Seven Times We Have No Idea What Disney Was Thinking

If you’re reading this, then you probably already know we love Disney attractions. From flying to Neverland to joining the Resistance, there’s a ride for everyone in the Disney Parks!

Peter Pan’s Flight

But sometimes Disney opens a ride or show, and we can’t help but go…huh?! Why?! Who thought this was a good idea?!

From being packed with violence to being just plain weird, here are seven times we had no idea what Disney was thinking.

1. Dead Big Red

Many people remember the previous version of Kilimanjaro Safaris that told an anti-poaching story, along with viewing the animals. In this version, you passed through a poacher’s camp, where elephant tusks were displayed, and eventually worked with Warden Wilson to save Little Red, a baby elephant. But what a lot of people don’t realize, is that the first version of the ride featured a DEAD ELEPHANT CARCASS. You read that right — initially, you drove past a dead and bloodied Big Red who you were too late to save.

Photo from Reddit

Cast members and early guests found this horrifying (obviously) and very upsetting to both kids and adults. It seemed Disney was a little TOO heavy-handed with the “poaching is bad” message, so the dead Red was quickly removed.

2. Superstar Limo

Superstar Limo was an attraction that lived at Disney California Adventure for LESS THAN A YEAR — which should tell you how popular this thing was. The attraction put you in a limo as you drove around L.A. and saw weird caricature-style puppets of celebrities. It was very off-brand for Disney, with the stars being incredibly creepy. Superstar Limo was one of those things where you can’t help but ask yourself “who, exactly, was the target audience for this?”

©Disney

3. Settler’s Cabin

If you hopped aboard the Mark Twain River Boat in Disneyland in the 1960’s you may have seen this very family-friendly and not at all inappropriate scene on the riverbanks:

Photo from Imgur/ @8bitdan

You see, neighboring Indians had shot the settler, and set his cabin ablaze (and yes, that’s real fire)! And even if you didn’t notice it right away, the narrator stated, “And there, across the river, is proof—a settler’s cabin afire! The old pioneer lies nearby—the victim of an Indian arrow.” In the 1980’s it was changed to still be on fire, with a guy laying in the yard (sans arrow) — but now, it was a moonshiner who accidentally ignited his own cabin. But don’t worry, he’s not dead anymore — just passed out from drinking too much moonshine. MUCH more appropriate for Disneyland.

Nowadays, the cabin has been refurbished to be the home of Mike Fink, so it fits in with Tom Sawyer Island.

4. Meet…Ace Ventura?

In the 1990’s to help promote Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, there was a stage-show featuring the Pet Detective himself at Hollywood Studios (then MGM Studios.) The show was called Ace Ventura Pet Detective: Live in Action, and it debuted the same day the film hit theaters. And before you ask — no, Disney did not own or make Ace Ventura. They teamed up with Morgan Creek Productions and Warner Bros. who did make the film for the stage show. (To be fair, this was before Disney owned Lucasfilm or Muppet Studios which both had attractions in the park at the time.)

©Disney

Ace Ventura: Live in Action took place on the Streets of America, and included “Ace” climbing up the buildings to capture a large spider. I’ve watched it on YouTube, and it’s…something. But hey — you could meet Ace after and get a photo! Allllllllllrighty then.

5. Splash-tacular

This is another one that I cannot believe was greenlit. The story behind Splashtacular, set on a stage in front of the Fountain of Nations, was that Mickey and friends are confronted by a she-alien lady trying to steal all the color from our planet…naturally. Eventually, the alien calls her pet alien dinosaur, TerrorsauX, who appears from the bushes. A battle follows, but of course Mickey saves the day! The best part? Mickey is lifted in a cherry picker above the dancers during the finale.

©Disney

The show didn’t make a lot of sense to anyone (not sure why not), not to mention you got wet from the fountains, therefore Splashtacular was gone in just SEVEN months.

6. Going to…H E Double Hockey Sticks

Here’s one that still exists — Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride! And when say wild…we mean WILD. Have you ever realized that when you crash, you not only die, but you end up in…the bad place? (You also go to see Mr. Winky the bartender prior to this…so were we driving under the influence?)

Devil from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

Perhaps the wildest thing about Mr. Toad, is that while the ride is gone from Magic Kingdom, it still exists today in Disneyland! Also, this is a national treasure of an attraction, and I will actively cry if Disney ever removes it.

7. This Photo

One of our biggest questions comes from this photo from one of our team members. She says, “I have a picture of a mariachi band playing in front of the train station in MK in the early 80s I want explained. I’ve wondered for years about that mariachi pic, and my parents don’t remember. Did they escape via monorail from World Showcase?”

We may never know.

Do you remember any of these bizarre Disney attractions? Let us know in the comments!

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Molly is a lifelong Disney enthusiast, and former Walt Disney World Guest Relations Cast Member and tour guide. Her Walt Disney World favorites include Festival of the Lion King, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Fantasmic!, Mickey-shaped pretzels and rice krispie treats, and anything with Buzz Lightyear! She lives in Orlando with her husband (who she met in Guest Relations) and their two rescue dogs, Kronk and Cruella de Vil (Ella for short!)

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4 Replies to “Seven Times We Have No Idea What Disney Was Thinking”

  1. I remember riding on The Jungle Cruise in WDW and the skipper would pull out a gun and shoot the hippo to death after he popped up out of the water. 👀

  2. #7 – the mariachi band. That looks like the otiginal Frontierland train station platform – not the Main Street ststion at the front of the park. Since the western end of Frontierland is themed like the American southwest, that might explain the mariachis. If I recall, they played around the Mile Long Bar (now Pecos Bill’s).

  3. Omg! I remember the Ace Ventura show from a trip way back in 1996 I think. What a blast from the past 🤣 I believe you could also purchase ‘The Mask’ mask from the gift shop at that time too.

  4. I recall the mariachi band playing in one of the restaurants on one of our trips in Hyde mid-80’s. At that time I believe the only hotels were the Polynesian and the Contemporary. I believe we were dining at the Polynesian as that’s where we usually. stayed. I can remember my younger brother laughing and my mom shushing him. I remembered it vividly but was starting to think I’d dreamed it up until you shared that photo!!