It Might Sound Weird, But I Can’t Stop Investigating These RANDOM Places at Disney World

I have a confession. I can’t stop talking about Disney World. It’s like my brain is filled with so much useless Disney knowledge and trivia that there’s nowhere for it to go but out of my mouth. So, here I am, back to chat about Disney World and answer your burning questions.

As a former Disney World Cast Member and current Disney World writer, I’ve overheard a lot of conversations in the parks. People ask some silly questions, like the famous “What time is the three-o’clock parade?“, but other inquiries make complete sense. Seriously, what’s up with the giant golden dome in EPCOT? Or the random full-scale ship? I’m so glad you asked!

The AllEars team has made it their mission to hunt down every lead, answer every question, and follow every story that comes across our desk. It’s our job to help people plan a better trip to Disney World, and part of being a Disney expert is knowing the lore (no matter how obscure!) of Disney Imagineering. So, come with us to talk about three of the weirdest abandoned spaces in Disney World — and what caused them to look so empty.

EPCOT’s Golden Dream Ship

The American Adventure Pavilion in EPCOT is a treasure trove of secrets. There’s an entire 30-minute attraction in this pavilion called (fittingly) The American Adventure. There’s a secret character pop-up event that happens from time to time. There’s even a seasonal EPCOT Festival food booth that is known to serve some GREAT snacks!

But there’s also a big ship in the World Showcase Lagoon, and it comes with an interesting backstory. No, it’s not a pirate ship. It’s called the Golden Dream, which may sound familiar if you’ve ever watched The American Adventure show — the “Golden Dreams” film montage near the end of the presentation features all kinds of American icons, like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Madonna, Beyonce, Barack and Michelle Obama, and LeBron James.

So, what’s the connection here? Well, the Golden Dream ship is actually a scale recreation of an 18th-century rum runner ship! While Imagineers were designing the plans for EPCOT and the World Showcase, the concept of an America-themed pavilion was tossed around. For a period of time, Imagineers considered placing a sleek, modern American pavilion by the entrance of EPCOT, but later, a  colonial-themed American Adventure Pavilion was placed in the back of World Showcase.

That’s where the ship comes in. In 1993, the 18th-century Golden Dream warship debuted in EPCOT, courtesy of Dering Consultants. The company that designed the ship states, “Dering designed and developed Disney’s Golden Dream 18th Century Revolutionary Warship from concept to completion,” adding that it’s a “historically accurate replica of a 1776 Continental rum runner sloop. A sloop is a sailing ship with a single mast and a fore-and-aft rig. Sloops have been both war and trading ships with a flat deck to hold a vast array of supplies.”

These days, the ship is a little different. That’s because the ship was damaged in 2004, and a new version was introduced. The current ship is technically a facade built around a floating dock.

Magic Kingdom’s Aunt Polly’s Restaurant

If you’re standing in Liberty Square or Frontierland in Magic Kingdom, you may have noticed a large yellow house across the Rivers of America. What’s up with that?

This is Aunt Polly’s, but these days, Polly’s place is abandoned. How sad!

Aunt Polly’s used to be a quick-service restaurant on Tom Sawyer Island, though these days, the restaurant sits empty. The seating area is still open, though, so if you want a quiet place to sit and take in the views of Magic Kingdom, do it before Tom Sawyer Island (and the Rivers of America) are GONE.

Here’s another fun fact! Soon, Disney will use the footprint of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to create a brand-new Cars Land. Here’s a peek at the concept art for the land. We’re expecting two new attractions, including a rally race ride with an off-road-style track.

Disney hasn’t shared a closing date for the Liberty Square Riverboat or Tom Sawyer Island yet, but we’ll be sure to share any updates. For now, take in the views and relax in the shade!

HOLD UP. A NEW ‘Cars’ Land Is Coming to Magic Kingdom!

EPCOT’s Wonders of Life Pavilion

Finally, we need to talk about the giant golden dome in EPCOT. What’s up with that? Well, you’re looking at the former Wonders of Live Pavilion.

This thing opened back in 1989 as part of EPCOT’s Future World. The pavilion focused on health, wellness, and the wonders of the human body. You may remember attractions like Body Wars, a motion-simulator ride that shrunk you down for a wild trip through the human bloodstream, or Cranium Command, where you followed a brain pilot trying to navigate the human mind. There were also interactive exhibits.

Eventually, this area started to seem a little, well, dated, and it ultimately closed in 2018. Disney had plans to transform this space into a new PLAY! Pavilion, a colorful, interactive space where you could play games, meet characters, and explore experiences blending virtual and real worlds. Sadly, that project quietly disappeared from Disney’s radar.

While the PLAY! Pavilion was listed on EPCOT park maps for a while, the golden dome was removed from new maps, and Disney has not shared any updates about its plans for this space.

These days, the dome sits empty. We’ve seen crews working on the pavilion before, but for now, the fate of the old Wonders of Life Pavilion is unclear. Got any ideas for the space?

So, the next time you’re at Disney World, feel free to impress your friends and family with your new knowledge of Disney Imagineering! Thanks for letting me share my Disney trivia with you — it’s been fun!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

“I Was Shocked By How Much I Really Liked This” – The Underrated EPCOT Restaurant You Shouldn’t Skip

Did you recognize any of these old icons? Let us know in the comments!

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