Extinct Experiences
BY MARIA SALERNO
10 Pixar Pals Parade
Once upon a time , Hollywood Boulevard was the spot where guests would gather to begin their day at Hollywood Studios . Streetmosphere performances , celebrity car parades , live music , and pop-up experiences helped put Hollywood Boulevard on the top of the must-visit list . The Pixar Pals Parade contributed to that exciting , energetic Hollywood Studios atmosphere . Nothing will ever compare to the sheer joy of seeing rare Pixar characters waving at you from impressively whimsical floats .
9 The Magic Kingdom Skyway
In 1971 , the Magic Kingdom Skyway connected Tomorrowland and Fantasyland via a gondola system . The attraction guaranteed breathtaking views of Magic Kingdom that guests will likely never experience again . From the Skyway ’ s famous L-turn mid-ride , you could witness true magic from the skies . The Skyway was the only attraction at Magic Kingdom that abandoned the idea of perfect sightlines . Anyone who rode could see not only the lands it flew over , but the tip-top of Splash Mountain , the peaks of Big Thunder Mountain , and even Disney ’ s Grand Floridian , Contemporary , and Polynesian Village Resorts .
8 Shark Reef Diving Experience
Earning the # 8 spot on our list is an experience that took Walt ’ s concept of in-park immersion to new depths ( pun intended ). The Shark Reef diving experience at Typhoon Lagoon did what every Disney attraction tries to do : It immersed you in a world unlike your own . The Shark Experience allowed brave guests the opportunity to observe up close how a shark ’ s jaw snaps when it eats , how their sleek skin hardly wrinkles when they swim , and how powerful playing a physical part in any story truly is .
7 Journey Into Imagination
Did you notice the words “ With Figment ” are missing from the end of that title ? We ’ re talking about the original Journey Into Imagination attraction at EPCOT . Through the narration of Dreamfinder , Journey Into Imagination taught guests the importance of using the imagination and how “ one little spark ” of an idea is all it takes to create something entirely new . The current , pared-down version arguably does not compare to the original storytelling attraction that featured state-of-the-art animatronics , never-before-seen characters , a new song from the Sherman Brothers , and an original story of inspiration from famed Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter .
6 Snow White ’ s Scary Adventures
My seven-year-old self would entirely disagree , but hear me out : The closure of Snow White ’ s Scary Adventures left a hole in Magic Kingdom ’ s attraction offerings . Queuing for Snow White ’ s Scary Adventures always made my heart beat a little faster because I knew I was about to embark on a journey with Snow White that wasn ’ t guaranteed to be happy and free of danger . It was the only attraction in Magic Kingdom that had some truly scary moments . Its uniqueness in taking a fairytale story and adding a bit of mystery earned this oneof-a-kind attraction a spot on the list .
This painting appeared at the end of Snow White ' s Scary Adventures . PHOTO BY BRETT SVENSO