Disney parks are always evolving, swapping out older rides for new ones to keep things fresh and relevant.
Some replacements have become fan favourites, while others have sparked debate. Let’s dive into some of the most talked-about ride replacements at Walt Disney World and beyond – what worked, what didn’t, and why.
For more nostalgia (plus some classic pics), read our post on five closed Disney rides we miss.
1. Monsters, Inc. Land at Animation Courtyard replaces The Muppets (Hollywood Studios)
The beloved MuppetVision 3D has now closed to make way for the interactive, comedy-based Monsters, Inc. Land. This will include a suspended ride and a new theatre show.
Better?
- Monsters, Inc is hugely popular and the suspended ride sounds intriguing.
- The Muppets was arguably looking its age (it had been around since 1991, a couple of years after Studios opened).
Worse?
- We LOVE The Muppets!!! 3D was fun, surprising and still hugely popular. It was also one of Jim Henson’s final projects, so really special. I can’t believe we’ll never again see Fozzie Bear’s cheap 3D tricks or Sam Eagle’s salute to all nations, but mostly America! Say it isn’t so…
- There’s already a fabulous Monsters, Inc. show (Laugh Floor) at Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. So that’s a lot of monsters…
2. Splash Mountain replaced by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)
Splash Mountain, inspired by Song of the South, got a complete re-theme to Princess Tiana’s story from The Princess and the Frog.
Better?
- Modern, inclusive storytelling with fresh music and characters.
- Long overdue update addressing cultural sensitivity.
Worse?
- Nostalgia fans miss the classic log-flume charm and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” vibe.
- The Tiana storyline lacks some of the tension of its predecessor – instead of Br’er Rabbit being thrown into a briar patch by a hungry fox, Tiana is throwing a “really big party”. Fun, but it makes the final drop a bit less gripping.
3. Muppets Take Over replacing Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios, planned)
Studios’ Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith will make way for a Muppets-themed coster instead.
Better?
- Following the closure of Muppet Vision 3D, the Aerosmith theme on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be replaced with a Muppets-themed music festival version.
- Animal and the Electric Mayhem will now star on the ride – set to debut in 2026. Sounds like fun!
Worse?
- We’ll miss Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s killer Aerosmith soundtrack.
- While we’re happy the Muppets’ furry faces aren’t disappearing from Studios for good, we’re worried Fozzie and Gonzo’s youngest followers are too young for an inversion coaster. Maybe MuppetVision was just more of a muppety kind of attraction?
4. Maelstrom replaced by Frozen Ever After (Epcot, Norway Pavilion)
Maelstrom’s quirky boat ride gave way to this hugely popular Frozen-themed attraction.
Better?
- Uses advanced animatronics and effects to bring Arendelle to life.
- Huge hit with families and Frozen fans worldwide.
- The dull film at the end of the original ride was usually something to skip (you’d see families dashing through the cinema to try to make it through the exit doors before they closed!)
Worse?
- Maelstrom had a unique Scandinavian vibe and offbeat humour that we miss. Anyone remember the North Sea oil rig? (there can’t be many theme parks rides with one of those). Or the troll sending you “Back, back, over the falls” before you plunged, ever so slightly, backwards down the rock face (that caught us out, the first time)? Or the Grieg music as you splashed down into a beautiful fjord? Alt så minneverdig as, according to Google Translate, they say in Norway.
- Frozen Ever After can get very long queues. It feels a bit less Epcot and a bit more generic Disney.
5. Delta Dreamflight replaced by Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom)
The original aviation-focused rides had evolved over time (If You Had Wings, Take Flight) before Buzz Lightyear took over with laser-blasting interactivity.
Better?
- Families have LOVED the Buzz retheme ever since it blasted off.
- It’s a great ride to do with little ones, particularly if they’re not old enough for nearby Space Mountain and Tron.
Worse?
- Dreamflight was a lovely, gentle ride – and a bit more magical and relaxing than Buzz. Remember how you flew over scenes from Tokyo and Paris? It was a bit like a very slow, meandering Soarin’.
- While it’s good, Buzz isn’t a patch on the similar Toy Story Mania shoot ’em up at Studios.
6. Journey Into Imagination with Figment (Epcot) refreshed in 2023
This ride wasn’t replaced, but it was substantially refreshed in 2002. Many fans took issue with the fact Monty Python’s Eric Idle had replaced the Dreamfinder of the old ride. The 2023 update brought back more Figment and playful moments.
Better?
- Instead of completely doing away with an Epcot ride, as they did with Horizons, World of Motion and Universe of Energy (all gone, but not forgotten), Disney decided to relaunch this.
- Kids like it… fans of the original, less so. And there are rarely queues… take from that what you will!
Worse?
- Opinions remain mixed — some feel it recaptured its charm, others long for the imagination of the original.
- This whole ride definitely needs a rethink. Possibly (and this is a controversial view) it has run its course and should be replaced. Which brings us to…
7. Horizons (Epcot, closed 1999) replaced by Mission: SPACE
Horizons was my favourite old Epcot ride – and I think that’s true for thousands of Disney fans. It envisioned the future through a series of animatronic settings. Whether humankind was cultivating oranges in the desert (and you could smell the citrus) or living in cities under the sea, the vision of Horizons was truly inspiring. Plus, the ending allowed you to “choose your own” way home.
Better?
- It’s just not, is it? Personally, I don’t mind Mission: SPACE, although its main purpose seems to be making people feel sick. But Horizons was one of those rides that was pure Disney.
- The adjoining restaurant, Space 220, is fabulous.
Worse?
- If you can dream it, you can do it. Still missed to this day. Please bring it back Imagineers!!!
8. World of Motion replaced by Test Track (Epcot)
Epcot does not have a great track record with phasing out its rides. World of Motion was a lot like Spaceship Earth, only instead of human innovation, it looked at the history of transport. It was charming and humorous.
Better?
- Test Track is fast and slick – but we miss the storytelling.
Worse?
- Test Track is closed more often than it’s open. At present, it seems to be open, so hopefully it will stick around long enough for our next trip to Disney.
- We keep hoping one of the closures means Imagineers are hard at work inside the building, reconstructing World of Motion (there are no rumours suggesting this might be true, but we can hope!)
9. Impressions de France (Epcot, now limited showings) replaced by Beauty and the Beast Sing-along
Once the elegant centrepiece of the France pavilion, this film, with its stunning soundtrack that blends works from some of the great 19th and 20th-Century French composers, is now pushed aside for Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along.
Better?
- The first film looks a little dated… but it does sell you a vision of France that’s magnifique!
- Children (and the young at heart) love the sing-along. The songs – famously put together by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman – include some of Disney’s best music and lyrics.
Worse?
- This is one of those decisions that is genuinely a 50/50 split, depending on whether you love Disney’s films or the magic of the old Epcot World Showcase (and some people, like me, love both!) I hope they never get rid of the old film altogether… it is beautiful.
- It’s odd having both films showing at different times. I’ve seen rows of little girls in princess dresses all get up and leave, looking slightly confused, when the dreamy green depths of the Canal du Midi hones into view. Maybe they could just get two screens?
10. Tropical Americas Expansion (Animal Kingdom) replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
This was the centrepiece show of the Animal Kingdom when it opened, sitting beneath the Tree of Life. It’s set to be replaced as part of the Tropical Americas project, which – rumours suggest –will include Encanto and Indiana Jones-themed experiences.
Better?
- Believe it or not, the film It’s A Bug’s Life dates from the 1990s and a lot of today’s kids may not have come across it. So it’s good to replace it with more modern/ classic references. And, like many other Disney fans, I can’t get enough Encanto.
- I can’t wait to see what Disney come up with next for The Animal Kingdom – I really love this park.
Worse?
- While the bug show was intense for little ones, it was a clever use of space and effects.
- It was also really original – I will never forget the sensation of “bugs” crawling over my seat. One we’ll miss.
11. The Great Movie Ride replaced by Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad (Hollywood Studios)
Another centrepiece park ride which, when it closed, was a bit of a shock. The Great Movie Ride took place inside Studios’ replica Chinese Theatre and led you through scenes from the greatest Hollywood films, from Casablanca and James Cagney to Alien and Indiana Jones.
Better?
- Mickey and Minnie is brilliant, combining breathtaking innovation with classic Disney. Your car slides randomly through their chaotic world, crashing down waterfalls and tearing along railway tracks.
- Great Movie Ride was showing its age and the queues had dropped a lot over the years.
Worse?
- It’s great to get a fresh ride and I love Mickey and Minnie. I guess, like the movies it featured, I just thought Great Movie Ride was immortal!
12. The Universe of Energy replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind (Epcot)
You simply could not get two more different rides – one slow-moving and educational, the other… neither of those things! Guardians of the Galaxy is Epcot’s first rollercoaster and it’s a really unique one too, with a reverse launch and rotating cars.
Better?
- Thrill-seekers love Cosmic Rewind’s crazy disorientating trajectory and its fun playlist – the queues are round the block.
Worse?
- Universe of Energy spent its early years as a dull, educational eco-lecture with a few animatronic dinos thrown in… but underwent a revamp of its own in the 1990s and was renamed Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Ellen DeGeneres injected some much-needed gags and entertainment into the ride, giving it a real family-friendly vibe that we miss.
- Although thrill rides bring in the crowds, Disney has always been committed to welcoming little ones. Rides like Energy Adventure are an important part of that mix and its important Disney doesn’t stray too far from that mission.
Just one last ride?
Disney’s reimaginings reflect changing values, audiences, and technology. Some swaps (like Cosmic Rewind) are instant classics. Others (like Impressions de France‘s sidelining or the loss of Horizons) leave some fans longing for the past.
Which changes worked for you – and which do you wish you could ride one more time?
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