Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions from the Past

Since opening in 1971, The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has been growing and changing. Indeed, it was Walt Disney's vision to have a park that was never complete, never finished. Rather, he wanted a park that was forever changing and growing.

Because of that, rides are changed, closed, or replaced. Here, I list some favorite rides of the past that no longer exist at Walt Disney World.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage (1971 - 1994)

This submarine voyage ride was based on the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea which was base on Jules Verne. Opened two weeks after the grand opening of the Magic Kingdom, this ride was an instant hit and a classic favorite until it closed in 1994. When it initially closed, it was announced the closure was temporary, but it would never reopen. There has never been an official explanation from Disney as to why the ride was closed, but rumors persist that it was closed due to high maintenance requirements or the sizable workforce needed to keep the attraction going.

The ride involved guests boarding a submarine that would, once it left the dock, dive deep into the ocean. Once underwater, riders would encounter a surface storm which caused the submarine to dive deeper into the depths of the ocean for safety. It was from the far reaches of the ocean that riders would see shipwrecks from the past. The submarine would glide past ships broken in two and lying on the ocean's floor.

Moving along, the submarine would encounter the underside of a huge iceberg, narrowly missing hitting it before coming face to face with a large squid that had already had a submarine in it's clutches.

Rising to the surface, the passengers would narrowly escape being the squid's next meal. Once sadly on the surface, the submarine would glide back to the docks where passengers would exit and the next group of brave sailors to be would be waiting for their adventure.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1971 - 1998)