World of Motion
Journey Into Imagination
Kitchen Kabaret
All-American College Orchestra (Laurie made me submit this)

Hollywood Studios:
Superstar Television
Monster Sound Show
Original versions of backlot and animation tours

Universal Studios Florida:
Back to the Future
Ghostbusters
Murder, She Wrote
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Kongfrontation
Earthquake (original version)
Hard Rock Cafe (original version)
Original walk-through studio soundstage tour

That's all I remember off the top of my head from the U.S. top 10.

My list of dead theme parks I visited is:
Boardwalk & Baseball
Busch Gardens Los Angeles
Marineland Los Angeles
Opryland
...if anyone wants to start that thread, too. ;^)

From Anthony Murphy
Posted May 25, 2011 at 8:07 PM
Pretty much all I have experienced has mentioned. The two that I miss the most are Cranium Command (great concept) and Food Rocks (cause I like food puns)

From Terri Pierce
Posted May 25, 2011 at 9:53 PM
USF:
Back to the Future
Earthquake
The originally themed Dueling Dragons

WDW:
Skyway
Alien Encounter
Toads Wild Ride-Though I have NO memory
Backlot tour- The good version

Soon to be:
Snow White!
However I cannot WAIT til the coaster!

And Jimmy Neutron

From Kurt Larson
Posted May 25, 2011 at 11:18 PM
I don't know why, but I really loved Kongfrontation.

I genuinely can't explain it.

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted May 26, 2011 at 1:05 AM
Kongfrontation was amazing. Whenever there's a really strong smell of bananas (!) my mum always says 'ooh, it's just like the King Kong ride...' It was amazing because it was so unique and integrated. The queuing area was brilliant and really set the ride up... Now that I come to think about it, maybe that's the reason I'm scared to ride cable cars...

I also went on 20,000 Leagues when I was ten. We only went on it because Space Mtn was temp closed, and I didn't want to go on, but was really glad we did. All I remember thinking how cool it was to go under water and not get wet.

The sound effects show that was in MGM before Sounds Dangerous was so much better. I was picked as a volunteer to make some of the noises. Also the Alfred Hitchcock thing at Universal was brilliant. I was a volunteer for that too and had to pretend to be in Vertigo, falling off a building (actually just tipping back in a special chair and flailing my limbs around whilst the camera zoomed up and away from me!)

Now, it's all coming back. There was an Earthquake exhibit also at Universal where they staged a quake in a shopping mall. I was a volunteer (always putting my hand up) and had to pretend to be going up an escalator and fall about. That was really cool.

BTTF far surpassed the Simpsons. It's exactly the same ride just with a different, less exciting film to watch as you bump around.

Alien Encounter was also a classic.

From AJ Hummel
Posted May 26, 2011 at 2:32 AM
Almost all of these are in California, as all but one of the parks I have visited outside of California I visited last year and they haven't removed anything yet.

Disneyland:
Country Bear Jamboree
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
PeopleMover
Rocket Jets (tower version)
Skyway
Space Mountain (original)
Star Tours (original)
Submarine Voyage (original)
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tomorrowland Autopia (original)

Disney California Adventure Park:
Bountiful Valley Farm
Former shows in Disney Animation building
Golden Dreams
Maliboomer
Mulholland Madness (original)
Orange Stinger (original)
Seasons of the Vine
S.S. Rustworthy
Sun Wheel (original)
Superstar Limo
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!

Knott's Berry Farm:
Gran Slammer
Headspin/Wilderness Scrambler (both versions)
Kingdom of the Dinosaurs
Sky Jump
Tampico Tumbler
Wacky Soap Box Racers
Walter K. Steamboat
Windjammer Surf Racers (both tracks)

Legoland California:
Spellbreaker (both tracks)

Universal Studios Hollywood:
Backdraft
Back to the Future: The Ride
Fear Factor Live
King Kong Encounter (original)
Special Effects Stages (original)

SeaWorld San Deigo:
R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D
Shamu's Happy Harbor

Six Flags Magic Mountain:
Freefall
Granny Gran Prix
Psyclone
Sierra Twist
Spin Out
Yosemite Sam Sierra Falls

Cedar Point:
Demon Drop
Van Helsing: Castle Dracula

From James Rao
Posted May 26, 2011 at 3:36 AM
One of my favorite "dead" attractions is the ORIENT EXPRESS at Worlds of Fun. While I am sure it would be a painful, old dog today, it was simply the best thing going when I was a kid.

The Orient had several fairly distinctive moments for its day, like a pre-drop "kicker", batwing loops (which they called the Kamikaze Curve back then), and interlocking loops (only Loch Ness at BGE had interlocking loops at the time).

Click HERE to see pictures of the late, great Orient Express.

From Carrie Hood
Posted May 26, 2011 at 3:28 AM
Not to get into it, but if it was in Orlando from '85+ I've been on it. I'm a huge Horizons and Imagination supporter, I've been part of the "Save Disney" complain while working there as well as "Save Figment" and I deny all connections to Horizons (On grounds that Disney may try to nail me hard). On top of Kitchen Kabaret as well as other such things like the original "World of Motion" as "World of Energy" without DeGeneras I might add. I've posted classic pictures of both "Mr. Toad" and "20K" online was well as the original "Small World".. and have done college reports of both attractions (they always say preach what you know, I know my FL parks). We're also forgetting Mickey's Birthday Land as well as Mickeys StarLand.. same thing another name and slightly different shows.
There is "Mission to Mars", the "Time Keeper" and "Delta Dreamflight". as well as the half a dozen versions of the TTA (Peoplemover).

MGM Also took out the true "Backstage Tour" and modified it greatly of attitudinal space. The hold "Front spot" homes are now gone including things which has a huge following like "Golden Girls" and "Rocketeer". The "Honey I shrunk the kids" became "Bugs Life" and now "Star Tours" has changed also.

As well as Python from BGT/BGA depending on how you know it. I know over a dozen extinct Seaworld Orlando shows (Key West at SeaWorld, Mission: Bermuda Triangle and half a dozen other shows.. Cylde and Seamore's Hotel... Cylde and Seamore Spooky Kooky Castle, Pets On Stage.. ect).

Heh, I've been around the block far to long and I've gotten far to picky because of it.

Oh well. Long live Horizons!

(BTW: To any female fans.. WDW has a new Dooney and Bourke purse series which is all classic WDW (MK and EPCOT, Original ride posters and characters) which are now available!)

From Andy Milio
Posted May 26, 2011 at 4:17 AM
Universal Florida:

Earthquake
Kongfrontation
Jimmy Neutron :D (if that counts)

From Ray Schroeder
Posted May 31, 2011 at 11:31 AM
The '64 - '65 New York Worlds Fair. I was 9 and 10 at the time. Seeing It's A Small World, Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, the dinosaurs in the Ford Pavilion got me hooked on theme parks.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted May 31, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Ray, I too was at the '64 Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadows/Corona Park. But I remember nothing of it..I was still in my Mom's tummy (born in September)

From Robert Niles
Posted May 31, 2011 at 12:25 PM
It occurs to me that a fun twist on this discussion would be to reinterpret what "closed" attraction means. So, for former theme park employees, which attractions have you had a chance to experience when they were closed to ticket-paying guests?

To narrow it a bit, let's only count times when you experienced in the attraction when it was running in something other than "normal" operation.

Me:
Pirates and Thunder with the lights on
Pirates, while *in* the water
Driving a raft all the way around Tom Sawyer's Island in the morning

From Jorge Arnoldson
Posted May 31, 2011 at 12:50 PM
My list of now-closed rides: Back to the Future, Jimmy Neutron, and Hanna Barbara at USF, Millionaire at DHS, Tiki Room Under New Management and Snow White at MK, most of the rides at Freestyle Music Park, Blue's Clues walkthrough at KD, Body Wars and Cranium Command at Epcot

My list of now rethemed rides (if they count): Many of the children's rides at KD when it was owned by Paramount

From James Josip
Posted May 31, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Maybe one of you guys can help me with this. I am sure I have seen the Golden Girls House on the studio tour at WDW years ago, but on each trip since, it isn't there. Did I make it up or was it taken down?

From Robert Niles
Posted May 31, 2011 at 7:31 PM
It's gone. The residential street was cleared to make way for Lights, Motors, Action.

From Tony Duda
Posted May 31, 2011 at 10:22 PM
I was lucky enough to catch the last year or 2 the Osborne Family Lights were on Residential Street before being demolished. They looked nicer on 'real' houses even if the walking was more regimented. I also was lucky to have taken the backstage tour before that was decimated.

From Tim Odom
Posted June 1, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Off the top of my head:

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (Magic Kingdom)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Magic Kingdom)

Original Living Seas (EPCOT)
Original Journey into Imagination (EPCOT)
Horizons (EPCOT)
Original Universe of Energy (EPCOT)
BodyWars (EPCOT)

Original Star Tours (DHS and DL)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire (DHS)

Earthquake (USF)
Back to the Future: The Ride (USF)

And most of the the old, and very closed and soon to be torn down for condos, Rocky Point Amusement Park in Rhode Island. I say most cause in the heady days of the 80's, I was petrified of coasters. But I did most everything else.

From Melissa Donahue
Posted June 1, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Many of you have already covered the WDW rides that I would also mention, but what about these?

The Big Dipper – Geauga Lake
White Water Landing – Cedar Point
Mill Race – Cedar Point
Avalanche Run – Cedar Point

From Heather Olson
Posted June 28, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Mr. Toads Wild Ride - MK
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - MK
Alien Encounter - MK
Original Journey into Imagination - EPCOT
Earthquake - USF
Alfred Hitchock The Birds - USF
Kongfrontation - USF
Back To The Future- USF
The original Pirates of the Caribbean - MK
Monster Sound Show - DHS
Honey I Shrunk the Audience - EPCOT
Nickelodeon Studios - USF
Mission to Mars - MK
Superstar Television - DHS
The original Dueling Dragons - USF
Carousel of Progress - MK
Hanna Barbera - USF
Who Wants to be a Millionaire - DHS

From Manny Barron
Posted June 28, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Technically it still exist, in Japan, but Back to the Future the ride was awesome. Always the highlight of my theme park vacation. Can't they devote one half of the Simpsons building to BTTF and the other to the Simpsons? I miss being a time travel volunteer.

From Ben Pope
Posted June 28, 2011 at 7:34 PM
This ride isn't officially closed yet, Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast.

From Albino Pygmy
Posted June 28, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Mr. Toads Wild Ride (WDW MK)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (WDW MK)
Magic Kingdom Skyway (WDW MK)
Delta Dreamflight (WDW MK)
Alien Encounter (WDW MK)
Timekeeper (WDW MK)
Too many things in Temporary Toontown-land (Starland, Birthdayland, etc)

Kitchen Kabaret (EPCOT)
(and Food Rocks)
Original Living Seas Show (EPCOT)
Horizons (EPCOT)
World of Motion (EPCOT)
Cranium Command (EPCOT)
Original Journey into Imagination (EPCOT)
Captain EO (EPCOT)
Millennium Tent (complete with controversial simulator to Jerusalem and Scottish mini golf!)

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (DHS)
Doug LIVE! (DHS)
The original Backstage tour (complete with giant bee bluescreen and "Lottery" set pieces)
Goosebumps! (DHS)
Hunchback of Notre Dame (DHS)
Star Tours (DHS)

Countdown to Extinction (AK)

Earthquake (USF)
Wild West Stunt Show (USF)
Alfred hitchock The Birds 3D (USF)
Kongfrontation! (USF)
Hanna-Barberra (USF)
Nick Studios (USF)

From Frank Czuri
Posted July 26, 2011 at 11:22 PM
"Lost rides" probably Coney Island's BOBSLED and TORNADO are the two of my "most missed rides." All West View's coasters to that. Hoping to try KNobels if they ever open it.

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted July 27, 2011 at 6:33 AM
Universal Studios:
Kongfrontation...sniff, sniff
Back to the Future
The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera
Earthquake (pre-Disaster!)
Alfred Hitchcock
Ghostbusters Spooktactular
Extreme Ghostbusters show
Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show

Magic Kingdom:
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Alien Encounter
The Timekeeper
Main Street Cinemas
Penny Arcade
Skyway

Epcot:
Horizons
Wonders of Life pavilion (Body Wars)
Original Imagination! pavilion (Journey into Imagination)
Original El Rio Del Tiempo
Honey I Shrunk the Audience

From Zack McDonald
Posted July 27, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Texas Cyclone at Astroworld, my dad said that I rode the tame version, he rode it when it had PTC trains that used a chain to hold the lap bars in place. He says from 1976-1985 it had the greatest first drop of any coaster.

From Flavio de Souza
Posted July 27, 2011 at 1:42 PM
I will state the ones I really miss:

Mr. Toads Wild Ride (WDW MK); the ride I most loved in Fantasyland!
If You Had Wings (WDW MK); beautiful, a simple and very pleasant ride!
Kitchen Kabaret (EPCOT); Yes I liked, so what!
Horizons (EPCOT); It was the best Disney attraction!
World of Motion (EPCOT)
Cranium Command and Body Wars (EPCOT)
Montezuma’s Revenge; a roller coaster in the extinct Circus World (Orlando)
Le Visionarium (Paris Disneyland).

I also loved the music from Carrousel of Progress that played in 80's in Mk and was now subtituted by the original 60's theme.

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