List of Disney attractions that were never built

This is a list of publicly known Disney attractions that were never built, that is, rides and shows of Disney parks that never reached the final building stage. Some of them were fully designed and not built. Others were concepts, sometimes with preliminary artwork and many of them were only rumors discussed on various forums or elsewhere.

Contents

Theme parks

Name Description Reference
Disney's America A patriotic park to be located in Haymarket, Virginia, later a proposed conversion of Knott's Berry Farm. [1]
Disneyland East A park to be built on the former grounds of the 1964 New York World's Fair in Queens, New York. The plans shifted to Florida, becoming the Walt Disney World Resort. [2]
Disney's MGM Studios Backlot A 40-acre (160,000 m2) park to be built in Burbank, CA, in order to compete with Universal Studios' plans to expand to Florida. Its concept was similar to the MGM Studios Park (Disney's Hollywood Studios) that would open at the Walt Disney World Resort in 1989. [3]
Disney Niagara Falls Canadian theme park. Details to be made public in 2012, with the Harrison “Buzz” Price papers. [4]
Port Disney An American version of the Tokyo DisneySea theme park to be located in Long Beach, California. [5]
Walt Disney's Riverfront Square An indoor theme park planned for St. Louis. [6]
Texposition Details to be made public in 2012, with the Harrison “Buzz” Price papers. [4]
WestCOT A West Coast version of Epcot to be located where Disney California Adventure Park is now. [7]

Properties

Name Description Reference
Disney's Snow Crown A Disney-themed ski resort at Mineral King. [8]
Disneyland Bowl A 5,000 seat outdoor amphitheatre suitable for concerts and other live events, planned for the Disneyland Resort. It would have been located along Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim. [9]
Disneyland Center A retail, dining and entertainment area along a 6-acre (24,000 m2) lake, with buildings modeled after memorable Californian landmarks such as Catalina's Avalon Ballroom, Venice Beach's Boardwalk and San Diego's Coronado Hotel. Its design would eventually evolve into Downtown Disney. [10]
Lava Lagoon A Polynesian-themed indoor waterpark planned for Disneyland Paris, to be built under a glass dome. [11]

Resorts

Walt Disney World, Florida

Name Description Reference
Disney's Asian Resort To be located where Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is today. [12]
Disney's Venetian Resort To be located between the Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center. [13]
Disney's Persian Resort To be located on Bay Lake north of the Contemporary Resort. [14]
Disney's Mediterranean Resort A Greek themed resort to be located on the Seven Seas Lagoon. [15]

Disneyland Resort, California

Name Description Reference
Magic Kingdom Hotel A hotel bearing passing resemblance to the historic Santa Barbara Mission. It would have been located near Downtown Disney. [16]
WestCOT Lake Resort A U-shaped, 1800-room hotel that would have been built along a 6-acre (24,000 m2) lake in the style of the Beverly Hills Hotel. [16]
Disneyland Resort Hotel A luxurious, 800-room complex that was to be constructed in the style of San Diego's Hotel del Coronado. It was inspired by Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Walt Disney World. [17]

Theme park lands

Disneyland

Name Development Years Description Reference
International Land 1953–1959 A land that was to be located north of Tomorrowland west of Fantasyland. This land would represent different cultures of the world. However the plans were scrapped when Disney needed more room for the Matterhorn and the Submarine Voyage. However International Land eventually became the inspiration for World Showcase at Epcot. [18]
Discovery Bay 1973–1976 A Jules Verne-inspired land to be located on the far side of the Rivers of America in Frontierland. It was inspired by the 1974 film The Island at the Top of the World, but after the film bombed at the box office the idea was abandond. However the ideas went to Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. [19]
Mythia Unknown A land inspired by Greek and Roman myths and legends. [20]
Tomorrowland 2055 1993–1994 An update and makeover of Tomorrowland with a more Extraterrestrial theme, (2055 is the centennial of Disneyland). However after Disneyland Paris failed the project was abandond due to budget cuts. [21]
Hollywoodland 1988–1994 In 1988, after the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the title character (Roger Rabbit) to become a well recognized Disney cartoon character, reaching the status of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. The imagineers decided to build a movie themed land (similar to Disney Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort) south of Tomorrowland and west of Main Street, U.S.A.. The sign resembling the Hollywood Hills sign would have been placed on Space Mountain. However after Disneyland Paris failed, the plans were rejected due to budget cuts. However, "Hollywoodland" paved the way for Mickey's Toontown. [22]
"Big City USA" 1976–1984 A New York-themed area where Mickey's Toontown now sits; it was to have featured a big Broadway-style theater that presented live stage shows every day. This idea became the inspiration for the American Waterfront at Tokyo DisneySea. [23]
World Holiday Land 1976–1984 A European-themed area located directly below New Orleans Square and beyond the berm that would have included a thrill attraction with a Bavarian theme. Other possible attractions included a Scandinavian folklore attraction, a medieval England-oriented show, a CircleVision 360 theatre with a world travel theme, and another indoor theatre with international live stage shows. Food facilities such as a Bavarian waitress service, an old English pub, a French sidewalk cafe and a gourmet snack shop would provide the necessary atmosphere, while small artisan and souvenir shops would be themed to the various European areas.
Edison Square 1958–1964 This would have been a sidestreet expansion to Main Street USA, themed around the addition of electricity into American homes. It would have featured a statue of Thomas Edison and a show about harnessing electricity. This idea eventually became the basis of The Carousel of Progress, and Discovery Arcade in Disneyland Paris [24]
Liberty Street 1958–1965 This would have been a sidestreet expansion to Main Street USA, themed around an American town circa 1776. It would have featured shops, The Hall of Presidents, a beautiful bay scene, and recreations of famous American landmarks. This idea would later be brought to life in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as Liberty Square, and as Liberty Arcade in Disneyland Paris [25]

Epcot World Showcase, Florida

Name Description Reference
Costa Rica Pavilion A Costa Rican-themed area. [26][27]
Equatorial Africa Pavilion This pavilion would have mixed tribal dances and shows with African artwork in a recreation of an African village. A film hosted by Alex Haley was to be featured. Souvenir maps and a TV special on EPCOT Center's opening announced that the pavilion would open in 1983. It was never built due to budget and lack of sponsorship from suitable African nations; offers from South Africa were refused because of the country's apartheid system. However, many ideas for this land later appeared in Disney's Animal Kingdom. [26][27]
Israel Pavilion Advertised on billboards when EPCOT opened, this would have recreated ancient Jerusalem with a courtyard stage and open-air restaurant. It remained unbuilt because of budget problems and security issues regarding the state of Israel. [26][28]
Soviet Union Pavilion Planned in the early 1990s, this would have been placed between China and Germany and dominated by a recreation of Red Square. The center building would have housed a sled-like ride showing the Russian landscape based on Russian folk tales. There also would have been a unique show blending film, Audio-Animatronics and a live actor that would showcase Russian history.

It reached the final stages of approval but was later cancelled due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the info released by the Russian government revealing the horrors committed by the Communist regime.

[26][29]
Spain Pavilion Also advertised on billboards circa 1986, this pavilion would have featured a boat ride similar to Mexico, with a design blending elements of Barcelona and Madrid. Also planned were a film on Spain's history and a restaurant. [26][30]
Switzerland Pavilion Planned primarily to bring a Matterhorn Bobsleds-style ride to Epcot. [26][31]
United Arab Emirates Pavilion This pavilion would have paid tribute to the Middle East with a magic carpet ride attraction and a show focusing on how the Middle East paved the way for various ways of life and science. [26][32]
Venezuela Pavilion This pavilion would have included a waterfall, a high-rise built into a cliff, and an aerial tram ride. [26][32]
Iran Pavilion This was originally planned to be the largest and central pavilion and would have included a mall (in the design of a bazaar), a restaurant, a recreation of Golestan Palace (with an animated boat ride through it depicting Persian history), and a recreation of Persepolis. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi agreed to fund the project. It reached the final stages of approval but was later cancelled after the Shah of Iran was overthrown by the Islamic Fundamentalist Regime and lost all financial support for the project. [26]

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida

Name Description Reference
Beastly Kingdom A "myths and legends"-themed land planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was replaced by Camp Minnie-Mickey due to budget cuts. Much of the land designated for use by Beastly Kingdom will now be used for the forthcoming Avatar Land. [33]

Hong Kong Disneyland

Name Description Reference
Frontierland Like the other Disney parks, Hong Kong Disneyland was to have a frontier-themed land, but these plans were scrapped for budget reasons. However, a similar land called Grizzly Gulch is to open soon. [34]
Toon Town A much more advanced version than its sisters in the other Disney parks. This area would have featured a roller coaster, an animatronic show, character houses, and character meet-and-greets. It may have become the idea for Toon Studios at Walt Disney Studios Park. [34]

Attractions

Disneyland

Name Description Reference
Atlantis Expedition A re-theming of the Submarine Voyage in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, in which guests would have been able to use a mechanical arm that extended out into the water from their submarine window to grab at gold coins & gems lining the sea floor. The box-office failure of the 2001 animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire caused this planned revamp to be scrapped.
Geyser Mountain A Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror-style ride to be built in Frontierland. Guests riding in a huge drilling machine would be caught in a massive geyser and thrown into the air.
Museum of the Weird A funhouse-style attraction that would have featured scary, whismical, and mysterious objects that came alive. Although never built, some elements from the museum would eventually be merged with the Haunted Mansion. [35]
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Ride A dark ride that was to be built at the character meeting place to the southeast of It's a Small World. Guests would hop into coffin sleds (similar to the vehicles of Peter Pan's Flight) and glide through scenes from the movie. This idea later became the inspiration for The Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Rogues Gallery A basement walkthrough wax museum located beneath New Orleans Square, in which guests would have seen wax figure scenes recreating the history of piracy. The area that would have housed the attraction was built, but it was put on hold so Walt Disney and his Imagineers could work on attractions for the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. The concept eventually evolved into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Pirate Wax Museum Another planned version of Rogues Gallery. This attraction would have featured famous pirates narrating wax-made scenes. It became the Pirates of the Caribbean when Walt changed the format from a walkthrough attraction to a boat ride.
Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Revue Planned for the building in which America Sings once resided in Tomorrowland, this attraction would have been an outer-space musical-variety revue featuring a troupe of Audio-Animatronic itinerant alien musicians whose spaceship had landed in Tomorrowland. However, the idea, which was part of the original 'Tomorrowland 2055' plan, eventually was scrapped due to large budgets. The space is now home to Innoventions.
The UFO Show Armed with air guns, guests would have boarded cars and tried to shoot "eerie, un-human, gremlin-like targets". The attraction would have been housed upstairs over America Sings. It eventually became the inspiration for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
Nostromo A high-tech, interactive attraction based on the movie Alien, in which visitors would roll through the darkened corridors of the Nostromo spaceship. Riding inside heavily armored vehicles armed with laser cannons, guests would have been sent on a rescue mission to find the missing members of Nostromo's crew, and to rid the spaceship of the Xenomorph from the film. Eventually, the concept evolved into ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter and then Stitch's Great Escape.
Space Port A Tomorrowland-based ride that later formed the basis for Space Mountain.
Young Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular An elaborate stunt show that was to have been produced in collaboration with George Lucas. This action-packed live extravaganza would have thrust a young Indiana Jones into a series of adventures and misadventures. The hearse outside of The Haunted Mansion was actually purchased for the show, but the show was eventually scrapped and likely morphed into the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
The Island at the Top of the World This attraction, to be housed in Discovery Bay at Disneyland, would have taken guests on a ride aboard the airship Hyperion from the 1974 film The Island at the Top of the World to a lost civilization in the Arctic. The attraction was scrapped due to the box-office failure of the film. However, the airship would eventually be built at Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris.
Fireworks Factory An interactive shooter ride designed for Discovery Bay, housed inside a fireworks factory, where guests would shoot at skyrockets, pinwheels and other fireworks.
Gallery of Illusions A gallery of illusions designed for Discovery Bay.
Voyage Thru Time A slow boat ride designed for Discovery Bay, featuring time travel and dinosaur encounters.
Spark Gap Electric Loop Coaster A spiraling and dizzy ride designed for Discovery Bay, where the forces of magnetism would be demonstrated to guests.
Enchanted Snow Palace A dark ride that was planned for Fantasyland at Disneyland. Although eventually scrapped, extensive concept art still exists for this attraction.
Lightkeepers A nighttime pageant that was planned for "Tomorrowland 2055". The show would have been about an entire race of god-like alien creatures that created light. They were alleged to come from a far-off mythical galaxy, where light was the source of everything. Created as a possible Main Street Electrical Parade replacement, the idea eventually inspired the short-lived Light Magic nighttime parade.
Rock Candy Mountain This mountain was planned for Disneyland's Fantasyland, but was eventually scrapped due to that the Imagineers considered it to look too sickly and would put off guests. The Storybook Land Canal Boats would have travelled through Rock Candy Mountain, while the Casey Jr. Circus Train would have travelled around it.
Indiana Jones and the Lost Expedition A huge complex designed to house the Indiana Jones Adventure as well as a mine cart roller coaster and part of the Jungle Cruise, with the Disneyland Railroad travelling through the middle. [36]
Adventures In Science A history of science exhibit that was planned for Tomorrowland, in which guests would have traveled through a microscope into the history of science. The attraction concept was eventually used for Adventure Thru Inner Space.
Duck Bumps A bumper boat ride planned for Fantasyland, to be built against International Street alongside the lagoon.
Unnamed Windmill Ride A ride next to Duck Bumps which would take guests twirling around on a windmill. The concept might have been based on the 1937 Silly Symphonies cartoon The Old Mill.
DINOSAUR/Countdown to Extinction When the Tomorrowland makeover of 1998 failed with crowds, Imagineers planned to create a version of the popular Animal Kingdom attraction in place of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and the dioramas.
Dumbo's Circusland A sub-area of Fantasyland where Dumbo and Casey Jr. would have been relocated. The idea eventually inspired the Storybook Circus subarea of the Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom.
Hot Air Balloon Would have bordered Discovery Bay and Dumbo's Circusland.
Dumbo's Circus A nutty adventure underneath the big top with Dumbo leading the way.
Mickey's Madhouse A funhouse adventure featuring clowns and such.
Mary Poppins Ride A Dumbo the Flying Elephant-like ride in Fantasyland.
The Great Movie Ride A clone was planned for Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
The Little Mermaid A dark ride to be built where Mickey's Toontown is currently situated. It later evolved into The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure, an upcoming attraction scheduled to open at Disney California Adventure Park in 2011 and at the Magic Kingdom in 2013.
Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers A dark ride with great effects planned for Hollywoodland.
Toontown Trolley A motion simulator that was to be a tour of Toontown with Roger Rabbit.
Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy A dark ride for Hollywoodland.
Alien Encounter A ride like the one at the Magic Kingdom.
Rainbow Road to Oz A ride based on the classic Oz books for Fantasyland.

Disney's California Adventure

Name Description Reference
Armageddon Special Effects A special effects show originally planned for Stage 17 in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – Play It! was placed there instead. The attraction now exists at the Walt Disney Studios Park.
Rock 'N' Roller Coaster starring No Doubt An indoor roller coaster ride featuring music from the Anaheim-based rock band No Doubt.
Mickey's PhilharMagic A 3-D film planned to replace Muppet*Vision 3D, but cancelled due to theater size and space restrictions. A show by the same name was created at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Grizzly Railroad A railroad train attraction which would have taken passengers on a scenic trip around Grizzly Peak.
Circle of Hands A show featuring various audio-animatronics telling the history of California. Due to budget cuts, the show was canceled and replaced by Golden Dreams.
Chocolate Factory Tour A tour in the Pacific Wharf, featuring free samples of chocolate.
Incredibles Attraction An E ticket attraction featuring robot-arm technology, based on the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles. The attraction was put on hold in favor of Cars Land.
Paradise Pier Water Flume A "Chute-the-Chutes"-style boat ride that would have ended with a splash into Paradise Bay.
Green Army Men Parachute Drop A Parachute drop attraction themed to the Green Army Men from the film "Toy Story", Which would have replaced the former Maliboomer space-shot attraction.
Surfing Lessons Initial concepts for Disney's California Adventure featured surfing lessons in Paradise Bay.
Odyssea A nighttime spectacular on Paradise Bay, based on The Little Mermaid. Elements from this found its way into World of Color.
Lights, Camera, Animation! A parade to replace Eureka!: A California Parade, featuring classic Disney animated characters. The concept was dropped in favor of Block Party Bash.
Pixar Superstar Parade A parade to replace Block Party Bash, featuring Disney/Pixar characters. The concept was dropped in favor of Pixar Play Parade.

Walt Disney World

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Name Description Reference
Dragon Tower A dragon-themed roller coaster planned for Beastly Kingdom. Laid-off Imagineers took the idea to Universal, where it became Dueling Dragons. [26]
Quest for the Unicorn A hedge maze planned for Beastly Kingdom. [26]
Fantasia Gardens A boat ride designed for Beastly Kingdom featuring the mythical animals in Fantasia. The current Fantasia Gardens is a miniature golf course located near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts. [26]
Enhanced DINOSAUR DINOSAUR was originally planned to have Ankylosaurus-shaped vehicles that would have traveled through prehistoric swamps and jungles. Additional scenes would feature feasting Tyrannosaurs, volcanic eruptions, high speeds, deinonychus attacks, and more.
Journey to the Center of the Earth A high-speed coaster similar to the attraction of the same name at Tokyo DisneySea.
The Excavator A runaway mine car roller coaster through an abandoned dinosaur dig, planned for Dinoland USA. [26]
Dinorama Meteor Dark Ride A dark ride regarded as a junior version of DINOSAUR, planned for Dinorama.
Double Decker Carousel Instead of The Tree of Life, this would have been the park's iconic symbol. Guests would ride on a Dumbo-like ride on animals from around the world.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Name Description Reference
Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers A ride based on the 1990 film Dick Tracy. [26]
Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy A Fantasyland-style dark ride based on Baby Herman, a character from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. [26]
Toontown Trolley A madcap adventure that would have flight simulators surrounded by animated screens to take guests on a "hare-raising" trolley ride through a zany cartoon world with Roger Rabbit at the helm. [26]
The Great Muppet Movie Ride A "misguided" tour through movie history, given Muppet-style. The ride was to be part of the planned Muppet Studios, as was Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D, but when Muppet creator Jim Henson died, the idea of Muppet Studios was scrapped along with the ride; however, the 3-D show survived and was built. [26]
Chinese Theater's Villain Ride A 3D adventure where visitors would have been menaced by three-dimensional recreations of Disney's most famous fiends before the forces of good finally came to their rescue. The ride was planned for Disney-MGM Studios and would have replaced The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World. Possibly the basis for Fantasmic! now at the Disney Studios park. [26]
Benny the Cab Ride Guests would go on an adventure with Benny the Cab from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. [26]

Epcot

Name Description Reference
Tron Game Center In 1982, advertised by a large framed poster on the inside wall of what is now Innoventions West, this was to be an arcade-style gaming area based on the Disney movie Tron. It was to have featured simulations of the games that Tron and his fellow programs battled in during the movie, such as the "Disc Game". It was scrapped by Disney because at the time, the unbuilt final draft was considered too similar to a video game arcade, and did not fit the educational image that Disney wanted Epcot to project.
Mt Fuji Roller Coaster A roller coaster modeled after the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland, planned for the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. It was rejected after protests by Eastman Kodak, sponsor of Journey Into Imagination, over a ride sharing the name of their biggest competitor, Fujifilm. [26]
Simulated Bullet Train Ride A unique variation on Disney's CircleVision 360 show. Guests would have found themselves standing aboard a vibrating recreation of the passenger compartment of a Japanese bullet train. Looking out through the oversized faux windows in this passenger car, they would have been treated to a high-speed travelogue as some of Japan's most beautiful scenery whizzed by the windows. The attraction was planned for the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. [26]
Godzilla Bullet Train Ride Similar to both the Mt. Fuji and Bullet Train ideas, in this case having the bullet train run afoul of Godzilla in Tokyo Bay, followed by a race to safety. This ride was planned for the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. [26]
Meet the World Imagineers were planning to build same attraction in two places, Epcot and at Tokyo Disneyland, only the Tokyo version was built and closed in 2002. The Epcot version was mentioned in most pre-opening materials. The script and music were translated. The project was cancelled due to a design error in the construction of the show building. The attraction might have been sponsored by Japan Airlines and/or Panasonic, just as the attraction was in Tokyo Disneyland. [26]
Rhine River Cruise A cruise down Germany's most famous rivers, including the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks would also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral. The ride entrance and the building that would have housed it are still visible at the Germany pavilion. [26]
Time Racers A high-tech thrill ride about fast-forwarding through history that was to replace Spaceship Earth. [26]
Rainforest Rollercoaster An inverted coaster that would be informative about the rainforest.
Jr. Autopia The Disneyland attraction would be added next to Test Track for a new Transportation pavilion. The concept emerged in response to Test Track's high rider height requirements.
Unknown hedge maze A maze with educational things inside.
Journey Into Space Produced with the assistance of author Ray Bradbury, the centerpiece of the Epcot Space Pavilion would have been a massive simulator attraction that would have moved an entire theater in sync with outer-space visuals. "A huge, interstellar 'Space Vehicle' will transport passengers to the outer frontiers of the universe, highlighting man's efforts to reach out to the stars around him... from the early pioneers who looked and wondered...to modern-day space travelers and their triumphs...to the challenges and possibilities of future space technology and exploration." [37]
Movie Pavilion Themed around Hollywood movies from the 1920s to the modern era. Would have been located between the Journey into Imagination and The Land pavilion, and would have been disguised as giant movie backdrop with a blue painted skyscape. The idea eventually grew into what became the Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Life and Health Pavilion A health-themed pavilion in which guests would enter "The Great Midway of Life" and encounter The Joy of Living, a sensory funhouse, the Tooth Follies, The Head Trip, Good Health Habits, and in the large angular part of the show building, The Incredible Journey Within. This massive dark ride would have transported guests via omnimover into the human body, where they would pass giant animatronic replicas of a beating heart and breathing lungs. The concept eventually evolved into the Wonders of Life pavilion.
The Seas Guests would board the clipper ship "Spirit of Mankind" to sail through moments of peril and triumph with seven legendary mariners, the great explorers who charted the seas for civilization. In another adventure, Poseidon the Sea Lord would challenge visitors to journey through ocean depths from the Continental Shelf to the Great Coral Reef. Finally arriving at "Sea Base Alpha", guests would experience an authentic ocean environment with live marine life, an undersea restaurant, and a showcase of oceanographic exhibits and displays. This idea would eventually become The Living Seas.
Thames River Ride Designed as part of the UK pavilion, this full-scale water ride would visit key London landmarks. Concept art from 1986 shows the Tower of London, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. [38]
UK pavilion Audio-Animatronics show A full-scale Audio-Animatronics show based on the works of Charles Dickens was planned to be a part of the UK pavilion. Three sketches from 1984 show the three spirits haunting Ebenezer Scrooge. [39]

Magic Kingdom

Name Description Reference
Thunder Mesa A large complex planned to house the Western River Expedition, Big Thunder Mountains, hiking trails, and an Indian Village. It was planned for Frontierland in Disneyland Paris. [40]
Western River Expedition A Pirates of the Caribbean-style ride through the Wild West. This was first proposed for Walt Disney's Riverfront Square. [40]
Lewis and Clark River Expedition An earlier incarnation of the Western River Expedition. It was planned for Disney's America but scrapped with the rest of the park. [41]
Fire Mountain A roller coaster ride through an active volcano, planned for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The ride would have started like the Matterhorn Bobsleds but a lava spout accompanied by fissures would have sent the cars flying in the air. It was originally intended for Adventureland or was to replace 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea at Fantasyland. [42]
Unnamed Duck Tales Ride Planned for Mickey's Starland (later Mickey's Toontown Fair) or possibly an unbuilt version of Mickey's Toontown for the international parks. Sketches and comments can be seen in a hidden menu on the rare special edition Duck Tales DVD set available only overseas. Sketches seem to indicate a dark ride attraction similar to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. [26]
Pixie Hollow Part of the original Fantasyland Expansion plans, intended to replace Mickey's Toontown Fair. This area would have served as a meet and greet location for Tinkerbell and her fairy friends.
Cinderella's Chateau Part of the original Fantasyland Expansion plans, to be located at the former site of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This attraction would have served as a meet and greet location for Cinderella where guests could dance with the princess. Plans for this attraction were replaced with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Aurora's Cottage Part of the original Fantasyland Expansion plans, to be located at the former site of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This attraction would have served as a meet and greet location for Sleeping Beauty where guests could celebrate her birthday. Plans for this attraction were replaced with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Disneyland Paris

Name Description Reference
Ariel's Undersea Voyage A Little Mermaid-themed dark ride, due to open opposite the Pizzeria Bella Notte, so that it would fit the "Mediterranean" look of this part of Fantasyland. However, since Disney California Adventure Park and the Magic Kingdom are building this ride, it may open in the European Resort one day.
Beauty and the Beast A Tiki Room-style attraction planned for Disneyland Paris, which was to take place on the still available spot of land between L'Auberge de Cendrillon and Pizzeria Bella Notte. It was shelved due to the financial problems the Resort encountered in its early days.
Pirates of the Caribbean Shooting Gallery A never-built Pirate-themed shooting gallery, similar to Rustler Roundup Shooting Gallery in Frontierland. It could eventually become part of Hong Kong Disneyland's future Pirates land.
Tarzan Coaster A Tarzan-themed coaster was envisioned to be built near Captain Hook's Pirate Ship, using in part the Swiss Robinson Tree structure.
Jungle Exploration Since Jungle Cruise was scrapped due to climatic concerns, a jeep ride was designed for the park, similar to Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Guests would travel through a jungle covered by a glass roof and drive past giraffes, ride on a rickety bridge over hippos, and into an ancient temple where guests would encounter the "I Wanna Be Like You" scene from the Jungle Book animated film, complete with audio animatronic monkeys, Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, and King Louie dancing to the song. The jeeps would then be sent into a tropical storm where they would be chased by a large tiger before finding a safe way back to civilization. A suggested name for the ride was "La Jungle Inexplorée".
Indiana Jones Adventure A large space has been reserved behind Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril for an attraction of the size of Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. It is unknown if it may become reality, or whether the space is entirely for that attraction.
Discovery Mountain A huge Jules Verne-inspired complex in the center of Dicoveryland, linked to Videopolis with glass tubes, which eventually became the Disneyland Paris version of Space Mountain. It was intended to contain the Space Mountain roller coaster (based on From the Earth to the Moon), a tower launch ride similar to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (based on Journey to the Center of the Earth), a walkthrough attraction inside Captain Nemo's submarine, the Nautilus, alongside an undersea restaurant (later moved outside the complex to become Les Mystères du Nautilus), and a copy of the attraction Horizons from EPCOT.

Tokyo DisneySea

Name Description Reference
American Waterfront Ride An unknown ride concept for this rideless land.
Jungle Animatronics Show A Jungle Book-themed show that would have been situated next to the Indiana Jones attraction. The concept was replaced by Raging Spirits.
Grizzly River Run A clone of Grizzly River Run at Disney's California Adventure (with altered layout) was designed to fit around Mysterious Island. The concept was replaced by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Name Description Reference
Peter Pan's Flight A dark ride that would have been placed in Fantasyland. It would have been similar to the Magic Kingdom one.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure When it remained unbuilt at Disneyland Paris, Imagineers redesigned the attraction for Hong Kong. Again the attraction was neglected. A variant of it is currently under construction in Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure.
Raging Spirits A speedy roller coaster that would whisk guests through a very dark jungle. The ride would have shared its name with a ride at Tokyo DisneySea.
The Boneyard The popular Animal Kingdom attraction would have been recreated in Adventureland.
Big Thunder Mountain The classic mine train roller coaster would have been placed in Frontierland, but Frontierland was never built.
Pirates of the Caribbean A thrill water ride that would have been placed in Adventureland.
Unnamed fort adventure A dark ride based in a pioneer's settlement. Special effects would have been included.
Haunted Mansion Disney's infamous home of "999 happy haunts" would have been placed in the Frontierland/Wild West area. If built, it would have broken the tradition of placing the attraction in a different land at each park (Phantom Manor, Disneyland Paris's version of the Haunted Mansion, is located in Frontierland). Recently, there have been plans to open a similar attraction in a new park expansion called Mystic Point in 2013.
Grizzly River Run A version of the California Adventure river raft ride was originally planned as an opening day thrill. It is unknown if the design of the mountain would have changed.
Soarin' A soarin' style attraction would have been placed in Tomorrowland.
Star Tours The popular Star Wars-themed motion simulator attraction would have been installed in Tomorrowland.
Raging Spirits and Pirates of the Caribbean As Hong Kong Disneyland was built under budget by HK$1 billion, plans was to use the money to build Autopia, It's a Small World and a ride that combines Pirates of the Caribbean and Raging Spirits. However, due to Raging Spirits' lack of popularity at Tokyo DisneySea and the high costs of Pirates of the Caribbean, the plans were shelved. [43][44]
Glacier Peak This unique attraction was to be an indoor area with weather station, real snow and a roller coaster. But it was considered to be too similar to a new area called Polar Adventure at Ocean Park and rejected by Hong Kong Government, as Rita Lau explained. In the end Toy Story Land is built instead. [45]

Restaurants

Disneyland

Name Description Reference
Chinese Restaurant Was to feature the first human Audio-Animatronic, a recreation of Confucius. [46]
The Enchanted Tiki Room Restaurant Enchanted Tiki Room was originally meant to house a sit-down restaurant. The show building still houses toilets adjoining the Enchanted Tiki Room theatre. [47]

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Name Description Reference
Copperfield Magic Underground Based around David Copperfield, the famous stage magician. It was also considered for Downtown Disney. [48]
Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor Muppet-themed restaurant; the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat's version of a pizza parlor. [49]

Disneyland Paris

Name Description Reference
Discoveryland Restaurant An unnamed restaurant at the entrance of Discoveryland, opposite the now-closed Visionarium, beside Autopia.
Nautilus Restaurant An undersea restaurant designed for the Nautilus walkthrough inside Discovery Mountain.
Vulcania Restaurant A Disneyland Paris restaurant to be built inside Discovery Mountain, with an entire wall looking out on the lagoon beneath Discovery Mountain. [50]

References

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  2. ^ Encyclopedia of American Studies: Disneyland
  3. ^ Todd James Pierce: Looking back on the Disney-MGM Studio Backlot project - Part 3
  4. ^ a b http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2010/07/16/sneaking-a-peek-at-theme-parks-that-might-have-been.aspx
  5. ^ Jim Hill Media's Reports on Port Disney
  6. ^ Brian Burnes; Dan Viets; Robert W. Butler (June 2002). Walt Disney's Missouri: The Roots of a Creative Genius. Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 9780971708068. http://books.google.com/books?id=JEjSDvkp7OUC&pg=PA150. Retrieved 11 May 2011. 
  7. ^ Tony Baxter... on WestCOT
  8. ^ Mineral King Article
  9. ^ Mickey News Article 4/29/2005
  10. ^ Amusement Business Article By Jim Futrell, May 4, 1998
  11. ^ Imagineering Blog
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  14. ^ "Disney's Persian Resort". WDWHistory.com. http://wdwhistory.com/wiki/Disney%27s_Persian_Resort. Retrieved August 21, 2006. 
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  24. ^ Jeff Kurtti. Since the World Began-Walt Disney World The First 25 Years. 
  25. ^ "Mouse Plant: The Liberty Street Story". http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=ww061108ws. 
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  29. ^ "Jim Hill Media: The Russians are Coming". http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/01/08/the-russians-are-coming-the-russians-are-coming-to-epcot.aspx. 
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  35. ^ The attraction was shown by Walt Disney on Disneyland, the Disney anthology television series.
  36. ^ "Indiana Jones and the Lost Expedition ... Found!". http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2006/02/05/749.aspx. Retrieved 2007-08-08. 
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  43. ^ (traditional Chinese (HK))10億擴建明年增馳車天地 Apple Daily. 6 September 2005.
  44. ^ (traditional Chinese (HK))迪士尼小小世界後年落成 Oriental Daily. 16 October 2006.
  45. ^ (traditional Chinese (HK))叮走極地雪山 免撞海洋公園 Ming Pao. By Sina.com.hk. 5 July 2009.
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  49. ^ "You will believe that a Pig can fly. (Frogs too!)". http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2004/02/18/90.aspx. 
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External links