3 Controversial Disney Ride Changes That Paid Off (and 2 That Made Things Worse)

In May of 2026, Disney opened the newly rethemed Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets. The new take on the classic coaster, which replaced Aerosmith with Jim Henson’s most famous creations, has received rave reviews for the way it integrated the Muppet characters, use of animatronics, and countless easter eggs referencing the wide swath of Muppet history, including Muppet*Vision 3D.

The Muppet-ization of the coaster isn’t the first time that Disney has grafted popular characters onto a preexisting ride or attraction. Some have worked, and others… not so much. These are some examples of both!

Paid Off: Adding Captain Jack Sparrow to Pirates of the Caribbean

Alright, let’s start with a controversial pick. Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of Disney’s best-known attractions since the Disneyland version first debuted in 1967. Over the next 6 decades, versions of the attraction were added to nearly all of Disney’s resorts around the world. In 2003, Disney released the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, which kick-started a billion-dollar film franchise, partially thanks to the Oscar-nominated performance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

In 2006, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise came full circle when several story elements and animatronics, including multiple Jack Sparrows, from the film were added to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions of the attractions. While some fans feel the animatronics feel out of place — Disney fans are upset about a ride change? No way… — I have to disagree there. They fit well in the attraction and integrate Captain Jack into the ride’s universe, while at the same time not taking away from the classic layout and Marc Davis vibe of the attraction. That’s something that can’t be said for the next entry on the list…

Made Things Worse: The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management

In the late 1990s, Disney decided that the Disney World version of the Walt-era classic animatronic show Enchanted Tiki Room – known since opening as the Tropical Serenade at the Florida resort – needed a makeover. The new take on the show, which opened in April of 1998, was known as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management). The new show featured Iago and Zazu (from Aladdin and The Lion King, respectively) “taking over” the show from the original Tiki birds and running afoul (or I guess “a fowl”) of Uh-Oa, the Tiki Goddess of Disaster.

The show was, uh, certainly something. Iago and Zazu, lovable as they are in their respective films, didn’t fit with the show, and it didn’t help that so much of their dialogue was written to take potshots at the classic show. To put it mildly, the new version was unpopular among Disney fans. However, it remained in operation until 2011, when a fire destroyed the Iago Animatronic and forced the show’s closure.

Paid Off: Adding Disney Characters to “it’s a small world”

Originally opened as part of the Pepsi pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, “it’s a small world” — with its Mary Blair-styled visuals and “doll” animatronics, Rolly Crump-designed whimsical world, and instantly recognizable Sherman Brothers theme song — is one of Disney’s most universally beloved attractions. In the 2000s, the Hong Kong version of the attraction debuted with 30 versions of well-known Disney characters done in Mary Blair’s trademark style throughout the attraction.

Copies of these figures were added to the Disneyland version during a refurbishment during the same period, to the chagrin of some fans who feared that the figures would “cheapen” the ride’s themes of international unity. However, that hasn’t been the case, as the Disney character “dolls” have integrated nicely into the classic.

Made Things Worse: Tarzan’s Treehouse

Originally opening in 1999, Tarzan’s Treehouse was a quick retheme of the original Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (which had opened in 1962) to coincide with the theatrical debut of Tarzan. Granted, this character addition wasn’t quite the unmitigated disaster that Under New Management was, but it really overstayed its welcome before closing in 2021… only to be replaced by a new take on a Swiss Family Robinson-inspired experience.

Paid Off: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

One of Disneyland’s original E-Tickets, the original Submarine Voyage headlined the 1959 “second grand opening” of Disneyland. The partially underwater attraction wowed guests for nearly 40 years before closing, allegedly due to budget reasons in 1998. Disney Imagineers, desperate to reopen the attraction, pitched reopening it with an overlay based on Disney’s 2001 film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. However, that film’s box office failure put the revamp on hold, leaving the ride in a state of flux. However, it was saved by a Pixar hit…

After sitting vacant for years, the attraction was refurbished and reopened as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage — based on the 2003 mega-hit Finding Nemo — in 2007. The Nemo version has been a Disneyland staple for nearly 20 years.

Disney has a long, hit-or-miss history of adding characters and IP overlays to existing attractions, and so far it seems that the Muppet Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster fits into the “made things better” category. Stay tuned to AllEars for more takes on Disney history.

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What are your thoughts on these attractions? Let us know in the comments below.

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