Another piece of Disney World history has gone away forever.
Disney’s theme parks are always evolving, for better or worse. Those who see it as the former will point to the fact that we consistently see new and updated rides and attractions make their way into the parks, while those who see things from the perspective of the latter often lament that the parks are becoming unrecognizable from what they once were.
On Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, the Magic Kingdom saw one of its remaining opening day attractions close forever.
The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade opened with the park on October 1st, 1971. Very similar to Disneyland’s own opening day shooting gallery, the attraction was initially an uncharge experience simulated a shootout in Tombstone, Arizona, over Boot Hill in 1850, with targets including a jail, hotel, bank, and cemetery. Originally, the guns shot lead pellets, but these were replaced with infra-red light rifles during the summer of 1982, due to both safety and maintenance reasons.
Despite the cultural climate around guns changing considerably over Disney World’s first 50 years, the Shootin’ Arcade was a staple of the park, with the only MAJOR changes being the aforementioned switch to infrared, as well as the September 2021 transition from an upcharge experience to one that was included as part of the park.
That all changed in June of 2024 when it was announced that Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade would be closing on June 23rd to make way for a new Disney Vacation Club Lounge. According to Disney, this latest lounge will be “inspired by the bygone era of exploration and adventure.”
We caught a glimpse of the shuttered shooting gallery on our most recent visit to the park.
It’s currently behind construction walls, likely waiting for work to begin ASAP on the new DVC lounge. We’re a bit conflicted about the loss of the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. On the one hand, it has dwindled in popularity over the years and the social appropriateness of having a realistic gun-related attraction in the Magic Kingdom is much more debatable in 2024 than it was in 1971. However, on the other hand, we hate seeing an opening day element of Magic Kingdom — and something that takes up a large slice of prime Frontierland real estate — disappear in favor of a lounge that a VERY small percentage of guests will be able to use.
While the Magic Kingdom’s Shootin’ Arcade is gone forever, similar attractions still exist at Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland. Stay tuned to AllEars for further coverage of the upcoming lounge.
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Will you miss the Frontierland Shooting Gallery, or are you ready for a change? Let us know in the comment below.
I will really, really. miss the shooting gallery. It enabled me to test my marksmanship over the years without going to a real rifle range. As a DVC member, I would take the shooting gallery over a new DVC lounge any day! Have been DVC member since 1998 and a Disney stock holder for ages. . . ..Disney is making a HUGE MISTAKE!