Which WDW rides are "untouchable"

[Walt Disney1955]

Often we complain of great, classic rides that are replaced. Such is life I guess, what can you do? But which ones will never in a million years be taken away from WDW?

Small World - The aura alone from the 1964 World's Fair would keep it here. Plus one of Walt's babies
Peter Pan - I have never seen it at any time of the day - or night - not have an insanely long lineup. A truly magical ride although it could be longer
Snow White - Walt's first movie. The ride doesn't captivate a person like Pan, but it's a classic, end of story
Dumbo - no comment needed
Golden Carousel - ditto
Pirates - My pick as the best ride in the park, an oldie but a goodie
Haunted Mansion - see Pirates
All the "Mountains" - all are too popular and they bring the element of a thrill ride
Hall of Presidents - Great show, another thing you will never see outside of a Disney park
Jungle Cruise - An original, and although it takes up a lot of space it's there for good
Tom Sawyer's Island - would be too hard to do anything else with it, it stays
One Man's Dream - they'll never get rid of an attraction that tells the story of the man who started it all
Tower of Terror - our grandkids will take their grandkids on it, trust me
Everest - Probably the most thrilling ride in the park, plus a great photo op in many places in AK

Well that does it, I think. I left out everything in Epcot. Nothing is untouchable there IMO. And the rest of the parks don't have the classic rides like MK does which leaves a lot of them open

Honourable mention - Carousel of Progress should be left alone. Another of Walt's favourites and tells a great story. Country Bear Jamboree in my mind should always stay. It fits the Frontierland theme to a tee and does not take up much space at all. I know DL got rid of it (which is a shame) but honestly what else would you put there?

 

[Wilt Dasney]

One Man's Dream - they'll never get rid of an attraction that tells the story of the man who started it all

They already did. That's why we have OMD now.

I was thinking about this topic just the other day actually. My list would be shorter than yours though. After Mr. Toad, I don't see any of the movie-based Fantasyland dark rides as untouchable. IASW I would be inclined to agree with, because of the history and the way the ride has become so identified with Disney parks (even to people who have never even been to one).

The iconic thrill rides (Mountains, Everest, ToT) are probably safe for a long, long time. Ditto Pirates and Mansion. The Castle and the SSE exterior (if not the ride inside) strike me as about as close to permanent as you can get. That's about all that comes to my mind. The other stuff (Dumbo, carousel, HoP) would cause a huge uproar if they took them out, but I wouldn't be shocked if it happened.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I was thinking about this topic just the other day actually. My list would be shorter than yours though. After Mr. Toad, I don't see any of the movie-based Fantasyland dark rides as untouchable. IASW I would be inclined to agree with, because of the history and the way the ride has become so identified with Disney parks (even to people who have never even been to one).

I thought of touching on that in the OP but it got me thinking, was Mr. Toad ever as popular as those other dark Fantasyland rides? I loved it, but if you ride Snow White or Peter Pan you KNOW those were Disney movies. Mr. Toad is never mentioned as a classic Disney movie in the same breath. Plus it is still at DL for what it's worth

 

[Krack]

They added characters to Small World in DL and added Jack Sparrow to Pirates. If either of those two rides can be changed, there are no "untouchables" in WDW. Nothing will ever be as close to "untouchable" as IASW or Pirates.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

They added characters to Small World in DL and added Jack Sparrow to Pirates. If either of those two rides can be changed, there are no "untouchables" in WDW. Nothing will ever be as close to "untouchable" as IASW or Pirates.

Nothing is untouchable in the sense that it can't be altered, that's right. They also painted the castle pink and put the wand up on SSE.

I read the question more as 'What parts of WDW can we assume will still be there generations from now?'

 

[jonnyc]

I'm not sure about Snow White being untouchable. Whilst I think it will always be in FL in some capacity, I think it could easily be replaced with a far more immersive and grand SW expierience (At least I would like to see this happen).

 

[Master Gracey 5]

Nothing is untouchable in the sense that it can't be altered, that's right. They also painted the castle pink and put the wand up on SSE.

I read the question more as 'What parts of WDW can we assume will still be there generations from now?'

I agree with that assessment of the question. Everything will eventually need an update and refurbishment, but the ride itself will remain.

I would take Tom Sawyer's Island off the list even though the actual island would remain. Granted its classic American literature, but I'm sure they could figure something new to do with it if they tried. Heck, if they wanted to push Princess and the Frog you could make some sort of bayou attraction area on the island.

 

[DisGal]

I think SSE should be added to the list. I can't imagine it being replaced with anything else.

 

[bgraham34]

I don't think any ride this day in age is untouchable. Of that list I really only think Peter Pan would be it. Small World has had its changes and I am sure the Jungle Cruise in the not too distant future will have some sort of upgrade.

 

[UberMouse]

20000 Leagues Under the Sea.......Oh wait, Darn! That was always, and strangely my favorite ride when I was a kid. I could not wait to ride it.

But, of current rides, CoP should never be touched. I know it is dated and hokie, but it is my Dad's favorite and I know that he will not always be with me. So when that day comes I would like to be able to ride it just to know that I am doing something that he loved.

-Jeff

 

[muse1983]

It wouldn't bother me a bit to see Tom Sawyers Island and Snow White go. Snow White deserves an updated attraction, the one they have now is like something you would ride at a carnival.

I can only dream that Tom Sawyers Island will one day go away and be brought back as the LOST island. However I'd rather not see anything LOST related in Magic Kingdom, if they could somehow take it to Hollywood Studios that would be great.

 

[SuperSaint]

It wouldn't bother me a bit to see Tom Sawyers Island and Snow White go. Snow White deserves an updated attraction, the one they have now is like something you would ride at a carnival.

Gotta agree on both counts. Tom Sawyer could use some updating or just re-purposing of some sort. I bet if they came out with a new Tom Sawyer movie or something they would certainly update it.

But Snow what was extremely disappointing to me. I went on it for the first time last year, as a 25 year old, and felt like I'd been on better carnival rides. Luckily there was no wait. It unfortunately was one of the many rides that moved MK down my list of favorite parks.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Nothing is untouchable in the sense that it can't be altered, that's right. They also painted the castle pink and put the wand up on SSE.

I read the question more as 'What parts of WDW can we assume will still be there generations from now?'

Correct. That was the point in the OP. A refurbishment and an added element to the ride is fine. Things improve. But the core and the point of the ride remains the same. I was thinking more along the lines of a ride ceasing to exist

 

[mickey2008.1]

space mt-where else can you ride the mousetrap in the dark
slash mountain-too good of theming and layout
IASW
Jungle cruise
SSE-park icon
LWtL
ToT
Backlot Tour-the reason for hollywood studios
KS-same as above
EE-New park icon

 

[BrerFrog]

space mt-where else can you ride the mousetrap in the dark
slash mountain-too good of theming and layout
IASW
Jungle cruise
SSE-park icon
LWtL
ToT
Backlot Tour-the reason for hollywood studios
KS-same as above
EE-New park icon

Oh God, I hope not!

Anyway, mine would be:
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Peter Pan
It's a Small World
Cinderella's Carrousel
Dumbo
Jungle Cruise
Caroussel of Progress
Pirates of the Caribbean

Spaceship Earth

Tower of Terror
Rock n Roller Coaster
The Great Movie Ride

Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Saffaris

I hope I didn't forget any rides.

 

[glee]

Pirates, The mountains, Peter pan!!! Practically every ride.....Except Figment (hAHA eVERYONE KNOWS MY DISLIKE FOR THE LIZARD) :ROFLOL:

 

[JimboJones123]

I would totally argue against keeping Tom Sawyer's Island. This is the largest waste of Real Estate that the Disney Corporation owns.

I don't know if that means building a giant bridge to a new land and killing the riverboat, or even filling in the moat, but MK's capicity issues may get much worse than better with the new Fantasyland. When people cut their second day in another park for a third day here, adding a few carnival rides and Ariel may not be enough.

Heck, they could even keep the front 1/3 of river filled. But there could be a Villians land and another whole repurposed land added.

Just a few practical ideas.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Nothing, no sacred cows, but something new and additional before anything else is removed or seasonal or whatever term Disney speak is these days for being cheap

 

[Duckberg]

HMMMmmmm!

It wouldn't bother me a bit to see Tom Sawyers Island and Snow White go. Snow White deserves an updated attraction, the one they have now is like something you would ride at a carnival.

I can only dream that Tom Sawyers Island will one day go away and be brought back as the LOST island. However I'd rather not see anything LOST related in Magic Kingdom, if they could somehow take it to Hollywood Studios that would be great.

Interesting post. Since Snow White is part of the core Disney legend a upgrade/redo would be in order. Tom Sawyer is sadly probably a very dated Boomer thing, even IF that. So packing up that attraction wouldn't bother me Duckberg

 

[Edeyore]

I think SSE should be added to the list. I can't imagine it being replaced with anything else.

It will just have 500 versions.