4 Misconceptions About Disney World “Back In the Day” That Boomers Are Begging People To Stop Believing

Disney World has certainly changed a lot since its opening in 1971 when Magic Kingdom opened to the public.

Some of those changes many fans adore and think were for the better, like the opening of the other three parks, but others who experienced the parks from the beginning are torn. Regardless of how they feel about the changes, there are tons of misconceptions about how the parks used to be that are commonly misunderstood, and we talked to some of them who really want to set the record straight.

Walt Disney is Not Frozen Under EPCOT

After Walt Disney passed away in 1966 from cancer, rumors began flying that he was cryogenically frozen before or after his death and stored underneath EPCOT to be revived at a future time.

However, in the early 1970s, Walt’s daughter Diane bluntly stated, “There is absolutely no truth that my father, Walt Disney, wished to be frozen. I doubt that my father had ever heard of cryonics.” Despite the clear denial from Diane and there being no evidence whatsoever that this ever occurred, so many people like to speculate that his remains are kept under EPCOT. If you really want to visit his final resting place however, you’ll need to head to a mausoleum in the Forrest Lawn Cemetery of Glendale, California where they’re interred.

The Current Version of Figment Isn’t Even Close to The Best

Unfortunately, many of us didn’t get to experience the OG EPCOT when it opened in 1982 and as we’ve already established, a lot has changed. In particular, what attractions are available in EPCOT have changed. Many fans who grew up going to EPCOT loved the original Journey into Imagination ride and are NOT fans of the current edition.

The second version of the attraction was called Journey Into Your Imagination and didn’t last long, as audiences weren’t fans of the story and OG attendees hated how Disney got rid of DreamFinder and barely featured Figment. The third edition, which you can experience right now, is called Journey Into Imagination with Figment, and while Figment is much more front and center, DreamFinder still hasn’t returned, and many fans feel it’s missing the original spark that made Journey into Imagination so loved.

It Used to Be “Cheap”

So here’s the thing — when we look back at what prices were when the resort first opened in 1971, it seems cheap to us. And while yes, inflation in recent years has skyrocketed pricing even higher than what a the original price would be when adjusted for said inflation, Disney World was never “cheap.”

It still wasn’t a theme park that anyone in any social class could go to — at the time of its inception, it still was something people had to save up for to experience, and even then, many people couldn’t afford to go. Now again, even MORE families aren’t able to afford a trip now due to how much prices have tripled and quadrupled, but Disney World was never considered “cheap.”

The OG EPCOT Was Boring

When you look at what exciting and thrilling attractions EPCOT has now vs. what was available back in the day, you may find yourself thinking that the original park was boring. The truth? It was far from it!

Remember, no one had seen ANYTHING like this before — no theme park was focused so heavily on the future and moving forward, and you certainly couldn’t visit 11 countries in one day anywhere else either. Park goers loved EPCOT all its offerings, so much so that many of them still miss them dearly now, despite the fact that they’d be supremely outdated. Trust us, those of us that did get to experience these attractions miss them dearly too, but we also try to remember that Walt’s vision was that nothing is ever fully complete!

We’re always bringing you the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to AllEars!

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What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!

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