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As much as we love nostalgia and revisiting our favorite attractions year after year, the unfortunate truth is that some old must be done away with to usher in the new. As Walt Disney World sets out on its most ambitious expansion yet at Magic Kingdom and many more updates across Walt Disney World, many attractions are on the way out. These are some of the attractions you need to visit before they are gone for good!
Liberty Square Riverboat
The iconic Liberty Belle riverboat, originally named the Richard F. Irvine, has sailed along the Rivers of America since 1973. This quaint attraction takes guests around the man-made river for a unique view of Liberty Square and some nearby attractions. Ride audio provides history and a bit of storyline as you travel.
While no closing date has been confirmed, it is expected to close sometime in 2025 as construction for the new “Cars” expansion begins.
Watch our video below to see a full ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat
Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island is an area of Magic Kingdom that often goes unnoticed by guests, especially first-timers. The island can only be reached by riding a wooden raft across the Rivers of America. On the other side is a free-roaming massive playground complete with caves, a barrel bridge, and even a fully-explorable Fort Langhorn!
This area is especially fun for imaginative kids but is also a great callback to classic Walt Disney World for adults to explore. The theming and storytelling are great and show how much fun can be had even without rides or shows. It is also expected to close in 2025 to make room for the “Cars” expansion.
“It’s Tough to Be a Bug”
As someone with a major fear for bugs, I won’t be missing this attraction. That being said, many love this 4D show featuring characters from Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life.” The show has been operating since 1998 inside the Tree of Life, the centerpiece icon of Animal Kingdom. Impressive animatronics and simulated 4D effects such as air cannons to create the feeling of hornet stings make this attraction truly unlike any other in Walt Disney World.
It is expected to close sometime in 2025 for the Winter 2025 opening of its replacement: Zootopia: Better Zoogether.
DinoLand U.S.A.
DinoLand U.S.A. is an Animal Kingdom land with a quirky yet charming theme. As the story goes, archeology students from a nearby University turned the town into a Dinosaur-nerd paradise, complete with a dinosaur-themed carnival. Fake asphalt grounds and midway games create the atmosphere of a parking lot carnival. Attractions like a mouse coaster and Dumbo-clone completed the scene.
The marquee attraction, however, is housed in the “Dino Institute,” a ride named “DINOSAUR.” This ride takes guests on a time-traveling epic adventure to save a Dinosaur from the extinction-inducing meteor and dodge a terrifying carnotaurus along the way!
The land is controversial, to say the least. On the one hand, it represents some of the best in Disney theming. Every inch of the land tells the story of this college town with punny jokes, goofy Dinosaur cartoons, and the attractions themselves. On the other hand, the land may have accomplished its theming goals too well. In the pursuit of making a land themed to a parking lot carnival, it comes off looking cheap and out of place in an otherwise world-class theme park.
DinoLand U.S.A. is expected to close in phases before going extinct for good to make room for the 2027 opening of a new “Tropical Americas” land, featuring attractions based on Disney’s “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones.”
If you want to visit these attractions at Walt Disney World before they leave to make room for exciting new attractions, why not book a trip with our friends at Be Our Guest Vacations? Their expert team of vacation planners will handle all the legwork to get you to the parks for one last nostalgic visit!
Visit WDWNT.Travel to book today!
Are you sad to see these leaving Walt Disney World forever? Are you excited for what will be replacing them? Let us know in the comments!
This post contains sponsored content from Be Our Guest Vacations. Help support WDWNT by using the links in this article to book your next Disney vacation with our sponsors, Be Our Guest Vacations. Their expertise in trip planning can make your booking process a breeze, and their services are FREE!
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