Why Disney Closes Rides – Everything You Need to Know

Today, let’s discuss a question people ask me a lot.

Why does Disney close rides? It’s a logical thing to wonder, as it seems like an expensive choice at a theme park.

You have this perfectly functional ride, and since Disney built it, you know it’s (at least) pretty good.

So, why would Disney choose to spend money closing rides that work and replacing them with something else?

The reality is that Disney has several reasons. Let’s talk about some of the reasons why Disney closes rides.

Why Did Disney Close California Screamin’?

Let’s start with an example of how an overall park philosophy evolves over time.

When Imagineers created Disney California Adventure (DCA), they envisioned a park that celebrated the majesty of the Golden State.

California has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful states due to its national parks.

Also, Hollywood has grown into the embodiment of American pop culture.

So, a theme park celebrating California could feature breathtaking visuals and attractions based on celebrities.

That was the thought right up until people exited Superstar Limo on the first day.

At that point, everyone realizes that mistakes have been made.

DCA languished for years afterward due to the unwelcome theming.

California Screamin’ proved one of the few bright spots, pleasing guests throughout its 16-year run.

However, park officials sagely decided to pivot from the generic California theme.

Disney leaned heavily on its franchises, planning to remake DCA as a more desirable tourist destination.

Imagineers added new Neighborhoods at the park, and these locations celebrated various Pixar and Marvel characters.

When Disney made the announcement about its upcoming changes, everyone knew California Screamin’s days were numbered.

Sure enough, Disney re-themed the attraction to something Pixar-related instead.

Objectively, the Incredicoaster is a more entertaining ride, and you’ll discover that statement applies to most of the changes we’ll discuss.

Typically, when Disney chooses to close something, the follow-up attraction is much better.

While California Screamin’ was excellent, the Incredicoaster better fits DCA’s newfound emphasis on Disney intellectual properties (IPs).

Why Did Disney Close The Great Movie Ride?

Here’s a similarly challenging decision.

After all, when Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened, it was a joint venture with MGM.

The Great Movie Ride highlighted that collaboration, celebrating some of the greatest films from the two iconic studios.

Alas, MGM sued Disney before the park even opened, creating a rift that proved impossible to repair.

While Disney steadily improved Hollywood Studios throughout the years, this park struggled as well.

During the 2010s, many fans argued it wasn’t even a half-day park, a term of derision for parks lacking attractions.

Disney officials prioritized Hollywood Studios by adding Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

However, this switch toward more Disney IP created a problem.

The Great Movie Ride symbolized the very theme park concept Disney was spending more than $1 billion to change.

So, Disney officials gritted their teeth and closed a classic Disney attraction.

Wisely, Disney stacked the deck by building a new ride starring Mickey Mouse, a first in theme park history.

Since fans couldn’t very well criticize Mickey Mouse, the decision proved wise, although many of us lament what was lost.

Why Did Disney Close Splash Mountain?

I…think you know the answer to this one.

The last thing any of us wants to do is relitigate the Song of the South fiasco.

Suffice to say that the movie featured a questionable story when it debuted, and time has proven particularly unkind.

In pop culture terms, Song of the South was canceled long before anyone ever knew that term.

Modern officials pretend like Song of the South doesn’t exist, which is a good idea in general.

In this specific instance, the distaste for the movie proved particularly problematic.

That’s because a brilliant Imagineer named Tony Baxter gained a moment of inspiration wherein he invented Splash Mountain.

Baxter took the working Audio-Animatronics from a failed Disney show, America Sings, and turned it into the critters from Song of the South.

As a ride, Splash Mountain was utterly charming, brimming with vibrant joy and exceptional music.

Alas, that connection to Song of the South became more uncomfortable each year.

So, Disney officials understandably chose to modernize the same ride skeleton with a more positive story.

The Princess and the Frog undeniably exemplifies Disney’s Fifth Key, Inclusion, whereas Song of the South violated it.

The regrettable part is that a well-intended ride had to close due to its connection to something only loosely related. 

Mainly, Splash Mountain’s relationship with Song of the South was The Laughing Place, the main characters, and the soundtrack.

Still, that proved too much. Fortunately, two of the strengths of The Princess and the Frog are the main characters and the soundtrack.

Hopefully, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure thrills the next generation of theme park fans just as Splash Mountain always had.

Why Did Disney Close Test Track?

While we try to pretend it’s not true, commerce drives many theme park decisions.

In the case of Test Track, Disney has accepted GM’s sponsorship since this attraction had been called World of Motion.

We’re talking about 40+ years of deals between Disney and GM. So, a level of trust exists between the two parties.

Historically, when GM has wanted a change, Disney has listened. In fact, that’s why World of Motion became Test Track.

More recently, GM wanted Chevrolet to become the ride’s exclusive sponsor.

Park officials consented by adding a Chevrolet showroom and any number of car pamphlets outside the ride.

I still have many of these in a vacation folder somewhere because the sponsorship has amused me.

Many of the Chevrolet cars on display aren’t ones that most Test Track fans can afford. As such, I view it as a strange bit of marketing.

However, one trend has driven much of what we’re witnessing now. Cars have switched to electric power.

Gas guzzlers are on the way out, and Test Track’s current iteration fails to reflect this reality.

Chevrolet/GM requested an update, and Disney wasn’t really in a position to say no.

After all, would you willingly jeopardize a decades-long business arrangement?

Yeah, this one’s solely about commerce. But I’ll add that the last two times GM requested changes, the ride experience improved dramatically.

So, I’m not really sweating the details about Test Track 3.0. I’m confident it’ll be amazing.

Apropos of nothing, I’ll toss in that many fans described Test Track as the Tron ride due to its unique visuals.

Now that Walt Disney World hosts an actual Tron ride, Test Track’s existence in its current state muddies the narrative.

Why Did Disney Close Twilight Zone Tower of Terror?

Here’s the bookend to the California Screamin’ discussion. The two attractions changed for the same reason.

With California Screamin’, Disney added a Pixar element. Conversely, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror switched to Marvel.

Despite the thunderous fury of hundreds of thousands of upset fans, Disney willingly killed Tower of Terror.

In its stead, Disney introduced more of a storytelling drop tower experience wherein guests interact with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

As usual, the team struggles mightily before ultimately saving the day. It’s a charming ride that I recently indicated fans got wrong.

Everyone presumed Disney would create an inferior attraction from the same ride structure. That’s simply not the case.

In fact, the Monsters after Dark Halloween overlay is arguably Disney’s best…err, not counting Haunted Mansion Holiday.

In short, Disney usually has good reasons for closing its rides, and fans are usually better served for the changes.

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