Walt Disney World has delivered decades of magic, but even “The Most Magical Place on Earth” has had its fair share of “What were they thinking?” moments.
Let’s take a stroll through five baffling decisions that had fans everywhere doing a double take—starting with one of the most expensive misfires in theme park history.
The 5 most baffling decisions Disney World has ever made
1. A Galactic flop
Imagine pouring hundreds of millions into an immersive Star Wars hotel experience, only to shut it down just a year later. That’s exactly what happened with Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. The two-night “space cruise” was bold, unique… and wildly overpriced. The theming was incredible, but most guests weren’t eager to drop $5,000–$6,000 for a stay with no pool, no freedom to roam, and a jam-packed itinerary. When the bookings dried up, Disney pulled the plug. And now? The once-futuristic spaceport is reportedly being turned into office space. That’s a plot twist no one saw coming.
2. Alien Encounter (AKA Nightmare Fuel for Kids)
Back in the ’90s, Magic Kingdom introduced ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, a dark, intense attraction that left kids screaming—and not in the fun way. It was scary, loud, and very out of place in a park known for being family-friendly. Eventually, it was replaced by Stitch’s Great Escape, which managed to be both bizarre and short-lived. Not exactly a winning combo.
3. Saying Goodbye to The Great Movie Ride
Once the centerpiece of Hollywood Studios, The Great Movie Ride was a love letter to cinema. But Disney shut it down in 2017, replacing it with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. While the new ride is fun, it doesn’t have the same nostalgic charm. The decision to let an iconic attraction fade away still feels like a missed opportunity.
4. River Country: From Water Park to Wilderness Ruins
River Country was Disney’s first water park, and for a while, it was a hit. But after closing in 2001, the park just… sat there. For nearly two decades, the property was left to decay in full view of guests riding boats across Bay Lake. It was only recently demolished to make way for a resort that was later canceled. Talk about letting a mistake sit around way too long.
5. The Lightning Lane Learning Curve
When Disney retired FastPass+ and introduced Genie+, it left many guests confused and frustrated. Suddenly, the once-free benefit was behind a paywall, and you needed a crash course in how to book Lightning Lanes, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Genie+ just to plan your day. It felt more like homework than vacation planning—and that’s never a good look.
Every company has its missteps, but Disney’s are often on full display thanks to how passionate fans are. Whether it was terrifying kids, overpricing space adventures, or abandoning whole water parks, these five moments remind us that even the most magical places have their “oops” days.
Which one do you think was the biggest blunder?
free fastpasses to paid genie+ is bad but how about tickets no longer having a non expiration bonus (I still have tickets that have waterpark unused days on them, and we go free each year – till they run out…)