I’ve Gone to Disney World Every Day for YEARS. Here’s What’s Changed the Most.

Okay, so it’s no secret that I grew up with Disney World and it has a special place in my heart.

I’ve been going to Disney World daily for YEARS so I’ve seen many celebrations, anniversaries, changes, overhauls, and more. Yes, Disney World has changed a lot, mostly because that was Walt Disney’s original concept for the parks. But some things have changed more than others, and I’d like to talk about what’s changed the most.

Let’s talk about EPCOT. Now, EPCOT feels like it’s carrying the weight of the past on its shoulders as it tries to balance its original vision of the future with staying relevant to what its visitors expect from a theme park.

For example, the unveiling of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza was hard to process. EPCOT had construction walls up for YEARS and when that space was revealed, it felt underwhelming. It was just a plain room and what felt like a poorly designed lackluster outdoor performance venue.

Over time, though, with events like the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, I’ve started to see the space’s potential. It feels like Disney is just getting started in showing us what the new space is capable of, and I’m cautiously optimistic about that.

Then there’s the Fountain of Nations, which I still miss deeply. Its replacement — the gardens with pavements and rusted structures — felt dystopian at first. However, I’ve learned to find beauty in it. I’ve come to appreciate sitting on those wooden benches around the rusted structures with their natural wood smell thinking about how EPCOT reflects a future that hasn’t gone exactly as we dreamed it might, but it’s still beautiful if we stop to appreciate the details.

The passage of time is most obvious in Magic Kingdom. For example, the rocks leading into Tomorrowland have been painted and dulled many times over the years. Now, it looks like Disney is leaving them for good, with the previous bronze color beginning to re-emerge, representing the future meeting the past (or maybe the past overwhelming the future).

Shockingly, much of Tomorrowland feels faded except for the areas that were touched up in anticipation of the opening TRON Lightcycle / Run. Tomorrowland’s challenge is its mission to represent the future, which, unfortunately, has a short shelf life and high cost. Modern becomes dated quickly and that’s exactly where Tomorrowland is right now. Yes, we’ve been there a number of times since 1971, but this feels like the longest period since a major refurbishment. The land is looking more rundown than I ever remember seeing it before.

That being said, though, I dream of someone like Imagineer Kelsey Roberts, who designed the queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT, taking on a Tomorrowland revamp. She has a way of creating retro-futuristic designs that somehow feel both modern and timeless. I’d love to see her bring cohesion and a real sense of futurism back to the land.

Animal Kingdom, though, is amazing because you can literally watch the passage of time there through the animals being born and growing up. Last year, a baby elephant named Corra was born, and I’ve loved watching her grow on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. She’s not a baby anymore, and it’s incredible to see her thriving.

There’s also Bakso, the tiger cub born in October 2024. Disney’s been sharing Bakso’s journey on YouTube with its “Tiger Tuesdays.” The birth and grown of animals at Animal Kingdom just makes the passage of time more profound and personal than in any other Disney park.

Hollywood Studios is completely unrecognizable from when I was a kid. Back then, the centerpiece of the park wasn’t a thrill ride or a massive IP-driven land — it was the two-hour Backlot Tour. Let me tell you, the tour wasn’t just a theme park attraction, it was a lifestyle. You boarded a tram and spent two hours of your Disney World vacation going through exhibits that actually taught you  how movies and TV shows were made.

This wasn’t some made-up Disney magic — it was the real deal. Also, The New Mickey Mouse Club, my favorite show as a kid, was filmed right there because it was an actual working studio. If you were lucky, you could even occasionally catch an actor or crew member working on set. It wasn’t about the anticipation of a big thrill ride. Instead, it was about the glamour and excitement of stepping behind the curtain of Hollywood.

Now, I will acknowledge that Hollywood Studios has transformed beautifully into a park full of some of Disney World’s most popular rides. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land are incredible. But that original spark, the real magic of the movies, just isn’t there anymore. I mourn its lost as deeply as I mourn the loss of edutainment in the original EPCOT.

Back to the Backlot Tour: it wasn’t about riding through movie sets. It was about inspiring people to dream, to create, and to feel like they could be part of movie magic. And I moved confidently through my childhood and teen years into my young adulthood with that confidence and even got a chance to work in the entertainment industry for my entire adult life.

For the years that the Backlot Tour ran as the flagship attraction of Disney MGM Studios, it gave us a chance to really live a dream, and it made a life in entertainment feel beyond irresistable.

Check back with AllEars again soon for more.

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