Will Disney World Ever Update This Nearly Abandoned Land?

Many areas in Disney World are in a state of transformation, as major projects like Piston Peak at the Magic Kingdom, Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas are transforming those respective parks. However, that’s not the case everywhere.

There are some areas in Walt Disney World theme parks that feel like they haven’t been touched for years. Rides, buildings, and — in the cases we’re looking at today — whole lands!

Tomorrowland

Let’s begin in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, an area that has long given Disney Imagineers issues. Now, a caveat: Yes, the land did receive a massive new E-Ticket attraction in TRON: Lightcycle/Run just a few years ago. However, that coaster is located on its outskirts next to Space Mountain.

What we’re talking about today is the core of the land. The main entrance way, currently flanked by Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and.. uh… nothing, as the building that once housed Mission to Mars, ExtraTERRORestial Alien Encounter, and Stitch’s Great Escape still sits vacant.

Then there’s  Rocket Tower Plaza. Now, don’t get us wrong, there are still things we love in this area (PeopleMover for life!) and two attractions — Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Carousel of Progress —  are in the middle of and have announced refurbishments, respectively.

However, from an aesthetic and layout standpoint, the area still looks pretty much as it did when the Tomorrowland ’94 refurbishment debuted over 30 years ago.

We’re hoping that once Piston Peak and Villains Land are complete, Imagineering will turn their attention to Tomorrowland and pull the Magic Kingdom’s vision of the future out of its own past. We wouldn’t be shocked if we hear about a huge overhaul coming to this land within the next few years.

Germany Pavilion

Let’s move over to EPCOT, specifically the World Showcase. While a case can be made that there are several international pavilions that require an update, there’s perhaps none more stagnant than Germany.

Now, don’t get us wrong: There’s a lot to love about Germany. The shops, the food, the intricate details, the PRETZELS AND BEER! However, there’s also no denying that in many ways the land looks pretty close to how it did in 1982.

Perhaps the biggest irony is that the land was designed with something bigger in mind. The pavilion was originally supposed to feature a Rhine River Cruise attraction. As described in Disney’s 1976 annual report, the then-scheduled-for-opening-day attraction was to be “… a cruise down Germany’s most famous rivers — the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr, and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks will also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral.”

The attraction was still on schedule to be built as EPCOT was under construction, to the point where the load/unload portion of the ride’s show building, as well as an entrance gate to the queue, was built, and is still present today.  However, budget issues led to the ride being postponed to EPCOT’s “phase 2” before being canceled entirely.

Echo Lake

Finally, there’s the case of Echo Lake at Hollywood Studios. This loosely connected area stretches from the aforementioned lake to Star Tours, and features the park’s two oldest operating attractions – the aforementioned Star Tours and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – as well as For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Alone Celebration, and several of the park’s restaurants including the 50s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and the ABC Commissary.

Thanks to it’s art-deco California Crazy architecture, and the fact that it’s remained relatively the same since the park opened, this area is very popular amongst fans of the original Disney-MGM Studios. (Which does include me!) However, there’s no denying that the land feels a bit stagnant and separate from the rest of the park’s lands, all of which have been updated and/or replaced over the years.

While Walt Disney World is in the midst of a massive transformation, some areas of the resort seem — for better or worse — like they haven’t been touched in years. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Walt Disney World’s evolution.

Does This Mean Disney World Is Bringing Hollywood Studios Back From The Dead?

Which of these lands do you think is most in need of an update? Let us know in the comments below.

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