Extinct Disneyland Attractions, Entertainment, and Restaurants That Need To Make a Comeback

Disneyland has welcomed legions of guests since it opened in 1955, creating a joyful and safe place for all ages. Over the years, the park has undergone major renovations and improvements, adding new attractions and lands.

 

Most of the time, these changes improve things, adding to the park’s unique and diverse landscape. At the same time, change can also mean losing something in favor of the new.

 

Likewise, between budget cuts, regime changes, and the desire to bring guests something different, Disneyland has also forgone multiple things, from restaurants to entertainment offerings.

 

While it’s important to keep the park fresh and updated, evolving with the times, it’s also important to remember the past. After all, Walt Disney always believed in honoring the past and looking ahead to the future. Moreover, in our current era that leans into and loves nostalgia, Disneyland would be wise to bring back some beloved and forgotten gems. Here’s our list of attractions, eateries, and shows that deserve a comeback at the happiest place on earth.

 

Of all the long-gone Disneyland attractions, none is mentioned as much as the PeopleMover. The attraction closed as part of the Tomorrowland re-imagining in 1998, making way for the Rocket Rods. Admittedly a fun little thrill, the Rocket Rods unfortunately suffered from frequent breakdowns and began eroding the track’s structure, eventually closing in 2000.

 

Now, many have fond memories of riding the former Tomorrowland staple. Indeed, the empty PeopleMover track that currently sits in the land often feels like salt in the wound. Today, many guests walk by the relic of the past throughout the whole land, remembering what once was a fun and unique ride that offered amazing views and brought kinetic energy to the land.

 

With Disney’s promise of a Tomorrowland overhaul (announced at this year’s D23 Expo), it presents the perfect opportunity to finally give fans what they want and bring back the PeopleMover. It likely would not be the same for myriad reasons, but any version of this beloved attraction would help revitalize Tomorrowland.

 

Much like the PeopleMover, many guests have fond memories of the Skyway, particularly Millennials, GenXers,  and older generations. This attraction had stations in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and took guests on a spectacular aerial journey from one land to the next, actually passing through the Matterhorn. As someone who loved the Skyway, it was a sad day when the attraction closed in 1994.

 

Various reasons led to the closure, including wear and tear that would’ve required costly repairs. It’s also speculated that an incident where a guest jumped out of one of the gondolas, landing on a tree near Alice in Wonderland, led to its closure, though Disney never confirmed that.

 

Due to the various factors, it’s likely the Skyway attraction that fans remember will never return. However, with planned Disneyland expansions and the Skyliner’s popularity at Walt Disney World, a new Skyway would be a welcome addition to the upcoming expansion. It would satisfy those with nostalgia for the former, while adding a practical form of transportation to the Resort.

 

One of the staples of the Disneyland Hotel, The Monorail Cafe, was originally The Coffee Shop when the resort opened in 1955. Renamed and redecorated in 1986, it became The Monorail Cafe, offering traditional diner food such as burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes. A favorite from my childhood, it had some of the best food on-property, a fun retro vibe, and the bonus of being away from the hustle and bustle of the park.

 

The restaurant officially closed in 1999 as part of major hotel renovations and to make way for the Downtown Disney Shopping District. While the restaurant couldn’t return in its former location, there’s no reason why it couldn’t come back in another.

The hotels and Downtown Disney have no shortage of eateries, but none have the same vibe as The Monorail Cafe. After all, a return of this classic restaurant goes perfectly with the mid-century modern style that’s been added to Downtown Disney, and would lean into the retro-style and nostalgic aesthetic that both Disney and fans of today love.

 

Circle-Vision 360° (originally titled Circarama) debuted in Disneyland in 1955, and was developed by Disney, particularly by animator and visual effects artist Ub Iwerks. Utilizing 16mm, which then changed to 35mm, projectors, the audience stood and was encircled by screens, creating a unique and immersive experience unlike any that came before.

 

Circle-Vision 360° shows included A Tour of the West (1955), America the Beautiful (1967), and American Journeys (1984), each offering breathtaking images and a lovely experience as the circle of screens allowed for the opportunity to see something different each time. The attraction closed in 1997, becoming the queue for the ill-fated Rocket Rods. In 2005, the space was converted into Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters. Before the closure at Disneyland, there was a point when every Disney Park in the world had a Circle-Vision 360° show. Today, EPCOT remains the lone place with Canada, Far and Wide, and Reflections of China.

 

In my opinion, the upcoming Tomorrowland revitalization should bring back Circle-Vision 360° in its former location or a new theater. Alas, if that’s not in the cards, Disneyland Forward should revive this unique attraction. Despite the advancement in technology, modern audiences would still be in awe of Circle-Vision 360°.

 

The Country Bear Jamboree was a staple in Disneyland from 1976 to 2001, with its Vacation Hoedown and Christmas shows delighting audiences with its funny animatronics and music.

 

However, in  2001 there was an interesting swap of attractions that happened in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland when Disney decided to bring the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to both coasts. Magic Kingdom lost Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, while Disneyland lost the Country Bear Jamboree. Consequently, both those attractions are the only ones in existence, respectively.

 

While I don’t foresee the Winnie the Pooh attraction closing at Disneyland, never say never. At the same time, it’s possible that the Country Bears could find another home elsewhere in either Disney California Adventure or Disneyland Forward. Disneyland and DCA still have nods to the attraction with the Hungry Bear Jamboree Restaurant and a large carved statue of “Big Al” outside of Grizzly River Run. Magic Kingdom also recently updated the show to include country versions of classic Disney songs. In time, I hope that Disneyland can bring back this fun, toe-tapping, wholesome attraction.

 

Although we don’t know what the future holds for Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure, one of the biggest losses at the park remains the Hyperion Theater. Sitting empty since 2023, no show has appeared since the brief stint of Rogers: The Musical.

Before that, audiences enjoyed Frozen: Live at the Hyperion from 2016 to 2020, and Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular from 2002 to 2016.

 

These Broadway-caliber shows charmed audiences and helped disperse crowds, keeping wait times reasonable throughout the park. With the numerous entertainment cuts in the past few years, it’s time to either bring back a past show like Aladdin, give audiences a brand-new show, or bring something new to the park like the Tangled show that’s appeared on the Disney Cruise Line. Regardless, the Hyperion has been neglected long enough.

 

Similar to the Hyperion Theater, the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland has been without a live show since 2020. Currently, it only serves as a quick-service eatery and sitting area, often barely occupied. And therein lies the problem. With lackluster food and no show, one of the most beautiful and well-themed places in the entire park has become almost forgotten.

 

Consequently, it’s high time to bring a show back, and my vote goes to the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree. Of the various shows, this one had one of the shorter runs from 1986-1994, and yet was one of the best they ever produced. A worthy successor to the original Golden Horseshoe Revue, the show featured lively music, comedy, singing and dancing cowboys, Can-Can dancers, and songs like “Belly-Up to the Bar.”

 

As suggested in 10 Ways to Improve Disneyland, bringing back this show, along with overhauling the menu, and possibly serving beer and sarsaparilla, would breathe life back into the Golden Horseshoe and create a new generation of fans.

 

Disney California Adventure is sorely lacking in live entertainment, compared to Disneyland proper. Besides some entertainment during the holiday seasons, there remains very little during the year to entertain guests. That very reason is why the upbeat, vintage-inspired Red Car Trolley Newsboys and Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline should return.

 

The Red Car Trolley Newsboys performed on Buena Vista Street, incorporating songs like “California Here I Come,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” and “Seize the Day,” from Newsies with energetic dancing and the opus of selling papers. Soon they read a headline about Walt Disney’s arrival in California, and they’re joined by a talking Mickey for the original song “A Suitcase and a Dream.” This show ran from 2012-2019.

 

The far too short-lived Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline ran from February, 2012 to October, 2013. This show featured a four-character singing group, Minnie’s Fly Girls. It included the flight attendants Amanda, Pat, and Kate, and the mechanic, Lee. The show took guests on a musical journey of flight with vintage songs like “Come Fly With Me” and “The Girl from Ipanema,” and Disney classics “When I See an Elephant Fly” and “You Can Fly.” At the end, a talking Minnie joined the group for a lively conclusion.

 

Various reasons are cited for these show closures. The Red Car Trolley now sits permanently docked on Buena Vista Street due to Avengers Campus expansions. However, it’s possible to tweak the show and bring it back to the stationary trolley. They could also incorporate the Newsboys into the Five & Dime show. Minnie’s Fly Girls, which performed at the Condor Flats area across from Soarin’, ended due to crowd congestion. However, I feel this is a lazy excuse, as shows like the Toy Drummer Soldiers cause similar issues and yet return every Christmas season. With such a short run, the effervescent Minnie’s Fly Girls deserves a second chance.

 

When Fantasyland underwent a major transformation in 1983, the land became the enchanting Storybook, European-inspired village we love today. The land changed for the better. However, there was one big loss that those who are old enough to remember (and those who have seen photos) lament today. Fantasyland once housed a large lagoon inspired by Peter Pan with Skull Rock and a pirate ship that was a restaurant- the Chicken of the Sea, which then changed to Captain Hook’s Galley when Chicken of the Sea dropped their sponsorship in 1969.

 

With limited space, a return feels impossible. But there are two options that make it seem much more possible. With the upcoming Tomorrowland overhaul, a big question mark looms over the Submarine Lagoon. Could it become part of Fantasyland instead, making another pirate ship restaurant possible? There’s also Disneyland Forward, which could very well end up being similar to Tokyo DisneySea’s recent expansion. Disneyland Paris features a similar Skull Rock and Pirate ship, though it’s not an eatery.

 

Although I don’t expect it to be a Chicken of the Sea restaurant, bringing back Captain Hook’s Galley or even theming it to Captain Jack Sparrow so guests could eat inside a pirate ship would definitely inspire the swashbuckler in all of us.

 

Disneyland has given audiences top-notch parades from the earliest days of the park. The very best have garnered a lasting legacy, long life, and beloved status, from the Main Street Electrical Parade to A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Paint the Night. A well-liked but still underrated parade remains Mickey Soundsational Parade, which ran from 2011 to 2017, and briefly again in 2019.

 

This lively, energetic parade featured brightly colored floats and costumes themed around music and meant to evoke pop-up book illustrations. Floats were dedicated to Mickey and Friends, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Three Caballeros, the Princesses, The Lion King, The Princess and the Frog, Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins. While the music had an original through-line, it featured Disney classics, each adapted for each film and cultural context such as Arabian, Calypso, South American, and New Orleans Jazz.

 

With the latest and most popular parade, Magic Happens, set to return in 2027, a return of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade should not happen yet. With only brief stints, it hasn’t had a chance to find its footing. Still, I believe it needs a few more floats, as the parade feels very short compared to others- it’s only 14 minutes, while Mickey’s Soundsational and the Main Street Electrical Parade are 20, and A Christmas Fantasy lasts between 25 and 40 minutes. Still, Magic Happens does deserve a chance to shine. However, Soundsational was a spectacular, fun-filled parade, and it would be a wonderful treat to see it again for a special occasion such as Disneyland’s 75th anniversary. After all, a parade that ends with Mary Poppins and dancing chimney sweeps is “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” in my book.