The Wild, Strange, and Scary Disney Rides That Should Have Never Closed

These are some rides we wish were still open at Disney World.

A large crowd in Magic Kingdom with Cinderella Castle in the background at Disney World as Saving Rivers of America protests could take place soon. — Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), Flickr

Walt Disney World has a long and rich history of rides and attractions, though even at “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” there isn’t room to keep everything. Over the last several decades, guests have watched numerous attractions come and go, with plenty more closures on the way.

Some experiences were better off closed and forgotten about, but some are still sorely missed.

Below is a list we compiled of the top Walt Disney World rides and attractions that Disney shouldn’t have closed.

The Great Movie Ride

A crowd of people on a ride, surrounded by bright lights and neon signs, simulating a movie set experience. A Disney Animatronic camera operator is elevated on the left, capturing the scene. The atmosphere is vibrant, with a mix of palm trees and pink lighting in the background. — Credit: Disney

The Great Movie Ride opened alongside Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then called MGM Studios) in 1989, serving as the park’s main icon and central attraction.

The Great Movie Ride’s facade was built to be a near-identical replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in California, with the ride itself taking guests through multiple iconic moments from some of the world’s most important films.

The Great Movie Ride was the culmination of everything Disney was going for with Hollywood Studios, as the park had been designed to be a real filming location for various television and film productions.

The Great Movie Ride wasn’t just a fun tour through the movies; it was a celebration of the medium itself, paying tribute to some of history’s most important works.

During the ride, guests would experience films like Alien, Footlight Parade, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and many more. The Great Movie Ride even featured a massive recreation of the iconic Wicked Witch scene from The Wizard of Oz.

To say that The Great Movie Ride was an incredible achievement from Walt Disney Imagineering would be an understatement, as the ride featured dozens of immersive and highly detailed sets, as well as numerous animatronics.

However, The Great Movie Ride did not exactly fit with Disney’s new vision for Hollywood Studios, with the company slowly moving away from the film and television production elements of the park over the years.

It was eventually announced The Great Movie Ride would close to make way for a brand-new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, in the same building.

The Great Movie Ride closed its curtains one final time in 2017, with the ride now being heralded as a Disney classic in the same vein as Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean by some.

Extraterrorestrial Alien Encounter

A futuristic scene unfolds with a robotic figure poised, arms outstretched, at a control panel labeled "Series 1000 Transmitter" during the mesmerizing X-S Tech exhibit. In the background, a cylindrical chamber ominously holds a creature inside, captivating onlookers like a thrilling Disney ride. — Credit: Disney

While most Disney rides and attractions fall on the happier, more magical side, Extraterrorestrial Alien Encounter was the exact opposite, inviting guests to step into a futuristic world where terrifying carnivorous alien creatures are just one teleporter away.

The attraction’s plot saw guests make their way to a futuristic convention center where new teleportation devices were being demonstrated by X-S Tech, a fictional company that seemed to value profits over everything else.

The demonstration began with a small alien animatronic being transported from one teleport tube to another, a really impressive effect for the time.

The attraction itself was more of a show than a ride, with guests sitting down in a circular theater around a giant tube in the middle. Once the attraction began, the lights would dim, and guests would strap in for an “unforgettable encounter.” Of course, things don’t quite go to plan, and a large alien ends up being teleported into the room.

This alien eventually breaks out, and the true nature of this attraction is revealed. Alien Encounter was not just a well-themed show; it was a terrifying and immersive 4D experience.

Guests sat helplessly as a “real” alien flew around the room, wreaking havoc on the audience and the “crew.” Most of Alien Encounter took place in total darkness, meaning sound played a crucial role in convincing guests they were inches away from being eaten.

Binaural audio played a big role in making Alien Encounter so convincing and scary. Ultra-realistic three-dimensional screams, roars, and other terrifying sounds blared in guests’ ears. Eventually, the alien is captured, and guests are free to exit the presentation.

To say Alien Encounter was the scariest attraction Disney ever built would be the understatement of the century. Many parents complained that an attraction like this did not fit in Walt Disney World, let alone Magic Kingdom. Despite this controversy, Alien Encounter remained open for quite a while, though it wouldn’t be on this list if it were still open today.

Alien Encounter closed its doors forever in 2003, being replaced by a similar, albeit less scary attraction named Stitch’s Great Escape, which itself also closed. The space where both attractions used to be remains empty to this day, prompting speculation from fans as to what Disney may do with the location.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures

A person dressed as snow white is smiling broadly and gesturing with one hand, standing in front of a quaint cottage with green vines and pink flowers. — Credit: Disney

Before getting its own roller coaster, the Snow White franchise was represented at the Magic Kingdom with a dark ride. Originally known as Snow White’s Adventures, the ride underwent an upgrade in 1994, getting renamed to Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

This attraction certainly was a little frightening, especially for one that retold the story of a classic animated Disney fairytale, but let’s not forget how frightening Disney’s original Snow White film actually is.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures operated similarly to other classic Disney dark rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and Alice in Wonderland, taking guests through the plot of the film with elaborate show scenes.

While not totally remarkable, Snow White’s Scary Adventures certainly deserved to remain part of the Magic Kingdom, though it would close in 2012 to make way for Magic Kingdom’s massive New Fantasyland expansion.

This, of course, included the addition of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a Snow White-themed roller coaster that has become one of Disney World’s most popular attractions to date. However, this roller coaster is noticeably quite absent of Snow White herself, albeit until the very end.

What is your favorite defunct Disney attraction?