Walt Disney World is a never-ending change, that’s for certain. With the swiftness of the top castmembers and Disney Imagineers, there’s a constant add and subtraction. While we’re all about the best and newest, there are things we wish Disney World never got rid of. From play spaces to shows that brought tears to our eyes, here’s our list — and one we’re happy they did.
Things We Wish Disney World Never Got Rid of
I’m all for new and improved when it comes to Walt Disney World theme parks. Both Tron in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot have become my favorite roller coasters. Walking through the updated entrance at Epcot is both jaw-droppingly gorgeous and a respite from the heat and miles of walking.
But there are a few things I wish Disney World would have never gotten rid of. The below-mentioned enhanced the parks and made them even more special. Here are the places and rides Disney World should have kept — and the one thing we’re happy it now offers.
1. First Family/Family of the Day
If you remember the days of Magic Kingdom’s First Family (or Family of the Day), you’ll remember the adorable show that led up to Magic Kingdom’s park opening each day. A special family was chosen to help the Disney characters count down to rope drop with fireworks and a fun song.
One day, my family was chosen to be the First Family and, I have to write, I’ll never forget it. I was in tears when we were selected and the magic was real, folks.
2. Main Street Electrical Parade
Created only one year after Magic Kingdom opened, Disneyland was the first park to showcase popular Disney characters sitting on wildly lit parade floats. While Disney World and Magic Kingdom had to wait five years for it to roll down its Main Street, 1977 brought the glittering lights and fun music to the delight of park guests.
With several runs under its belt, the final parade took place on October 9, 2016, when it headed back to Disneyland for a couple of runs. While we all wish it would return once again, we now have a Cinderella Castle show before any fireworks show.
3. Wishes Fireworks
Five versions of gorgeous fireworks have lit the sky over Cinderella Castle each night before Magic Kingdom closes its gates. Our favorite, Wishes, was not only a beautiful meld of classic Disney tunes, pretty lighting, and, of course, pretty shapes made from booming fireworks.
With a run from October 2003 through 2017, the show had a Halloween party version (Happy Hallo-Wishes) and one for Christmas parties as well (Holiday Wishes). The beloved show made many of us shed a tear thanks to its 1980s and 1990s soundtrack and heart-wrenching movie quotes.
4. The Animal Kingdom Parade
You may not have even known about it, but there was a parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Called Mickey’s Jungle Jammin’ Parade, it debuted for the 100 Years of Magic Celebration each of the four theme parks offered.
Not a lengthy parade, its five floats and walking characters certainly packed a punch in our hearts. Its last day was May 31, 2014, compliments of the Pandora: The World of Avatar construction and hoopla.
5. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
Don’t get us wrong, we love Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! at Hollywood Studios. It can definitely get us in the Christmas spirit, but the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was the ultimate of light displays. With millions (and I literally mean millions) of holiday lights, it took upwards of 20,000 man hours to install in the back area of the park.
Beginning at sunset through park closing, theme park guests could mosey through the gorgeous displays that included angels and hidden Mickeys. Starting in 1995, the massive display was once located at the Osborne’s home! The final season was in 2015, much to the dismay of countless fans.
6. Paper Fastpasses
While the convenience of locking down a Fastpass on your phone until 2021 was ideal for folks who love to plan rides and attractions ahead of time, there was something magical about paper Fastpasses. Walking up to giant machines, all we had to do was insert our theme park ticket card (Remember Keys to the Kingdom cards) and out would shoot a paper Fastpass with a return time window.
If we were lucky, sometimes a bonus Fastpass would go along with the chosen one. Sadly, both the paper and digital Fastpass are no longer thanks to the Genie Service, a pay-to-use feature at the parks.
7. Morning Extra Magic Hours
When I first began visiting Walt Disney World, I loved the fact that staying on property at a Disney Resort would provide an entire hour each morning a one of the four theme parks. Called Extra Morning Magic Hours, those 60 minutes allowed us time to ride the super popular rides. Once the park officially opened for the day, we could then ride more.
These days, Disney World offers 30 minutes of extra time each morning at all the theme parks. Personally, 30 minutes really isn’t enough time to really get a benefit, but at least it’s something.
8. The Citizens of Main Street
For me and my family, the Citizens of Main Street enhanced our Magic Kingdom mornings in a way no other castmember could. Depending on the day, you could meet the Mayor of Main Street, a newspaper reporter, a historian, or even a suffragist and fashionista.
Always keeping to their timely roles, they sang and danced along with the Dapper Dans and chatted with guests as they came into the park. They were taken away from Magic Kingdom during the pandemic and never returned, sadly.
9. Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom
Now a Starbucks, Main Street Bakery was one of our favorite ways to enjoy a light breakfast at rope drop in Magic Kingdom. While it’s been five years since the Seattle brand has been making the coffee line out the doors, we still miss the nostalgia of the original and the lack of commercialism.
10. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card Game
A fun, interactive game using free cards given out at the Fire Station each day in Tony’s Town Square, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was an easy way to hang out in Magic Kingdom, particularly on crowded days.
Beginning on February 22, 2012, Main Street U.S.A., Town Square, Fantasyland, and Adventureland had portals (aka, windows) that magically came to life when accessed via park ticket card or Magicband. The goal was to beat popular Disney Villains and move up to more difficult games.
Additionally, hard ticket events, including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party allowed us to collect special cards to use for play. The last day of play was January 24, 2021.
11. Maelstrom
From July 1988 to October 2014, Maelstrom, the water ride at Norway Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, showed us what life is like in the country while riding on a Viking ship.
The darkly lit float down a calm stream was enhanced by the views, including a small village, trolls, a fishing village, and a fun drop towards the end. Replaced by Frozen Ever After in 2016, the latest ride is very popular but doesn’t have the true aspect of the pavilion it’s in.
12. The “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Play Area
Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” play space was a fun way to blow off steam, especially for the kids. We were “shrunk down” to insect size and could slide down a leaf or even ride on a giant ant.
And One Thing We’re Happy They Changed…
Thank you, Walt Disney World, for giving us an interior rope drop! Instead of waiting outside the gates, and after the turnstiles, we can now wander around Town Square and down Main Street U.S.A. to The Hub by Cinderella Castle.
This allows us to grab a morning drink and shop. It also took away the too-crowded area we all squeezed into waiting for the opening countdown.