Credit: DisneyIs it time for Disney to bring back its defunct Stitch-themed attraction?
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Few Disney rides and attractions are considered flat-out “duds,” with the majority of the attractions Disney works on becoming critical successes.
Disney has a long list of classic dark rides under its belt, the most famous of which are Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, but the company also packs a punch in terms of thrill rides thanks to attractions like The Tower of Terror and Space Mountain.
Newer additions like TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind have greatly enhanced the Walt Disney World Resort, with several other game-changing projects now in development.
However, Disney does have a few attractions it would probably like to forget completely, with Stitch’s Great Escape taking a top spot. This quasi-live show/attraction hybrid based on the classic 2002 animated film didn’t last long at the parks, though with a new take on Lilo & Stitch hitting theaters this summer, now seems like the perfect time to bring it back, or at the very least develop something brand-new.
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Stitch’s Great Escape opened at the Magic Kingdom in 2004, offering guests the chance to get up close and personal with Experiment 626, AKA Stitch. The attraction had guests sit down around a large tubular container, which Stitch popped out of.
Of course, things don’t go to plan, and Stitch escapes (who would’ve thought), turning this simple demonstration into a chaotic adventure. Guests were strapped in from overhead restraints, meaning they could only listen as Stitch wreaked havoc.
The attraction was always divisive, with many claiming it didn’t really fit in with the rest of Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Stitch’s Great Escape also didn’t seem to have a target audience, as it was too loud and dark for small children but too juvenile and annoying for adults.
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Stitch’s Great Escape eventually closed in 2018, leaving the theater empty ever since. However, with such prime real estate sitting unused, now seems like the perfect time to bring Stitch back, as Disney’s live-action remake of the classic animated movie is set to release this summer.
Disney expects its new Lilo & Stitch to perform incredibly well, with CEO Bob Iger stating forecasts are very “strong” for the film, even despite recent bombs such as Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White.
Stitch’s Great Escape isn’t the only attraction to use the now-abandoned theater, as it actually replaced a different ill-fated attraction named ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Like Stitch’s Great Escape, Alien Encounter invited guests to sit down, strap in, and enjoy a sensory-filled experience in complete darkness.
Alien Encounter had pretty much the same premise as Stitch, sitting guests around a main tube where an animatronic would pop out and wreak havoc on the captive audience.
However, Alien Encounter was designed to terrify guests, not entertain them, and is often regarded as the scariest attraction ever designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
Instead of a cute and fluffy Stitch animatronic in the tube, Alien Encounter featured a large and intimidating winged alien creature, which, just like Stitch, would break out at a certain moment and cause chaos in the theater.
The attraction utilized the same binaural audio system that was present with Stitch’s Great Escape, using special sound cues and effects to convince guests they were inches away from the alien.
While Stitch’s Great Escape likely startled younger guests, Alien Encounter made it its mission to chill guests down to the bone, with the large alien going on a murder spree during the middle of the show.
At one point, a mechanic would attempt to fix the teleportation device that brought the alien to the theater in the first place. The alien finds this mechanic and eats him, with a horrifying sound playing signifying his gruesome death. Water also splashed on guests, giving the illusion of a blood splatter.
Alien Encounter opened in 1995 but would only last a few years, closing permanently in October 2003. Much like Stitch, the attraction never seemed to resonate with a large chunk of Magic Kingdom visitors, and while impressive, its effects were simply too scary for families to enjoy.
This isn’t to say that it’s Disney’s fault it made such a scary attraction; on the contrary, lots of fans actually think there’s a time and place for terrifying experiences at the Disney parks. In fact, many fans now long for a ride or attraction to be as scary and bold as Alien Encounter, with some even hoping it returns.
Whether or not Disney brings back Stitch to the Magic Kingdom remains to be seen, but it’s probably a safe bet that he will be featured in the theme parks more after the release of his newest film.
Do you think Disney World should bring back Stitch?