What Disney parks are abandoned in Orlando?

These Are Disney World's Most Infamously Abandoned Places - Inside the Magic
  • Discovery Island.
  • Disney's River Country.
  • Wonders of Life Pavilion.
  • Pop Century Legendary Years.
  • Stitch's Great Escape!
  • Aunt Polly's at Tom Sawyer Island.
  • Galactic Starcruiser.




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Discovery Island welcomed Disney World guests for 25 years before closing in 1999. Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products.

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After Disney's death in 1966, the EPCOT concept was abandoned, as the company was uncertain about the feasibility of operating a city. In the 1970s, WED Enterprises began developing a second theme park for the resort to supplement Magic Kingdom as that park's popularity grew.

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Although Disney never officially stated its reasons for closing the park, poor attendance and high maintenance costs, combined with the newer and bigger Disney's Animal Kingdom being opened a year before, are the most likely causes. Since its closing, the island has sat largely abandoned, with no signs of development.

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In 1999, Disney closed its Discovery Island wildlife habitat at Walt Disney World, perhaps due to changes in Florida laws which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water parks. The property was abandoned but not demolished.

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River Country is one of only two Disney parks to permanently close, along with Discovery Island, which is situated parallel to the water park.

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Today in Disney history, Discovery Island ceased operations, a few months after closing to visitors in April 1999. Disney's original Discovery Island closed in 1999, but a version of the concept continues on thanks to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

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The island has remained closed to the public since 1999. Additionally, Walt Disney World has banned all outings to the park — in fact, you're not allowed to get within 50 feet of its shoreline — and legal action may be taken if you're found trespassing.

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According to state and federal charges filed against Disney in September 1989, Cast Members at Discovery Island killed vultures, kept dozens of other vultures in a tiny shed without adequate food and water, used guns to shoot at falcons and hawks, and intentionally destroyed eggs in the nests of ibises and egrets.

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Additionally, the only corporate sponsor to step up was a company based in South Africa, and Disney was not willing to let the pavilion be associated with the Apartheid regime. Shortly after this, the concept would end up getting cancelled.

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#1 – The Best Disney Park – Magic Kingdom Coming in at number one is the original 1971 Walt Disney World park, Magic Kingdom! Home to the most magical castle on Earth and some of the most classic attractions in theme parks.

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In 2007, the pavilion closed permanently, with no official reason given. While it is not operational to the public, it is still commonly used for private and corporate events. In 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions when Epcot hosted the Food and Wine festival in the pavilion.

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Disney announced plans to close Splash Mountain – at Disneyland and Walt Disney World – in 2020 after a petition to change the beloved water ride's theme went viral.

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The history of Disney's Art of Animation Resort is intricately tied to Pop Century Resort – and involves a hotel that was abandoned for over a decade. If you're a junkie for abandoned places, you've probably heard about River Country or Discovery Island – Disney's famously infamous abandoned attractions.

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Closing Date for Disney's Blizard Beach This adorable water park will be closing in the Spring. Disney's Blizzard Beach water park is open to Guests through March 18, 2023. It will close on March 19, 2023.

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The first time Walt Disney World closed was in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd. In 2001, the park's closed for a day due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since then, the park had also closed for short times due to other hurricanes that rolled through the state.

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Discovery Island Lives On In Its Own Way The opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998 cemented the end of Discovery Island as Guests now had an entire theme park focused on animals. As such, the animals who previously resided on Discovery Island were moved to the new Park or to AZA institutions around the country.

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Discovery Island is an 11.5-acre (4.7 ha) island in Bay Lake, Florida. It is located on the property of Walt Disney World in the city of Bay Lake. Between 1974 and 1999, it was an attraction open to guests, who could observe its many species of animals.

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Previous rumors of Disney completely pulling out of Florida have been unfounded. In April, a satirical story about Disney's plans to relocate its Disney World theme park to a 1,000-acre parcel of land in Atlanta, Georgia, made the rounds prompting people to ask if Disney was leaving Florida for Georgia.

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For Disney, it would mean losing a significant source of revenue, as the company's Florida operations include four theme parks, two water parks, several hotels, and numerous other attractions that draw millions of visitors each year.

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