Worst Move in Parks History

[Chef Mickey]

They gained plenty from removing it. One, they didn't have to pay to fix it, two, they no longer have to pay for operational costs, and three, there's now more monetizable space in Future World. If they truly gained nothing from removing it, they never would have spent the money to remove it.

All aspects of the park contribute to enjoyment. You can't justify removing X to put a "more profitable" item or reduce costs. If you could do that, you'd end up building nothing except cheap pop up stores to sell junk for high prices, but then you'd no longer have a place people want to go.

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

Nothing will ever top JII’s destruction. Not even ROA.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They gained plenty from removing it. One, they didn't have to pay to fix it, two, they no longer have to pay for operational costs, and three, there's now more monetizable space in Future World. If they truly gained nothing from removing it, they never would have spent the money to remove it.

I didn’t think anyone would defend that decision but ok!

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

All aspects of the park contribute to enjoyment. You can't justify removing X to put a "more profitable" item or reduce costs. If you could do that, you'd end up building nothing except cheap pop up stores to sell junk for high prices, but then you'd no longer have a place people want to go.

Someone's gonna be real upset when they find out about the Rivers of America

I didn’t think anyone would defend that decision but ok!

You said they gained nothing, I simply pointed out that they did in fact gain something. That doesn't mean I like that they got rid of it.

 

[donaldtoo]

I didn’t think anyone would defend that decision but ok!

I coulda’ gone out there with just myself, my almost 92-year-old Pop and my 31-year old son, and had it all done in about 2 years, max…!!!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

In lieu of

?

 

[KDM31091]

I categorically reject the idea that "no IP" = good and "more IP" = bad. A park built on the cheap with off-the-shelf carnival-esque attractions at Disney-level prices doesn't suddenly become better just because it's not based on Disney movies and TV shows. Kind of crazy to argue otherwise.


It doesn't matter what you think of the actual quality of DLP. The objective fact is the execution of its opening and first few years was such a financial catastrophe that dozens of other planned projects were scrapped, and the company seemed to become afraid of ambitious projects for years afterwards. So yeah, I'd call that the biggest mistake in company history, no matter what subjective opinion anyone has of the park now.

Of course DCA 1.0 was low quality. I’m simply saying it at least had basis in original ideas and most just IP and if done well, could have been successful. Just wasn’t executed well

 

[bjlc57]

you missed one.. Getting rid of 20K under the Sea...

 

[bjlc57]

i will say that i have been going to WDW since it opened and have NEVER been to Tom Sawyers island nor on the paddle wheel.. nor did i do the canoes.. ( which i don't see anyone crying about)..

 

[John park hopper]

i will say that i have been going to WDW since it opened and have NEVER been to Tom Sawyers island nor on the paddle wheel.. nor did i do the canoes.. ( which i don't see anyone crying about)..

You missed a lot

 

[Chef Mickey]

Someone's gonna be real upset when they find out about the Rivers of America

You said they gained nothing, I simply pointed out that they did in fact gain something. That doesn't mean I like that they got rid of it.

Everyone knows management is incompetent at Disney. The Parks being as successful as they have been (although losing steam) is completely based on the past. Disney can't ruin the Parks in a short time because it costs money to ruin them. They'd rather raise prices and milk them until eventually the small changes they make along the way transform them into an unrecognizable experience. It's slowly happening.

Almost nothing Disney has done in the last 5 years has been remotely competent for the longer term.

 

[Dear Prudence]

Hiring the new wave of cast members that do not care

 

[Mark Dunne]

I categorically reject the idea that "no IP" = good and "more IP" = bad. A park built on the cheap with off-the-shelf carnival-esque attractions at Disney-level prices doesn't suddenly become better just because it's not based on Disney movies and TV shows. Kind of crazy to argue otherwise.


It doesn't matter what you think of the actual quality of DLP. The objective fact is the execution of its opening and first few years was such a financial catastrophe that dozens of other planned projects were scrapped, and the company seemed to become afraid of ambitious projects for years afterwards. So yeah, I'd call that the biggest mistake in company history, no matter what subjective opinion anyone has of the park now.

In the words of a great villain, ‘’ you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs’’ . Let’s agree that at least now we have a nice park at DLP, going forward, I’m not sure the planned MK expansions won’t be a mistake. I’m gutted to loose ROA, also I’m not a green guy( I care about the planet for sure) but what about the wildlife over there that’s been building for 50 years, not counting the bears of course . The MK ducks will be re housed for sure .

 

[OrlandoRising]

In the words of a great villain, ‘’ you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs’’ . Let’s agree that at least now we have a nice park at DLP, going forward,

You're still missing my point. The quality of DLP now is irrelevant. The launch of EuroDisney was a massive drag on Disney parks worldwide for more than a decade both financially and psychologically. That is a much more significant mistake than the other very subjective options in this poll, which as I previously said, are largely gripes about Epcot not being as it was in 1982.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I have 2 that come to mind and fit In the others section...

Cabanas In Tomorrowland
Express backstage shuttle vans to the parks (you had to pay extra for this)..

 

[Graham9]

A lot of good stuff and been replaced with bad stuff. However, the worst thing ever to happen to the parks was the demise of Fastpass and the arrival of Genie+/Lightening Lanes.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

A lot of good stuff and been replaced with bad stuff. However, the worst thing ever to happen to the parks was the demise of Fastpass and the arrival of Genie+/Lightening Lanes.

We spent a day at the Magic Kingdom last year and it was a busy day but we didn't spend a dime on Genie+. Ask us how many rides we missed. Splash was already down, Tom Sawyer Island was shut down as there were thunderstorms at certain parts of the day. Because of long lines we missed Peter Pan and Snow White's Mine Train of things we wanted to do. That's it.

Stop giving Iger your hard earned money for no reason.

Also, I talked to someone at the resort we were staying at the next day and they said that they went a day that the Halloween party was happening, so the park was just 9am-6pm and they said they walked on pretty much everything, maybe waiting maximum 25 minutes for a major attraction. You do not need Genie+ - ever.

 

[Brer Panther]

I'm honestly shocked that nobody has mentioned Mr. Toad yet, or that it's not included in the poll. It seems to be the most popular defunct attraction ever, with people still complaining about them taking it out.

 

[SaveDinosaur]

For me it's everything from the last 4 d23's

 

[WaltWiz1901]

Is it just me, or is everyone who mentioned EuroDisney conveniently forgetting that the park was a success from the get-go and the resort was the root of the problems mainly because of how much excess hotel rooms and other infrastructure were built at opening?

Conflation is (not) your friend