We'll start in Orlando. These are the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando attractions that Theme Park Insider readers collectively have selected as their picks for what ought to be replaced next in Central Florida's top theme parks. Granted, even the attractions at the bottom of our listings have some fans, so not everyone will agree that these places need to go. But it's hard to imagine that Disney and Universal couldn't do better with higher-rated attractions if it chose to give some other concepts a chance, instead.
The Magic Kingdom
Anytime we publish one of these "worst of" lists, it seems we always start with the same choice: Stitch's Great Escape. This overlay of the old Alien Encounter attraction (which was a refurb of the Magic Kingdom's Mission to Mars), loses points from Theme Park Insider readers for terrifying young Stitch fans while failing to entertain older visitors, who might be more inclined to enjoy Stitch's mischief. Not only that, but Lilo & Stitch is getting a bit old and doesn't seem to be enjoying the staying power of other Disney animation franchises.
TPI readers also vote thumbs down on the Tomorrowland Speedway. How telling it was when Disney announced the closure of the Walt Disney World Speedway, the old "Mickyard" in the MK parking lot, a lot of fans went online to express their excitement... only to turn around and end up even more disappointed when they learned that it wasn't the Tomorrowland kiddie cars that were closing.
Finally, we've got little love for The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, too. This Dumbo-like carnival spinner in Adventureland lacks the charm of the Fantasyland original, not to mention the more family-friendly wait system Dumbo now enjoys, too.
Epcot
Theme Park Insider fans would love to see a complete reimagining of Future World's Imagination Pavilion. Well, we think we would. Given what happened the first time that Disney tried to revamp a major attraction in this pavilion — the infamous Journey Into Your Imagination debacle — some of us might vote to keep what we have rather than take our chances on something turning out worse.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
We can't wait to see what Disney's got in store for us on Pandora: The World of Avatar next year. And Disney's been hitting its marks with its many recent improvements to this park. (We'll give the Jungle Book show a pass in the hopes that Rivers of Light really will debut sometime later this year.) But if Disney wanted to just acknowledge that Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama never worked and rip the thing out, we'd consider that a strong example of addition by subtraction to Animal Kingdom.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Whatever we would have nominated here, Disney's already closed. No more suggestions.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal's California park might be getting an attraction based on The Walking Dead next month, but Universal Studios Florida has an un-kill-able zombie attraction of its own. Seriously, how has Fear Factor Live not closed yet? The NBC reality series that inspired it is long gone, so there's no corporate synergy at play here. Plus, this would be the perfect site for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, so let's just cast an Avada Kedavra at Fear Factor, shall we?
Our second choice for elimination at USF would be the Woody Woodpecker Kidzone. Yes, Universal Orlando is better with a strong, kid-focused land. But how much appeal do these franchises hold for today's children. As much as we love some of the stagecraft for the Barney show, this whole area needs a stronger theme. Hmmm, we hear that Universal has the theme park rights to Nintendo now....
Island of Adventure
Potter's already claimed so much of the old Lost Continent land, and with the Hogwarts Express chugging along next door, our readers say it's time to retire The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad. Maybe in favor of some Forbidden Forest attractions?
We can't wait to ride the newly retracked Incredible Hulk Coaster, but if Universal's committed to continuing its refurbishment of the Marvel Super Hero Island, we'd vote for Storm Force Accelatron as the next candidate for replacement. Followed by Doctor Doom's Fearfall. Universal set the bar so high with Spider-Man and Hulk that these two just suffer in comparison. Here's hoping that maybe someday they can be replaced by something that challenges Spidey and Hulk, instead.
Which Orlando-area attractions would you like to see up for replacement?
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Long live Fear Factor Live!! Seriously, I had not the first idea how this attraction is still standing. This to me is another example of addition by subtraction. Every time I walk by I'm like, "what even is back there? Oh yeah, never mind."
Speedway would be the priority in my list of what need to go!!
Indiana Jones Adventure should replace Dinosaur.
Dinosaur is not popular and its relationship to animals is slight since it is extinct. Its no different than Avatar's Pandora's fantasy dragons. Indy features plenty of snakes, spiders, monkeys, and scorpions in its movies. They won't build a special attraction at DHS. A makeover is all it needs.
MK: Tomorrowland Speedway doesn't appear to have much purpose anymore and would clear up a lot of space to expand Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland, so that is a prime candidate for removal. I'd also say that Stitch's Great Escape and the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor should go for attractions that better fit the idea of Tomorrowland. Magic Carpets of Aladdin can stay as it doesn't take up much space.
Epcot: Assuming Disney wants to infuse IP in this park instead of keeping it non-fiction, easy answer...tear out the current Imagination pavilion for an Inside Out attraction.
DHS: This one doesn't have an obvious choice, but with Indy 5 announced I'd go with MuppetVision 4D as the attraction to close. The show is already gone in California as it is based on a not popular IP and 4D movies in general just don't pull audiences anymore in a theme park setting.
DAK: Most would say Dinoland as a whole, but personally I'd choose Rafiki's Planet Watch here. Why? Well, Disney released their second biggest animated movie of all time this year and there couldn't be a more perfect set-up for getting it into a theme park.
USF: Obvious choice here...out with Woody Woodpecker, in with Nintendo.
IOA: I'm really split here between removing Lost Continent or Toon Lagoon. The latter has two excellent rides, but is based on very outdated cartoons and could really use an IP upgrade (Dreamworks?). The former probably makes more sense if you're going to bulldoze the area and start over, but not for more Harry Potter...USO is good on that right now, and I think USH shows that while Potter is still strong it isn't as strong as it used to be. The Marvel flats can stay as they are just flat rides.
I'd really hate to see Imagination go, but surely an Inside Out attraction would help continuously dwindling popularity. Might I suggest Epcot do away with the sucky Short Film Festival playing in the Imagination theatre?
Nintendo can get its feet wet anywhere in UOR, but I'd like to see them save the big guns (Mario) for that third gate.
Speaking of new parks, has anyone heard anything recently about Universal Studios Beijing? My wife is keen on moving us there, and I need SOMETHING positive to make me not cry. If I could be an AP holder at UBR (?), it could almost make the smog bearable.
Anyone ever been to Rifikis Planet Watch? I didn't think so; that's what needs to be destroyed and completely overhauled.
Great movie ride at DHS.
Every country in Epcot needs an attraction (imo); even if that means cutting down the total number of countries.
In IOA lost continent needs the destruction and a LOTR (or similar) overlay. This is way before taking apart marvel (and dealing with all of the Disney negations that would entail).
The rest I can get behind...
Epcot has too many outdated attractions. Replace them with attractions currently exclusive to Disney's parks in Japan, China and France. 99% of Disney's American fans will never visit the overseas parks.
Add Indiana Jones Adventure to Hollywood Studios.
Keep Philharmagic. Keep Toon Lagoon. Keep "It's Tough to be a Bug". Keep Muppets 4D. These attractions are still popular. If the films are getting old, remastering them is much cheaper than replacing them.
Give visitors the option of viewing "Soarin' Over California", instead of "Soarin' Around the World".
Universal should improve Dr. Doom's Freefall and replace unpopular attractions with newer attractions targeted at younger kids. Universal already has better thrill rides than Disney. Universal should build more attractions like Secret Life of Pets to challenge Disney's dominance of the under 10 market segment.
Stitch the attraction absolutely needs to go, though I'd question the notion that Lilo & Stitch is lacking staying power. It's anecdotal, but walking around my office, there's no Disney character that appears more on my millennial colleagues' desks. I'd imagine that love of Stitch will be passed down to kids, nieces, nephews, etc.
Laugh Floor would be my second choice at WDW. So much unrealized potential in Tomorrowland.
Also, count me in the "Not willing to roll the dice on Imagination again" camp.
The one thing I would absolutely remove from IOA -- the Pteranodon Flyers -- probably can't be replaced without losing the excellent Camp Jurassic below.
At EPCOT = most of the buildings don't seem interesting and only the World Showcase is good. But WS needs more things to do. Would love to see the Ratatouille ride for France and a Mulan ride for China. Would love an Alice or Mary Poppins ride in England too. Every country should have a ride.
Animal Kingdom = Rafiki's Planet Watch should be taken out and they should make Zootopia there. I love the idea of the train showing the scenery of Zootopia and when you get up there you are "in" Zootopia. That would be neat. Could build Little Rodenta and have animatronic critters and some other zone with the cool buildings and have lots of opportunity for costume characters walking around. Would be amazing.
DHS = Would love a Mystic Manor type ride set in old Hollywood. Like Sunset Boulevard with an old star and some kind of magic going on. Something to complement Tower of Terror and be a haunted mansion equivalent to DHS that would bring a horror/spooky area to represent those genres of movies.
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