Disney’s Retired Attractions

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Theme parks are constantly making improvements to their parks. Attractions are always coming and going; some we’re happy about and some we’re not. I’m going to take a look into some of the iconic Disney attractions that have been retired.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is a great starting point with Extra TERRORestrial Alien Encounter which was a brilliant attraction that was replaced in 2003 with Stitch’s Great Escape! Rumour has it that even Stitch will be leaving us soon as the park has already scheduled Stitch’s Great Escape for seasonal closures! 🙁

Mr Toad’s Wild Ride is talked about on so many Disney forums so I can only imagine how amazing it was. Originally due to be a roller coaster, it ended up being a dark ride with the left and right tracks being 2 completely different experiences! Unfortunately, I’m too young to have seen this as it closed in 1998 to be replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures opened way back in 1971 but was deemed a little too scary for some guests so closed for a refurbishment in 1994 before opening back up to the public until 2012. Princess Fairy-tale Hall is now in it’s place.

Let’s pop over to Disney’s Epcot and see what’s been changing here over the years shall we? One of my all time favourites that I remember from the first time I ever visited Orlando, Honey! I Shrunk The Audience! I’m not usually a fan of 4D attractions but how can you not love this?! I was gutted when this got taken away but it was temporarily replaced with Captain EO Tribute in 2010.

Maelstrom was an indoor log flume ride which would have it’s twists and turns before moving you backwards. Sadly, this ride closed in 2014 although I was so happy to finally see a Frozen ride, Frozen Ever After!

Horizons was a dark ride taking you through the ideas that could be used in the future to make the world even greater! Horizons was then replaced by Mission: SPACE, a motion simulator ride in 1994.

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Journey into the Jungle Book was a theatrical show filled with animals as well as costumed-humans which closed in 1999 and was replaced later on by Tarzan Rocks.

Tarzan Rocks was another theatrical show lasting about 30 minutes (perfect for the AC) which closed in 2006 before being replaced with Finding Nemo – The Musical.

Pocahontas and her Forest Friends opened with the park in 1998 and had an array of live animals as well as the lead character from the movie. The theatre seated 350 guests at a time but ended for good in 2008! Nothing major has replaced this show yet even today, but you can still have a meet and greet with Pocahontas herself!

Next stop, Disney’s Hollywood Studios where it used to be best known as the home to Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat which was inspired by the apprentice segment in Fantasia! Since 2015, his hat can no longer be found at Hollywood Studios, but instead, a view of The Great Movie Ride.

Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian was a walk-through attraction, testing your knowledge on the movie and even includes a character meet and greet! This closed in 2011 being replaced with The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow before becoming Toy Story Land. Toy Story Land is currently under construction to become even larger in the near future.

Isn’t it amazing how much Walt Disney World has changed throughout the years?! Can you think of any other Disney attractions that we can no longer visit?

Smiles Included…

Louise

Top Secrets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hey Thrill Seekers,

We’re half way through our Disney secrets and we’re heading over to Hollywood Studios to see what we can find out. Disney are working on a lot of new attractions at Hollywood Studios so let’s just take a quick look at what is still there at the moment and what we know about it.

Making our way down Hollywood Boulevard, if you look up at the windows you will see some initials stencilled in but can you work out who’s initials they are?

The Great Movie Ride vehicles have specific number plates ‘021-429’. This resembles the Valentines Day Massacre which happened February 14th 1929.

Over by Echo Lake there’s lots to look out for on Star Tours including the silhouette of Jar Jar Binks wearing his own set of Mickey ears!

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Muppets Courtyard is quite a small part of the park but still nonetheless a great part of it too! When you enter the Muppets 3D after the turnstiles you’ll see a door mat. Why not lift it up and see what’s underneath…? Don’t forget to look at all the graffiti on the walls!

Pixar Place has a very distinctive entrance wall but what you might not realise is this is an exact replica of the entrance to Pixar in California. All of the brickwork has been replicated perfectly.

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Sunset Boulevard is my personal favourite part of Hollywood Studios as it is home to Rock n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which are my 2 favourite attractions in the park. On Rock n’ Roller Coaster you might notice that each limousine has it’s own number plate. There are also safety signs around that form into a guitar which is allegedly a tribute to Elvis.

The Twilight Tower of Terror previews old fashioned scenes from the twilight saga on the screens. If you look closely at the little girl, you will see she appears several times holding a Mickey mouse doll.

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It is truly amazing how much detail Disney put into everything they do. Something that can seem like a minor detail about nothing to us, could mean something major to the imagineers at Disney.

Smiles Included…

Louise

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Disney unveil new Star Wars ‘Death Star’ at Epcot

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Spaceship Earth at Disney’s Epcot was transformed into the Death Star last night. This comes from a meetup with the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which will make it’s debut on the 16th December. Some announcements were made at the event with the help of Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Galen Erso in the film.

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So what exactly did Disney announce last night? Mainly based on the Star Wars inspired land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. More characters and scenes will appear in the parks everyday line up in addition to the land that is currently being built.

Also announced was that Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular that was debuted earlier this year, will be joining their new nighttime spectacular Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam from the 16th December through to the 31st by being projected onto the park’s Chinese Theater.

By the middle of the month, Star Tours – The Adventurers Continue will return for it’s first destination with Jakku to continue the promotion of last year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Rogue One – A Star Wars Story will be promoted by Disney at Star Wars Launch Bay with new props and models from the film. Some troopers from the film will also be appearing in the daytime show, Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

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Last but not least, Disney announced plans for a Star Wars-themed Guided Tour of Disney’s Hollywood Studios including a spot of Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple show for the children. The tour will also include a ride on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, a guided tour of the Launch Bay, lunch with Star Wars-themed eats and reserved viewing for the Galactic Spectacular show.

Seems to me like Disney are taking full advantage of Star Wars and I don’t blame them!

Smiles included…

Louise

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Disney Passes with Orlando Attraction Tickets

Hey Thrill Seekers,

About Disney Passes

If you are going on holiday to Orlando there is a pretty high chance that you will be spending some of that holiday time at Walt Disney World and with more and more first timers heading to Orlando, its sometimes tricky to choose the right Disney pass for your trip. So, with that in mind, we have compiled a quick over view of the current Disney options available to pre-purchase here in the UK before you go!

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Which parks are included within our tickets.

We offer Disney Ultimate tickets which offer unlimited access to the 4 main Disney theme parks;

Magic Kingdom
Epcot, Disney’s
Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Plus the 2 Disney water parks;

Blizzard Beech
Typhoon Lagoon

ALL OUR DISNEY PASSES INCLUDE DISNEY’S MY MAGIC+ AND FOR 2016 TICKETS, DISNEY’S MEMORY MAKER

Orlando Attraction Tickets Disney Passes

Walt Disney World 7 Day Ultimate Ticket

This ticket offers seven days access to Disney parks over a 14 day period – so visits to Disney do not have to be on consecutive days. the ticket will expire 14 days after first use.

Recommended for anyone travelling to Orlando for 5-7 days

Walt Disney World 14 Day Ultimate Ticket

This ticket offers unlimited access to Disney parks over a 14 day period – This is the most popular Disney ticket by far!

Recommended for anyone travelling to Orlando for 8-14 days

Walt Disney 21 Day Ultimate Ticket

This is a ticket designed for the truly die hard Disney fans! 21 Days unlimited access to the Disney parks.

Recommended for anyone travelling to Orlando for 15-21 days

Click here for the latest prices: Disney Passes

Why pre-buy Disney passes?

One of the most compelling reasons Disney passes are pre-purchased here in the UK is because of the savings offered compared to buying tickets on the gate when you arrive. A single 14 Day Disney Ultimate ticket can save you up to £200.00* when compared to buying at the gate. PLUS we cant forget that these tickets include Disney’s My Magic+ system which will allow you to pre-book rides, shows, parades, restaurants etc. 30 days before you travel and 60 days in advance if you are staying in a Disney property.

Learn more about Disney’s My Magic+

Top tips for when you hit the Disney Parks

1. Check timetables for shows and parades when you first arrive in the park. This way you can either aim to get a good spot or plan the rides you want to do as the queues will be shorter. Make sure you get to the ride before the parade or you won’t be able to get through the crowd.

2. Disney transportation is a lot quicker than travelling yourself if you visit more than one Disney park on the same day. Take advantage of the free transport as much as you can.

3. On hot days, ask for a cup of ice. Cast members will give you the ice for free to cool you down and once its melted you have a free drink.

4. In any parks, wear comfortable shoes. There is more walking involved than you might think and it is made so much more difficult with blisters.

5. All Disney parks have wi-fi so you can log in to do your fast passes while you’re in the park if you haven’t done so already. You can also use the fast pass booths to book your slots throughout the day too. Try to do these early as the time slots can sell out very quickly.

6. Take a photo of your car park character sign so you don’t forget where you’re parked.

7. Allow yourself time at the end of the day to go in the gift shops before the parks close. This way you don’t have to carry it around with you all day.

8. Arrange a meeting point for your party in case you separate or get lost.

9. Take a look at the direction of the majority of the crowd and go the opposite way. This way you will avoid the longer queues.

10. Look out for some hidden Mickey’s. They are hidden all of the place from on the floor to on a ride.

For more information on Disney passes please call us on 0845 226 8523 or visit www.orlandoattractiontickets.co.uk

Smiles included…

Karl

Orlando Attraction Tickets

The Magic Of Disney Animation To Close At Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Today we’ve received confirmation The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios is set to close. The Magic of Animation will officially close on the 12th July 2015 to make way for a yet unannounced experience.

As one of the original offering when MGM Studios opened in 1989 the internet has been hit with a smallish wave of “un no’s” as the announcement sinks in. The attraction gave visitors the opportunity to discover how Disney characters are brought to life during a 9 minute film starring Mushu from Mulan, plus a hands-on exhibit.

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The Magic of Disney Animation takes place inside the same building where several classic Disney animated films were created, including:

  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Mulan
  • Brother Bear

Magic Of Disney Animation

The area was also used for character meet and greets. Although its sad to see iconic attractions close, Disney do have to look towards the future and with a very high profile film set to open this year perhaps we’ll see Hollywood Studios begin to build a Star Wars themed attractions?

Smiles included…

Jamie

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