Five Times Walt Disney World Fans Changed The Rules

Walt Disney World Resort is based on Walt Disney’s original idea that the parks are living, breathing places — they should always be changing and improving with time. Admittedly this doesn’t explain why Tomorrowland‘ seems to be stuck in its dated future, but we’ll save that convo for a later post.

We brace for change and try to trust Disney with its updates, but in the end, Disney World’s priorities still include keeping its fans happy and entertained. So if fans majorly protest certain changes — or if guests are changing the way they navigate the parks themselves because of a recent change — Disney takes notice.

Turns out, Disney fans have more of a say as to what goes on in the Disney Parks than they might’ve believed.

‘Ohana Noodles

When we originally heard that Disney’s Polynesian Resort was going to reopen its Signature dining restaurant, ‘Ohana, on July 9, 2021, we were stoked! We scrambled to the online menu to make sure all of our favorites were still there.

And we were happy to see that many were. We saw the signature ‘Ohana Bread Pudding — with its warm caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream goodness — was still listed, which *phew* was a major sigh of relief. 

But then we noticed it. The ‘Ohana Noodles were nowhere to be found.

NOODLES!

The ‘Ohana Noodles are a fan-favorite for the restaurant, which is why we were shocked to see the new menu trying to kick them to the curb and replace them with egg-fried rice. (No offense, rice. We’re sure you’re great and all, but you’re not the ‘Ohana Noodles.)

We weren’t the only ones distraught over this missing side dish — and, fortunately, all our concerned voices were heard. Before July 9th reared its rice-serving head, we noticed the ‘Ohana menu had changed once more with — TADA — the return of the ‘Ohana Noodles!

Oh, noodles. We’ll never take you for granted ever again!

 Citrus Swirl

It’s half-ice cream. It’s half orange Dole Whip. It’s all delicious. It’s the Citrus Swirl — and it caused quite the fan commotion over at Magic Kingdom‘s Sunshine Tree Terrace.

Sunshine Tree Terrace is located in Adventureland and provides guests with refreshing Dole Whip treats. Sometimes, we expect the treats to be seasonal, like the Orange Bird Christmas mousse, for instance. We’re well aware that the li’l guy’s treat was only meant for the holiday season, and then it’d be off on its merry little way.

The Citrus Swirl, however, is not one of those treats. It’s been a staple of this Quick Service location for…ever. It’s the perfect balance of soft-serve vanilla ice cream and orange Dole Whip in a cup.

But Magic Kingdom tried to fix something that wasn’t broke. For a brief period of time (we’re talkin’ a couple of days), they took away our Citrus Swirl and replaced it with an “Orange Swirl” that lacked the tartness of the original.

It didn’t take long for Sunshine Tree Terrace to start missing the OG swirl, too. It came back within hours, and all was right with the World! But we keep a close eye on the menu at all times because this has given us extreme trust issues.

Tangled Bathrooms

This item on this list sings a different tune than the others before it. Disney fans didn’t protest or throw a hissy-fit for any major developments in this up-and-coming section, but Disney World was busy taking note of the new ways their fans were starting to navigate the parks — which helped them shape this specific rest area.

Back in March 2013, Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland opened up a Tangled-themed rest area. Though fans wondered why Rapunzel got a potty station and not a ride, it became one of the most popular picturesque areas of the park. There are tons of little hidden secrets scattered underneath and above those hanging lanterns.

For example, this is a super unique angle to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks from! AND there are several Pascals in the area trying to play hide and seek with you! Can you find them all?

One of the most useful features in this area is the hidden outlets located inside the “tree stumps” in the proximal seating area.

While Imagineers were busy building this area, Disney was starting to notice how often guests turned toward their phones when searching for park advice. They launched the My Disney Experience App for the first time at the beginning of 2013 and knew that guests would be needing their phones more than ever before.

Thus, the outlets were a welcome and timely addition to this resting area. Over time, Disney would add more ports — as well as FuelRod stations — around the parks as well, helping guests stay charged and connected.

Journey Into Imagination

Ohhhhhh boy. We’ll try to sum up this controversy as briefly as we can, but poor Figment has had quite the rocky history.

Back in March of 1983, EPCOT’s Future World opened an immersive dark ride called Journey Into Imagination. If you were fortunate enough to ride this ride in its prime, then you got to meet The Dreamfinder. The Dreamfinder kind of reminds us of a red-headed Santa Claus, but instead of giving presents, he encouraged us to explore our imaginations.

Together, you, the Dreamfinder, and his faithful sidekick (Figment!) all took a journey through the skies into a fantastical realm that utilized screen technology and abstract props to dazzle dreamers of all ages.

But in 1998, something terrible happened. Journey Into Imagination closed its doors, and guests were devastated. Disney promised the ride was going to return new and improved. As it turned out, this was one instance where Disney led us astray.

The new version of Journey Into Imagination was renamed Journey Into *Your* Imagination. It removed the characters we’d grown to love so much — Dreamfinder and Figment — and added in Dr. Nigel Channing, who took guests on a dull tour that practically insulted riders for their lack of imagination.

Fans were outraged — so much so that the ride closed down again in 2001. It then reopened for the THIRD time in 2002 — this time as Journey Into Imagination With Figment!

This is the version still in EPCOT today.

Fans liked this version better but still missed Dreamfinder and the original charm of Journey Into Imagination. Whether this ride will undergo a fourth redesign in the future is yet to be determined. But many fans continue to cross their fingers for yet another overhaul for our little purple friend.

Roulé Aux Fromage

Okay, let’s talk about food again because recipes get experimented with all the time in Disney World. And we can appreciate that (most of the time). But over in EPCOT’s France Pavilion at the Quick Service location, Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, we really had to practice our patience when the Roulé Aux Fromage was messed with.

The Roulé Aux Fromage is a bacon and cheese roll that went missing from the Les Halles menu for a bit. This savory snack (or breakfast bite!) has been a crowd favorite, loaded with bacon and cheese. It has appeared as a spiraled roll, which was a fun way to peel-and-eat.

But when the Roule Aux Fromage returned earlier this year after a brief hiatus, it was served up in an oval-shaped roll with a large piece of cheese over the top and a dearth of bacon. Where’s the bacon, Les Halles? Where’s our bacon?

But lo! This was not the end of the story! We returned to Les Halles not long after and found the Roulé Aux Fromage was carrying a lot more bacon, thanks to fans’ feedback and wishy-washy reviews toward the less meaty version.

At last, the bacon-y goodness has returned!

Check out the best quick-service restaurants at Disney World HERE!

What rules have you noticed Disney World change thanks to fan feedback? Let us know in the comments below!

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