One Year Ago Today

On this day in the year 2003, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed for good.

I was fortunate enough to attend the final day of operation. I remember it as if it was yesterday....

I started the day off at the Disney MGM Studios. With it being Columbus Day Weekend, the park was packed. 90 minute waits for Tower, 75 minutes at Rock 'n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith....it was ridiculous. That afternoon, I went to the Magic Kingdom. Just days before this, Mickey's PhilarMagic had opened to the public and Wishes had had only two showings in front of public audiences. I took a clockwise tour of the park, starting in Adventureland of course and making my way out to Tomorrowland. Crowds here weren't as bad as they were at MGM, if I remember correctly. Anyways, I finally made it into Tomorrowland, and my first stop was at Mickey's Star Traders (the old version). At this time I decided to join the pin craze. I bought a Stitch lanyard and an AE pin. At the counter paying for the items, I asked the Cast Member if the attraction was still open, as I did not know if it was closed for good on the 11th or if it was closing for good AFTER the 11th. He didn't know.

I literally grabbed the bag out of his hand and ran my heart out. Past the restrooms, past Merchants of Venus....I turned a corner to find people in the "holding pen." I breathed a sigh of relief. I was going to be able to ride what had been my favorite attraction in the park again.

I rode four times that day. I had planned on sticking around to stay for the final show, but thanks to a terrible thunderstorm which occured just two minutes after Wishes had ended and "flooded" the streets of Tomorrowland, I had to leave an hour and a half early. I was just glad that I had been able to ride it at least one more time. I do believe that a few members on this site were able to attend the final showing, however.

The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was an incredible attraction. We screamed and we laughed. It featured an original story and original characters -- one of the last rides to do so in the past decade. Props to WDI....you guys created one amazing attraction that we shall never forget.

R.I.P.
June 20th, 1995 - October 11th, 2003

I remember a good 30 minutes after the final ride for guest, CM's got to ride our last timeas well. It was just awsome being in there with people who had put so much into making that ride run everyday. Knowing every word. And oh the screams that came out when skippy was gone forever.

Then after that going into the chamber was more of a party then anything else. I remember some CM's went up top during the dark ride with water guns and got some of us....People like me never let the bars come down all the way so I was able to get out and run around. It was awsome.

I still wish I could know if us 2nd shift peeps had the last showing or if 3rd shift did anything else.

But I am so looking forward to see experiment 626. :sohappy:

One year later. . . we miss ya AE. Glad Skippy was able to make it back - but let's hope he's cured of his chicken pox! :lookaroun

I find it extremely hard to believe that it takes over a year to swap AE for Stitch. Ridiculous!

Yeah, NemoRocks, I agree that AE was a good new attraction for Tomorrowland and I was shocked they pulled the plug on it.

Oh well. . .

Count me among the masses looking forward to the new attraction. ** crosses fingers **

Thanks for bringing this to our attention today.

I am getting anxious to see SGE. It opens officially the 16th I beleive so I'm making a day trip that first weekend.

RIP A.E. - one of the best attractions ever.

I loved it even though my little brother had like a panic attack on it because he was so scared.

Man this was easily the worst weekend of my life.

First Tennessee gets killed by Georgia 41-14 and then I am up here while my favorite attraction in the world is getting ready to die. I still kick myslef for not trying to go down to WDW for that last day. But it would be too much to drive 12 hours, see AE a couple of times, and then drive right back.

I will NEVER get over losing this attraction (as you all already knew) and I still get emotional some times when I think about it not being there the next time I go into the Magic Kingdom. My trips to Disney World will not be the same anymore.

if they happen to still have the upper area of the attraction open to employees.... they could always help make it as good as AE was....

(will they keep that part...?)