What part of Disney World is abandoned?

There's an abandoned island at Walt Disney World, and it's hidden in plain sight. Located in Bay Lake near Magic Kingdom and several Disney hotels, Discovery Island was once a subtropical oasis that welcomed guests for 25 years before closing in the late '90s.



The most famous "abandoned" sections of Disney World are Discovery Island and River Country. Discovery Island was an animal sanctuary in the middle of Bay Lake that closed in 1999, and River Country was Disney's first water park, which closed in 2001. Both sites remain standing but are overgrown with nature and strictly off-limits to the public. Additionally, parts of the Wonders of Life pavilion in EPCOT were effectively abandoned for years before being reimagined. In 2026, there is also talk of "abandoned" concepts, such as the original plans for a Villains Land which was delayed for years but is now officially under construction at Magic Kingdom. While Disney is quick to demolish or repurpose old sites, the remnants of these early 2000s closures remain a point of fascination for "urban explorers" who view them from the monorail or passing boats on the lake.

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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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While Disney could pick up and move some of its businesses from Orlando to another state, Disney World and its other theme parks aren't going anywhere. Moving all the infrastructure, including hotels, restaurants and shops as well as transportation to move guests around, just wouldn't be feasible.

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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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Discovery Island is an 11.5-acre 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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The Soviet Union fell in 1991, leading to economic turmoil. The government of Russia decided not to move forward with sponsoring the pavilion at EPCOT.

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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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Many situations can cause a Disney park to close, but it is rare that it happens. The parks, especially Disneyland, will close the gates but still be in operation due to reaching capacity on busy days, but it is rare for the parks to shut down completely to all guests.

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The island is still largely undeveloped as only 55 of the 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) are being used. Castaway Cay has approximately 140 Disney Cruise Line permanent residents who keep the island running daily.

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Disney officials stated that the Pleasure Island nightclub closures are in response to customers who desire more broad-based dining and retail opportunities. September 27, 2008 was Pleasure Island's last night.

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Frozen Ever After is one of the most popular attractions at EPCOT's World Showcase. Inspired by the now-classic animated movie “Frozen,” the ride takes you through the icy world of Arendelle.

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You'll definitely want to keep an eye on those park hours ahead of your trip and even during your trip. If you're picking a park based on hours alone, it seems Magic Kingdom is the current winner.

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